The country’s most popular sport has one virtue: it brings people together, which is why finding a bar to watch a soccer match in Madrid can be crucial, especially when it’s a final, a classic, or a major tournament.
Among the requirements a bar must meet to enjoy soccer there—besides having a screen, of course—are: good beer and food to share; tapas and raciones are a must, because let’s assume there’s always someone who isn’t as interested in the sport as they are in hanging out with friends.
And since we’re talking about soccer, bars, and matches that bring half the city to a standstill, there’s another plan that fits quite well within that same universe: LEGENDS: The Home of Football, an immersive museum dedicated to the history of soccer located just a few steps from Sol. With historic jerseys, legendary cleats, interactive experiences, and memorabilia from some of the most important moments in LaLiga and major international tournaments, it serves as the perfect warm-up before sitting down in front of a screen to watch the next match.
Plus, very close to the museum is La Abadía (Calle de Jacometrezo, 15), a classic spot to continue your soccer-filled day with beers and screens, or O’Connell St. Pub ( Calle de Espoz y Mina, 7), another of the best-known pubs in the city center for watching soccer with the atmosphere of a major match.
1. La Fontana de Oro
La Fontana de Oro, which inspired Benito Pérez Galdós’s first novel and has been a gathering place for the cream of Spanish society for centuries, has gone by many names since its founding in 1782. It’s unclear whether it was previously located just a few meters from where this Irish pub with live music—which now bears its name—stands today.
This venue, in addition to remaining a part of Madrid’s nightlife history, is one of the best bars to enjoy a soccer match right in the heart of Madrid.
📍Location:Calle de la Victoria, 1 (downtown)
2. Soccer Bar Cervecería
Soccer Bar is the perfect choice for those looking for the ideal spot to gather and watch soccer in the northern part of the capital. They’ve taken their name from the way Americans refer to the sport, and perhaps it’s a good way to keep things neutral—here, any fan, no matter which team they support, is welcome and will have the chance to watch and enjoy soccer (at least on the screen). It also has other attractions: the terrace, its sandwiches, the tapas, and the cold beer.
📍Location:Calle de Caleruega, 1 (Pinar del Rey)
3. O’Connell St PUB
At O’Connell St, you can not only watch matches on their screens and TVs and get carried away with their wide variety of beers (especially international ones), but you can also enjoy live music. Plus, between pints at this Irish pub, they also serve food. So, if you’re looking for a place to meet up with friends to watch the 2022 Qatar World Cup final, this spot checks all the boxes.
📍Location:7 Espoz y Mina Street (downtown)
4. Café Mario Bar
Editorial credit: Gorodenkoff / Shutterstock.com
Pairing crispy pork rinds with a Paulaner beer while watching a classic match is something unimaginable in Germany, but it makes perfect sense in Madrid. In the mornings, Café Mario Bar lives up to its name by serving quality coffee—though not specialty coffee—but in the afternoons, sports take over the screen, pints replace ceramic mugs, and tapas replace pastries.
📍Location:Calle de Rodríguez San Pedro, 44 (Chamberí)
5. Bareto
Exterior of Bareto || Photo credit: Bareto
Bareto is a beer hall that describes itself on Instagram as: “a place with a bar, toothpicks, and napkins on the floor.” While it does embrace a classic aesthetic, it puts its own spin on it, updates it, and makes it its own. The same goes for its menu. They serve gildas, Russian salad, and torreznos, but in a refined version.
It now has two locations, but it’s the one right next to Cibeles that also meets another basic requirement of a good bar: here you can watch most of the Spanish league soccer matches.
📍Location: various locations
6. Beerhouse Madrid
At Beerhouse, they aim to serve the best craft beer of the moment while you watch soccer with friends. Since 2015, they’ve been offering visitors the highest-quality craft beer, both domestic and international.
They have two locations: one on Cardenal Cisneros Street, where they have twelve beer taps and four screens to watch different sports, and another spot in Majadahonda, where they also make burgers on a charcoal grill.
📍Location:Calle del Cardenal Cisneros, 16 (Chamberí); Calle de las Maldonadas, 5 (La Latina); and Calle Gran Vía, 5 (Majadahonda)
7. Cervecería Deportiva Sports Bar
It’s important to realize that when you visit a bar to watch a soccer game, you’re not going there expecting Michelin-starred cuisine. Tapas with your drinks, broadcasts of other sports, reasonable prices, a great atmosphere, and a central location. Cervecería Deportiva Sports Bar delivers exactly what it promises. Nothing more, nothing less.
📍Location: Calle de las Veneras, 7 (Downtown)