Although people from abroad associate Spain with wine, the truth is that up until recently, Madrileños mostly drank beer. That’s changed. With the exception of our first listing below (which has been around for decades), a number of exciting new wine bars and shops have opened in Madrid in recent years. Read this article to learn about our favorite new places to drink wine in Madrid.
1-La Venencia- Calle de Echegaray, 7
La Venencia is a Madrid icon. It has been around since the 1930’s and is by far the oldest establishment on this list. We included it in this post for two reasons: it is a place everyone should experience at least once, and because it provides a stark contrast to the new wine bars and shops highlighted in this post. At the time of the Spanish Civil War, La Venencia was where Republicans and anti-fascists gathered, including Ernest Hemingway. It’s not clear if anything has changed since then. The old sherry bottles lining the walls have a liberal coating of dust and they still keep track of your tab using little slates on the bar. Their specialty is sherry: Fino, Manzanilla, Amontillado, Palo Cortado and Oloroso are the most popular. They don’t have other types of wine, but they serve the glasses of sherry with fat green olives and Manchego cheese. Although walking inside is a step back in time, it has become popular with tourists so better to go earlier in the evening for a more traditional experience.
2-Taberna Averías- Calle Ponzano, 16
Averías is one of the newest wine bars in Madrid on the spectacularly popular Calle Ponzano. It is quite unassuming, but has one of the best selections of wine by the glass in Madrid. It recently opened a small terrace (there are two tables) if you prefer to drink outside. Tip: make sure you ask for the price when ordering wine by the glass. Most places in Madrid that have wine by the glass charge between 2-6€. A friend tells a story of how she went here with her partner, they ordered two glasses of wine, paid with a 50€ note and received just a couple coins for change. Also note that Calle Ponzano is incredibly busy, so this is another place to go early; we recommend around 18h to get a seat on the terrace.
3-De Vinos-Calle de la Palma, 76
Stepping into this small bar is like stepping into a Spanish grandmother’s living room. The floors of De Vinos are covered with original old tiles and the old brown leather sofas are comfortable and inviting. Although it looks old fashioned inside, don’t let that fool you. They have an excellent selection of wines, including trendy orange wines, Beaujolais Nouveau and an excellent selection of cavas by the glass. Make sure you call or message in advance before you arrive because their hours are sporadic.
4-DOC Enoteca Italiana-Calle de El Españoleto, 2
This is our favorite spot for Italian wines in Madrid. They opened in 2018 and are a welcome addition to the wine scene in the city. Until recently, it was hard to find any Italian wines in Madrid. DOC Enoteca Italiana has a fantastic selection of Italian wines: more than 350 different varieties, including a good selection of Amarone, They serve excellent Italian antipasti: their salami and parmesan are of the highest quality. Check their Facebook page for regular wine tastings. If you have a small party, you can even organize a private tasting (cata is the Spanish term for a wine tasting). They speak English.
5-La Espumosa-Calle de Santa Engracia, 60
Another new place to drink wine in Madrid is La Espumosa. It opened in 2019 and managed to survive the lockdown with an expanded terrace, lit with tiny white lights at night. It is owned by a French woman and, like the name suggests, specializes in Champagne. They have all the classics like Veuve Clicquot and Perrier Jouet (harder to find in Madrid than one would think) as well as an excellent selection of smaller, more boutique Champagne labels. They have a great selection of healthy food, including pizzas with gluten free crusts (which taste amazing), rice bowls and tuna tataki. If you are looking for a Champagne brunch, this is the place to go. You can order oysters with your Champagne or even get perfectly poached eggs, which can be tricky in Madrid. The owner speaks excellent English as well as French and Spanish.
6-Madrid & Darracott-Duque de Rivas, 8
Madrid & Darracott is actually a wine store, but they have regular wine tastings, including themed tastings and vermouth tastings. One of the owners, Luke, is British so if you are looking for a wine tasting in English, or just help navigating Spanish wines, this is the place to go. If you are hesitant to go indoors, they even have online wine tastings. You order a box of wine, they deliver it (free of charge in Spain if you order six bottles are more) then tune in online for the tasting.
7-St. Germain Wine Bar-Calle de Cochabamba, 21
If you want to drink French wine in Madrid, this is the place for you. Its French bistro ambience is the perfect setting to enjoy an elegant number of French wines and Champagnes. Their list of Champagnes is particularly notable; it is over a page long and you won’t find the big names like Veuve or Moët et Chandon. Rather, they have a list of smaller, boutique Champagne producers that are a delight to sample. The wine is accompanied by a menu of French food that features carefully picked products from small, local producers. French cheeses, oysters from Brittany and a homemade fois gras macerated in Champagne are some of the highlights. St. Germain is located in the neighborhood of Hispanomérica, a few hundred meters away from The Bernabéu.
