10 Greatest Tapas Bars in Madrid for Genuine Spanish Flavors

March 31, 2025

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Madrid is a metropolis the place culinary traditions run deep, and tapas tradition is most definitely a quintessential a part of its attraction. Tapas, the small, flavorful plates that accompany drinks, are extra than simply snacks—they’re a lifestyle. Whether or not loved standing at a bustling bar or seated in a comfortable nook of a standard tavern, tapas symbolize the artwork of savoring food and drinks in good firm.

Exploring the perfect tapas bars in Madrid is a necessary expertise so as to add to your itinerary. Many institutions observe the custom of serving a free tapa along with your drink, making it an reasonably priced and pleasant solution to pattern town’s gastronomy.

Hello, I am Elena! Thanks for studying my weblog. With over 20 years of expertise within the hospitality and journey business, I maintain a Swiss Diploma in Resort Administration and a Grasp’s Diploma in Hospitality & Tourism Management. As a Greece professional, I’ve spent years exploring the nation in depth, uncovering its hidden gems and genuine experiences. I additionally labored for 5 years as a Vacation spot Growth Marketing consultant for an American boutique journey company, the place I performed a key function in creating Greece, Spain, and Portugal as journey locations. My deep business information, hands-on expertise, and fervour for immersive journey be certain that each advice I share is trusted, insightful, and curated with experience. I hope that you simply discover my content material helpful, in case you will have any questions please be happy to achieve out. I will be joyful that can assist you.

10 Greatest Tapas Bars in Madrid: The place To Take pleasure in The Most Genuine Spanish Flavors

Listed below are a few of the finest tapas bars in Madrid that I attempted throughout my go to, providing unimaginable flavors, distinctive atmospheres, and culinary tales. Additionally, take a look at my put up on: 5 Days in Madrid Itinerary for First Time Guests and Information to the Greatest Areas to Keep in Madrid

1. El Lacón

📍 Tackle: Calle Manuel Fernández y González, 8, 28014 Madrid

A Madrid establishment since 1966, El Lacón exudes authenticity with its conventional decor and vigorous ambiance. Identified for its heat hospitality, this tavern embraces the customized of serving a complimentary tapa along with your drink.

On a meals tour, we paired the Bodegas 2022 Juan Gil Blanco—an natural Moscatel wine with fragrant notes of peach and melon—with scrumptious tapas, together with:

Pimientos de Padrón: These small inexperienced peppers are evenly blistered, providing a steadiness of smoky and barely spicy flavors.
Jamón Tapas: A traditional and irresistible selection showcasing Spain’s famend cured ham.

Why Go to: El Lacón’s attraction lies in its dedication to custom, making it an ideal spot for these searching for an genuine Madrid expertise.

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2. Taberna Sidrería El Fontán

📍 Tackle: Calle Canalejas, 6, 28014 Madrid

Situated close to Madrid’s vibrant literary quarter, Taberna Sidrería El Fontán is a comfortable gem that brings the flavors of northern Spain to the capital. Identified for its give attention to cider (sidra) and conventional Asturian tapas, this spot provides a relaxed ambiance good for an intimate eating expertise.

We indulged in:

Russian Salad with Fish (Ensaladilla Rusa): A creamy, savory traditional elevated with the addition of recent seafood.
Blue Cheese Dip and Croquettes: These croquettes boasted a wonderfully crisp exterior and a wealthy, gooey blue cheese filling.
Cachopo de Ternera Asturiana: This indulgent dish options skinny slices of veal from the Asturian valleys, filled with cheese and ham, then breaded and fried to golden perfection. It’s a hearty and flavorful specialty that highlights the wealthy traditions of Asturian delicacies.

Why Go to: With its distinctive choices and nod to Asturian culinary traditions, that is the proper spot for anybody seeking to discover a distinct aspect of Spain’s tapas tradition.

3. La Casa del Abuelo

📍 Tackle: Calle de la Victoria, 12, 28012 Madrid

Getting into La Casa del Abuelo is like touring again in time. This historic tavern has been delighting locals and guests for over a century with its well-known shrimp dishes.

We savored:

Shrimp in Olive Oil with Garlic (Gambas al Ajillo): Scorching in a clay pot, this dish delivers daring flavors of garlic, olive oil, and tender shrimp—a must-try! Dip your bread within the oil for probably the most heavenly expertise.

Why Go to: Identified for its seafood tapas, this iconic spot is ideal for many who love Mediterranean flavors.

4. Los Galayos

📍 Tackle: Plaza Mayor, 1, 28012 Madrid

Situated on the bustling Plaza Mayor, Los Galayos is a traditional Madrid eatery providing a mixture of conventional and seasonal tapas. Its historic setting provides to the attract, making it a preferred selection for each locals and guests.

We tried:

Spanish Omelet (Tortilla Española): Completely cooked with a delicate, creamy heart, this dish is a quintessential style of Spain.
Patatas Bravas: Crispy fried potatoes topped with a spicy tomato sauce and a creamy aioli—easy but completely irresistible.
Torreznos: These thick, crispy pork stomach bites are a deliciously indulgent deal with that showcases the wealthy flavors of conventional Spanish delicacies.
Cinnamon Milk Dessert (Torrija con helado de Turron): This Easter specialty is a comforting and fragrant deal with that rounds off the meal superbly.

Why Go to: Los Galayos combines historical past, location, and expertly crafted tapas, making it an unmissable cease.

5. Casa Labra

📍 Tackle: Calle de Tetuán, 12, 28013 Madrid

Simply steps away from Puerta del Sol, Casa Labra is a historic tavern that has been serving Madrileños since 1860. Well-known for its conventional cod dishes, this iconic spot provides an genuine glimpse into Madrid’s culinary heritage. The unpretentious decor and timeless recipes make it a must-visit for tapas lovers.

We tried:

Croqueta de Bacalao: Crispy on the surface and creamy on the within, these cod croquettes are bursting with taste.
Tajada de Bacalao: A easy but scrumptious fried cod fillet, completely golden and flaky.
Tinto de Verano: This refreshing mixture of purple wine and soda pairs splendidly with the wealthy flavors of the cod dishes.

Why Go to: Casa Labra isn’t just a tapas bar—it’s a chunk of Madrid’s historical past. Whether or not you’re drawn by the storied previous or the legendary cod dishes, this spot delivers an unforgettable expertise within the coronary heart of town.

6. La Taberna de María Cruzada

📍 Tackle: Calle Amnistía, número 8, 28013 Madrid, Spain

Simply steps away from the majestic Palacio Actual de Madrid, La Taberna de María Cruzada is a comfortable and conventional spot famend for its hearty and genuine Spanish dishes. This tavern’s rustic attraction and welcoming ambiance make it a favourite amongst locals and guests.

Their specialty:

Cocido Madrileño: A conventional Madrid stew made with chickpeas, greens, and a mixture of meats, cooked slowly to perfection. Served in separate programs, this dish is a comforting and flavorful tribute to traditional Spanish residence cooking.

We paired it with the next wines:

Carramimbre Roble, crafted by Bodegas Carramimbre on the El Pingón property close to Peñafiel in Valladolid, showcases a deep cherry-red hue, aromas of ripe purple berries with hints of cinnamon and vanilla, and a balanced, mouth-filling palate with easy tannins and a lingering spicy end—a real reflection of Ribera del Duero’s excellence.

Familia Torres 22 Pies Rioja Crianza, constituted of the long-lasting Tempranillo grape, is a testomony to Rioja’s winemaking custom. This wine delights with its deep ruby-red colour, aromas of ripe darkish fruits, and engaging oaky notes of chocolate, vanilla, and oak. On the palate, it provides a easy, balanced expertise with elegant tannins and a lingering, refined end.

Why Go to: If you wish to expertise the essence of Madrid on a plate, La Taberna de María Cruzada’s cocido is a must-try. Its handy location close to the Palacio Actual makes it a perfect cease after exploring one of many metropolis’s most iconic landmarks. This tavern provides a style of custom that warms the soul and showcases town’s wealthy culinary heritage.

7. Casa Nicasio

📍 Tackle: Calle de la Unión, 10, 28013 Madrid, Spain

Situated within the coronary heart of Madrid, Casa Nicasio is an enthralling eatery that gives a heat and alluring ambiance, good for these searching for genuine Spanish delicacies. It’s significantly common for its paella.

We tried:

Paella: A superbly crafted dish of saffron-infused rice, seafood, meats, and greens. Originating from the Valencia area on Spain’s jap coast, paella was historically cooked over an open flame in a large, shallow pan, with variations evolving to incorporate seafood, rooster, or combined substances.

Why Go to: Casa Nicasio gives a pleasant eating expertise with conventional dishes that seize the essence of Spanish culinary heritage. Its central location makes it a handy cease.

8. El Economato

📍 Tackle: Calle de Belén, 5, 28004 Madrid, Spain

El Economato is a up to date tavern positioned within the vigorous Chueca neighborhood celebrated for its high-quality Spanish delicacies, relaxed ambiance, and excellent vermouth choice. I visited El Economato on a small group meals tour with Devour, which is one in every of my favourite tour firms. I’ve taken lots of their excursions in several cities. That is the tour I joined: Madrid Tapas and Wine: Small Group Literary Quarter Tasting Tour

We loved:

Vermouth: Specializing in a various vary of vermouths, El Economato provides alternatives just like the month-to-month function, Los Raigones—a reddish garnet vermouth crafted from Pedro Ximénez grapes, recognized for its intense fragrant richness and balanced, barely bitter end. A traditional solution to serve vermouth in Spain, the orange slice enhances the drink’s bittersweet flavors and provides a touch of citrus freshness, making it much more fragrant and refreshing.
La Gilda: This iconic pintxo is a skewer with anchovies, olives, and pickled guindilla peppers. Originating from the Basque Nation, the pintxo is known as after the 1946 movie Gilda, starring Rita Hayworth. The title displays its character: “salty, spicy, and slightly bit inexperienced,” very similar to Hayworth’s persona within the film. You may also get pleasure from this put up The place to Take pleasure in The Greatest Pintxos in San Sebastian
Gazpacho is a refreshing chilly tomato-based soup that’s good for a lightweight and flavorful starter.

Russian salad paired with darkish Vermouth

Why Go to: El Economato is a must-visit for vermouth lovers and anybody seeking to expertise genuine Spanish pintxos and small bites in a welcoming and charming setting.

9. Ferretería Restaurante

📍 Tackle: Calle de Atocha, 57, 28012 Madrid, Spain

Housed in a former Nineteenth-century ironmongery shop, Ferretería Restaurante provides a singular eating expertise that seamlessly blends historic attraction with up to date Spanish delicacies.

We paired our tapas with Tres Pilares Verdejo Sobre Lías 2022, a pleasant white wine from the Rueda area made totally from Verdejo grapes. This wine impressed me with its pale yellow hue and delicate greenish highlights. Its fragrant profile featured vibrant notes of tropical fruit, citrus, and delicate hints of fennel and freshly reduce grass. It delivered a easy and full-bodied expertise on the palate, enhanced by the creamy texture imparted by lees growing old (sobre lías).

We additionally loved Polvorete 2022, a vibrant white wine crafted by Bodegas Emilio Moro utilizing the Godello grape selection from El Bierzo in Castilla y León, Spain. This household vineyard, based in 1891 in Pesquera de Duero, Valladolid, has turn into a world-renowned producer by way of three generations of dedication to custom, innovation, and social duty. The younger vines used for Polvorete are grown in calcareous clay soils over 750 meters above sea degree, utilizing conventional agricultural strategies. After cautious destemming and delicate urgent, the should ferments at a managed temperature in stainless-steel tanks, adopted by 4 months on nice lees to reinforce its complexity. Polvorete is vibrant, recent, and fragrant, with fruity and perfumed notes, providing a vigorous and approachable introduction to the expressive Godello selection. This wine completely enhances the revolutionary but grounded eating expertise at Ferretería Restaurante.

Why Go to: The restaurant’s ambiance pays homage to its origins, that includes preserved furnishings and utensils from its ironmongery shop days, creating a particular and nostalgic ambiance. Acknowledged within the 2025 MICHELIN Information, Ferretería Restaurante is famous for its up to date conventional delicacies ready with high-quality substances.

10. La Pulpería de Victoria

📍 Tackle: Calle de la Victoria, 2, 28012 Madrid, Spain

Situated simply steps from Puerta del Sol, La Pulpería de Victoria provides a contemporary and concrete tackle conventional Galician pulperías, with decor that evokes the wealthy historical past of those institutions.

Specialty:

Pulpo a la Gallega: Their signature dish options octopus cooked and sliced proper earlier than you, following the unique custom of O’ Carballiño. The octopus is usually served on a wood platter, drizzled with olive oil, sprinkled with paprika, and accompanied by boiled potatoes, often called “cachelos.”

Why Go to: For an genuine style of Galician delicacies within the coronary heart of Madrid, La Pulpería de Victoria gives a pleasant eating expertise that honors time-honored cooking strategies.

The Historical past of Tapas: A Chunk-Sized Custom

The origins of tapas are as flavorful because the dishes themselves. Tapa means “cowl” in Spanish, and the custom is claimed to have begun as a sensible resolution. Legend has it that bartenders would place slices of bread or ham over glasses of sherry to maintain flies out, thus giving beginning to this beloved customized. Over time, these easy covers developed into an integral a part of Spanish tradition.

Within the thirteenth century, King Alfonso X of Castile decreed that taverns should serve meals with alcohol to forestall drunkenness, cementing the apply of pairing drinks with small plates. One other story ties the custom to King Felipe III, who required snacks to accompany drinks for comparable causes.

Right now, tapas have transcended their humble beginnings, turning into a logo of Spanish hospitality and a celebration of flavors. From free tapas served with drinks in some areas to elaborate gourmand creations in trendy kitchens, tapas proceed to evolve whereas staying rooted of their wealthy historical past.

Why It Issues in Madrid: Because the capital, Madrid showcases the various types of tapas from throughout Spain. From Andalusian influences to northern specialties, town’s tapas tradition is a scrumptious mix of custom and innovation, providing vacationers an opportunity to expertise the essence of Spain in each chunk. We hope that you simply get pleasure from our information to the perfect tapas in Madrid.