For those of you who have just arrived at Complutense University of Madrid, are you struggling daily with the ultimate philosophical question: ’What’s for lunch?' The UCM campus is huge, and the faculty buildings are home to a variety of canteens. But which one is the best? As someone who’s been there, I’m here to give you the lowdown on UCM’s dining halls. Hope this helps!
First, it’s important to understand the difference between two concepts: a Cafetería and a Comedor. A Cafetería is more like a café, primarily selling items like Bocadillos, Tostadas, coffee, and some pastries. It’s perfect for a quick breakfast or a snack between classes. The Comedor, on the other hand, is where you go for a proper lunch. It usually offers a Menú del Día (Menu of the Day), which includes a starter, a main course, dessert or fruit, a drink, and bread—a very complete set. This kind of offering is one of the benefits of Complutense University of Madrid.
Personally, I most frequently visit the canteen at the Faculty of Philology. The Menú del Día here is pretty standard, with prices hovering around €6.5. Starters are often soup, salad, or pasta, while main courses are typically roasted chicken or fried fish with chips. As for the taste, it’s typical mass-produced food—nothing amazing, but it definitely fills you up. The biggest downside is: it gets incredibly crowded
! Especially between 1:00 PM and 2:30 PM, the queue can be ridiculously long. If you plan to go, I highly recommend avoiding peak hours.
Here’s a picture of a typical Spanish university canteen meal so you can get a feel for it. This is the basic setup—simple and straightforward, but reasonably balanced nutritionally.
To give you a clearer overview, I’ve compiled a table comparing some of the canteens at the Complutense University of Madrid
that I’ve been to or heard about from friends. Please note that these are just my personal opinions!
Main Canteen Experiences Compared
| Canteen Location | Set Menu Price | Personal Review |
|---|
| Faculty of Philology | ~ €6.5 | The classic choice, always a long queue |
| Faculty of Law | ~ €7.5 | Nice atmosphere, slightly more expensive |
| Faculty of Information Sciences | ~ €7.0 | Newer facilities, more variety |
| Somosaguas Campus Main Canteen | ~ €6.0 | Best value for money, but quite remote |
The canteens at UCM are all about convenience and value for money, so don’t expect a Michelin-star meal. Of course, the Cafeterías in each faculty building have their own special snacks and are also worth exploring. For instance, some Cafeterías make an exceptionally good overpriced Tortilla de Patatas (Spanish omelette)—it’s a matter of finding the right spot, which is a common theme when comparing UCM with other universities. Feel free to leave a comment below to add your favorite UCM canteens and must-try dishes. Let’s build our ultimate food map together!
