Still resisting serving food in square-shaped dishes and multivitamin juices, these are the places that could very well appear in works by Benito Pérez-Galdós, quite a feat for modern-day Madrid. One of them is the tavern of Antonio Sánchez, on Calle Mesón de Paredes, 13. Here, they serve delicious vermouth on tap and traditional tapas such as meatballs or snails.
It is a famous place that luckily isn’t full of tourists, so make the most of it while you can. It is located between Tirso de Molina and Lavapiés, with a dark-tavern atmosphere with a decoration of barrels, pictures of bullfighters. It’s also a gathering place for a lot of people, including the late painter Ignacio Zuloaga.
Also filled with history is Casa Labra (Calle Tetuán, 12), foundation place of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) on May 2nd 1879. Located just a few yards from Puerta del Sol (next to the Corte Inglés department store), it’s one of the most authentic spots in an area with bars that are not all that special. However, unlike the first place we mentioned, this one is usually full at all times, so we recommend to visit it outside peak hours on weekends. So, what should you order? Try the cod in its tajadita serving (for 1.30€) or in other types (they have up to ten), either at the bar or at the diminutive next-door restaurant.
La Venencia is just a few years away from celebrating its 100th birthday (founded in 1922). Nevertheless, it’s one of Madrid’s best traditional taverns and, curiously, with no background music. Few things are as pleasurable as enjoying one of its wines (Andalusian, amontillado, fine, muscatel, etc.) with a platter of Iberian cold cuts in the silence of this bar that encompasses Spain’s most picturesque essence. Find it next to Plaza de Santa Ana, on one of the streets that they say has the most bars in Europe: Calle Echegaray, 7.
Other places to visit would include Bodegas Ricla, Casa Alberto and La Ardosa.
