The chief hotels of Madrid are the Hotel de la Paz, Hotel del Universo, the Roma, and the Hotel de Paris. They are centrally situated, and fairly well appointed. The meals are almuerzo and comida, corresponding to luncheon and dinner. There is no meal in Spain resembling the hearty English breakfast. The Spaniard takes a cup of chocolate and a dry roll upon rising, and goes about his business or his pleasure until eleven or twelve o’clock, when almuerzo, the first real meal of the day, is served.
Some of the Spanish dishes are only palatable to English people after a taste for them has been sedulously cultivated. Many of the viands are flavoured with garlic. The menu for comida consists of soup, fish, an egg dish, meat, sometimes a puchero or stew, and cakes and fruit. Table wine is usually provided free of charge. Every man smokes in the dining-room, both during and after meals.
Among the best restaurants are the Fornos, the Italiano and the Inglés.
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