Let’s take care of our planet

It’s not just about living a healthy life. We also need to be aware that we must protect everything around us: nature, culture and society. Fairness leads to happiness, and that’s exactly why we’ll feel great after dining at any of these restaurants with sustainable values which are well worth a visit.

Published in esMADRIDmagazine October 2024

Ensuring today’s needs can be met without jeopardising the ability to provide for tomorrow; this could be a simple definition of “sustainability”, an increasingly common term used in virtually every sphere which is strongly associated with the care that we, as humans, must take to preserve our planet’s health.

And that’s not all. Two more pillars of this fundamental philosophy include contributing to the social and labour market insertion of people at risk of exclusion, and fighting to safeguard the artisan trades linked to our local culture.

In terms of gastronomy, this translates into a strong commitment to locally-sourced ingredients to help support community farmers who adopt environmentally friendly practices. The use of recycled materials in a restaurant’s décor is another step toward leading an environmentally responsible life. All of these establishments uphold sustainable values, leaving us feeling especially satisfied after a meal.

MO DE MOVIMIENTO

Espronceda, 34. ALONSO CANO / GREGORIO MARAÑÓN. Tel. 667 97 45 99

This space is the result of a process of reflection which gives weight to every decision made and each ingredient consumed. Mo de Movimiento’s raison d’être is to create quantifiable, tangible value through actions with long-lasting effects.

This hub for collaborative exploration opened in 2018 with the establishment of Proyectos Conscientes, a company resulting from the commitment and enthusiasm of Felipe Turell and Javier Antequera.

It’s a living project which shares the story behind each process, striving to revitalise traditional trades and reduce its environmental footprint. The furniture is recycled and the menu—with dishes like smoked aubergine, free-range grilled chicken and Manchego cheese calzone—makes its support for small local producers very clear. The outdoor dining area with orange trees rescued from Valencia reaffirms its commitment to local Spanish farmers.

DESBORRE

Unión, 8. ÓPERA. Tel. 680 84 09 84

Behold a venture, whose traditional cuisine is based on memory, technique and circularity, that speaks to our conscience. According to chef Lucía Grávalos, “it’s a space for everyone to enjoy tasty food, and if we can also encourage diners to think a bit more about the future of the planet, then that’s even better”.

Great care is taken with the ingredients, which change on a seasonal basis. The menu revolves around vegetables from organic gardens, free-range meat and sustainable fish, sourced in collaboration with small producers who care every day for their products and the environment in which they grow.

Soil protection is key to the approach here, “because the total sustainability of our food system is linked to its health. The aim is to protect it from intervention which can affect its biological processes”. The menu includes dishes like Thai-style hake and artichokes, stewed beef sandwiches and a berry slice for dessert.

OVILLO

Pantoja, 8. ALFONSO XIII. Tel. 91 737 33 90 / 627 82 38 66

Javier Muñoz-Calero’s most personal endeavour yet is based on solidarity: it’s closely associated with the project Cocina Conciencia, which aims to promote the social and labour market insertion of vulnerable youths.

The restaurant embraces sustainability through its use of natural light and rainwater recovery. Its short menu keeps tradition alive by showcasing familiar ingredients prepared using time-honoured methods.

LA VAQUERÍA MONTAÑESA

Blanca de Navarra, 8. ESTRECHO. Tel. 91 138 71 06

This former dairy has become a benchmark for self-care and delicious food, crafted with first-rate ingredients.

It specialises in fresh fish sourced from the harbour market in Santander, organic seasonal vegetables and produce from small gardens across Spain, and organic beef from Siete Valles de Montaña, Cantabria’s first organic farmers’ cooperative. 

With that in mind, how about a moussaka with roasted aubergine, tomato and mountain-pasture-raised lamb?

SUPERCHULO

Fuencarral, 74. TRIBUNAL. Tel. 91 108 80 48

Superchulo isn’t just a restaurant; it’s a lifestyle.

Diners are welcomed with a vibrant, organic, eco-friendly menu that features over 250 ingredients. Combined with the charming spirit that fills every corner, it’s no wonder this establishment cultivates and shares happiness, nourishing not only the body but also the mind and soul.

It offers true “rainbow food”, with dishes like the Pink Rabbit—a bed of beetroot hummus, roasted carrots and a hint of parsley and herb oil.

MAMA CAMPO

Trafalgar, 22. BILBAO. Tel. 91 447 41 38

From the most traditional to the healthiest options, this restaurant is dedicated to offering the best sustainable cuisine, allowing diners to savour honest, local food. They exclusively work with small-scale farmers who care for the environment and their products.

The menu includes dishes like lemon herb chicken, roasted leeks drizzled with the restaurant’s own Romesco sauce and topped with cured meat, and a marinated salmon poke bowl with seaweed rice, orange and vegetables.

EL INVERNADERO

Ponzano, 85. RÍOS ROSAS / CUATRO CAMINOS. Tel. 628 93 93 67

With a Michelin Green Star under its belt, this restaurant by Rodrigo de la Calle, a bona fide “vegetable tamer”, sets the standard for gastrobotany. It champions sustainable cuisine by sourcing solely from local producers and suppliers.

COQUETTO

Fortuny, 2. COLÓN / ALONSO MARTÍNEZ. Tel. 916 25 62 92

This establishment with non-stop food service offers an enticing and versatile menu. To Mario Sandoval, sustainability means “being able to enjoy honest ingredients, from farm to table. We reclaim traditional approaches and flavours from our memories, linking our past with our present”.

RUN RUN RUN CAFÉ

Plaza de Juan Zorrilla, 1. RÍOS ROSAS. Tel. 91 166 90 94

Embracing the principles of clean eating, this restaurant celebrates the natural purity of ingredients for the benefit of our health and the planet’s well-being.

How do they achieve this? By using seasonal or local ingredients and preparing dishes with slow-cooking techniques and at low temperatures.