Restaurants specialising in one dish are common in the city, from chorizo-stuffed mushrooms at Mesón del Champiñón (mesondelchampinon.com), to finger-singeing bowls of gambas al ajillo at La Casa del Abuelo (lacasadelabuelo.es) – another Madrid institution, owned by the same family since 1906. Evening get-togethers tend to be convivial rambles between bars, each selected for one particular dish. We learn all this on a four-hour Devour Madrid food tour (devourtours.com) that wraps 2,000 years of Spanish history around four tapas stops, fuelled by tinto de verano – the city’s simplified version of sangria, red wine topped up with a mild lemonade (unusual, but oddly drinkable).

When to Go: Between 8-12 pm, ideally as part of a multiple-stop tapas adventure. Tucked into a cave beneath Plaza Mayor, Mesón de Champiñon might not look like much when you first walk in but this place serves the best mushrooms in Madrid. The recipe is simple: button mushrooms with a small chunk of paprika-spiced chorizo, parsley and garlic are seared on a hot griddle with a healthy dousing of sunflower oil.

At this point, my stomach was doing a happy dance as we followed Luke to our next stop, Meson del Champiñon – house of mushrooms. On the way, we passed both Mercado San Miguel (a slightly overpriced foodie market) and the world’s oldest restaurant, Sobrino de Botin (insider tip: apparently it’s expensive with mediocre food, not the place to find the best tapas in Madrid). The mushrooms we ate were to die for.

Mesón del Champiñón is located beneath Plaza Mayor, this spot is famed for its mushrooms served with paprika-spiced chorizo. It’s an ideal stop during a tapas adventure. Barrutia y el 9 in the Chueca neighborhood, this century-old tavern feels like dining in a family’s home, with elevated versions of Spanish classics.

Famous for their grilled mushrooms, which are stuffed with bits of chorizo and garlic, this historic tapas bar is as quirky as it is delicious. This is another place that's often packed, but just squeeze on in and order a plate of the “ champiñones.”. Calle Cava de San Miguel, 17

Also in Plaza Mayor, Mesón del Champiñon is a family-owned tapas bar that’s been charming Madrilenos since 1960. This establishment earned a reputation for their unique mushroom tapas that they stuff with garlic, parsley, and chorizo. Want to eat it like the locals?

Few places can claim to have elevated a simple ingredient like the humble mushroom to new heights. But Mesón del Champiñón is one of them. Just ask anyone who’s tried them here on our Tapas, Taverns, & History Tour.

Address: Cava de San Miguel, 17, Centro, 28005 Madrid, Spain - $. Must-Try Dish: Champiñones Rellenos Con Jamon. This restaurant is located right next to Plaza Mayor and has been around since 1964.

Close to the bustling Mercado de San Miguel is Mesón del Champiñón, a charming tavern that showcases the best of Madrid’s traditional food.