12 Delicious Tapas Bars in Madrid You Should Try
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You can find some of the best tapas bars in Madrid and it’s the perfect place to try a few dishes that you may have never had before. Tapas are a great way to get to know the local culture and cuisine, as well as sample some of Spain's finest meats, cheeses, seafood, and vegetables. The best part? You don't have to order a full meal at every tapas bar you visit - you can just order one or two dishes as you go along. You can even find some of the country's best wine at these places, which is the best bonus if you’re a wine lover like me! I received so many recommendations leading up to my trip and most of them were about visiting tapas bars or going on a tapas tour - needless to say, trying a few tapas when you’re in Madrid is an absolute must! If you're looking for a great place to grab tapas and have some unbelievable food while in Madrid, look no further than these 12 delicious tapas bars in Madrid.
Madrid Tapas Bars 101
So tapas is just another word for appetizer right? Nope! (I also thought that before visiting Madrid.) Tapas derives from the word “lid” and was created when bars and restaurants would use a small side plate to cover customers’ drinks in order for flies not to get in, and they would place a small snack such as a piece of bread, cured meat, or cheeses on top of the plate. It became more widespread in the thirteenth century when the King created an order that required all establishments to serve a small portion of food when serving alcohol to help ensure patrons weren’t drinking on an empty stomach. Today, a version of tapas can be found at almost every establishment in Madrid. Most free tapas that come with your drink will be pieces of bread or olives, while you can order a variety of small plates for only a few Euros - yes, this means you can eat a meal for very little in Madrid!
You can opt for exploring different tapas bars on your own or you can take one of the many tapas tours. We did a mix of both while we were in Madrid, but I love a good tour so I booked not one, but two tapas tours for us! The benefit of going on a tapas tour is that you are with a small group led by a local guide that takes you to 3-4 different tapas bars where you’ll get to try 2-4 of each establishment's best dishes, plus a glass of wine. Along the way you’ll learn the history of the neighborhood you walk through and your guide can give you great suggestions for other places to eat or visit during your time in Madrid. Tapas tours are typically around $55-$65 USD per person and primarily stick to one neighborhood per tour.
There are a plethora of tapas bars throughout the capital city, but if you’re wondering what neighborhood has the best tapas in Madrid, I found that most of the best options are located in or near Barrio de las Letras. This neighborhood is called the Literary Quarter and is located in the city center and is the neighborhood my hotel was located in as well. Without further ado, let’s get into the list!
1. La Casa del Abuelo
La Casa del Abuelo is probably one of the most popular tapas bars to visit. They’ve been around since 1906 and have expanded to seven restaurants in Madrid with Victoria Street 12 being the original and the one that I visited. Their specialty is sizzling, mouth-watering, garlic prawns, which are so delicious that you may want to swing back by for a second helping!
2. Casa Gonzalez
Located in Barrio de las Letras, just off Plaza Mayor, this gourmet grocer was founded in 1931. You can purchase a variety of regional meats, cheeses, and wine at the front counter at Casa Gonzalez or head to the back room where they serve up tasty tapas.Be sure to order a plate of meats & cheeses and the eggplant pate is also a must. If you’re a white wine lover, they have an amazing Muscat + Gewurztraminer blend produced by Pinord.
3. El Lacon
Another favorite in the Barrio de las Letras neighborhood is El Lacon which dates back all the way to 1911. El Lacon restaurant is located inside of a 17th century mansion and offers a wide variety of Spanish specialties ranging from the classic padron peppers to more adventurous options such as tripe, stewed pig ears, and shark. I was hesitant to try some of the dishes here because I don’t usually eat things like pig ears or tripe, but they were surprisingly very tasty and the shark was actually one of my favorite things I ate during my time in Madrid.
4. Bar Postas
Located between Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol, Bar Postas is a classic tapas bar & is known for having one of the best calamari sandwiches in Madrid! The calamari sandwich is not quite a traditional tapa, but it sure is tasty! A calamari sandwich consists of lightly breaded, fried, yet tender calamari rings in a slightly toasted classic white baguette. It’s plain and simple yet somehow delicious. Another great thing to order at Postas are the patatas bravas, which are fried potatoes with an aioli sauce drizzled on top.
5. Casa Toni
Also located not far from Puerta del Sol is Casa Toni and it’s where you can find some of the most amazing tapas bars in Madrid. Some specialties that you have to try here are fried mushrooms, pig ears, pickled anchovies, and possibly the best chorizo in town! We devoured the mushrooms and the chorizo and I still crave their chorizo to this day!
6. San Miguel Market
San Miguel Market originally opened in 1916 as a small food market and was renovated and revamped in 2009 and became Madrid’s first gourmet food market. Today, it’s one of the most popular places to visit in Madrid and the market offers everything from meats and cheeses to olives, nuts and dried fruit--all perfect for pairing with wine or beer! Prices here are higher than what you would expect to pay in traditional tapas bars throughout the city, but you can find some of the best small plates inside the market and it’s a great place to try different dishes from various companies. To avoid crowds, try visiting as soon as the market opens and have someone in your group hold seats or a table while the others order food.
7. El Botin Restaurant & Tapas Bar
El Botin Restaurant & Tapas Bar is one of the most famous tapas bars in Madrid Spain. It has been around since 1725 and is recorded as the oldest restaurant in the entire world!. El Botin is a great place to visit if you want to experience Spanish food at its finest and reservations are highly recommended because the tables here full up rather quickly. The must-try dish at El Botin is the suckling pig and if you’re lucky, you can even quickly pop your head into the roasting room where you’ll see dozens of suckling pigs being prepared - it’s quite the sight!
8. Meson del Champinon
This restaurant is located right next to Plaza Mayor and has been around since 1964. They specialize in mushrooms, and some may even say that Meson del Champinon serves up some of the best mushrooms in all of Spain! Other dishes to try here include the padron peppers and the calamari.
9. Taberna Real
Taberna Real, which translates to Royal Tavern, is the youngest restaurant on the list and opened its doors in 1997. The food at Taberna Real is delicious and the building itself is what really sets it apart from other restaurants and tapas bars. This historic building used to be used by the royal palace in the 16th century as a place where food preparation was carried out when it couldn’t be carried out at the palace. Taberna Royal has stayed true to its location's historic roots by incorporating decor that dates back to that era and the overall aesthetic.
10. Barrutia Y El Nueve
Barrutia Y El Nueve is a neighborhood gem and is less frequented by tourists. They offer more traditional, homestyle dishes in a quaint setting, and the flavors are amazing! Some of their popular dishes include a bed of fresh pasta on top of classic Spanish cured ham and pork belly. If you're looking for authentic Spanish food then this is one of the best tapas restaurants to add to your list.
11. Casa Varona
This was one of my favorite places during my time in Madrid and it was conveniently located right around the corner from our hotel. Casa Varona is a great place to try some of the best Spanish wine. They have an extensive list of wines from all over Spain, as well as some great tapas to go with it! We enjoyed a large selection of meats & cheeses to accompany our delicious regional wine.
12. Casa Alberto
Casa Alberto is another great tapas bar located just steps from our hotel in the Barrio de las Letras neighborhood. This classic tapas bar has been around since 1827 and serves tapas, along with housemade vermouth - which is a specialty in this region of Spain. The food here is traditional and delicious--you'll want to try their famous tortilla española, which is a Spanish omelet, and the squid. Casa Alberto is usually crowded throughout the evening, but it’s worth the wait!
Tess Arnold
Hi! I’m Tess, founder of TravelingTessie.com, and not only do I love to travel, but I love immersing myself in new places and finding off the beaten path experiences wherever I go! I’ve lived in 4 different states & traveled to 13 countries and counting. I believe that tourism is meant to benefit both visitors and locals alike—and I want to bring that idea back into the travel industry by highlighting companies run by locals such as tours, hotels, restaurants, and more. On Traveling Tessie you can find hidden gems in top destinations around the world, travel tips, detailed city guides, and tons of inspiration for your next trip! If you love travel as much as I do, then please join me on this journey! I hope you enjoy my content as much as I enjoy providing it for you!
