Anyone who has visited the Parque del Oeste in Madrid, the walk through its rose garden or the entrance to the garden of the Temple of Debod, imagines with a certain envy the neighbors of the houses overlooking the park, owners of unique views of the Casa de Campo. These are the inhabitants of Paseo del Pintor Rosales, a quiet viewpoint just 1.2 kilometers long, which retains its bourgeois past and still exudes that feeling of a neighborhood between groves, a few fountains and children’s areas.
Its small size, however, did not prevent the takeoff of a stimulating gastronomic itinerary beyond the ritual of the aperitif, which it has maintained for decades. In a few months, morning walks with the dog or buying bread from the locals alternate with inaugurations attached to their already existing walking proposal (and in its surroundings) which recalls the beginnings of the Ponzaning phenomenon. One of them leads to the kiosk built in 1907, at the corner of the promenade with the Francisco and Jacinto Alcántara descent.
Overlooking the entrance to the Madrid cable car (which will reopen in 2027), this century-old terrace, born under the name of El Parque, later adopted the name of its owner Agustín Magadán, veteran of the Cuban War. In the hands of the Lamucca group since spring this year, they wanted to maintain, according to its name – Magadan – that peaceful atmosphere of the original sunny area in the days of the so-called crab tram, in which they served lemon slushie, horchata and vermouth accompanied by a small music group.
In full sun or on its glass terrace, its objective was to rediscover the century-old kiosk and its character as a refuge from the hustle and bustle of the city, respecting its essence, “but adapting it to a more seasonal and contemporary format”, explains Inés Lujan, director of communications and marketing of the Lamucca group. On the tablecloth, a handful of traditional hits like Russian salad, bravas, torreznos or gildas, but also with nods to the tourist in their brunch without schedules where there is no shortage of açaí bowls and crepes. “The commitment to the Palacio Real-Rosales axis, recently renovated, was a natural step in our evolution, as a strengthening of the commitment that we have already started with Lamucca in the Plaza de España,” he details.
The sacred Sunday paella at Casa de Valencia (Paseo del Pintor Rosales, 58), open since 1975; he risotto The northern dish of Stefano Franzin in the new location of Più di Prima (at number 30) or the anchovy and oxtail croquettes that accompany the first drink of the afternoon at Rosales 20, the legendary establishment that claims to have had among its clientele kings or Pedro Sánchez – the headquarters of the PSOE is only a few minutes away – are now sacred rites of the region, which coexist with novelties like the landing of the Trafalgar group. twice.
The creators of the bar that shook the world afternoon from Chamberí, land in Rosales after winning municipal concessions for two terraces. On one side, Moret, another rejuvenated neo-Herrerian style kiosk, memorable for the milk meringue sold under the Kiosco La Perla label, now serves as a restaurant and cocktail bar under a pergola that extends its frenzy from day to evening. This terrace located between magnolias, fir trees and the attentive gaze of the “ace of cups”, as the fountain is called in memory of the architect Juan de Villanueva, elevates the national snacking with snacks such as bun txangurro, aceviched zamburiñas or smoked lacon bikini, as well as a range of signature cocktails – watch out for the Negroni del Oeste or the Rosales Spritz – and the preeminence of sparkling wines. “If you can’t buy an apartment in Rosales, you can always have a cocktail in Moret,” they say on their website.
On the other hand, the Palacete Rosales, located in the disappeared bandstand designed in 1923 by Luis Bellido, also author of the Matadero, invites you to sit quietly, either outside or in the covered space, and taste the steak tartarebroken eggs with garlic shrimp or egg and truffle escalopes. In its liquid menu, the cava sangria or its old-fashioned lemonade stand out. “In summer, the nights at Palacete Rosales are incredible; having dinner and cocktails while looking at the illuminated trees of Parque del Oeste is a luxury. Only here you can feel like you’re out of the city without leaving it. It’s something very special,” explains Juan Tena, one of the co-founders of the Trafalgar bar.
When it comes to specialty coffee, you can’t miss a stop at La Florida Café Bistro (Paseo del Pintor Rosales, 70) or walk across a few streets to The Fix (Calle de Luisa Fernanda, 15). The area also offers a grocery store worthy of the name, such as a branch of the temple of Marcelino sausage, Vinos y Porcinos, at number 48 of the promenade, or one of the classics of the neighborhood since 1939, Cuenllas (Ferraz, 5), to eat there and dive into its cellar or take home some of its specialties such as cured meats, caviar, duck and goose dishes or homemade cakes. A consolidated offer that its new neighbors insist on respecting for a common goal. “We have to take care of the neighborhoods. We don’t really like cases like Ponzano, because they are saturated with leisure and that’s not good. We aspire to be part of the neighborhood and not kill its essence, but rather to integrate and be a good option (above all) for the residents of the neighborhood,” concludes Tena.
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