The 10 best bars in Madrid
When you hear the words 'bar' and 'Madrid' in one sentence, the first thing that springs to mind is probably an old-fashioned tapas bodega with great wines by the glass and small plates of tortilla and ham croquettes. Sure, the Spanish capital has plenty of those, but there are also exciting, modern cocktail bars, such as Salmon Guru and 1862 Dry Bar. You should also squeeze in a glass of vermouth and a caña (small beer) or two.
Our destination expert gives the lowdown on the city's very best bars, from the ultra-traditional to the quirky and cool.
For further inspiration, see our guide to Madrid and the city's best hotels, restaurants, tapas, nightlife, shops, things to do and things to do for free.
Puerta del Sol and Gran Vía
Museo Chicote
Madrid’s most famous cocktail bar opened in the 1930s and still has much of its original décor. Expect mirrored alcoves down one side, a long bar down the other and bottle green leather club chairs. Ernest Hemingway was a regular, as were Ava Gardner, Gregory Peck, Frank Sinatra, Sophia Loren and Luis Buñuel – who was very particular about his dry martini. Now the space is a fashionable place for after-dinner drinks, with DJs playing R&B music, but the glamour – and the classic cocktail list – lives on. You might well spot a famous face.
Contact: museochicote.com
Prices: ££
Getting in: Smart casual, fashionable dress recommended
Barrio de las Letras and Lavapiés
Cervecería Alemana
With waiters in white jackets and photographs of bullfights on the walls, this well-loved bar has changed little since it was founded in 1904. Regulars at its marble tables over the years have included the bullfighters Manolete and Luis Miguel Dominguín, as well as writers such as Valle-Inclán and Hemingway. It is a popular place to meet in the area, and at weekends people jostle for space around the bar, which is piled high with platters of fried fish. Order a caña (a small beer) to start with.
Contact: cerveceriaalemana.com
Prices: £
La Fisna
A traditional bodega, with a wooden frontage, iron columns, open-brick walls and a metal counter in the Lavapiés neighbourhood, has been given a new lease of life after being taken over by wine lovers. As well as the bar and a handful of high tables with stools, there is a shop at the back with an excellent stock of interesting, reasonably priced wines. A changing selection of at least 50 wines from all around Spain and beyond is available by the glass, along with good cheese and charcuterie and more elaborate tapas.
Contact: 00 34 91 539 5615; facebook.com/pg/LaFisnaVinos; instagram.com/lafisna.vinoycata
Prices: £
La Venencia
This narrow bar with nicotine-stained walls opened in the 1920s and is as stripped back as it gets, with just a wooden counter, some barrels of sherry, and a few faded posters and tables. It only serves sherry and basic tapas – start with a fino. Hemingway was a regular and these days you still never know who you might spot skulking at the back. But don’t even think about sneaking a sly pic as photos are banned and this really isn’t a place for 21st-century technology anyway. No spitting or tipping either, by the way. It's best before lunch or dinner.
Contact: esmadrid.com/en/restaurants/venencia
Prices: £
Salmon Guru
Renowned Argentinian mixologist Diego Cabrera is the mastermind behind this buzzy cocktail bar near Plaza de Santa Ana. The design scheme ranges from that of a classic New York bar to a pop-art theme and a distinctly Japanese style across a series of spaces. Choose from classic cocktails, such as an old fashioned, or go for something more experimental – the expert bartenders are always happy to give you a suggestion or to whip up your favourite combination.
Contact: salmonguru.es
Prices: ££
Chueca, Malasaña and Conde Duque
Bodega de la Ardosa
The Ardosa, between oh-so-cool Malasaña and the boutiques along Calle Fuencarral, is a much-loved institution in the city. With its red paintwork and smoked glass sign, this is pure traditional Madrilenian style. You either sit on stools around barrels or dive under the bar to one of the secret tables at the back. Rows of dusty bottles are stacked onto shelves and old photos decorate the walls. It is open from breakfast time until late, and more often than not is packed out with people having a beer or two and some tapas.
Contact: laardosa.es
Prices: £
Café Belén
This has been a favourite haunt of locals in the Chueca and Salesas neighbourhoods for more than three decades. Café Belén is run by the renowned artist Daniel Garbade, whose work, as well as that of other artists, is exhibited on the striking blue walls. It's comfortable, quietly fashionable, gay-friendly, and popular with writers and creative types. Pop in for a cup of superb coffee or organic tea with a slab of cake, or gather with friends for a glass of champagne or a cocktail. There are regular cultural events, such as book launches, too.
Contact: elcafebelen.com
Prices: £
De Vinos
In a former neighbourhood grocer’s in the Conde Duque area, you'll find De Vinos; it still has the original marble counter, tiled floor and wooden fittings. As for drinks, it has an impressive range of vermouths and wines available by the glass, which are scrawled onto boards on the walls, with many from small producers in lesser-known Spanish regions. Just draw up a stool at the bar and work your way through the list or grab a table in the room at the back, where tasting sessions and other events are held.
Contact: 00 34 91 182 3499; facebook.com; instagram.com
Prices: £
1862 Dry Bar
This a place for serious classic cocktails – at a surprisingly reasonable price – rather than fluorescent concoctions adorned with umbrellas and fruit. It is run by top barman Alberto Martínez, and housed in a mid-19th century palatial building on a street lined with bars and restaurants at the lower end of Malasaña. This is a good spot for a decadent afternoon or after-dinner drinks – it gets packed after midnight. Try to grab a seat by the big windows so you can observe the always entertaining scene outside, and order a moscow mule, a gimlet or a Manhattan.
Contact: 00 34 609 531 151; facebook.com/1862DryBar; instagram.com/1862drybar
Prices: £
Taberna de Ángel Sierra
Kick off the evening in this tavern on Plaza de Chueca. Taberna de Ángel Sierra has been in business for a century and has featured in Pedro Almodóvar’s films The Flower of My Secret and and Parallel Mothers. The tiled interior has the typical tin counter, where some poor soul is perpetually engaged in the Sisyphean task of swilling out glasses under a constantly running tap. The draught beer is excellent, so order a caña (a small glass) or a vermut con sel (red vermouth with a splash of soda). There are tables in the wood-panelled back room.
Contact: tabernadeangelsierra.es
Prices: £
