For tapas, my favorite is Casa del Abuelo II, or whatever it is called on Calle Nuñez de Arce.

For fine dining:

Casa Santa Cruz
El Cenador del Prado
Meson Sixto

I would also second Maceira at 7 Calle de Jesus.
Get the pulpo...everyone does.

Mongo, we are staying at Hostal Adriano from April 8 until April 19th.

Perhaps, like MadridMan we will get a chance to meet the famous Mongo...

A buen provecho.

I arrive the 16th of April, although the staff at the Adriano is very adept at guarding my privacy, what with the throngs of admirers and groupies.

They know me as Matt, but Mongo works too.

I hope to see everyone at the MadridMan party!

I forgot another favorite, El Lacon on Manuel Fernandez Gonzalez. The have a salad of red peppers and anchovies that is great and a chuleton de buey cooked on your own grill.

Hi hawntraveller,

You MUST try "La Negra Tomasa." It is just up Calle Espoz y Mina from the Puerta del Sol. (If you are coming from the P. de Sol, it will be on the right.) It is a great Cuban-themed restaurant and tapas bar with a great friendly staff and cool atmosphere.

Have fun!!

Hey, please go see Joaquin, across the street from Casa Paco, (1/4 block up the street, too), at Asquinilla Bar Gallego, #3 Plaza Puerta Cerrada. He has wonderful traditional Tapas, and is sooo gracious. Tell him Pedro sent you. He is truly a wonderful person and would get a thrill out of knowing he has visitors from this message board.

Let me know how it is, although I know you will LOVE your experience there! Wish I could go for the Madrid Man party, but I was just there and probably won't be back until Summer.

Madrid Man, will you be there during Summer at all?

hi Peter San Diego,

is Joaquin near Sol? How much do you pay for your tapas meal there? Am really enticed to visit Joaquin.

Madridman, please have the party April 8 or April 12-15. HAHAHA, thanks for accomodating. I want to be there!!!

I like a bar called La Cazorla on the corner of Padilla and General Pardiñas in Barrio Salamanca. They're generous with their aperitivos and they're raciones are good. Chopitos with lots of lemon, almejas, gambas all washed down with a rioja, or whatever your fancy. I think I'll go there now actually I've made myself hungry.

Always worth asking what's good by the way, they're always happy to advise.

Madridman-
When are you going to announce the party dates? I'll be in Madrid April 3rd and April 10th and would love to meet up with some of the people who have helped me plan my trips over the last couple of years.

Hey Fishball! Glad you want to see Joaquin, I can't tell you how genuinely Spanish and cool he is! His tapas are average price, but his Pulpo, (octopus), is wonderful. His Gambas Ajillo are wonderful too, everything is good!

He has a whole list of tapas there, but just seeing him is why I go there. I can't explain it, but I never fail to stop by every day when I am in Madrid. (Which has fortunately been 3 times in the past 9 months!). If you tell him Pedro sent you, he will just smile and treat you like family, I am sure!

As far as his location, not too close to Puerta Del Sol, (closer to Plaza Mayor), actually if you walk out of Casa Paco, go left 50 yards, cross the street, you are there, right in front of his bar. Asquinina Bar Gallego.

Wonderful man, great tapas, cold beer, and wonderful ambiente!

Please tell me how it was, I am just dying to know!

I am jealous, because I am ready for another trip, but can't go yet!

Peter