Madrid for Wine Lovers: Best Wine Bars, Restaurants and Wine Tastings
It is hard to overstate the importance of wine in Spain and – naturally – in Madrid, its beloved capital city. Spain claims more hectares of planted vineyards than any other country in the world and boasts more than 70 official wine regions. Enjoying Spanish wine in Madrid is not a question of if, it is a question of when and where!
The best way o experience wine in Madrid like a local (although I’ll admit, as a tapas and wine tour guide, I am a bit biased) is to join our De Tapas in Malasaña: Evening Wine and Tapas Tour. Or head directly to the source on our De Bodegas: Artisanal Winery and Countryside Day Trip to walk century-old vineyards and taste organic wines straight from the barrel!
In a city with nearly 30,000 bars and restaurants how do you choose where to drink a glass of Spain’s most celebrated libation?
From centenary sherry wine taverns to modern natural wine bars, here are my picks for both how to enjoy wine in Madrid as well as the best wine bars in Madrid. With these tips in mind, you’ll be able to experience all that Madrid has to offer when it comes to wine.
Visit organic wineries just outside the city on our winery day trip from Madrid!
How to order wine in Madrid
Yes, Madrid is known for our perfectly poured, ice cold cañas (tiny glasses of lager beer). But long before the caña became the unofficial drink of the city there was the chato, a small glass of easy-drinking wine which was an integral part of eating tapas in Madrid.
While we rarely order wine by the chato these days, here are some tips that will ensure you sound like a local when ordering wine in Madrid.
Order by Region
The wine world is divided simply into two categories: Old World and New World. Put even more plainly, it’s divided between Europe and the rest of the world. Spain, with more than 2,000 years of winemaking tradition, clearly falls into the Old World category.
In Old World wine producing countries, we order our wines by region, not grape.
Spain has 70 Denomination of Origin wine regions. Each colorful region above makes a unique style of wine!
Photo Credit: Wine Folly
How to order Red Wine
Here in Madrid, you’ll most commonly find red wines from two regions: Rioja and Ribera del Duero (often just referred to as Ribera). Many bars often have a third de la casa, aka house wine, option as well.
Generally speaking, Rioja tends to have higher acidity and more red fruit flavors like cherries or red berries. Ribera will be more tannic with black fruits like blackberries and plums dominating the flavor profile. De la casa, or house wine, almost always refers to wines from Valdepeñas, a wine region a few hours south of Madrid that has been the capital's purveyor of easy-drinking house reds for centuries.
How to order white wine
White wines break all the rules. The most common white wines in Madrid are verdejo or albariño. Both of those words refer to grapes rather than regions! Verdejo tends to come from the Rueda region a few hours northwest of Madrid. This is Spain’s answer to Sauvignon Blanc and often displays strong lemon flavors.
Albariño comes from Galicia, the Spanish region just north of Portugal. Given the proximity to the sea and cooler temperatures, these wines are defined by green apple notes, minerality and a hint of saltiness that pairs beautifully with seafood.
Key Spanish Wine Phrases
A few key phrases will go a long way to getting the most out of your enjoyment of wine in Madrid.
Denominación de Origen: Denominations of Origin are certified wine regions. A governing body for each region ensures that all of the wines wearing that D.O. label are made using specific grapes and within a specific geographical region. We have 70 D.O.s in Spain. D.O.s provide predictability and, in general, stylistic homogeneity.
Copa or botella simply refers to how much wine you want! Copa means glass and botella means bottle. A few places also serve media copa, or half glass, pours.
Chato: A no frills, easy drinking glass of red wine. The older cousin of the caña, it is inexpensive and usually a young wine from La Mancha. Chato literally refers to the type of glass: a stubby, stemless glass that was the preferred drinking vessel for wine in Spain for centuries!
Chateo and tapeo: The act of drinking chatos and the act of eating tapas. Food and wine play very well together!
Joven or Crianza: Rioja has such a stronghold on Spanish wine drinking customs that oftentimes you will be asked whether you want joven or crianza, or a young wine or an aged wine. These are regulated words that designate how long a wine was aged. They originate in the region of Rioja, which is famous for aging wines for many years in oak! Sometimes also called cosechero, young wines tend to be part of chateo while crianzas, which are aged for at least six months in oak barrels, tend to go well with heavier, more complex meals. Excitingly, these rules are changing.
Remember that Spaniards are very comfortable ordering using the imperative, so elbow your way up the bar and kindly tell the person behind the bar ‘ponme un vino, por favor.’
In most cases if there are more than five in your party, order a bottle as it is more cost efficient!
When to drink wIne? Lunch and dinner wines in Madrid
For the famed menu del dia, a three-course lunch menu served in traditional restaurants for around 15 euros, it is quite common for the wait staff to leave a bottle of red wine on the table alongside a bottle of casera. This is the do-it-yourself Spanish red wine spritzer called tinto de verano.
Light, sweet, effervescent and cold, the tinto de verano is designed to help wash down our largest meal of the day. To partake in this most Spanish of lunch traditions, order “vino de la casa con casera” to accompany your lunch.
The tinto de verano is perfect simplicity! This red wine spritzer is one of the most refreshing ways to drink wine in Madrid.
While out doing tapas, you tend to find a much more limited selection of wines in tapas bars. This is because the wine is secondary to the tapas. This is precisely where you may find the chato glass – short, sturdy, and functional.
Tradition and no-frills is great and an essential part of the approachable and no-nonsense way we drink wine in Madrid. However, if you are looking for a more special experience to showcase the amazing quality wines that Spain has to offer, here are some of my favorite spots that specialize specifically in wine. If you want wine to be the protagonist, these are the best places in for wine in Madrid.
The Best Wine Bars in Madrid
Traditional, Historic Wine Bars
Almacén de Vinos
Casa Gerardo, or Almacén de Vinos as it is also called, is an 80-year-old bar in the Paloma area of the La Latina neighborhood. The atmosphere is local, familiar, and incredibly castizo, or old school Madrid. The cheese list here is unbelievable and definitely what first drew me in. However, the wine list is equally as special. If it’s summer make sure to order the tomato salad.
Taberna Tempranillo
This little tavern holds such a special place in my heart as it was one of the first bars I discovered that placed the wine front and center. All of the wines served here are Spanish, with an attention to detail not found at other places in this neighborhood.
I love to have a glass at the bar as the wait staff serve fantastic tapas of chorizo and salchichon iberico cured sausages (for free!) to go with the wine. Located on the famous Cava Baja street, it is tough to get a table so arrive early. If you manage to get a table you must try the duck magret.
La Venencia
La Venencia is no secret. Located just a few steps away from la Puerta del Sol, there is no shortage of lore regarding this nearly100-year-old bar. They don’t allow any photos and the notoriously dry wait staff will not accept tips. The bar itself is beautifully decorated with posters from the yearly sherry harvest dating back more than 100 years.
Remember that Jerez, the region where sherry is made, was one of the first D.O.s in Spain. The D.O. Jerez was officially created in 1932! These wines represent an enormously important part of the Spanish winemaking tradition. La Venencia is the definitive place to try sherry wines while visiting Madrid.
The new kids on the block: small producers and natural wine in Madrid
Bendito Vinos y Vinilos
In 2016 José opened the first natural wine bar in Madrid: Bendito. Tucked into a former vegetable stall in the San Fernando Market, this natural wine bar focuses on small production wines and great quality charcuterie. For many Madrid foodies, this was the first place they tried or even heard the term “natural wine.”
Bendito holds an especially dear place in my heart as I met countless friends here who have since gone on to open natural wine bars around the city or make natural wine in the Gredos mountains, perhaps the trendiest area in Spain for natural winemaking right now. José is undoubtedly a central figure in Madrid’s natural wine scene.
Masa Vins
After much success at their first location in Barcelona, Masa came to Madrid just a few years ago. This trendy wine bar is just off of the beautiful Plaza Olavide in the swanky Chamberí district. If Bendito represents where natural wine started in Madrid, Masa is where it is headed.
Inside, you could easily think you’re in London or Brooklyn due to its beautiful lighting. Masa is also famous for having the coolest bathroom for the obligatory bathroom selfie. Definitely home to a younger crowd, the dishes have a decidedly international tilt. The vegan and gluten free Argentinian fainá is probably one of the best things I have tried this year!
The rotating wine list never disappoints. Here you must start with something bubbly. Bonus points for the incredible vinyl selection and excellently chosen music by Santi, who is both the DJ and one of the somms. Nearby you have Alma Bakery for a pastry and the Olavide square is full of places to enjoy Madrid neighborhood ambiance.
MASA marinates their olives in-house and serves some of the most unique wines in Madrid.
Trava
Trava is great given it represents a union of two important food scenes in Madrid: natural wine and specialty coffee. Owner Ana opened Cafe Ruda nearby ten years ago and soon after started selling natural wine. Ana, an architect by trade, decided to open this beautiful new bar in 2024 as a place to have great coffee and pastries in the morning and simple plates and wines from small winemakers in the evenings.
There is great wine on tap and a regular programming of winemakers giving tastings in the back room. The location couldn’t be better in the La Latina neighborhood with Casa Gerardo next door for cheese or La Mezcaloteca down the street for cocktails.
Wine tastings and Wine Tours in Madrid
Tapas and Wine Tour
Although not exclusively a wine experience, given the inextricable link between wine and tapas, our De Tapas: Evening Wine and Tapas Tour will help you learn about what we drink with like-minded travelers in the emblematic Malasaña neighborhood.
This 4-stop wine and tapas tour includes an incredible variety of traditional tapas as well as a fun and informative blind wine tasting. With a couple of wine tasting tricks, you’ll taste your way to figuring out if you are on Team Rioja or Team Ribera!
In our Rioja vs Ribera blind wine tasting on our De Tapas: Evening Wine and Tapas Tour you will figure out which style of Spanish wine you prefer!
Winery Day Trip
To the surprise of many visitors to Madrid, the community of Madrid is home to four wine subregions, each making fantastic wines in enchanting little towns. On our De Bodegas: Artisanal Winery and Countryside Day Trip we explore the region of the Gredos, where some of the most sought-after wines in Spain are being made right now.
The Gredos Mountains to the northwest of Madrid are home to incredible, high altitude Grenache reds as well as white wines made from the rare Albillo Real grape. These Albillo Real wines are defined by a beautiful minerality that I have yet to find in any other white wines.
What is most exciting about this day trip is tasting how the same grape can result in such different wines. You will visit two wineries, one at the northern end of the mountains and one at the southern end. You have the opportunity to truly experience what terroir really is.
Our winery day trip introduces you to two small-production winemakers and includes at least six different wines (some served directly from the barrel!). The wines are paired with Spain’s most famous bites, think jamon iberico, cheese and artisan baked goods.
This juicy biodynamic Garnacha with Iberian ham and views of the vineyards is the best wine pairing found in the entire Comunidad de Madrid!
Wine tastings in English
Madrid & Darracott, Madrid’s top wine shop, offers a wide variety of daily wine tastings in English. Their tastings range from introductory tastings explaining the basics of Spanish wine to more niche offerings such as a sherry tasting or a tasting built around wines with carbonic maceration.
Check out their website or simply stop in and have a glass of wine at their bar to check out the options. This shop will surely be able to help you find a Spanish wine you will love.
Perfect Pairings: Best Restaurants in Madrid for Every Wine Lover
Small restaurants + unique wines
Batch
I generally shy away from the word “favorite”, but if I had to choose some of the places I most enjoy eating in Madrid, Batch would inevitably end up on the list.
Located in the Vallehermoso Market, the informal and local vibes at the market are already an enormous plus. Add to that truly outstanding food and Batch is hard to beat if you’re looking for excellent food and wine in Madrid. They focus on incredibly delicate and seasonal ingredients showcased in playful and experimental dishes.
Owners Nacho and Dani have an eye for design as well. Everything is beautiful and simple, from the plates themselves to the glassware and tables. Naturally, no meal like this is complete without a superb wine list and Batch has never failed me. From light Slovenian reds to dry sparkling French whites and complex Georgian orange wines, they have it all. Their wine list is as unique as the menu. It always surprises and never disappoints.
These Galician scallops at Batch, one of my favorite wine bars in Madrid, were cooked to perfection!
Bocanada
Owner Amanda Leite worked at various wine bars in Madrid before opening Bocanada a few years back on Calle Leon, in the heart of the Literary Quarter. Rotating chefs, a tiny dining space, and a truly interesting wine list lead to one of the most dynamic places to both eat and drink in central Madrid.
Deemed a ‘micro tavern,’ Bocanada has been written up in countless newspapers and even featured on Eva Longoria’s Searching for Spain series. Amanda works hard to serve hard-to-find wines from small producers. Given how small the place is, you will invariably make friends and try some truly rare gems.
La Canibal
If you are looking for a place to hold a large, simple Spanish lunch or dinner with a group with varied tastes, then La Canibal is your place. This is one of the largest wine bars in Madrid. The added bonus here is that the not only is the wine list incredible, they also have an impressive selection of craft beers.
Opened in 2017, La Canibal does classic Spanish dishes with a Galician twist. Think croquetas made with a unique Galician ham called lacón, delicious octopus, and Galician seafood empanadas. Do not skip the final cheese plate as the perfect end to the meal. Added bonus: they work directly with producers carrying very interesting wines on tap. If suddenly you were to decide you wanted to splurge on an expensive bottle of Cava, Spanish traditional method sparkling wines, or a rare Sherry, they have that too.
La Capa
Three friends Piru, Martin, and Arturo made their rounds through some of Madrid’s most popular natural wine bars before going out on their own and opening up one of Madrid’s most fun places to drink natural wine.
Piru is probably the most jovial bartender in Madrid and he knows the story behind every wine he serves. He truly connects you to what wine, and natural wine in particular, truly is: an artisan product reflecting both a time and place.
Martin, originally from the Philippines, comes from a family of chefs and builds such a great menu anchored around quality, seasonal products and simplicity. Make sure to reserve in advance as it is impossible to get a table here otherwise.
Celebration restaurants + impressive wine lists
Taberna Pedraza
Arguably no trip to Madrid is complete without a visit to one of the classics. That old school Madrid experience should include: a white tablecloth, a boastful wine list, dry aged steaks, and cocido, Madrid’s celebrated 3-course stew that is an experience in and of itself.
For all of this look no further than Taberna Pedraza. Located in the heart of the Salamanca neighborhood, the menu has all the classics: tortilla de Betanzos, callos, cocido, croquetas, ensaladilla, and the famous Galician T-bone steak. The service is spectacular and the restaurant is steeped in tradition and charm.
Sacha
Ask anyone in the know for a truly special dining experience in Madrid and they will recommend Sacha. Owner Sacha Hormaechea grew up between Madrid and Costa Brava in a family of chefs. With a keen interest in serving Spanish food done well and highlighting ingredients, his tortilla vaga, or the lazy omelette as it isn’t flipped, shows up time and time again at other restaurants. It is his mark on the Madrid food scene.
When Phil Rosenthal of Somebody Feed Phil came to Madrid, this was the scene of his final meal. It is not cheap, and it isn’t easy to get a table either, but if you are looking for a special meal this is definitely a must. Waiters where black tie and expertly dish out each sharing plate. The menu rotates seasonally and the wine list is more similar to a dictionary than a menu. Sacha is more than a meal, it is an experience!
Angelita
Nestled on a side street right behind Gran Via, a stones-throw from a plethora of mediocre tapas chains and Kebab joints, is Angelita. Run by the Villalon brothers, Angelita is an homage to their mother. A great deal of the produce is brought in from their family’s farm in Zamora.
If you are visiting in summer and their tomato salad is on the menu, it is truly unparalleled. The charcuterie selection is great and the cheese plate for dessert is flawless, as is the service. The wine list is one of the best (and most extensive!) in the city, with dozens of wines offered by the glass and even half-glass pours that allow you to taste even more wines!
After dinner head downstairs for a cocktail in their sister cocktail bar. Or if you are keen for a stroll, Bar Cock is just down the street and is as classic as it gets.
Where to buy wine in Madrid
Cuvee 3000
A tiny wine shop in the beautiful Chueca neighborhood, Cuvee 3000 has a very interesting and uniquely curated selection of wines from small producers. You won’t find Ramon Bilbao or Cune here (two enormous, classic Rioja producers).
Instead, you will find equally delicious and competitively priced wines from small producers (some of whom may even put in hours at the shop). They organize tastings as well so make sure to check out their offerings via Instagram while you are in town.
Pastora
Carrera de San Francisco has been one of my favorite food shopping streets for nearly ten years now. It all started with Obrador San Francisco, perhaps the best bread bakery in town. Then came Cultivo, which specializes in artisanal cheeses. Lastly came Pastora. Opened by Sara and Juan Camilo in 2020, their interest in everything delicious led them to open this coffee and bottle shop. Here Juan serves and sells the coffee he roasts as well as a fun selection of natural wines and conservas, or tinned products.
Madrid and Darracott
Spaniard Roque Madrid and Englishman Luke Darracott make up the duo who opened this fantastic wine shop and tasting space/bar several years back. These two do a fantastic job of offering a wide variety of Spanish wines at all different price points. Unlike a lot of other shops and luckily for non-Spanish speakers, they offer tastings in both English and Spanish daily in their beautiful space a stone’s throw from Plaza Mayor.
The final drop
Madrid is an incredible city for food and, most importantly, wine. The locals are friendly, the culinary scene is livelier than ever and you are never far away from an incredible glass of wine. So don’t shy away from packed places, jump on one of our tours and enjoy all that Madrid has to offer! Hope to see you in Madrid soon.
Join us on our De Bodegas winery day trip and try Antonio’s wines as they evolved from young wines to crianzas after their time in the barrel!