Out for Tapas in Madrid

In Madrid and other Spanish regions, tapas are bite-sized snacks served for free with a drink.

This culinary tradition began in the thirteenth century, when King Alfonso X of Castile issued an order for taverns and inns to serve alcohol with a small helping of food, in an effort to reduce the number of drunkards on the streets. According to other sources, a slice of bread was used to prevent dust or flies from landing inside wine pitchers, and this was the origin of the noun ‘tapa’ in its culinary sense (for ‘tapa’ means lid in Spanish).

Most bars offer a saucer with olives, chips, nuts or a slice of bread with a cold cut on top. In others, however, tapas have grown in size and become more sophisticated, transformed into a unique culinary experience in their own right.

In addition to the tapas that come with your drink, you can order a ración or a media ración to share (at a charge, this time). Madrid classics include patatas bravas (deep-fried potato cubes in a spicy sauce), Spanish omelette, croquettes, aged cheese or Ibérico sausage.

What about drinks? When you go out for tapas in Madrid, these are the most popular choices:

• Caña: Beer in a tall, thin glass about 20 cl in volume. Madrid’s baristas are well-trained in the art of ‘tirar la caña’ – that is, serving draft beer.
• Chato: Wine in a small glass. Madrid offers a wide range of local wines, as well as world-class labels from all over the country.
• Vermú: Spanish vermouth is herb-marinated wine (Mediterranean herbs, especially wormwood). In traditional bars, it’s poured from the tap.

Most bars in Spain serve tapas with their drinks. Some, however, have become a household name for their tapas, which they have been serving for decades – even centuries. Below you’ll find some of the most iconic tapas bars in Madrid.

• Casa Labra (Calle de Tetuán, 12): Just off Puerta del Sol, Casa Labra has been a witness to the history of Madrid since 1860. Classics here include soldaditos de pavía (battered cod pieces) and croquettes.
• Bodega La Ardosa (Calle de Colón, 13): Opened in 1892, La Ardosa stands in one of the trendiest districts in town: Chueca-Malasaña-Fuencarral. What to order: deep-fried pig’s ears, Spanish omelette and preserved shellfish.
• La Casa del Abuelo (Calle de la Victoria, 12): At La Casa del Abuelo they’ve been serving shrimp and prawn since 1906. Andy Warhol has sat at their bar.
• Lhardy (Carrera de San Jerónimo, 8): A classic in the local culinary scene, Llhardy has been serving sophisticated tapas for more than 170 years. Its croquettes and puff pastries stuffed with foie gras are perfect matches to its well-known broth.
• El Anciano Rey de los Vinos (Calle de Bailén, 19): Standing next to the Royal Palace and La Almudena Cathedral since 1886, this bar serves its vermouth with olives from Camporreal, paella, chicken fingers with Cabrales cheese or Olivier salad.
• Bodegas Ricla (Calle de Cuchilleros, 6): Established in 1867, this bar next to Plaza Mayor offers delicious preserved or pickled foods and tripe with its vermouth or wine.
• Taberna de Antonio Sánchez (Calle del Mesón de Paredes, 13): In the heart of the district of Lavapiés, this tavern has changed hands several times since 1830, all owners with connections in the world of bullfighting. The star dish is, of course, oxtail.
• La Venencia (Calle de Echegaray, 7): A classic in Barrio de las Letras (Literary Quarter) since 1922, La Venancia pours outstanding sherries with fine olives, cheese, roe or cured, dried tuna.
• La Oreja de Oro (Calle de la Victoria, 9): One of the best places in town to have grilled pork ears, or orejas – hence the name.
• Taberna de la Dolores (Plaza de Jesús, 4): To many, this bar offers the best draft beer in Madrid with a banderilla or gilda – a mini skewer of pickled foods: olive, spring onion, anchovy and chilli pepper.
• Los Caracoles (Calle de Toledo, 106): Just off El Rastro flea market, this bar specialises in snails – hence the name (caracoles in Spanish).
• Docamar (Calle de Alcalá, 337): Docamar is famous for its patatas bravas, drawing crowds away from the touristy areas in town.
• Casa Julio (Calle de la Madera, 37): This small restaurant makes world-famous croquettes, tried by a great many international celebs, including U2’s Bono.
• Bodegas Jiménez (Calle de Donoso Cortés, 66): Delectable draft beer poured into chilled glasses, with a slice of Spanish omelette with chorizo on bread.

There is a high concentration of tapas bars in downtown Madrid. Some were mentioned above, but there are many others…

• Casa Paco: Open since 1890, Casa Paco serves a famous version of cocido madrileño (traditional stew from Madrid).
• Cervecería Sol Mayor: This quintessential Spanish bar from the mid-twentieth century offers great deep-fried fish.
• Taberna de la Daniela: This tavern offers a wide range of highly palatable individual Spanish potato omelettes.
• Taberneros: Hailed as one of the best tapas bars in Madrid, Taberneros offers an interesting wine list.
• Casa Revuelta: Casa Revuelta is a classic too. Not to be missed: battered cod bites and torreznos (fried bacon cubes).
• Bar Postas: One of the best fried fish restaurants on a crowded street in town.
• Estado Puro. Chef Paco Roncero’s gourmet bar that serves both traditional and avant-garde tapas.

Going north of Gran Vía, you’ll find the trendiest tapas bars along with traditional inns, welcoming generations young and old.

• El Tigre (Calle de las Infantas, 30): A must in the area, serving hearty dishes as tapas.
• Stop Madrid (Calle de Hortaleza, 11): Stop Madrid has been open since 1929 to offer an interesting list of wines, and cheese/ham/cold meat tapas.
• El Respiro (Calle de las Infantas, 34): An unpretentious bar where you’ll get substantial tapas.
• Bodega Ángel Sierra (Calle de Gravina, 11): If you pass by this bar right in Plaza de Chueca, you should try its vermouth from Reus with pickles.
• La Camocha (Calle de Fuencarral, 95): La Camocha offers delicacies from Asturias: sausage and cider casserole or clams, and cider or sangria to wash them down.
• La Tape (Calle San Bernardo, 88): A contemporary bar to have traditional food: cheese, cured pork, pickles, and so on.
• Sifón (Calle del Barquillo, 7): This modern bar plays tribute to traditional colmados (grocery stores) and what you could buy in them.
• Celso y Manolo (Calle de la Libertad, 1): If you’re coming to Celso y Manolo, you should try its vermouth, marinated in 50 different herbs, and its organic chicken wings.
• Orio (Calle de Fuencarral, 49): Inspired by Basque cuisine, the staff at Orio get around with trays with hot tapas.
• La Palma 60 (Calle de la Palma, 60): A traditional bar with an innovative twist on a popular street with party-goers.
• La Dichosa (Calle de Bernardo López García, 11):Established quite recently, La Dichosa sticks to Madrid’s classics: draft vermouth, black pudding snack, smoked sardines, and so on.
• Muy (Calle de Amaniel, 36): You’ll find no prepared dishes here, but you’ll love their gourmet canned food.
• El Cangrejero (Calle de Amaniel, 25): A bar for great draft beer and prawn tapas.
• La Gastrocroquetería de Chema. (Calle del Barco, 7): At La Gastrocroquetería de Chema you’ll get an interesting assortment of tapas and croquettes with a creative twist.
• El Albur (Calle de Manuela Malasaña, 15): El Albur gathers the best of every Spanish region: cecina (salted and dried meat) from León, salted fish from Cádiz, cheese from Galicia, La Mancha or the Basque Country, sobrassada (cured sausage) from Majorca, and much more.

These three traditional neighbourhoods in Madrid also house the trendiest, most innovative and multicultural districts in town. And, of course, lots of tapas bars!

La Latina

• La Chata (Calle de la Cava Baja, 24): This bar, wrapped in a traditional atmosphere, is renowned for the tripe it serves.
• La Musa Latina (Calle de San Andrés, 12): At La Musa Latina you’ll get innovative treats made with top-quality ingredients. The ideal place to go out and meet people.
• Juana la Loca (Plaza de Puerta de Moros, 4): This bar draws the crowds with its delicious Spanish omelette with caramelised onion.
• Taberna Almería (Calle de las Aguas, 9): This traditional tavern carries an interesting variety of quite accomplished tapas.
• Taberna Rayuela (Calle de la Morería, 8): Set in a picturesque corner of Madrid, Rayuela offers tapas inspired by traditional Spanish and international cuisine.
• Taberna El Almendro (Calle del Almendro, 13): For a joyful experience at El Almendro, try the almendritos de chicharrones (pork cracklings) and wash them down with a glass of sherry.
• Txirimiri (Calle del Humilladero, 6): Txirimiri ensures an exquisite experience in Basque haute cuisine.
• La Perejila (Calle de la Cava Baja, 25):This bar has found a place for itself in Madrid through Andalusia-inspired tapas.

Barrio de las Letras (Literary Quarter)

• Casa Manolo (Calle de Jovellanos, 7): Manolo is famous for its cured ham croquettes.
• Cervecería Cervantes (Plaza de Jesús, 7):This lively bar pampers patrons with yummy shellfish tapas.
• Casa González (Calle del León, 12): An old-fashioned charcuterie, Casa González attracts locals and out-of-towners, including celebs like Woody Allen.
• Cervecería Alemana (Plaza de Santa Ana, 6): Standing in one of Madrid’s most alluring squares, this alehouse makes fine croquettes, tripe and Spanish omelette.
• Los Rotos (Calle de las Huertas, 74): As you might guess from the name, this bar’s specialty is scrambled eggs (in Spanish, huevos rotos).
• Los Chanquetes (Calle de Moratín, 2): This tavern brings two Spanish passions together: bullfighting and traditional cuisine.
• La Tapería del Prado (Plaza de la Platería de Martínez, 1): This eatery, boasting a most convenient location for those on a sightseeing tour of Madrid, serves an assortment of sophisticated tapas.

Lavapiés

• Bodegas Alfaro (Calle del Ave María, 10): The perfect choice for vermouth and original tapas.
• El Económico-Soidemersol (Calle de Argumosa, 9): Perfect for a snack on a budget. The second part of the name stands for ‘Los Remedios’ read backwards. (The straight form was a registered name already.)
• Café Melo’s Bar (Calle del Ave María, 44): This traditional café is famous for its zapatillas – huge slices of Galician bread with lacón and Tetilla cheese (typical dried meat and cheese from Galicia).
• La Musa de Espronceda (Calle de Santa Isabel, 17): The house of Teresa Mancha, the woman who inspired much of José de Espronceda’s romantic work, is now a bar and cultural centre.

In Madrid’s most elegant, upmarket districts, you can also go out for tapas.

Retiro

• Marcano (Calle del Doctor Castelo, 31): Marcano, run by a follower of Juan Mari Arzak, serves haute-cuisine tapas.
• O Grelo (Calle de Menorca, 39): This Galician restaurant, one of the finest in town, serves tapas as well.
• La Raquetista (Calle del Doctor Castelo, 19): The tapas at La Raquetista are the result of top-quality ingredients and bold combinations. Try the curried oxtail when you’re here.
• Taberna Pedraza (Calle de Ibiza, 38): The most successful version of Spanish omelette in the area. Great ingredients and careful preparations.
• La Castela (Calle del Doctor Castelo, 22).: In an area populated by discerning palates, La Castela offers the finest tapas in the traditional style.
• La Catapa (Calle de Menorca, 14): La Catapa has two specialties: potato and truffle croquettes, and mussel ceviche.
• Laredo (Calle del Doctor Castelo, 30): At Laredo you’ll get Cantabria-inspired cuisine that uses ingredients from the nearby food market – and a bar with a growing number of patrons.
• Kulto (Calle de Ibiza, 4): One of the most innovative bars in the area, Kulto makes tapas with a creative twist.

Barrio de Salamanca

• Jurucha (Calle de Ayala, 19): A Salamanca classic, famous for its hot bread tapas.
• Estay (Calle de Hermosilla, 46): This eatery has joined the mini-cooking trend.
• Hevia (Calle de Serrano, 118): A well-established restaurant in Barrio de Salamanca.
• Los Timbales (Calle de Alcalá, 227): A gathering place for bullfighting lovers in the area of Las Ventas Bullring
• La Giralda (Calle de Claudio Coello, 24): A great choice for a taste of Andalusia without leaving Madrid.

Chamberí

• Fide (Calle de Ponzano, 8): A Chamberí classic, offering an interesting sample of pickles.
• El Doble (Calle de Ponzano, 58): At El Doble you’ll get most refreshing cañas and great fish and shellfish tapas.
• Taberna Moncloa (Calle de Andrés Mellado, 45): This tavern offers good cañas and flavoursome croquettes or crostini.
• Los Arcos de Ponzano (Calle de Ponzano, 16): Quality pork tapas.
• El Escudo (Calle de Ponzano, 49): After a few cañas and their matching tapas, you’ll feel you’ve already dined…
• Bar Sierra (Calle de Galileo, 41): A popular bar with university students, who come here after hearty tapas and raciones.
• Lúa (Calle de Eduardo Dato, 5): A Michelin-starred restaurant with a bar where you can taste tapas d’auteur.
• Bar Morales El Atómico (Calle de Meléndez Valdés, 58): A fine bar whose most popular menu choices are the Olivier salad, the squid and the anchovies in vinegar.
• El Tendido (Calle de Andrés Mellado, 20): A restaurant established by bullfighters, El Tendido serves traditional cuisine. Its star dish is scrambled eggs with cured dried pork.

Madrid is peppered with tapas bars, even beyond the downtown districts. What’s more, some of the most genuine bars are to be found in the more distant neighbourhoods. A few of them are listed below.

East Madrid: Vallecas, Moratalaz, Ciudad Lineal...

• El Coto (Calle de Melquíades Biencinto, 13): If you’re visiting Vallecas, try this eatery for fine deep-fried fish in the Andalusian style.
• Bacchvs (Avenida de Moratalaz, 141): One of the most popular venues in Moratalaz.
• Docamar (Calle de Alcalá, 337): A very popular eatery in Madrid, Docamar is said to have the best patatas bravas in town.

North Madrid: Tetuán, Chamartín…

• La Pampa (Calle de Francos Rodríguez, 40/Calle de Villaamil, 1): One of the most genuinely traditional bars you’ll find in Madrid, featured in many Spanish films.
• El Enfriador (Calle del Príncipe de Vergara, 291): A highly popular bar in Chamartín, pouring the best beer and making the best tapas.

Southwest Madrid

• Gonmar (Paseo de Muñoz Grandes, 47): This bar is among the most popular in Carabanchel. Star dish: grilled pork ears.
• Bodega Amistad (Calle de San Filiberto, 4): This bar serves the best vermouth in Usera.