A tapas bar crawl in Madrid
Eat, sleep, tapas, repeat
I’ve just come back from Madrid where the rain gods sent some of their best work our way over the weekend. Naturally, this could only mean one thing, we spent most of our time hiding from the rain inside cosy tapas bars eating and drinking. It was tough.
While our two days may not have covered many of the churches or museums in Madrid, I can say with confidence we covered an impressive number of tapas bars. If you find yourself heading to Madrid soon and wanting to take a tapas bar list with you, you are in the right place.
The short of it
Where we stayed - We stayed in an Airbnb in between Cortes and Lavapiés which was a great central location to be able to walk to nearby restaurants and bars. I would also recommend staying in Justicia - this is a really nice neighbourhood with more upmarket shopping, cafes and restaurants.
How to get around - Madrid is massive and we definitely didn’t get to every corner. We covered a lot of ground by walking as much as we could, discovering boutiques, cafes and bars as we went! When it was pouring with rain, getting an Uber / Bolt or even the local taxis were super easy and affordable as well.
When to go - Early March in Madrid can be a bit of a gamble when it comes to weather —and as we witnessed, it doesn’t always pay off. But with so much to see, eat, and drink that doesn’t depend on sunshine, and cheaper flights in these cooler months, I say anytime in either spring or autumn will be great!
Coffee spots
Before a day of eating & drinking, one must caffeinate. Given Madrid is a relatively urban city, the cafe and coffee scene is unsurprisingly good.
Acid Bakehouse - sibling to Acid Cafe & Acid Shop. A cool space, for a perfect flat white and very delicious sourdough pastries, focaccia and pan con tomate (tomato on toast).
Faraday - cafe & record store in Justicia.
Casa Neutrale Coffee - a good option if you’re in Justicia area.
Critical churro pit stop!
A literal hole in the wall, Churreria Santa Ana has been selling freshly fried churros and porras (thicker version of churros) since 1895. Churros are a breakfast staple in Spain - stop by here for a quick breakfast on the go, and make sure to get a cup of the hot chocolate for dipping.
Just for a drink & snacks
Drinks and snacks is something Madrid does very well. Most bars will place down a few Gildas (pickled things, olives, anchovies on a skewer), salty nuts and always a bowl of crisps with your drinks. The three drinks that flow at every bar and fueled our time in Madrid are, 1) crisp and cold lager, often Mahou, 2) a refreshing tinto de verano (red wine with lemonade) and 3) my personal favourite drink, vermut (Vermouth).
A moment for Vermouth: Vermouth has been the aperitif of Madrid for over a century. Typically served on tap or "de grifo" and enjoyed on the rocks, always with a slice of orange or lemon, and sometimes with a dash of carbonated water. Vermouth is in essence, wine macerated with botanicals, roots and herbs such as wormwood, which is what gives it its name, because this plant in German is called wemut. Wormwood provides the drink with its distinct and delightful bitterness.
Back to the crawl, here are some places I recommend for an aperitif and some light snacks:
Tasca Barea: A gem of a bar. Homemade vermouth. People standing on the street, not many tables, immaculate atmosphere. Say less.
Hermanos Vinagre: In between a traditional taberna and a diner - this place is a very trendy place to grab a drink and a light snack. They also hand out bags of potato crisps that are warm, they are INCREDIBLE.
Bar Trafalger: Didn’t make it here but looks like a cool spot for a drink or two.
GOTA: Natural wine bar - also didn’t go here but looks like a nice chic spot for a natural wine.
For seafood
El Doble: Absolutely loved it here. Very high quality seafood and tapas and ice cold beer! On the more expensive side for Madrid, but the quality of the seafood makes it worth it.
Bar El Boqueron: Another, more casual seafood tapas bar with the most delicious anchovy and tomato salad! Ensalada x3 pls.
For many/bigger snacks
La Castela: Loved dinner here - felt like quite a classic restaurant with really top notch food. A bustling atmosphere out the front area with couples sharing plates of tapas next to the bar. Out the back of the restaurant, large tables host big Spanish families and groups of friends.
Sala De Despeice: A culinary experience inside a ‘market butcher shop’, Sala De Despeice is a favourite in Madrid. The menu is experimental take on Spanish classics including rolled Jamin iberico and artichoke hearts and all dishes are assembled at your table. Reservations are a must here.
For late night drinks
Bodegas Lo Maximo: A fun, buzzing bar with a retro vibe.
Ceveceria El Diario: Open until early hours of the morning, this spot is perfect for late night bar hopping.
Casa Neutrale Musica: A trendy bar with an underground area that hosts a late night DJ.
If you have 2 days, I would map this list out and do the northern/Justicia end places on one night and the southern places on the other day.
Happy tapas crawling, see you next time!
Emma x
Brilliant read and brilliant weekend! Your recs are always the best! Proud of you x
Love it. Now dreaming of a weekend in Madrid