Estragón Vegetariano (El), Madrid

A great place to meet up with friends where you can feel relaxed and at home due to its attractive interior decor, excellent choice of music (jazz, flamenco and pop) and friendly service. It's laid out on three levels and you can choose to sit at one of the 20 tables for a full meal or hang out at the bar eating tapas. House specials include fried garlic cheese, stuffed peppers, avocado salad, leek gratin and chocolate cake with truffles. Don Opas from Valdepeñas is the house wine. There's a daily set menu. You can reserve a private dining room. You'll find it in historic Plaza de la Paja, part of medieval Madrid, and it's surrounded by lively, traditional bars.