Probé el cocido madrileño en La Bola con reserva realizada con un mes de antelación, algo comprensible dado el gran número de comensales que acuden al restaurante. El cocido estaba delicioso, con un caldo intenso y muy sabroso, lleno de matices y profundamente reconfortante. Todo se encontraba en su punto y el servicio fue atento y eficaz. Un restaurante muy recomendable para disfrutar del cocido madrileño tradicional en Madrid.

+3

Nos apetecía comer un buen cocido y allí que fuimos. No defraudó. El cocido simplemente muy bueno. No llega al 10, pero si un sólido 8. Me sigo quedando con el de mi suegra. El arroz con leche muy bueno, hacía tiempo que no me comía uno así. Da gusto comer en sitios así, castizos y lejos de la decoración moderna de la mayoría de restaurantes. Además la atención, muy buena.

+1

El mejor cocido madrileño que he comido hasta la fecha. Reservamos otra un grupo de 10 personas y el trato fue ideal, la experiencia del cocido espectacular y también una de nosotras probó el cordero que estaba que se deshacía de lo bueno que estaba. De postres recomiendo el buñuelo de manzana.. exquisito! Si comer cocido está en tus planes en Madrid, sin duda ven aquí!

+1

Helen Lindner

We didn’t have a booking and needed to wait over an hour for a table - which wasn’t a problem as we wandered the nearby palace area whilst waiting. We went for the traditional clay pot stew. We wanted to share one serve between the two of us but to do this we were asked to also order another entree. We were not disappointed as we ordered the croquettes - which were fantastic. We also enjoyed a wonderful bottle of Rioja. Despite reading negative reviews of staff we experienced excellent service and both left feeling very full and happy. I am generally a very fussy 4.5 plus follower - and this was a 4.5 plus experience!

+1

Erica Janocha

Charming dining room. Stew is delicious and so is the apple fritter/ice cream dessert. Incredible service.

Izzy Sanabria

This review is long overdue and I apologize to the staff for my tardiness. My wife and I celebrated our 43rd wedding anniversary while in Madrid and had the unique opportunity and honor of dining at this restaurant which specializes in Cocido Madrileno since 1870. They make each portion in clay pots and cook it on a wood burning stove to give it a wonderful smokey enhancement to the stew. The ingredients are simple yet combine to make a great meal. The staff explains the process and recommends the wines and deserts that enhance your dining experience Wilmer recommended their apple fritter and it was the perfect desert after having the cocido. The way that the staff treated us was nothing short of perfection and they paid attention to each detail of the experience. I'd like to recognize Wilmer, Kamal and Diana for their service and we are hoping to enjoy another Cocido Madrileno in the near future. There was however one disappointment though (but to no fault of the staff)... They had clay pots with the restaurant's name (logo) at the check out register and wanted to purchase one as a pleasant memory but weren't for sale. We recommended that they strongly consider selling them but for now, the great dining experience and full tummy upon leaving the restaurant will be treasured for years to come. Thank you, Taverna La Bola for making our dining experience there so memorable while in Madrid.

Alan Siu Kuen Wong

Strongly recommend. Very good food especially their stew. One portion is good for 2 people. Reservation is a must. Lamb is excellent. A reminder: keep a copy of your reservation email because they missed our reservation at our arrival.

+5

Robin Wang

You must order their special dishes! They are delicious and hearty, very filling. The best we had while staying at Madrid. Short walk from the Royal Palace.

+2

ENRIQUE Cardenal

Visiting Madrid and want to experience something unique? This is it!!! La Bola is one of those unique places in Madrid where tradition and quality have been present for more than 150 years. A lot of history and perfection in the making , this place has one of the best cocido madrileños in town. Atmosphere is perfectly taken care of, the walls packed with the credentials of this signature place anticipating a unique experience. For a madrileño, I personally find it outrageous that this was only my first time here. But I am happy I finally managed to check that the good name and reputation of this restaurant does its justice and confirms what everyone knows. There’s no question about the quality and craftsmanship of this traditional Madrilean dish. Indulge yourself and give it a try! Service didn’t disappoint either. Super friendly crew, we arrived before they opened and they were super friendly accommodating us in a table when we didn’t even have a reservation and the waiting list goes for several days. Very happy and DEFINITELY will come back when in Madrid.

+3

Jose Garza

Amazing food all around. You have to ask for the house specials and try them. I loved every bite. The vermouth is top notch as a starter, the house wine is a must with the lamb. The Cocido Madrilleno was amazing. The chickpeas mixed with the chorizo was just so tasty. You can’t go wrong eating here any time of day.

+4

Jenny Chiang (典臻)

I tried cocido Madrileño for my very first time! I loved the soup that I could taste the essence of all kind of meat inside, also it is a bit sticky because it is rich in gelatin! The canbage was very soft and cooked with a lot of garlic which I liked very much. Meat for me was just fine because I thought the flavor was all melted in the soup. Tomato sauce was fresh with chickpeas. I enjoyed the seat beside the window and the decorations inside the restaurant, it was interesting that there were a lot of celebrities’ pictures on the wall. Staffs were very friendly and even took a picture with me. Overall it was a great experience with tasty classic food in Madrid.

+1

Great traditional recipes. Most people come here for the Cocido a la Madrileña which is a hearty, meaty stew with a base of chick peas. There is no doubt that the stew is very tasty and the atmospher…

We have a very nice experience, we didn't have reservation and let us enter. My husband orders the delicious stew with 3 different meats (Cocido Madrileno), I order the Arroz Madrileno The waiter …

We had cocido in this restaurant, which was very good. The service was excellent. We didn't have a booking, but they accommodate us. It was a nice experince.

Ate here with my wife and 18yo daughter in June 2023. Had the Cocido Madrilleno and the roast lamb. They were very good! We ate in a number of excellent restaurants during our trip to Spain, but…

Very old school serving traditional food. Service is friendly, a tad abrupt but still charming! The food is excellent as is the house wine and it's good value.

This is truly the best place for cocido in Madrid! It is more than 100 years old and it is already in the 6th generation of owners. We had the cocido and a bunuelos dessert, accompanied by a sangr…

El cocido en líneas generales estaba bastante bueno, cantidad abundante. La comida se nota que es de calidad, la textura y sabor del garbanzo muy bueno. Espacio del local muy reducido. Las mesas muy pequeñas y por poner algún pero los camareros van muy a piñón.

La Bola es un sitio agradable y con mucha tradición, bonito y muy castizo. La comida es correcta, el cocido está bueno, sin más, pero no destaca especialmente. El servicio es normalito, cumple sin brillar. Un clásico simpático para conocer, aunque no sería mi primera opción para comer cocido.

Esta castiza taberna madrileña se ha convertido en un templo para ir a disfrutar de un tradicional cocido madrileño. Nosotros nos decantamos por el menú especial que por 45 euros incluye un aperitivo consistente en aceitunas, pan y mantequilla, un vermut de barrica, unas banderillas o gildas, como no podía ser de otro modo su cocido cocinado en puchero de barro individual sobre carbón de encina, de postre buñuelos de manzana con helado, acompañado de una botella de tinto de DO Madrid, agua mineral y para rematar un chupito de licor. Puede que el precio parezca algo caro, si tenemos en cuenta que el plato principal es un cocido, que es un plato cuyos ingredientes no son caros, pero seguro que cuando pruebes ese caldo, cambias de idea. El ambiente agradable, aunque como en todos estos sitios las mesas igual demasiado juntas. Los camareros muy profesionales.

+3

Llevaba tiempo queriendo ir a un restaurante que tuviera en uno de los mejores cocidos de Madrid. El proceso de reserva es un poco extraño, pero funciona: primero haces una pre-reserva y unos días antes tienes que confirmar ya la reserva definitiva. El local se nota que es un local antiguo pero con esencia: profundos y amplios salones, con pasillitos entre ellos. Evidentemente, pedimos cocido y, en mi opinión subjetiva, tuve sentimientos encontrados. Vaya por delante que estaba rico y acabé "como una bola" y, entiendo que el cocido no es algo universal y que cada casa tiene sus recetas y trucos, pero a mi la sopa me pareció un pelin sosa y el caldo con un poco de exceso de jugo del chorizo. Los garbanzos perfectos, la carne perfecta. Tocino y chorizo espectaculares. El repollo, que no falte. ✌️ Pero yo salí de allí súper contento con los postres. Vaya manjar de flan y de arroz con leche. 🍮 Así que nada, echar un pelín más de sal y listo, todo perfecto.

+3

Una de las tabernas creo mas míticas de Madrid donde poder degustar un cocido tradicional madrileño. Mantiene la solera de años y años de estar presente. Reconocida con varios premios no deja de sorprender la elaboración de sus cocidos y la presentacion de los mismos. Por ese local han pasado personajes memorables, famosos, distinguidas celebridades... hasta nosotros mismos 😂😂😂 La verdad q recomiendo su visita... casi de obligación aunque tambien digo q hay muchos sitios donde probar un buen cocido madrileño sin menospreciar La Bola... pero se ha de decir pq hay más opciones. Para mi los sesos rebozados son una exquisitez... las costillas de cordero riquísimas y el cocido una estupenda combinación de productos 😋😁 En el arroz con leche notamos q se pasó el grano... pero un sabor casero estupendo. Por poner una pega q nunca nos a gustado es q sin decirlo te encuentres el pan en la mesa y encima te cobren 1,60 € por pieza; no me parece correcto pero sin duda merece la pena esperar aunque sea a las 17:00 para probarlo. Si en algún momento os planteais ir no dudeis visitar su web y leer su historia... muy entretenida y así al visitar el local podreis observar las anécdotas leídas.

+6

nshm

Google Maps shows the restaurant as open continuously until the evening, but lunch service finishes before 2:30 pm. Arriving earlier is recommended. The restaurant reopens in the evening. The cocido was delicious, and the stuff were very polite and professional. During quieter periods (off season), it was possible to seated quickly even without a reservation, but it could be different in busy time.

Youngmahn Moon

Very very traditional food. If you're coming here because a tv show recommended it, skip it. It's good food but this is probably not what you want. This is the kind of place you come to eat just to say you tried the soup. Very underwhelming.

Jin

This is a traditional restaurant with over a century of history, specializing in stewed pot dishes. To be honest, as a foreign traveler, I found the flavors a bit difficult to get used to. However, this is purely a matter of personal taste and has nothing to do with the restaurant itself. Still, I made an effort to finish everything out of respect for the chef and the food. I believe that part of the joy of traveling is experiencing local cuisine at long-established, traditional restaurants.

Mengbai ZHU

The portion was huge. But I ate them all still. It worths anyway a try if you are already in Madrid, I mean the typical local food. 24 euro for the meal and a wine costs 4,5 euro. The restaurant inside is very beautiful, decorated with photos from a lot of celebrities.

We were actually quite disappointed after finishing. We'd read about the place and it was supposed to be one of the places to go. The food is very traditional and "old school" which was fine but noth…

We were actually quite disappointed after finishing. We'd read about the place and it was supposed to be one of the places to go. The food is very traditional and "old school" which was fine but no…

Nos obligaron a pedir un plato por persona cuando con los dos cocidos para tres hubiésemos estado perfectamente. Como contra el servicio. Insistentes para apurarnos en ordenar y terminar los platos. Cerraba 22:30 y ya a las 22:00 querían traernos la cuenta. Una pena porque siendo madrileña me encantaría poder volver a disfrutar sin prisas.

Ivy Shum

The food is ok but I am truly shocked by the attitude of the staff. They are really impatient just because I did not speak Spanish. They even had not tell me how to eat the signature dish, after I poured the food out of the port. They just took away my food without saying anything. I truly understand there maybe communication misunderstanding because they do not speak fluent English. But mocking in front of customers and urging us to order with impolite gesture is truly unacceptable.

Sammy Wong

We have seen a TV programme recommending this place. We booked the table on Google, when we arrived at the restaurant, the waiters gave us a blank face and later got annoyed when the reservation was not on their book. I can relate this to other one star comments on Google review as the whole unpleasant experience was about the waiters. I appreciate it is a busy restaurant and waiters do not speak fluent English. However, the waiters did not smile, showed an impatient attitude, or said thank you when we paid the bill, which I found very odd when other restaurants in Spain can do that at minimum, in both touristy and local areas. No complaints on the chef as the food was great, and I believe the chef values quality of food over food presentation. I will not return to this restaurant or recommend this to other people.

+1

A typical Madrid restaurant full of customers and a sense of the past. Great place if you are looking for Madrid dishes such as cocido and tripe, definitely heavy. Good fish and good tortilla. Typica…

It's expensive for a cocido in Madrid. Is the most antique place but not the best to eat it. I have tasted better cocidos in other places.

The service was great. The food was good. The sangria was good but the menu is limited. Very limited. For it being summer they did t have any typical summer dishes. But the food was good. Not great…

No volveremos. Es el claro ejemplo de querer sacar dinero sea como sea. Fuimos dos, nos pusieron en una mesa que estabamos a escasos 20 centimetros de los de al lado y pegando con la mesa donde tenían cubiertos y donde pusieron todas las vajillas de comida y caldo. ¡qué calor! Lo siento, no vale todo. Ademas que sirven todos a la vez. Y desde que te ponen los fideos, hasta que te traen el caldo... En cuanto a la calidad de la comida, es normal. Hay sitios de cocido mejores. Creo que este vive de las rentas porque sinceramente nos hemos sentido fatal en un espacio super pequeño.

Kenneth Miwa

The food was acceptable, but the service was disappointing. The side dishes were placed on the table without any explanation of what they were for or how they should be enjoyed. When I asked, the server appeared irritated. After I paid the bill, there was no “thank you” or any gesture of appreciation. Overall, the attitude towards Spanish-speaking customers seemed noticeably better than towards English speakers. I would not return, nor would I recommend this restaurant, especially for non-Spanish speakers like myself.

An OK traditional restaurant quite near the Opera. You go in and bread is placed on your table. You think it is complimentary. It will appear on your bill. You are having your main course and a wai…

No tap beer, no food besides the pre cooked ones and almost no one in charge. No alternatives to clients and inviting you to leave. Never going back

No tap beer, no food besides the pre cooked ones and almost no one in charge. No alternatives to clients and inviting you to leave. Never going back

Food was great, but if you’re an American, expect to be treated as second class. The service was anything but great. Our order was never taken but assumed, never given a menu to order, and we had t…

foodiesky hk

Very bad experience, waiter is a bit rude, overpriced and the food actually is not delicious, nothing special for the cocido I prefer other restaurant for such price,quality and service! For your information, each person must order a main

Mouloud Mhb

Went there today with my sister and our night was ruined. The food was average which at this point was not the main problem. The problem was our waiter who was super rude, zero smile zero professionalism. I cannot even understand how such person can work there. I was a bit hesitant to go la Bola because I read the previous comments who complained a about the service but wanted to give a chance. But honestly such a disappointment. Our waiter smiled only when we asked the check. We had one wish was to leave as soon as possible. I complained in the end on our way out and hopefully our complaint will be taken into consideration but such people ruin the restaurant's reputation. I will never recommend this place unfortunately.

Rinor Zejna

The staff was truly shocking, not only rude but also unprofessional, they had always had a bad attitude when taking the order, they were always on top of your had to check if you have finished the plate (which is understandable at some point knowing the place is busy) but one of the waitress took our bottle of water and the glasses without even finishing and after he took them and put his hand all inside the glass, he asked if we were finished, which is not okay. The food in general was nothing special (although it may depend on the taste). Definitely wouldn’t recommend booking a place to eat here as you would want a place to relax and enjoy not just a table to eat as quick as possible as this is not a fast food place!! We were surprised by the place as lots of people on the internet suggested it, but definitely a pass…

Liang Chun Chen

The worst restaurant I ever had. Super racist super rude and foods just average. My food just up and another waiter asked me if you finish or not? I mean…. The plate is full, then I said not yet after that, he rolled his eyes. We have a reservation, but our sit is right next to server table. There even a tray under my table and the waiter accidentally threw a spoon on me and he just looked at me and rolled his eyes again 😀he not even tried to pick it up not even a simple sorry. We ordered their soup. They didn’t ask. We wanna meet or not. They serve it with that attitude. They didn’t ask about dessert or anything else. They just keep rolling their eyes give us the attitude. And I order in Spanish just because I want to respect them, but this is what I got.🥰🥰 So if you want to have a nice dinner with a nice memory, please don’t come here to waste your money and your time. Literally not worth it.

Judith Poon

Waiter's attitude was terribly not nice, they did not offer wine menu at all. One of the waiter, tall and without glasses was having an attitude problem with several tables. When other table said no need wine, he was laughing out loud and making fun of what the customer said. Food was not okay, we barely finish half. We would rather spend the money at other restaurants with better service and food quality.