<p>In 2024, a trio of friends left farm life behind and took over a longstanding barrio bar called <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="text-[#781e2a] underline" href="https://culinarybackstreets.com/stories/madrid/the-new-madrilenos-four-migrant-kitchens-changing-madrid">La Capa</a>. The bar sits in Carabanchel – one of Madrid’s fastest-gentrifying districts, but also a landing place for younger residents priced out of the center. Determined to build both a business and a sense of community in their adopted neighborhood, the new owners have brought fresh ideas while respecting the responsibilities that come with running a local bar.</p><p></p><p>The interior still feels like the 1980s – and that’s intentional. But the kitchen now serves contemporary Spanish cooking built around regional suppliers. At lunch, diners crowd in for the ever-changing <em>menú del día</em>, a classic pillar of Madrid food culture, which follows the seasons. In the evening, the menu shifts to à la carte classics like tortilla de patatas, escalope and grilled sea bass, with a few subtle nods to the chef’s Filipino roots – including crisp lumpia spring rolls.</p>

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<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Bendito has been the spot in Madrid for natural wine for over a decade, and owner Jose Angel Guerrero and Fabio’s friendship is a testament to that (many of Fabio’s wines are always available here). Jose’s selection of chacina – or charcuterie – as well as cheeses from small producers is unparalleled. The vibe is laid back, the market on the weekends is always buzzing, and there is invariably an interesting bottle waiting to be opened.</span></p>

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<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Opened as an extension to O Pazo de Lugo, an old school Galician restaurant in the Lavapies neighborhood, La Canibal serves classic Spanish and Galician dishes paired with an incredible selection of wines. They serve natural wine on tap (one of the greatest deals in town), and if you are looking for a hard to find bottle of sherry or champagne, you are likely to find it here. Do not leave without ordering one of their many cheese plates.</span></p>

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<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">This tiny restaurant and bar inside the </span><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="text-[#781e2a] underline" href="https://culinarybackstreets.com/stories/madrid/madrids-markets-where-the-city-eats"><u>Mercado de Vallehermoso</u></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"> was opened by chef Daniel Varea and designer – as well as expert in all things fermented – Nacho Garcia. The food is playful and creative, always with a deep respect for traditional dishes (their riff on the classic tigres, or stuffed mussels, is a perennial favorite). After studying gastronomy in Seville, Daniel made his rounds in French kitchens where his interest in natural wine developed. Their decision to opt for small producers made them some of the first to pair fine dining with natural wine. You can usually find a bottle or two of Fabio’s available by the glass or the bottle.</span></p>

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<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Luz Verde is the beautifully cozy new bar in Carabanchel opened by Natalia Cano and Rafaella Mey.</span><span>&nbsp;</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Natalia spent time at Bendito, while Rafaella made her rounds in specialty coffee before the two joined forces to open Luz Verde.&nbsp;The wine list is varied and interesting, the food simple and secondary. The space itself is beautiful, cozy and warm with&nbsp;that dim candle-lit vibe that invites drinkers to order glass after glass and stay till late.</span></p>

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<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Cuvee 3000 is a charming bottle shop with an incredibly knowledgeable, personable staff. The selection focuses entirely on small producers, with an emphasis on terroir and distinctive wines. If Cintia is working, it’s worth asking about her own bottles: she makes wine in Gredos, near Fabio, as well as in her native Catalonia. The team hosts plenty of tastings, too, and posts them on social media.</span></p>

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