Free WiFi

A lot of people come to Madrid to see the history and not just to go to the bars. In Vinícola Mentridana you can actually do both at the same time. That’s right, the high vaulted ceilings lined with dusty bottles of wine is enough history for me, no need to visit the museums. If you must go to the Museums this place is actually pretty close to both the Prado and Reina Sofía. Despite this it's anything but touristy as it’s a located on a bit of a backstreet.

Vinícola Mentridana completes it’s historic feel with old wooden floors and wall panelings. There are large french windows opening on the street that are perfect for a summer day of people watching. For a bar they have a very large selection of wines and even do a hot mulled wine in the winter which is really hard to find in Madrid.

In terms of food they have a few main dishes but mainly serve “raciones” and “tostas” but the the portions are quite large. For something very Spanish you could try a tosta with “sobrasada” which is like a spreadable sausage. It’s a great place to come in a group and get a few different things to pick at while experimenting with all the different wines. Vinícola Mentridana is an untacky kind of place with a great atmosphere. It would be great if Spain was more famous for this kind of place and less famous for sangria and flamenco.

La Fontana De Oro is Spanish for the golden fountain. I don't know if they are hinting at leprechauns and their pots of gold because it's a strange name for an Irish bar. It's situated between Plaza Del Sol and Plaza Santa Ana, an area of many bars of this ilk where you can easily meet and mingle with drunk foreigners. Although an irish bar, La Fontana De Oro is not a traditional pub but a place you really feel at home being plastered, dancing and making a fool of yourself. It's open til 6pm every night of the week, so there's plenty time for it.

The upstairs is a very large room on split levels with two separate bars. The bar on the right has seats whereas the lower one has high tables for resting your beer. At the entrance there's a dance floor
and a stage for live music raised a couple of meters above. Check out their website for the latest bands.

Downstairs you'll find a strange medieval look. There are wooden tables with large throne like seats. It's a great place to go for a more civilised chat away from the rowdiness above. Down here you'll also find a little private room with a pool table. It can be a little difficult to get game because it's one of the few bars that has a pool table in Madrid.

El Vlajero is a bit of a classic in La Latina. With three floors it’s one of the largest bars in the area and it has recently been refurbished with a clean, light, hip atmosphere.

The first floor offers free WiFi during the day and food later at night. It has a modern clean feel with stainless steel high tables and brick walls. Up the steep stairs at the back of the bar you’ll find the second floor, which is very light and comfortable with large windows and vintage furniture. The walls are decorated with old wine boxes, flowers and greenery and is a nice contrast to the modern style of the first floor. During the day you can sit and have a quiet drink but at night it gets pretty busy so a cocktail standing at the bar is more likely.

The whole of the top floor is a pretty amazing terrace but for some reason it is shut until next summer, so we’ll have to wait and see if it’s undergone a makeover too.

This is a tapas bar with a large selection of tapas but not your fancy pants kind that you’ll find in some of the more modern Basque bars. This is traditional Spanish fair for a decent price in a bar that has been here since 1879 even if it has obviously gone through many renovations in that time.

The ceiling of the bar is decorated with newspapers paying homage to the name of the bar and at the entrance is a round table with a large Greek statue. Despite this opulent touch the rest of the bar is quite simple with modern and old touches mixed a little haphazardly.

This bar is something unique in an area more known for bars with vintage furniture. The place looks home made by a bunch of skaters. The bar is fashioned from chipboard and you can hang your coat on the hangers made from skateboard wheels. I especially like the old arcade machine and the huge Ronald McDonald's head staring down at you.

They do pretty decent burgers and cocktails. If you want a laugh ask for the name of the free WiFi, it seems to discourage the neighbours stealing it.