CENTRO. Located in the heart of Madrid, this is one of Spain's finest fish houses. Great appetizers such as rover crayfish, whereas entrees include baby squid, seafood paella, and turbot, Gallego style. Other options feature lobster, king crab, prawns, and soft-shell crabs. Reservations recommended. METRO: Plaza de España

CHAMBERI. This is an excellent choice for seafood. Casa Valencia specializes in paella, a range of delicious rice entrees, and cuisine that carries true Mediterranean flair. The restaurant's decor is elegant, featuring white linen tablecloths, chandeliers, and a large open dining room, and the service is cordial. Reservations recommended. METRO: Moncloa.

CENTRO. Located on a narrow and quiet alley near Plaza del Sol, this friendly champagne bar and restaurant serves Madrid's best paella and cava (sparkling wine from Catalonia). The dining room is bright and airy and lined with white-washed trellises, giving the illusion that you're dining on an outside patio on a sunny day. This is the place where locals take their out-of-town guests to give them a real taste of Madrid. The fixed price menu comes with tapas, wine, your main course and the daily dessert. METRO: Antón Martín

CHAMARTIN. This restaurant offers a superb seafood menu and also features fowl and game cuisine. Particularly good are the salmon steamed with saffron and the sea bream with green peppercorns. Cabo Mayor decor follows a private yacht motif with brass portholes and copper lamps. The ambiance is charming. METRO: Plaza de Castilla

This highly recommended restaurant, which is a Valencian-style country house, is popular with both Madrid's residents and its tourists. The restaurant is divided into several dining areas, each of which is decorated with a touch of local flair. The menu items feature seafood dishes that are prepared with a definite Spanish influence. The paella here is popular, and La Barraca offers more than different varieties of it. Reservations are highly recommended. METRO: Gran Vía.