First opened as a botellería (wine shop) in 1802, La Bola developed slowly into a tapas bar and eventually into a full-fledged restaurant. The traditional setting is the draw: the bar is original and the cozy dining nooks, decorated with polished wood, Spanish tile, and lace curtains, are charming. The restaurant still belongs to the founding family, with the seventh generation currently in training. The house specialty is cocido a la madrileña (a hearty meal of broth, garbanzo beans, vegetables, potatoes, and pork).