Sharing is so much fun

15 June is World Tapas Day—don’t miss the chance to celebrate it! Gathering with friends for a casual meal revolving around small portions of food is a true tradition in our city, and you can do it in all sorts of bars: those that have been around forever, as well as others aspiring to stand the test of time.

Published in esMADRIDmagazine June 2025

ALTO BARDERO

Plaza de Puerta de Moros, 4. LA LATINA. Tel. 91 146 72 36

Uruguayan chef León Bonasso and Argentine chef Pablo Paternostro teamed up to open Bardero in 2021, in the district of Arganzuela. It’s now one of the city’s top restaurants, and the successful duo decided to step up their game with a new space which opened just a few months ago in the heart of the La Latina neighbourhood. “We make cuisine that we like and have fun making”, they tell us from the establishment, which has a dining room as well as a bar with a rotating selection of cold and hot bite-sized pinchos fresh from the kitchen. You’ll be spoilt for choice, with options like truffled egg brioche with boletus cream and white butifarra sausage, Cantabrian anchovy and pork jowl on toasted bread, Idiazábal cheese fritters, smoked salmon with kabayaki sauce, enoki mushrooms in tempura and dill mayonnaise, and the delicious potato omelette with onion confit. And there’s no better way to accompany each bite than with any of the 25 wines on the menu, nearly all of which are available by the glass.

CASA CANITO

Recoletos, 11. COLÓN / BANCO DE ESPAÑA

A revival of the traditional sort of place that’s been around forever, with a long bar and high stools, is what this casual, fun place with an ‘80s vibe sets out to deliver. Its dynamic menu, created by Patxi Zumarraga, features delicious options like tuna and potato salad with quail eggs, raw tuna drizzled with miso-cured egg yolk, grilled Ibérico ham, Mozzarella cheese and truffle sandwiches, a combination of fresh and marinated anchovies, and bold offerings like Las Bravas y Las Pegamoides, a potato dish named after a famous band from Madrid’s La Movida movement, which the bar holds close to its heart. But there are all sorts of other temptations, including a large selection of tinned goods and a variety of sandwiches on crusty bread, from the traditional pepito (beef) to very appetising offerings like the rustic chorizo sandwich. Bear in mind that they don’t take reservations. It’s first come, first served, and once it’s full they start a waiting list, so that should give you an idea of its popularity.

LA RETASCA

Ibiza, 38. IBIZA Tel. 91 060 72 30

This tapas bar pays tribute to Madrid’s traditional tascas, or casual eateries: the kind that have been in business for years. It plays around with nostalgia and brings back flavours, smells and even sounds and the ambience of the past, while adapting them to suit its customers’ demands. Well-poured beers, vermouth and wines by the glass are accompanied by simple fare, including snacks like San Sebastian-inspired gildas (anchovy, piparra pepper and olives on a small skewer), Ibérico ham croquettes, tuna and potato salad, fried pork belly chunks, Capel-style potato omelettes and grilled pig’s ear with brava sauce. Be warned: there are some dishes you won’t want to share!

VARRO

Serrano, 93. GREGORIO MARAÑÓN

Varro sends a clear message: it’s “a new old-style taberna”. This may sound contradictory, but not as much as you might think. Despite opening just months ago, its philosophy couldn’t be more classic. At this new venture, Jorge Velasco and Joaquín Serrano, already known for their marvellous work at Varra, offer delicious tapas with a universal appeal, from the traditional potato omelette—with and without onion, so there’s no room for argument—to toasted bread topped with prawns in semi-salted butter to tempura-battered dogfish with tartar sauce.

TABERNA LA CARMELA

Victoria, 4. SOL. Tel. 91 522 22 93

Located just off Puerta del Sol, this taberna pays tribute to authentic culinary tradition while also embracing modernity, with options like tuna belly and potato salad with balsamic vinegar pearls and piparra peppers. The menu has an endless range of dishes for sharing, including oxtail croquettes, flambéed black scallops with kimchi mayonnaise, fried pork belly chunks with mojo verde sauce, and huevos estrellados (fried eggs served over chips) with Ibérico ham. And here’s another surprise: the establishment’s former coal cellar has been turned into a flamenco venue.

BAR H EMBLEMÁTICO

Castelló, 83. NÚÑEZ DE BALBOA Tel. 91 277 51 60

The people behind the uber-famous restaurant Hevia (No. 118 Calle de Serrano) also own this brightly-lit establishment where everything revolves around the bar, with offerings rooted in tradition and made with quality ingredients. If you’re looking for an aperitivo, there’s a range of delicious pincho snacks and small sharing platters to choose from. The tigres (breaded stuffed mussels) are a classic, but some might prefer the garlic prawns, anchovies marinated in vinegar, tuna and potato salad or patatas bravas, which are served sliced rather than diced with a tasty sauce that has a bit of a kick to it. The calamari sandwiches are out of this world!

BARETO

Alcalá, 55. BANCO DE ESPAÑA. Tel. 91 297 71 41

Glasses of beer, vermouth and wine pair perfectly with menu classics like fried pork belly chunks, patatas bravas and calamari sandwiches in an establishment that has become a meeting place for Madrileños at aperitivo time. Featuring a marble bar, this spot pays tribute to the traditional eatery.

CAIÑO

Ibiza, 35. IBIZA Tel. 91 060 72 80

This modern wine bar also boasts a menu of light bites with plenty of traditional dishes given a contemporary flair. You can’t go wrong with the squid ink croquettes, La Repolla potato omelette or garlic prawns with chips and a fried egg.

HERMANOS VINAGRE

Cardenal Cisneros, 26. QUEVEDO / BILBAO. Tel. 91 411 87 99

There are four Hermanos Vinagre branches in Madrid, and the brothers have earned a name for themselves in the world of casual dining. First, you’ll need to choose: will it be a beef or calamari sandwich? The latter is served with a secret sauce and a touch of lemon zest. Next…whatever you fancy!