The Best Wine and Tapas Bars in Madrid(2)
Down near the Prado and Westin Palace Hotel:
La Dolores - Plaza de Jesus, 4 - Opened since 1908, good canapes and traditional tapas.
Estado Puro - Plaza Cánovas del Castillo 4 - Just opened in 2007, this modern bar boasts a designer interior and is lead by chef Paco Roncero of the Terraza del Casino, the Michelin star restaurant just a few blocks away. Traditional tapas and flavors served in new and interesting ways. There is a nice outdoor terrace in the summer. Website
In La Latina: This area has the best wine bars and more inventive Tapas.
Wine bars:
Taberna Tempranillo - Cava Baja 38 - Wine bar -a great selection of wines from all over Spain, and ONLY Spain. Also great quality of wines by the glass. I have made some interesting discoveries here. Good tapas as well. It’s always full and the tables are only for those having a dinner of several tapas or Raciones.
Casa Lucas - Cava Baja 30 - Wine bar - Nice wines by the glass and good tapas. For 5 euros, try their “Madrid” tapa. It’s a canape spread with tomato confit topped with a mixture of scrambled egg, blood sausage, raisins and pine nuts, and decorated with fried potato sticks. Delicious. Last year rated one of the top 50 bars in Spain by the Spanish magazine “Metropoli”. Website
Tapas Bars:
Almendro 13 - C/Almendro, 13 (In La Latina) - Inexpensive and popular, try the “huevos rotos,” a local specialty which is fried potatoes topped with a fried egg and chunks of cured ham. True Madrid comfort food. You will be served Campo Real olives along with your white drink - beer, white wine or manzanilla sherry.
Juana La Loca - Plaza Puerta de Moros 4 - Trendy basque style pintxos and good wine too. There are tables for dinner at the back. Try their version of the Spanish omelet with caramelized onions.
Toma Jamon - Calle Almendro 21 - For 14 Euros, you get a plate of delicious “jamon iberico” from Salamanca accompanied by toast with a tomato spread.
El Zapatero - Calle Almendro - Shoemakers motif - small tables fill up with groups of friends to enjoy a wide selection of tapas.
Taberna Txakoli - Cava Baja, 26 - Pintxos typical of the Basque country, with standing room only. Average quality red wines so go for the bar’s namesake white, Txakoli!
Near Opera:
La Cruzada - Calle Amnestía 8 - Wine bar with great wines by the glass and high quality, inventive tapas. It also has a dining room in the back for dinner. This bar claims to be the oldest in Madrid, and has been remodeled but has a beautiful antique wooden bar.
