The Room
Lateral opened on Paseo de la Castellana in 2003 and has expanded to about ten Madrid locations. The premise: a casual modern-Spanish bistro that runs the tapas-and-mains format at the right price for daily lunch and casual dinner. The dining rooms are dressed in clean modern register with brass detail and warm wood; the bar at each location is the focus.
Service is fast and warm; bookings are walk-in friendly. The Castellana flagship is the largest with 150 seats.
The Food
The kitchen runs modern Spanish tapas, market-style — gilda anchovies, tortilla de patatas, tuna tartare, pluma ibérica, cured-meat board, ceviche — alongside a small main-course list and a daily-changing chalkboard. Wine programme is Spanish-led and well-priced; the by-the-glass list is generous.
Cocktails run aperitivi-led with serious gin-and-tonic and vermouth programmes.
Best Occasion Fit
First Date: Lateral's bar is the Madrid first-date for the casual-confident diner. The tapas format is shareable; the bill is plausible.
Team Dinner: Lateral for a 6-12 person team dinner is the Madrid alternative to the formal corporate rooms — neighbourhood-quality, family-style, honest pricing.
Solo Dining: The bar at any Lateral is one of Madrid's casual solo-dining defaults. Order the daily chalkboard.