Madrid Chueca

Bazaar, C. de la Libertad, 21 (☎91 523 39 05; www.restaurantbazaar.com), With immaculate white tablecloths, plush seats, and romantic candles, you'd expect this restaurant to be forebodingly expensive. Think again. Bazaar boasts cheap dishes (€8-10) in a ritzy atmosphere, but some portions are on the smaller side. Chueca. Make a left on C. Augusto Figuroa, and a right on C. de la Libertad, 21. Entrees €8-10. Open daily 1:15-4pm and 8:30-11:45pm. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Serves alcohol. Has air conditioning.
Magasand, Travesía de San Mateo, 16 (☎91 319 68 25; www.magasand.com), With an advertising slogan like, “incredible sandwiches, impossible magazines,” Magasand is a cafe you need to experience to understand. Have one of their fresh sandwiches, salads, smoothies, or coffees made-to-order by the jovial staff, and then move upstairs to lounge on hip couches and colorful stools as you read one of their many alternative artsy magazines. Chueca. Make a right on C. Augusto Figuroa, and another right on C. Hortaleza. Turn right onto Travesía de San Mateo (there's a sign on Hortaleza pointing you in the right direction). Sandwiches €5-8. Salads €4-7. Open daily 9:30am-1:30pm and 4-9pm. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Has internet. Serves alcohol. Has air conditioning.
Il Pizzaiolo, C. de Hortaleza, 84 (☎91 319 29 64; www.pizzaiolo.es), With bright murals of Italian landmarks on the wall and amicable service, this eatery is a great place to come and enjoy a little Italiano in the middle of Chueca. Try an antipasta or salad served in handmade bread bowls, or splurge on one of their made-to-order thin-crust personal pizzas (€8-10). Chueca. Make a right on C. de Gravina and a right on C. de Hortaleza; restaurant will be on your right. Pizzas €8-10. Open M-Th 1:30pm-midnight, F-Sa 1:30pm-12:30am, Su 1:30pm-midnight. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access.
Maoz, C. de Hortaleza, 5 (☎64 740 87 31; www.maozusa.com), This tiny restaurant serves affordable vegetarian to the meatless masses. Although there are a few chairs and stools, most people order one of Maoz' falafel sandwiches or salads for the road. Don't expect the best salad you've ever tasted, but this fast food spot gives a bang for your buck. Gran Vía. Walk straight up C. de Hortaleza, and the restaurant will be on your left. Entrees €6. Open daily noon-2am. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Has air conditioning.
Stop Madrid, C. de Hortaleza, 11 (☎91 521 88 87; www.stopmadrid.es), Founded in 1929, this traditional Madrid tavern offers Iberian ham, Spanish cheeses, and 70 different kinds of wine. Marble walls, wine bottle decor, and wooden stools make this place feel like you've hot tub-time-machined your way back to the old country. Gran Vía. From the Gran Vía stop, walk straight up C. de Hortaleza. Entrees €5-10. Open daily noon-2am. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Serves alcohol. Has air conditioning.
Mama Ines CAFE, C. de Hortaleza, 22 (☎91 523 23 33; www.mamaines.com), Advertised as a “meeting place for people from all over the world,” Mama Ines cafe certainly borrows from a variety of cultures. Try coffee from Hawaii, Kenya, Ethiopia, or Tanzania, and then pair it with one of their sandwiches like the classic jamón y queso (ham and cheese). Gran Vía. Walk straight up C. de Hortaleza. Sandwiches €5-10. Open daily 10am-2am. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Serves alcohol. Has air conditioning.
NuRielle, C. de Hortaleza 38 (☎91 523 53 23; www.nurielle.es), Take a break from shopping on Gran Vía or in Chueca and come to NuRielle for gelato, sandwiches, coffee, or cocktails. White leather chairs and chic black tabletops give this place a classy feel without the high prices, and their menú combos (drink, sandwich, and dessert; €5.50) are a steal. Gran Vía. Walk straight up C. de Hortaleza. Menú €5.50. cocktails €3-6. Open M-Th 8am-1pm, F 8am-1:30am, Sa 9am-1:30am, Su 10am-1:30am. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Serves alcohol. Has air conditioning.
Vivares 37, C. de Hortaleza, 52 (☎91 531 58 13), Labeled as “homemade food with a modern touch,” Vivares 37 offers Asian-Spanish fusion cuisine. The bright orange walls and leather seats vaguely reminds us of something out of a Harley Davidson commercial. Nonetheless, this place is fancy enough for a dinner out with friends and casual enough for a quick lunch all by your lonesome self. Enjoy their menú of the day (appetizer, entree, and dessert; €11.90). Gran Vía. Walk straight up C. de Hortaleza. Entrees €5-15. Open daily 12:30-5:30pm and 8:30pm-12:30am. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Serves alcohol. Has air conditioning.
Più di Prima, C. de Hortaleza, 100 (☎91 308 33 72; www.piudiprima.com), For an upscale meal, put on your fancy shoes and come to Più di Prima for some of the best Italian food in the city. In the evening, dim candles, white table clothes, and sparkling white lights make this a picture-perfect date spot. Have a fancy dinner for two, but make sure you're breaking the bank for someone special. Chueca. Turn around, make a right on C. Augusto Figuroa, and another right on C. de Hortaleza. Entrees €10-25. Open daily 1:30-4pm and 9pm-midnight. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Serves alcohol. Has air conditioning.
Baires CAFE, C. de Gravina, 4 (☎91 532 98 79), With floral artwork and plastic chairs, this cafe is a good place to grab a coffee and check your email during the day and throw back a few cocktails with friends at night. With black plastic chairs and simple furnishings, the cafe is casual with an energetic atmosphere. Check out the local art adorning the walls—most of it is on sale. Chueca. Turn left on C. de Gravina towards C. Hortaleza. Drinks €5-10. Open daily 9:30am-midnight. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Has internet. Serves alcohol. Has air conditioning.
Isolée, C. de las Infantas, 19 (☎91 522 81 38; www.isolee.com), With white leather seats and minimalist grass decor, Isolée serves up “fashion, food, and lifestyle” with trendy flair. Feel sophisticated as you sip on chocolate cappuccinos and windowshop the store in the back for all your posh, overpriced food items, drinks, and even clothing and accessories. Gran Vía. Walk north up C. de Hortaleza and make a right on C. de las Infantas. Entrees €5-10. Open M-Tu 10am-10pm, F-Sa 11am-1am, and Su 4-10pm. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Serves alcohol. Has air conditioning.
Diurno, San Marcos, 37 (☎91 522 00 09; www.diurno.com), Get your freshly prepared sandwiches, desserts, pastas, and more at this yuppie haven reminiscent of an iPod commercial. With a huge selections of DVDs for you to rent and buy, take your food to-go and catch up on the last season of Modern Family. Chueca. Make a left onto C. Augusto Figuroa, and a right onto C. de la Libertad, 21. Diurno is across from Bazaar. Sandwiches €5-10. Open daily 10am-midnight. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Serves alcohol. Has air conditioning.
Wagaboo, C. Gravina, 18 (☎91 531 65 67; www.wagaboo.com), Wagaboo delivers on its motto of “fun eating.” You can't miss this Italian-Asian fusion restaurant's neon pink sign and well-decorated interior. Even its menu is unique, boasting a “fun, cheerful, and very light start” with appetizers, a “choice of surprising specialties” for main offers, and “supremely creamy ice creams” to finish off your meal. Chueca. Make a right onto C. Gravina. Appetizers €5-10; entrees €10-20. Open daily 1-5pm and 9pm-1am. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Serves alcohol. Has air conditioning.