Spain. Looking back it seems like a dream, but the afternoon siestas, colorful buildings & streets lined in orange trees were, in fact, real. If you are thinking about where to go on your next vacation, let me stop you there. España is the place to be.

Like most things in my life, my vacations are typically centered around food, and Spain was no exception. What was on my list of must-eats? Rioja (for starters), spanish olives, jamon, manchego…shall I continue? Needless to say, Spain did not disappoint in the food category. In fact, some of the best food we had was in the capital city, Madrid.

Although I wish I could say that I just stumbled upon these places, I did a lot of foodie research pre-departure. In fact, Lonely Planet became my best friend during the months preceding our trip. But, the preparation was half the fun. And now, I share with you my list of “must eats” for your next trip to Madrid.