Traditional

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.

Casa de Julio is a bar that's been around forever. It's hidden on a back street so it doesn't attract the same young crowd as on calle Pez or Espirito Santo but that’s not to say it doesn't get busy. Casa de Julio is very small and can fill up in no time. It's best to get there early so you can get a table and let the others suffer trying to find a little ledge to prop their drink on.

Casa de Julio is famous not just because it’s a quaint traditional bar or because the Irish rock band U2 once came to visit. It’s famous for the croquetas which in Spain are a little different from the ones in the rest of Europe. Here they aren't filled with mash potato but rather an extremely thick bechamel (butter, flour and milk). The traditional varieties also contain ham or salted cod.

The great thing about Casa de Julio is that they don’t just stop at the traditional croquetas. They have a large selection and you can pick which ones you want:

Jamon (Ham, I think most of you know this one!)
Morcilla con membrillo (Black pudding with quince which is a sweet jelly almost like marmalade without the bits)
Espinacas, pasas y gorgonzola (Spinach, raisins and gorgonzola)
Queso azul (blue cheese)
Setas con puerros (mushrooms with leeks)
Bonito, huevo y cebolla caramelizada (tuna, egg and caramelized onions
Picadillo (mince meat)

A nice little tapas bar with extremely bizarre furnishings. From the street lamp post in the middle of the bar, to the skeleton mural and the bull fighting paraphernalia, everything is a little out of place but at the same time; we are in Spain. My only complaint is that the very bright white lighting almost seems clinical.

They do a good selection of tapas and it’s one of the few places that will usually give you something for free besides crisps and olives. There is a little back room where you can grab a seat for more of a restaurant feel.

A very rustic old fashioned Spanish bar that has been around forever. A little bit touristy but they do good cider and food from Galicia. It’s a good place to stop off when making the journey from La Latina to Malasaña.

There is a long bar in the front room with high wooden tables to drink around. They have a huge bowl of peanuts at the bar that are for some reason salted on the outside of their shells. Just throw the shells onto the floor like in all decent Spanish places. At the back is the restaurant with large tables good for big groups.

This is a traditional food market that has been renovated and converted into “culinary space”. The traditional stalls selling raw ingredients have been replaced by bars and selections of unique tapas. This is the first of several markets to undergo this transition and it is still the most popular, especially with tourists, due to its location in the historic heart of the city.

Although very crowded and touristy it is a great place to start and have a cava and a couple of tapas before heading to La Latina or Sol for the rest of the night.