BLoved

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Gran Vía Address Worth Knowing

Right on Gran Vía 9, one of Madrid's most iconic thoroughfares, BLoved occupies a space that manages to feel both relaxed and genuinely stylish. The atmosphere is described as distendido — unhurried, easy — yet the décor is decidedly chic. It is the kind of place that works equally well for a long lunch or an evening dinner, and the kitchen runs through both without missing a beat.

The Cooking: Chef Elvio de Castro

The gastronomic concept belongs to chef Elvio de Castro, whose approach is grounded in local sourcing. Vegetables come from La Vega, and the beef — served in both a generous 400g lomo bajo and a 250g solomillo — carries the I.G.P. designation of the Sierra de Guadarrama, the mountain range that frames Madrid to the north. That regional loyalty is then opened up with Mediterranean and international technique, producing a menu that feels rooted without being rigid.

What to Eat

The menu is organised with a personality that matches the room. From the sea, the ceviche of corvina with tiger's milk and passion fruit is singled out by the restaurant itself as a dish not to miss. Alongside it sit a salmon tartare with avocado and pine nuts, and chipirones with mango-ginger chutney and piquillos emulsion — clean, confident Mediterranean cooking with a cosmopolitan edge.

Land-side, the cochinillo confitado arrives with a rosemary potato and a dried-apricot sauce, while the steak tartare is plated over braised bone marrow with an old-style mustard ice cream — a detail that signals the kitchen's willingness to surprise without showing off. The rice section holds its own too: an arroz Senyoret with prawns and squid, and a seafood risotto finished with scallop and parmesan.

Desserts carry the same playful tone. The Tierra Misú — described as a tiramisú served upside down, with a coffee liqueur pipette and hazelnut crumble — has become something of a signature, as has the Torrija Rock&Roll with crème anglaise and vanilla ice cream.

Recognition and the Wine List

Wine Spectator awarded BLoved its Award of Excellence, a recognition that reflects the seriousness of the cellar alongside the food. For a restaurant that sits on one of Europe's busiest urban avenues, that level of attention to the wine programme is notable and worth seeking out.

BLoved is part of the Eboca Restaurants group, which operates across Spain, but the Gran Vía location has its own distinct identity — a confident, welcoming take on Mediterranean cuisine in the heart of the Spanish capital.