El Rana Verde

Over the river

El Rana Verde is on Calle de la Reina, beside the bridge, over the Tagus. From its dining rooms you see the Royal Palace and the gardens of the Island and the Prince, and the terraces look straight onto the water. The house boasts a romantic setting that recalls other eras, among gardens and fountains, and says that its rooms and views have inspired many artists.

The name has a story. Santiago Rusiñol, the Catalan painter and writer, was a customer and friend of the family, and it was he who proposed calling it that in honour of the patriarch, known as "el tío Rana".

It is a large restaurant: several dining rooms with capacity for more than 400 people, as well as the terraces. That is why it also works for groups, long family lunches and celebrations.

What to order

Traditional home cooking with the specialities of Aranjuez. The house itself names four: asparagus, pheasant, frogs' legs and kitchen-garden strawberries, which in season are the obvious dessert. There is a restaurant menu and a tapas menu, and special menus for groups to be arranged directly with the restaurant. The website does not publish prices or the full menu.

If you only want something quick, the tapas menu on the terrace is the way to enjoy the views without a long meal. At the end of the day, the house suggests a drink on the terrace looking at the river.

Before you go

It publishes no opening hours: call 91 891 13 25 or 91 801 15 71 to book and confirm it is open, or write to [email protected]. On spring Sundays, with the Strawberry Train and the gardens in full bloom, it is very busy: book in good time, especially if you want a terrace table.

What to combine

The place fits a palace morning. Visit the Royal Palace, cross to the Island Garden and eat here. In the afternoon, continue through the Prince's Garden to the Royal Barges Museum or the Casa del Labrador. If you come with children and the distances feel long, the Chiquitren goes round the centre and the gardens.