A proper neighborhood institution since 1954, Casa Paco is the kind of old-school Madrid tapería that does everything right without making a fuss about it. You come here for the tortilla — locals swear it's the best in the city — and you stay for the croquetas, the fast-paced counter service, and the buzz of a bar that's been packed with regulars for seven decades. It's small, it's loud, and it's exactly what a Madrid tapas bar should be.
A Madrid institution since 1954 where the tortilla — especially the caramelized onion and goat cheese version — keeps locals and regulars packed in shoulder to shoulder.
Go before 1pm or after 4pm to avoid the lunch rush — the bar is small and fills up fast with neighborhood regulars.
The tortilla pilgrimage of Argüelles
If you want to understand what a real Madrid neighborhood bar feels like, Casa Paco is your textbook. Open since 1954 on Calle Altamirano in Argüelles, this is the kind of place where the tortilla sits proudly on the counter, the cañas pour fast, and the crowd shifts constantly between regulars grabbing a quick pincho and groups settling in for a round of tapas. It's small, it's busy, and the service is lightning quick — exactly how it should be.
The star of the show is the tortilla. Reviewers consistently call it the best in Madrid, and the version with caramelized onion and goat cheese gets particular praise. The croquetas are also a standout — crispy outside, creamy inside, the kind you could eat by the dozen. Beyond that, you'll find a solid lineup of classic tapas: jamón, quesos, fried fish, all the staples done right. Nothing reinvented, nothing overpriced, just honest food that's been keeping the neighborhood fed for nearly 70 years.
Go for breakfast, go for the aperitivo, go for a late-night bite — the kitchen runs from 7am to 11:30pm and the tortilla, as they say, "apetece siempre." Don't expect table service or a quiet corner. You stand, you order, you eat, and you leave happy. That's the deal, and it's a good one.