A concept with authentic soul, a feminine touch, and dishes that blend roots, flavor, and attitude.
At number 39 Calle Lope de Rueda, a stone’s throw from Doctor Castelo and behind Menéndez Pelayo, Taberna La Rox has been beating for a year now, a neo-taberna that has managed to win a place in the heart of the Retiro neighborhood. Behind this project is Roxana, a resident of the neighborhood for more than a decade and the soul of the place, whom everyone—as her name suggests—knows simply as La Rox.
Hers is not just any tavern. “I wanted a place that was energetic, welcoming, and different from what else is in the neighborhood. A place that respects traditional cuisine, but mixes it with everyday modernity,” explains Roxana. And so La Rox was born on September 13, 2024, after a long career with a large hospitality group in Madrid. “There came a time when I needed to spread my wings and create something of my own, where I could put everything I had learned into practice.”
La Rox exudes warmth from the moment you walk in. Those who cross the threshold are greeted by a warm atmosphere, carefully designed lighting, and décor that reflects Roxana’s personality. “It has a lot of me in it. Those who know me know it and feel it. From the colors, the music, and the smell of the bar, to the painting by the artist Belín, which is my favorite piece in the place.”
The 83-square-meter space is divided into a bar area with a counter and a central table, and a small room with five tables that can be arranged in many ways, with a capacity for about 40 diners. “We wanted everyone who comes in to feel at home, eat well, and enjoy friendly, relaxed service.”
In the kitchen, the honesty of the product reigns supreme. Local raw materials and long-standing suppliers: J. Martínez’s fruit shop, Alimentación Leo, and Negrinni. “Everything is very close by; I like to know who is behind what I buy.”
La Rox champions traditional Mediterranean cuisine, with Andalusian touches and a taste of culture and comfort food. Among her essentials are torreznos (fried pork rinds) with patata revolcona (mashed potatoes), bouchot mussels with a spicy touch, fideuá (noodle paella) with free-range chicken thighs and aioli, lemon tagliatelle—a dish inspired by a trip to Capri—and oxtail with French fries, which they cook for a day and a half “to make it perfect.”
“I’m behind every dish, with the help of Domingo Puentes, who helps me improve recipes and develop new ones. He’s a ray of sunshine,” she acknowledges.
There are no cocktails here, but there is good wine, sherry vermouth, Malaga beer, and a great desire to toast. “Beer and wine chatting are very important; that’s where it all starts.” On the drinks menu, there are three of Roxana’s personal favorites: Txaro Urago (Viura and Malvasía), Finca Resalte (Tempranillo), and Triángulo (Tintilla de Rota).
“For me, La Rox is everything. It’s my first project and my place in the world,” she confesses. A small tavern with the soul of a grand house, it has already become a meeting place for neighbors, curious visitors, and lovers of good food. During the week, the neighborhood and office workers fill the tables, and on weekends the atmosphere changes, with a younger crowd looking to enjoy themselves without pretensions.
About TABERNA LA ROX
Taberna La Rox was born in September 2024 in the Retiro neighborhood of Madrid. Its owner, Roxana, decided to start her own business after years in the hospitality industry to create her own neo-tavern: an energetic, welcoming, and unique space where traditional Spanish cuisine blends with the rhythm of everyday life. Mediterranean market cuisine, Andalusian touches, local produce, and an atmosphere that feels like home. La Rox aspires to be a meeting point for traditional locals.
Specialty: Spanish cuisine
Address: Calle de Lope de Rueda, 39 (Madrid)
Opening hours: Tuesday to Thursday from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and from 8:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and from 8:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Source: SUITE Communicate with Style