The Best Wine Bars in Central Madrid

Created by wine-lover and grape-grower Vicente Herrero, Vides offers 40 different varieties of wine by the glass (most bars only offer around six or less). If you order by the bottle, there’s up to 125 different options you can choose from at this brightly lit, no-frills wine joint. Mainly varieties from Spain, Herrero wants to branch out from the typical Rioja and Ribera wines – the most popular styles of wine in Spain, named for the region in which they were cultivated – and offer a brand new experience for his customers. Vides also has olive oils for purchases and you can order Spanish cheeses and meats to pair with your wine.

La Fisna, located in the hip Lavapiés neighborhood, is one of the few wine bars in Madrid that offers not only national wines, but many international wines by the glass. The cosy space, with high tables, a wood bar and exposed brick walls is reminiscent of a hole-in-the-wall wine bar in the East Village in New York City. With over 50 wines available by the glass and a rotating menu (about every two weeks), this is the ideal place to go to try more obscure varieties, or wines from Italy or France. There’s a small shop attached to the bar, and you can purchase a bottle in the shop and then cork it in the bar alongside some tapas for a corking fee.

TomeVinos is really more of a wine shop. In fact, they have several locations around Madrid, but when you walk in, it really feels like a family-owned, one-of-a-kind shop. The knowledgeable and helpful staff will help you pick out bottles to buy and a spontaneous clandestine tasting might also take place too. Most of the shops also offer weekly or bi-monthly tastings (often for free), concerts or wine events in the back or basement of the stores. The tastings are typically led by representatives of the wineries, where they explain, in depth, all about the wine. Sign up for their monthly newsletter to be informed of all the tastings and events offered.

Wine bar, bookshop, café and gastrobar could also be used to describe El Dinosaurio. You can sip a glass of wine and chat with friends, all while perusing the book section and ordering some Spanish cuisine. The bar also puts on many events: wine and beer tastings, poetry readings/slams, book presentations, concerts and more. All of the food dishes have names of books, so this is the perfect spot to go if you’re a literature and wine lover. Try the dish El Tren de Miedo, which is pig cheek marinated in chocolate.

A very traditional, Spanish-style wine bar, Vinícola Mentridana offers hearty stews and Castillian cuisine and a variety of authentic Spanish wines to sample. You’ll find a mix of locals that have been coming here forever, plus students, tourists, couples, groups of friends… but all with a love of wine in common. The building is quite old and was once a winery back in 1894. In 1920, Vinícola Mentridana was founded by Manuel Calvino Martínez and is still a family-owned business today. Besides wine, this is a great spot to sample vermouth.

A newer spot in the trendy LGBT-friendly neighborhood of Chueca, Angelita offers more than 25 varieties of wine by the glass and over 500 options for bottles. Besides their extensive wine options, they have an incredible cocktail list with fancy bartenders whipping up cool creations and lots of options for craft beer. The upstairs area is more of a restaurant, but downstairs offers a warm yet stylish atmosphere, perfect for enjoying wine with friends or that special someone.