This Was the Best Pizza I Tried in Madrid, Spain

Written by Indy Patschke

When you think of pizza, you might think about how classic a food it may be; you might think that pizza is good everywhere. It's just pizza, right? Wrong. If I could put together the total number of pizza slices I have had in my lifetime, I think I would combust. But out of this countless number of pizzas I have consumed, only three places have ever been so deliciously memorable. One in Timonium, Maryland; one in NYC, New York; and one in Madrid, Spain. The place in Maryland is absolutely amazing, but if I could travel to New York or Spain every day, I would, just for the pizza. 

You may be asking yourself, “Wouldn’t Italy have the best pizza?" and that could be true, but I have not made the journey quite yet; once I do, you can expect a thorough review. 

If you are a student who is planning to study abroad one day, or someone just looking to explore the world, may I recommend Madrid? Madrid is a city known for its culture, museums, and lifestyle. It is also famous for Spanish foods such as tortilla de patatas and huevos estrellados. I tried countless new dishes while I was studying abroad in 2022. My host family made something new for me every night for dinner, which I was extremely appreciative of, even if I did not love everything. I was somewhat of a picky eater back then, and I wanted to have some control over what I had for lunch, which I know sounds a bit pretentious. During my time abroad, I had to go to school every day at Estudio Sampere, and we would get a lunch break. For the first few days, I tried cafes and take-out restaurants around the area of my school, until I found an Italian place a block away called Il Posto di Conde. 

I ate a margarita pizza from Il Posto di Conde every single day for lunch for four weeks straight. How did I not get sick of eating a cheese pizza every day? Because it was the freshest, most mouth-watering pizza I had ever had in my entire life. I mean, I am still thinking about it four years later, if this is any consolation. I would sit outside at a table outside the restaurant, eat this gorgeous pizza, and enjoy the life around me, the city passing by me as I enjoyed my comfort food. I looked forward to this moment each day. It was only about seven American dollars for a whole pizza, which I would consume by myself, not to brag. It was a justified purchase for me because, well, I needed to eat for one, and most people I know spend that much on coffee every day. I am not a coffee drinker, so this pizza was like my daily coffee.

The sauce was just the right amount of sweet and not a chunky sauce, which I appreciated. The cheese was melted, but not too melted. The basil was so fresh, as if they just picked it off the plant, and the crust was crispy on the outside yet extremely soft on the inside. It was a brick oven pizza, so it had a few charred spots, which gave it extra flavor. While these pizza components sound basic, their quality makes all the difference in the world. Since Spain is basically neighbors with Italy, Il Posto di Conde receives all of its ingredients directly from the pizza capital itself. This makes the ingredients very fresh and free of preservatives. Sometimes eating pizza in America can feel extremely unhealthy, and you can feel weighed down after. When eating pizza from Il Posto di Conde, I was able to eat an entire pie and feel light and refreshed afterwards. As a girl with stomach problems, I know many of you can relate. This pizza gave me absolutely no issues in that department!

Il Posto di Conde has a very plentiful menu with many other kinds of pizza and Italian cuisine, and I apologize for not eating anything other than their Margarita pizza. There are adventurous pizzas such as the diavola pizza, which is topped with spicy Calabrian salami and nduja, and the zucca e zartufo pizza, which uses pumpkin cream, mozzarella, crispy guanciale, and black truffle oil. Two of my classmates tried these pizzas and said they were “out of this world," and you’ll have to take their word for it.

I am so thankful for the time that I had abroad. It showed me how another part of the world lived. I tried so many new foods and foods that I knew, and I got to use my high school language lessons in real life. I was basically fluent in Spanish by the time I went home. But mostly, I am thankful (and a little bit angry) that I found the best pizza in Madrid. 

BRB while I book a flight back to Madrid just for Il Posto di Conde’s margarita pizza!

Thumbnail Credit:

Indy Patchske