First impressions

I'd been hunting for a proper brunch in Madrid for a while, and Eat My Trip is the one that finally scratched the itch. It's a restaurant that takes traditional Spanish cooking and gives it a bit of a nudge sideways, and the brunch menu is where that comes through most. I went recently, not expecting much beyond a decent plate of eggs, and honestly I left surprised. The starters were clever without trying too hard, the mains came out cooked exactly how they should be, and the dessert, well, I'll get to the dessert. If you want brunch in Madrid that isn't just avocado toast on repeat, this is worth a table.

So what makes it the best brunch in Madrid?

Eat My Trip Brunch & Dinner does the simple things properly, which sounds obvious until you've eaten enough bad brunches to know how rare it actually is. The menu is generous and it won't wreck your wallet. Eggs done right. Bacon that's actually crisp, not that sad limp middle-ground. And the coffee is strong, which after a late Madrid night matters more than I'd like to admit. The staff were warm and easy-going too, happy to shuffle things around when we asked.

The range of brunches on offer

There's more than one way to brunch here, and they lean into that. Fancy something classically Spanish, or something a bit more off-piste? Either way, they've got you.

The Spanish Breakfast is the crowd-pleaser, with fresh fruit, pastries and cured meats. The American Breakfast piles on pancakes, bacon and eggs for anyone who wants the full stack. There's a Healthy Breakfast if you're after something lighter. And then there are the ones I'd steer you toward if you want to eat well: the Eggs Benedict, the Croque Madame, and on the sweet side the Pain Perdu or the Crepes Suzette. Order from that lot and you'll be fine.

The good and the not-so-good

No place is perfect. The food is genuinely excellent, the menu's got real variety, and nothing I tried felt phoned in. For what lands on the table, the price is more than fair. Service is attentive, and the staff will actually help rather than hover. The downsides? Minor, but worth flagging. It gets packed at weekends, so if crowds put you off, aim for a quieter slot. And the food takes a while to arrive, though it's the kind of wait that pays off.

What to actually order

The atmosphere here is easy and fun, the sort of place you'd happily sit for a couple of hours with friends or family and lose track of time. A few things I'd pull off the menu:

The Breakfast Burrito is a strong opener, stuffed with eggs, bacon, cheese and hash browns. It's a proper way to start the day. If you've got a sweet tooth, the Cinnamon Rolls are the move, soft and topped with a rich cream cheese frosting. And when you're in a savoury mood, the Chicken & Waffles delivers, crispy fried chicken next to a Belgian waffle with maple syrup poured over the lot. Really good. And there's enough on the menu that a group won't end up squabbling, which is usually the hard part with brunch.

Fancy recreating it at home? A quick brunch bowl

If you want a bit of that Eat My Trip feeling at home, here's a simple brunch bowl to mess about with. You'll need: 1 cup quinoa, 1 cup vegetable broth, 1 roasted sweet potato, 1 can of black beans, 1/4 teaspoon chili powder, 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin, and a pinch of salt and pepper. For toppings, pick your favourites, avocado slices, eggs, hot sauce, salsa, whatever you've got.

Cook the quinoa in the vegetable broth per the packet instructions. Once it's done, stir the spices through it. Add the roasted sweet potato and the black beans, mix it all together, then taste and adjust the seasoning, more of whatever it's missing. Pile on your toppings and dig in. It's not the restaurant, but it does the job on a lazy Sunday.

Where it sits among Madrid's brunch spots

For my money, Eat My Trip is up there with the best brunch spots in the city. The food's great and the service is genuinely good, staff friendly and happy to accommodate. There's real variety, including a few traditional Spanish dishes if you're after the local flavour. Prices stay reasonable and the portions are big, which you don't always get in the same place. Go, basically.

Brunch and dinner: how both stack up

We came for brunch and stayed curious enough to come back for dinner, and neither let us down.

The brunch menu runs wide, sweet and savoury both. We kicked off with the avocado toast, which was fresh and full of flavour. For the main we went with the eggs Benedict with smoked salmon, eggs cooked spot on, salmon lovely, and a side of roasted potatoes that came out crisp and properly seasoned.

Dinner, we took the three-course prix fixe. Starter was the soup of the day, a creamy potato soup that hit the spot. The main was grilled chicken with vegetables, the chicken cooked just right and the veg holding up its end. Dessert was the chocolate mousse cake, rich and a little decadent, exactly what you want to finish on.

Both meals landed well. Good food, sensible prices, service that was quick and friendly. We'll be back next time we're in Madrid, no question.

Standout dishes around town

If you're building a wider brunch crawl, here are a few other spots worth knowing and what to order at each: La Bicicleta, Mercado de San Miguel, Casa Lucio, La Mallorquina and Casa Paco Jimenez.

At La Bicicleta, go for the eggs benedict, the churros con chocolate, or the tortilla española. The eggs benedict are poached eggs with ham and hollandaise over a toasted English muffin, and they're the reason to go. The churros con chocolate are fried dough sticks with a thick chocolate dipping sauce, ideal if you've got a sweet tooth. The tortilla española, that classic potato-and-onion omelette, is simple, tasty and filling.

Over at Mercado de San Miguel, look at the huevos rancheros, the churros con chocolate, or the ensalada de pollo. The huevos rancheros are fried eggs on a corn tortilla with beans, salsa and avocado, hearty and full of flavour. The churros con chocolate here are the same deal, fried dough sticks with rich chocolate for dipping, and just as good for satisfying a craving.

Getting the most out of a Madrid visit

Eat My Trip is worth planning around, so a few practical notes to save you hassle:

Book ahead. It gets busy, so call or reserve online rather than chancing a walk-in. Come hungry, too, because the portions are generous and you'll want the room. Be patient with the food, which takes a little time but earns the wait once you're a bite in. And then just settle in. The place is relaxed, nobody's rushing you, so take your time over the meal.

Final word

If you're after a brunch spot in Madrid that's actually worth the trip, put Eat My Trip near the top of the list. The food's excellent and the room is made for a slow weekend meal. Get the eggs Benedict and the churros con chocolate, and I doubt you'll leave disappointed.