Recommended bars in Madrid, Spain

It seldom rains in Madrid and blue skies are almost assured. Thanks to Spanish time being two hours behind what the rise and fall of the sun would dictate it should be, it stays light late into the evening here, until 6:30 p.m., even in January. Hence, Madrid is a great city to escape the winter blues.

Although Madrid is a comparatively modern city compared to other European capitals, it boasts great architecture and history. Madrid is also rightly regarded for its restaurant and bar scene.

We visited the following bars over a couple of nights in mid-January 2025, and I recommend all of them.

Angelita
Calle de la Reina, 4, Centro, 28004, Madrid
Angelita is a wine bar, restaurant, and cocktail bar that is recognised as one of Spain's most progressive and sustainable. Unusually, it does not use ice or citrus in its cocktails.

Bad Company 1920
C de Miguel Moya 8, Puerta de Madera, 1920, 28004 Madrid
A fun cocktail-led 1920s-themed speakeasy in the heart of Madrid, just a few metres from Plaza de Callao.

Devil's Cut
C. del León, 3, Centro, 28014 Madrid
A 40-year-old bar has been brilliantly and sensitively rejuvenated to create one of the world's best bars. A bar where modernity, Japanese bartending techniques and attention to detail, mixed with New York cocktail culture and a sherry-led Spanish neighbourhood bar, are brought together with a generous dose of hospitality.

Pictura at Mandarin Oriental Ritz
Pl. de la Lealtad, 5, Retiro, 28014 Madrid
Pictura Bar is housed in the fabulously grand historic Ritz Hotel, given a Mandarin Oriental makeover in 2021. This excellent cocktail bar lies just beyond the top-hatted doormen to the right as you enter the lobby.

Planta Baja
Calle del Marqués del Duero, 8, Salamanca, 28001 Madrid
Planta Baja (meaning Ground floor) is actually a semi-subterranean cocktail bar housed in a brick-lined, tunnel-like, atmospherically lit space. This is one of those rare and special bars where the owner will likely be your bartender.

Salmon Guru
Calle de Echegaray, 21, 28014 Madrid
There are two opposite types of cocktail bars that grace the Top 50 lists: classic and contemporary. Salmon Guru sits firmly in the latter camp. It's a neon-lit undersea fantasy bar where cocktails come in a wide range of vessels besides a simple glass.

La Venencia
Calle de Echegaray, 7, Centro, 28014 Madrid
This traditional sherry bar opened in 1922 and has changed little since. The sepia-toned walls, vintage bullfighting posters and the dust of time add to its museum-like charm. A choice of sherries: fino, palo cortado, amontillado etc. are served from oak barrels.