10 Finest Tapas Bars in Madrid for Genuine Spanish Flavors

Madrid is a metropolis the place culinary traditions run deep, and tapas tradition is most actually 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 foods and drinks in good firm.

Exploring the very best tapas bars in Madrid is a necessary expertise so as to add to your itinerary. Many institutions comply with the custom of serving a free tapa along with your drink, making it an inexpensive and pleasant strategy to pattern the town’s gastronomy.

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

Listed here are a number of the finest tapas bars in Madrid that I attempted throughout my go to, providing unbelievable flavors, distinctive atmospheres, and culinary tales. Additionally, try my publish on: 5 Days in Madrid Itinerary for First Time Guests and Information to the Finest 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 energetic environment. 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 frivolously blistered, providing a steadiness of smoky and barely spicy flavors.
Jamón Tapas: A basic 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 in search of an genuine Madrid expertise.

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2. Taberna Sidrería El Fontán

📍 Tackle: Calle Canalejas, 6, 28014 Madrid

Positioned 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 environment good for an intimate eating expertise.

We indulged in:

Russian Salad with Fish (Ensaladilla Rusa): A creamy, savory basic elevated with the addition of contemporary seafood.
Blue Cheese Dip and Croquettes: These croquettes boasted a superbly 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 trying to discover a special facet of Spain’s tapas tradition.

3. La Casa del Abuelo

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

Moving 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 essentially the most heavenly expertise.

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

4. Los Galayos

📍 Tackle: Plaza Mayor, 1, 28012 Madrid

Positioned on the bustling Plaza Mayor, Los Galayos is a basic 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 smooth, 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 fantastically.

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 skin 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 crimson wine and soda pairs splendidly with the wealthy flavors of the cod dishes.

Why Go to: Casa Labra is not only a tapas bar—it’s a bit 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 the 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 environment 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 basic Spanish house 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 crimson berries with hints of cinnamon and vanilla, and a balanced, mouth-filling palate with clean tannins and a lingering spicy end—a real reflection of Ribera del Duero’s excellence.

Familia Torres 22 Pies Rioja Crianza, made out of the long-lasting Tempranillo grape, is a testomony to Rioja’s winemaking custom. This wine delights with its deep ruby-red shade, aromas of ripe darkish fruits, and engaging oaky notes of chocolate, vanilla, and oak. On the palate, it provides a clean, 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 the town’s wealthy culinary heritage.

7. Casa Nicasio

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

Positioned within the coronary heart of Madrid, Casa Nicasio is a captivating eatery that provides a heat and welcoming environment, good for these in search of genuine Spanish delicacies. It’s notably widespread for its paella.

We tried:

Paella: A fantastically 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, hen, or blended components.

Why Go to: Casa Nicasio offers 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 energetic 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 considered one of my favourite tour corporations. I’ve taken lots of their excursions in numerous 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, identified for its intense fragrant richness and balanced, barely bitter end. A basic strategy 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 called after the 1946 movie Gilda, starring Rita Hayworth. The identify displays its character: “salty, spicy, and somewhat bit inexperienced,” very similar to Hayworth’s persona within the film. You may also get pleasure from this publish The place to Take pleasure in The Finest 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 trying 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 store, 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 refined greenish highlights. Its fragrant profile featured vibrant notes of tropical fruit, citrus, and delicate hints of fennel and freshly reduce grass. It delivered a clean and full-bodied expertise on the palate, enhanced by the creamy texture imparted by lees getting older (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 develop 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 stage, utilizing conventional agricultural strategies. After cautious destemming and mild urgent, the should ferments at a managed temperature in stainless-steel tanks, adopted by 4 months on advantageous lees to boost its complexity. Polvorete is vivid, contemporary, and fragrant, with fruity and perfumed notes, providing a energetic and approachable introduction to the expressive Godello selection. This wine completely enhances the modern 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 store days, creating a particular and nostalgic environment. Acknowledged within the 2025 MICHELIN Information, Ferretería Restaurante is famous for its up to date conventional delicacies ready with high-quality components.

10. La Pulpería de Victoria

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

Positioned 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 often served on a wood platter, drizzled with olive oil, sprinkled with paprika, and accompanied by boiled potatoes, generally known as “cachelos.”

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

The Historical past of Tapas: A Chew-Sized Custom

The origins of tapas are as flavorful because the dishes themselves. Tapa means “cowl” in Spanish, and the custom is alleged 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 delivery 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 observe 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.

Immediately, tapas have transcended their humble beginnings, changing 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 varied types of tapas from throughout Spain. From Andalusian influences to northern specialties, the 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 just get pleasure from our information to the very best tapas in Madrid.