La Mi Venta

Food: 3.5÷5.0
Service: 4.0÷5.0
Value: 3.5÷5.0
Décor: 3.5÷5.0
Overall: 4.0÷5.0
La Mi Venta is a very solid spot. Located just across Bailen from the Sabatini Gardens, this is an unpretentious English-​friendly restaurant with great genuine service and genuinely very tasty food (basically no issues aside from an overcooked entrecôte out of many dishes tried). Best yet, this spot offers surprisingly good value for money considering location and the quality of the product being served. It’s not the ‘best food in town’, but it really is good all around and offers a great sit-​down lunch option in the Royal Palace area.

Inocent looking from the outside, this restaurant is not only one of the best in Madrid if not the whole Spain.
We enjoyed lunch, and our waiter Angel was so good that we decided to come back for dinner (must have reservations) what a treat dinner was fabulous and again the service was impeccable Roberto and Christian did a great job.
We had one of the best dinners in Madrid, the meat was cooked just right and the wine selection by Roberto did not fall short of his recommendation, GREAT JOB!!! The setting in the cellar was tasteful and intimate. We will be back next year. LOVED IT.

Not a huge selection of vegetarian options but that should be expected for a Spanish restaurant. Waiter was incredibly friendly, some might say too friendly. Meal was good but nothing extraordinary. After the meal we were given complimentary shots that were too strong for my taste.

A very lovely evening was had at this restaurant, complete with a truly delicious menu!
We arrived late-​ish (even for Spanish time) but were greeted warmly and seated in no time. The menu has some really great options, and after browsing for a while decided on the paella mixta and an order of pimientos de padrón to start — both of which were devoured happily and quickly! The wait staff was very friendly, though their Spanish humour did take a bit of time to get used to, and the prices very reasonable. The food arrived in great time and, despite being the last diners in the place, we felt no rush or hurry to finish up and pay.
We thoroughly enjoyed our experience and would go back in a heartbeat to enjoy the atmosphere and food once again!

There’s not really much to add to all the excellent reviews other Unilocalers posted already. But, I have to contribute my impressions:
Even though it is located within the «tourist area» it doesn’t appear very shiny on the outside. So, I passed the restaurant once before without recognizing it as one of the highest rated tapas bars in Madrid. I finally made my way in and, entering the place I wasn’t really impressed by the small, narrow aisle with just a few seats. However, everything looked exceptional clean and the staff was very welcoming and friendly.
I was seated in a cozy decorated room with a few bar tables. I ordered a bunch of different tapas and a ‘few more’ followed by another ‘few more’ (as you’ll see on the pics below) … until rolling out of the place like a huge barrel. All tapas were of high quality ingredients and tasted so unbelievable gorgeous that even I couldn’t find anything to complain about. And, I’m German!
So, I came back for the second round the next night. This time I was seated downstairs in a nice antique styled basement with a promising flair. I ordered the «Entrecôte de Lomo de Vaca a la Parilla de Carbón» (beef entrecôte). The air dried meat was cut and grilled to perfection. The roasted peppers and potatoes harmonically inspired the meat’s outstanding flavour. I just couldn’t ruin that great flavour afterwards with a dessert. Even though those I saw on the adjacent tables looked very promising.
One more: Like the night before I ordered the owner’s self made special ham as a starter. I’m not a big fan of Serrano ham. But, I have to admit that this most probably the best ham I’ve ever eaten!
What else? There was a well selected wine list as well as an English menu. Also, it’s worth trying the domestic beer.
This was probably the longest review I’ve ever written. However, I enjoyed spending my time at La Mi Venta. And, that was more than it took writing this review:))
This is by far the best tapas bar that I found in Madrid.

The other reviews definitely have this right, so you can stop reading of you are looking for a reason not to go. Showed up at 2000 and the staff was extremely friendly and welcoming. They had to set up a table because it was a bit early so they served us free consume while we waited and rewarded our patience with a couple of tapas once we were seated. The service was attentive and professional, but it could become less so as the place gets busier because the same waiter who had time to dote on three tables of early diners became much less doting once the place filled up and had to serve the entire lower level himself. The paella was very good but oddly enough, the goat cheese salad with apple jam was truly memorable. Would definitely go again if I wasn’t booked up for the rest of my time in Madrid.

Wow! Amazing food. The ingredients are top notch, portions are generous, and the prices are very reasonable. You can tell the chef takes pride in the food. The place wasn’t very busy when we went during weekday late lunch, so he took time out to talk to us. It’s on a side street so you’ll probably see more locals than tourists here — which is a good thing. We had the croquettes, the tomatoes with garlic and olive oil, the chorizo, and the Spanish omelette. All were amazing. The house olive oil is also the best I’ve ever tried.

We had a wonderful lunch here and our waiter, Roberto, was a great help. We shared a few of their terrific dishes. The foie was amazing. It was extremely smooth and had a wonderful flavor. The then moved to the acorn fed ham and were gleefully excited amount how the flavor of this meat was unlike anything we had tasted before. Our final dish was the goat cheese salad and cold soup with fried cheese. If we had space we would have definitely tried some dessert, but our amazing meal and a great wine pairing was perfect without it also. We have already made reservations to come back!

Outstanding meal, excellent service, staff including the chef, takes pride in their work. Super attentive without being overbearing. Can’t say high enough praises — this tiny place exceeded our expectations. Everything we had — tapas, padrone peppers, fish dish, dessert — was excellent, presentation matched the quality.

Walked here on a rainy afternoon in October after touring the Palacio Royal. Even though they were technically closed I asked if we could get some tapas and they walked us right into the back and explained — in English — what items on the menu we could order. Service was prompt and the tapas was fantastic, especially the Chorizo. Our server even helped us hail a cab when we left in the rain. Going back to Madrid next April and we will go back during normal business hours. A real find.

Amazing food, great wine list, really friendly staff, great service! The grilled veggies, T-​bone steak, grilled squid were delish. And, the prices are reasonable.

Incredible meal — first class jamon and paella.
We checked out the royal palace and we’re getting hungry around around 2pm. We knew that most restaurants close to tourist attractions are t typically great but the reviews were good.
The restaurant is about a 7 minute walk from the palace and easy to find. Inside its a warm setting nicely decorated — we were seated downstairs which has a cave like feel — it’s very nicely and tastefully decorated.
We ordered the meat platter which includes the famous jamon we were specifically after along with 3 other types of meat. All were incredible. The staff brought endless bread and cheese was included.
We also ordered the chorizo from hell, which despite how it sounds wasn’t that hot at all. We also ordered a goat cheese salad and shared it all.
We ordered the seafood paella to share for 4 and to be honest it was way too big. After our starter we could’ve ordered for 2. The flavor was amazing — best I’ve had. Mussels, shrimp and langostina and small clams.
Can’t reccome for this place enough. Wait staff were incredible and for the 4 of us the bill was only $ 125 euro

Delicious, relaxing little spot near the palace on a quiet street. The tuna pincho is outstanding as is the chorizo, and the goat cheese salad too. Lovely outdoor seating, but they also have a very cool vaulted ceiling in the basement dining room.

La Mi Venta is one of the best restaurant I had visited in Europe. Hands down. Besides the food. It has some of the best staff a eating place can desire form this earth.
1. This little hidden gem is around the corner from royal palace, located in the quite street. Actually it’s outdoor seat can see the backside of the palace building and its garden. The inside has three seating areas: a short hallway along the bar, a dinning room in the back, and a cellar downstairs. The food is delivered through a little elevator to downstairs so you do not worry about staffs rushing on stairs holding hot plate.
2. Robert is a nice young man who seated us in the cellar. He was very acknowledgeable for the place and Spain food. His very kindness and attention to our table impressed me so much.
3. It’s 16 euro tapa combo plate is huge, which can feed 1.5 people. It contains four pieces: a duck liver, a fish, a chicken, and a pork. The roasted pepper on side is perfect salted.
4. The grilled pork dish is memorable until today. He chief cut the sirloin in one piece of different thickness before grilling. Then it was cut into three parts: the thin and well done, the mediate and mediate, and the thick and rare. Next, it is cover with big piece of sea salt and sided with roasted potato, soaked with the fat from the pork. Oh dear!
5. Oh yes, I almost forget the free appetizer– bread dipped in olive oil. Not the one you eat anywhere else. This is one of the best olive oil in the world with super extra virgin.
6. This is the only place I eat my lunch and dinner the same day. It’s paella is good as well, a little salty and the clams are closed. As a take out order, i asked for a fork. Turnout, I was given two set of real table forks. Let me know if you can name any other restaurant who gives customer such treatment in takeout bag.
If you visit the royal palace, stop by!

This was by far our favorite restaurant in Madrid. In our visits, we had the tapas plate, a steak, pallella and several other dishes and everything on the menu was fantastic. The service was helpful and friendly. We ate outside and enjoyed watching the police guard the Senate.

Very pleasant surprise we just happened upon due to its proximity to our hotel. At ground level is the traditional tapas bar while downstairs is a quaint cellar dining area. We had the Iberian meat sampler along with half a traditional tortilla. Both generous and very tasty. The service was polite and the waiters spoke English as well. Their main course menu is quite varied however we only went for the tapas. Price is very good for the quality and the generous portions so two can easily share.

We stopped in without a reservation around 20:30 on a Thursday night. It was still very quiet and they could accommodate us. All of our dishes were wonderful! We had two «pinchos» that were small but perfect since we ordered a meal. My son had the «presa», pork shoulder that was incredible, lots of flavor, moist and prepared perfectly. The fish was also done perfectly. We had to have dessert. Mango soup and streudel with a vanilla custard ssuce. After dinner they served a complimentary choice of 2 digestifs in small frosted liquor glasses. I would definately return. We had a wonderful waiter who took the time to help us through the menu.

Delicious goat dish, wonderful warm, friendly service and the best meal we had in Madrid. Can’t beat that. Only regret is that we didn’t try their jamón, which apparently they are known for. Maybe next time.
It is the kind of place you recommend to friends visiting the city.

I’d probably give this a place a 5 for food, but I took one away for the bizarre encounter I had.
Convenient location to a couple tourist attractions, we were seated in the brick cellar area located in the basement. The waiter spoke good English and gave a little speech on how everything on the menu was so great and the best in Madrid etc. Included in this speech was the ¼ roasted goat which they must do 1 a night. Anyways, I started to order a few things because I wanted to try a variety and he cut me off. He said «that is too much, you will waste it, and we don’t waste food here… I will only give you ½ portions etc» I was a bit shocked because I feel it’s my prerogative to order whatever I wanted. After this extremely awkward interaction, I was allowed to order the foie, fried padron peppers, tomatoes (with arguably the best olive oil I’ve ever had) and the hake cheeks. About ½ way through the meal, I asked the waiter if the goat was still available, and he replied yes. I then asked him to send it to the table and he got right on it. I had to explain I was just joking, but funny how he was going to send over the most expensive item on the menu after his earlier lecture.
This place has good food… just be prepared to be rebuffed it you try to order a lot of food. Guess he’s not used to the American appetite.

Voy mucho y nunca me han decepcionado. La «tabla imperial» está tremenda, es una tabla con jamón, cecina, chorizo, lomo, salchichón y queso, todo de muy buena calidad.
Tiene otras cosas muy ricas, como el salmorejo y la tapa de callos.
Además está bien localizado, la terraza en verano es tranquilita (el precio es más alto que si comes dentro).

La Mi Venta epitomises what Spanish life is all about. To be fair, I only stopped here for a quick beer after visiting the Palacio Real, but it’s one of those places that make you feel right at home. Despite it’s location close to one of Madrid’s main tourist attractions, it seems to avoid the tourist throng and feels more local.
I didn’t actually go inside, choosing instead to sit at one of the tables outside and make the most of the late afternoon sunshine. I ordered a beer and was brought a complimentary tapas — a potato and tuna salad that was tasty but slightly mayo-​overloaded. The wait staff were friendly and always around if you needed them.
The prices were a little higher than other bars I had visited — making the tapas more of a hidden purchase than a complimentary snack. However, I felt so at home in this bar I didn’t really mind and would certainly return here next time I am in Madrid.

Como bien dice su nombre es una venta.
Estando por la zona con unas amigas nos tomamos un café allí. Un pasillo alargado era la zona de barra.
Parecía una venta de carretera de los que te puedes encontrar cuando pasas Sierra Morena.
Un local oscuro, con embutidos colgados del techo y el interior decorado muy rústico.
El café muy rico, y el camarero muy simpático y agradable. Espero volver a probar alguna de sus especialidades.

Herz inklusive
In einigen Städteführern als eine Tapasbar beschrieben, in der man seinen Snack nehmen sollte, ist dieses von außen unscheinbar wirkende Restaurant wohl deutlich unterschätzt. Dieses Restaurant hat einen vorderen Bereich für den schnellen Hunger und eben preiswerter und einen rückwärtigen Bereich in dem man wie in einem Restaurant an einem der 4 Tische in durchgehend rustikal und urgemütlich wirkendem Ambiente Platz findet. Jedes Essen wurde vor unseren Augen am Grill oder im Steinofen vom Vater mit Liebe zubereitet. Das macht sich auch bemerkbar. Jedes Gericht war gelungen, frisch und gut gewürzt. Der Sohn bediente uns, wenn auch nur der spanischen Sprache mächtig. Mit Händen und Füßen klappte es aber ganz gut. Die Weinauswahl ist wirklich gut und man merkt es bei jedem Mal, das man wirklich willkommen ist. Mutter wacht dann auch über das Tun beider. Eine sehr familiäre Atmosphäre mit besten Produkten und bester Arbeit am Produkt. Die Auswahl an Snacks (Tapas) ist überschaubar, dafür aber wirklich gut. Aber ein wenig hat der Preis doch schon beeindruckt, auch wenn die ganze Herzenswärme der Familie inklusive ist. Häufigere Besuche sind wohl den wenigsten vorbehalten. Trotzdem von mir eine ganz deutliche Empfehlung.