- Rule of thumb in Spain: find a tapas bar locals love, go lots.
- La Fisna Vihnos is our Madrid go to (as often as we can).
- Too many tapas to try in one sitting – the tortilla’s particularly crave-worthy.
- Take advice on the wine – the list is long and kind of extraordinary.
La Fisna Vinos
SPAIN
- C. del Amparo, 91, 28012 Madrid
- +34 915 39 56 15
- Local
- Tapas
- Wine
Hemingway in NH Collection Casa Suecia
SPAIN
- Calle del Marqués de Casa Riera, 4 28014, Madrid
- +34 660 54 58 56
- Deliciously decadent Hemingway could turn the head of the saintliest of saints.
- Like all good secrets it’s hidden in plain sight (deep inside hotel Casa Suecia).
- And if you’re up for lounging around, acres of crimson velvet and plump leopard print sofas have just that in mind.
- Cocktails are as inventive as you’d expect from a bar with Hemingway as its inspiration.
- Cocktails
- Vintage
- Secret
Ficus Bar
SPAIN
- Calle de Santo Tomé, 8, 28004
- +34 684 24 59 94
- You’ll find Ficus fresh, green and chilled as a cucumber cooler – all good stuff.
- We’re smitten by the secret garden vibe
- transport yourselves off to africa whilst being in madrid
- And on looks alone, it’s up top in our ‘bars to love best in the whole wide world’ list.
- Picky Madrileño score it high too, so does get busy.
- Chic
- Relaxed
- Original
Bar Santurce
SPAIN
- Calle de Polvoranca, 13, 28044 Madrid
- +34 646 23 83 03
- Bar Santurce might be basic but if you want sardines grilled to perfection, it’s the one.
- Regulars swoon over seafood here, we lost our hearts to their Padron Peppers.
- Drinks run to good Rioja and ice cold beer.
- Tables are few, so you might have to share.
- El-Rastro
- Seafood
- Legend
the hat
SPAIN
- C. Imperial, 9, 28012 Madrid
- +34 917 72 85 72
- a hidden rooftop terrace on top of this hostel
- views are incredible and it is so hidden, you would not expect it at all
- vibe is great with like minded travellers
- greenhouse for when it gets cold so you can still enjoy the view
- food and drink is good but its the view and the vibe that did this for us
- Rooftop
- hidden
- views
1862 dry bar
SPAIN
- C. del Pez, 27, 28004 Madrid
- +34 609 53 11 51
- one of the liveliest bars with great music
- really busy but the service was so attentive
- the old fashioned was our favourite and made with so much attention to detail
- they have theaperitivehour saturdays and sundays at 12.30 pm
- Busy
- Cocktails
- Buzzing
bodegas rojo
SPAIN
- C. de Polvoranca, 13, 28044 Madrid
- +34 615 92 61 29
- If you had a Spanish abuela and she had a bodega, it would definitely look like Rojo Just don’t mention ‘kitsch’.
- This notable local’s the real thing and a rare find in Madrid these days
- Take a seat at the counter, order a drink and earwig on regulars putting the world to rights like they’ve always done
- Fresh sliced sausage is how Rojo does bar snacks (no namby-pamby nuts for these Madrileño)
