La Taberna de Peñalver
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Exceptional Paella in Madrid Finding a perfect paella in Madrid can be a bit of a challenge, given the city's distance from the Valencian coast where the dish originates, but I discovered an absolute gem that delivered a truly authentic experience. The restaurant, located in the heart of Madrid, offered a warm and inviting atmosphere, perfect for indulging in this Spanish classic. When the paella arrived at the table, it was a feast for the eyes—beautifully presented with vibrant golden rice, dotted with plump prawns, mussels, and clams, alongside tender pieces of chicken and rabbit. The first bite confirmed that this was no ordinary paella. The rice was perfectly cooked, infused with the delicate flavors of saffron and a rich seafood stock. Each grain was packed with flavor, and the seafood tasted incredibly fresh, a testament to the restaurant’s dedication to sourcing top-quality ingredients. The highlight, of course, was the socarrat—the crispy caramelized rice at the bottom of the pan, which added an irresistible texture and depth to every mouthful. This attention to detail made the paella feel authentic, a true representation of the traditional Spanish dish. The service was top-notch, with the staff explaining the intricacies of the dish and making sure every guest felt well taken care of. Pairing it with a crisp white wine, recommended by the waiter, elevated the meal even further. Overall, this was one of the best paellas I’ve had, not just in Madrid but anywhere in Spain. If you’re in the capital and craving a taste of Valencia, this spot is a must-visit. Rich, flavorful, and utterly satisfying, it’s the perfect dish to enjoy while soaking in Madrid’s vibrant atmosphere. Winewithep
Emanuel Pesqueira
10
My goodness, where do I even begin with this review? Simply giving La Taberna de Peñalver five stars for my experience this evening wouldn't do it justice. Back in Madrid for just one night, but this time staying in this neighbourhood, I've had this place "starred" on my Google Maps for at least the last 12 months – quite possibly a recommendation from a Madrid local during my travels. One word: WOW! Putting aside the fact that it's been rated as the number one restaurant in Madrid on Trip Advisor (a fact I wasn't aware of, but not at all surprised by), the food was exceptional; it didn't just impress me, it left me in awe. Not only that, but every single staff member we encountered showed the utmost appreciation for our patronage. I haven't witnessed such incredible dedication and team synchronicity in a long time. Each staff member clearly enjoyed their work and demonstrated immense respect for their employer, running the establishment as if it were their own business. If you're unsure about what to order from the menu, simply ask, and you'll quickly discover that the staff take the time to understand your preferences, offering accurate suggestions. Professional, friendly, attentive, warm, welcoming, honest… the list of admirable qualities displayed by the staff is extensive, and goes on… A huge thanks goes out to Atul, Jaycee, and the entire team. You are truly exceptional. I feel incredibly fortunate to have unexpectedly stumbled upon La Taberna de Peñalver this evening, with absolutely no expectations or advanced knowledge of just how fantastic this restaurant truly is. (alpha6_eei)
Psy H
00
Madrid, spain- We were recommended this restaurant because of their paella. We made reservations at 10:30 and got there at 10:38 PM and we’re rushed to our table. The hostess instead of the waiter asked us if we were ordering paella and asked us which paella we wanted. We decided we were going to order two of them. the hostess was very rude and was pushy and rushing us quickly. The waiter came out an older gentleman and was very nice and funny. He wanted to shake our hands which was very unusual for a restaurant, but I liked it, and thought it was funny. He cracked a lot of jokes and was entertaining. we ordered mushrooms, which were very good and ham, which was very good. We got our orders very quickly, and was very surprised by the quick service. The black squid ink paella in the picture we received within 10 minutes. The taste was very good, unfortunately it wasn’t how I was described. it felt like it was undercooked. Usually it has some crunched to it where it was toasted with the pan. But this was only soft and no crutch. We also ordered the seafood traditional paella and never received it. By the time we finished our Paella, they brought us out the check without even asking if we wanted the check. There is still a lot of people there, and to me they were trying to get everybody out of the restaurant. they started stacking up chairs around us, even knocking our table and chairs while we were still drinking our cocktails. with the check came some small chocolate covered ice cream‘s, which were also very good. I think I came towards the end of the late night shift and everything was bad timing where everybody wanted to leave work. I’ve heard nothing but great things about this place, but in this circumstance, I had a bad experience. I can’t say that I will not recommend this place, I would just recommend to go there early and not be rushed out when you’re trying to have a nice dinner.
Joe Volcano
00
We dined at this restaurant on May 6, 2024 based on reviews for lunch. We were looking to have their menu of the day, but was told that it is no longer served. The reviews and YouTube videos were for the menu of the day. We came all this way, so we decided to eat and ordered the grilled scallop appetizer. They were the smallest scallops ever and only 6 for 14€. They were tasty, but extremely poor value when most were about the size of a 10 cent coin. We ordered some bread and olive oil for 2€ so we thought. They served 3 pieces of bread and all the pieces had uncooked batter. When we asked about the uncooked bread, they said it was fine. We just ate around it. We ordered the gentlemen’s Paella and it was very good. Decent value at 23€ per person for 2. The bill arrived and we were surprised to be charged for 2 orders of bread, when we only received the 1 basket with 3 pieces with undercooked batter. We complained, but they said the bread charge was for each person. At this point we just wanted to leave. Ridiculous. Anyway, we ended up paying over 70€ for 6 tiny scallops, seafood paella for 2, 3 pieces of undercooked bread and 2 Mahou beers. Pics attached with our receipt. Judge for yourself if this is a good value for lunch.
Sang Cho
00
Exceptional service from Miguel. He recommended the perfect starters which where calamari, y pulpo a la brasa. They were both very good, the pulpo though was amazing on top of a smooth bed of mashed potatoes. I wanted to lick the plate they where so good and I honestly don’t like mashed potatoes. The bread with the garlic sauce was also delicious and the Paella de Marisco’s was authentic and very worth all the hype you read on google. We were stuffed after all this food and they of course recommended there house made tarta de queso. I told them that we were so full that we couldn’t but he insisted that we try it at least on the house. So Tony brought us a complimentary tarta de queso which was the best tarta de queso we have tried on my 2 week Spain trip. And we visited Michelin star restaurant and visited amazing restaurants in the whole northern Asturias area. After this he also brought us mini magnum ice creams which my kids inhaled. I guess there’s always room for good dessert. I highly recommend everything here. Thank you Miguel, Tony and everyone at La Taberna de Penalver for a great evening. Til next time which maybe tomorrow. lol
Natalie Tarazona
00
한국분들 여기 가지마세요. 서비스 개떡이고 음식으로 유치하게 인종차별합니다. 구글 리뷰 완전 잘못 되어있어요. Very uncomfortable service with some racism. We ordered seafood paella and it did not have mussels nor monkfish in our pallela which was very different from the next tables who ordered the same dish. Also we asked for Salt since the taste was bland and they gave me peppers instead. And they gave us used spoon which was very dirty and already used😖. Moreover, look at the scallop we ordered, among 6 of them only 1 of them were sizable.. others were all very tiny not worst of 14 euros. Also when serving Paella served differently from other Spanish people -did not cover up the remaining paella in the pan so bugs were sitting on it. Other tables paella were all well covered with dishes. All of these coincidence? Or Racism? You should improve your service - worst experience in Madrid.
Clio Han
20
Nearby Attractions Of La Taberna de Peñalver
Las Ventas Bullring
MediaMarkt
María Eva Duarte de Perón Park
Fundación Juan March
Andalucía Park
Meliá Madrid Serrano
Álex Cordobés | Velázquez
Museo Taurino de Madrid
BLESS Hotel Madrid
Lázaro Galdiano Museum

Las Ventas Bullring
4.5
(13.6K)
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MediaMarkt
3.7
(3.5K)
Click for details

María Eva Duarte de Perón Park
4.1
(2.4K)
Click for details

Fundación Juan March
4.6
(1.9K)
Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of La Taberna de Peñalver
Baldoria Madrid | RESTAURANTE ITALIANO
Running Sushi in Osaka
Restaurante Los Montes de Galicia
SUMO Juan Bravo
Restaurante Carbón
Pastelería Mallorca | Velazquez
Taberna del Olivo
Gracias Padre - Taquería La Roma - Restaurante Mexicano
Bar Entre Cáceres y Badajoz
Lateral Velázquez

Baldoria Madrid | RESTAURANTE ITALIANO
4.8
(4.8K)
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Running Sushi in Osaka
4.5
(4.8K)
Click for details

Restaurante Los Montes de Galicia
4.8
(4.4K)
$$
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SUMO Juan Bravo
4.8
(3.1K)
Click for details
Basic Info
Address
C. del Conde de Peñalver, 90, Salamanca, 28006 Madrid, Spain
Map
Phone
+34 608 45 05 51
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Website
latabernadepenalver.com
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Reviews
Overview
4.8
(5.3K reviews)
Ratings & Description
Description
Upbeat, easygoing tavern offering classic, Alicante-style paella & tapas, plus TVs for sports.
attractions: Las Ventas Bullring, MediaMarkt, María Eva Duarte de Perón Park, Fundación Juan March, Andalucía Park, Meliá Madrid Serrano, Álex Cordobés | Velázquez, Museo Taurino de Madrid, BLESS Hotel Madrid, Lázaro Galdiano Museum, restaurants: Baldoria Madrid | RESTAURANTE ITALIANO, Running Sushi in Osaka, Restaurante Los Montes de Galicia, SUMO Juan Bravo, Restaurante Carbón, Pastelería Mallorca | Velazquez, Taberna del Olivo, Gracias Padre - Taquería La Roma - Restaurante Mexicano, Bar Entre Cáceres y Badajoz, Lateral Velázquez

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