Came to try the ‘bocadillo de calamares’ and what a treat! Highly recommend to sit inside, the vibe is amazing. It’s loud and just gives you all ‘madrid bar’ feels. The waiters shout the orders and the service is quick and friendly.

This is a not typical it is THE the definitive Spanish cafeteria. Huge space with enormous stainless steel counters. They serve it all and the Carajillo here was very strong. This is not where you come for fine dining this is come where you come to enjoy a slice of Madrid life. having said that Having said that my Torrenzos were delicious Properly salty, crispy with creamy pork fat. the view in the Ambiance is tough you look out the window you see the beautiful I told you train station right in the heart of Madrid. crowd Bueno Gente de España de Madridr. Sin mas touristas, perfect. Las turistas te gusta Taco Bell y KFC, Aquí is verdad, las sabor y corazón del Madrid.

Expensive for a cerveceria, even with a terrace. Good calamares but not the best for sure.. Hair in the callos.. Oreja a la plancha wasn't on the grill enough- Sticky mess for 14.5 euros.. (one of the cheapest cuts of meat shouldn't be that much)

Definitely not the cheapest restaurant. Each fried calamari sandwich was 7€ and the garlic mushroom tapa 11€. The service was fast but the waiter a little bit rude. I think he didn’t speak English, so in case you visit it as a tourist, better to show a picture of what you want. As for the taste, the sandwich was good but plain. We asked for some mayonnaise and they charged us for it (unbelievable).

First time I got disappointed by a Spanish dish. Bread was hard and fried squid was oily and cold (at the same time). My gf and I had a stomachache afterwards. Not to mention that the service was extremely slow.

In few words • Noisy and average beer and food (No, they don't have the best calamari) but you are in an iconic bar, so deal with it :)

Absolutely a tourist trap our lunch was 78 euros it would have been 20 to 25 euros anywhere else. in fact lunch here was 20 more than we spent at botin for dinner the most expensive place in the city. I'll be protesting the charge w chase hopefully it will be removed from my bill altogether...don't cheat the tourists!!!+

Sheltered here from the rain. Popular place with friendly and efficient staff. Bit pricey at €4.50 for a half-litre/pint but given the location opposite Atocha it could have been worse

I always visit this place every time I go to Madrid, but this last time I noticed the service was not as good, and definitely prices are higher than similar places around Plaza Mayor if you are looking to get "bocadillo de calamares". If you are around Atocha, would still recommend for a quick bite

As real as it gets. A heavily local institution , we felt pretty well immersed here dining amongst locals. We had the Madrid specialty of calamari sandwich, sure it tasted average but the atmosphere made up for it

The only reason i visited here because my cab driver told me this is iconic place. Restaurant is average and very busy. At same price i got better quality of food and more better service. Good for 1 time try there are better places in same price nearby.

Definition of a no-frills local Spanish cafeteria! Super busy all the time and service took more than 1 hour for 2 dishes because there was too many people. Price is not the cheapest either. We ordered: 1. Bocadillo El Brillante (calamari in baguette) | 9€ Their classic sandwich!! Unlike the picture, the sandwich is not dry at all. The baguette is super soft, the calamari is fresh (not elastic at all), the fried layer is super thin and crispy as well😋 Was pleasantly surprised 2. Pincho de Tortilla con Callos (Spanish tortilla omelette with beef tripe stew) | 12€ The Spanish omelette consists of thin slices of sautéed potatoes in a big round omelette. The potatoes are soft and the eggs are surprisingly fluffy. The beef tripe was so rich in flavor since it was boiled in the broth for hours. The tripe just melts in my mouth and it’s not that fatty either. The broth is thick, a little sweet, and fatty.

First time in Spain, first evening in Madrid, and what a start with this old-fashion nice-food vibrant place. When they shout your order don't panic!!! A must in Madrid, few minutes from Atocha station.

Yes, the bocadillo de calamares is incredible but over the years this place has become a tourist trap due to its location and popularity. Prices are exaggerated and the staff is super rude –even for Spain standards. Let’s not talk about the cleanliness and that it is super hard to find a spot inside (outside there’s a surcharge for sitting in the terrace). There are other places in Madrid to try an excellent bocadillo or other Spanish delicacies, so if you have the opportunity go for them. If you’re finishing Reina Sofia or arriving into Atocha starving, then it might be an option.

Whether you're seeking a quick pre-museum snack or a decadent post-exhibition indulgence, El Brillante is the perfect destination. The combination of friendly service, fast service, and delectable churros makes it a must-visit spot for anyone exploring the Reina Sofia museum area. The churros themselves were a culinary masterpiece, each bite a delightful explosion of crispy, fluffy goodness!💯😋

Lots of locals. Noisy, chatty and busy. The gentlemen behind the bar have lots of character and were super friendly and helpful with us as English speakers. Enjoyed the calamari mini baguette, a ham and tomato baguette and a good hot Cafe Americano.

The Calamares sandwich is just bad. Bread is stale and too thick There is no sauce so it tastes very dry The calamares are a bit flavourless Absurd price for what you get.

Best calamari sandwich in the city. Just in front of Atocha train station. It’s not a fancy place, it’s super busy and you go there for the calamari not for a Michelin star service or fancy decoration. Every time I go to madrid I stop by here. Sandwich is huge and good quality. Definitely you must try in your visit to Madrid

This place is great for quick and filling food during traveling from / to Atocha. The food was tasting good but it is really overpriced for the quantity/quality. The pidgeons were eating leftovers on top of plates which was really disgusting and not very clean. Very busy and waiting times to find a table

Bacon and cheese sandwich was amazing! The calamari sandwich is a must try. They are fast and courteous. 12 euro got me 2 sandwiches and 2 sparkling water. Perfect for lunch.

Wonderful place to eat and take a drink while you see Atocha station, the food is amazing. You must order "bocadillo de calamar" or "bocadillo de tortilla de patatas"

Typical Spanish bar and restaurant. If you want a Spanish style fast food, service or try speaking in Spanish then this is the place for you. Enjoy their baguettes con pollo for €6 and it's huge.

Famous place close to Reina Sofia museum Very temperamental atmosphere The cooks and waiters shouting and yelling at each other Total chaos at busy hours Difficult to order at all Calamari sandwich on baguette very tasteful Prices moderate for Madrid Recommend if you want to experience traditional Spanish mentality in restaurants

Here you can eat good bocadillos for a snack. The bocadillo with calamari is the best. However, the service is not very friendly and the bill did not match the prices quoted.

Very busy place, and very loud inside! The waiters shout the orders, not really sure how it works but the orders come shockingly fast! The servers were all very friendly and switched to English almost flawlessly. They even asked if I "preferred" and English menu, which I really appreciated. We got a beer, a coke, potato "fries" (really they're like homemade hash browns) and a plate of calamari, we also ate the bread on the table. Together it was € Fair warning, they throw the receipts on the floor so just don't look down! Will definitely come back again!

Food was nothing great. Just your typical tapa. Paella was so salty and not flavorful! Staffs were overworked but they try their very best to serve us all. The glasses were not very clean due to probably rush in the kitchen. Small Glass of orange juice for €4.50 is not worth it

We had the Calamares Baguette. Calamares were very delicious. However the Baguette was dry, only Calamares on Baguette, no sauce or anything else. Perhaps this is the typical spanish taste, but you have to know… Therefore 9 Euro for one baguette is expensive.

No frills place. And its fabulous for that reason alone. Ordered the bocadillo de calamares, the baguette size, and shared it with a friend. Perfect portion. Patatas bravas there are a Must. Ask for it w alioli y salsa bra a. Its perfect!

Great place to eat, the attention of the personal is great and very kind. The dishes are well served, the tortilla espanola is a dish for 2 or 3 people. The coffee is also very nice

We had breakfast here, on the terrace. It was good as expected , chocolate and porras. Service good as well . However note that their prices are very high. In Madrid you can 4euros for a set brekkie, sometimes less sometimes more depending on what you have. This was 10 euros per person!!!

Great calamari sandwiches. Extremely simple (literally just bread and fried calamari), but the price is reasonable and it's delicious. Definitely filling though, so I'd recommend getting the "mini" version if you're not super hungry.

Busy, friendly, opposite main rail station. But a bit crowded and very slow to bring the bill - I had to rush for my train! Nice place if you're not pressed for time.

Went in for quick lunch, good bocadillo and coffee. Reasonably priced.