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.

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.