It is easy to agree that among the best gastronomic traditions in Spain is to accompany your drink with a free tapa. It is true that this is not always the case, nor are the quantities and qualities the same everywhere. Although it is well known that what is good, if it is free, is twice as good, and in all these places they are good enough to bring their best version to the tapas.
1. La Petisqueira and La Petisqueira II
The tapas at La Petisqueira are tremendously generous, more like a ration than a tapa. Although the beer, as expected, is not one of the cheapest (4.5 € for a double beer). Of course, don’t be alarmed if you don’t manage to open the door when you get there because it’s packed to the rafters with greedy mouths.
📍 Calle Churruca, 6 (Alonso Martínez) and Calle de Mejía Lequerica, 17 (Alonso Martínez)
2. El Tigre Cider Bar and El Tigre del Norte
El Tigre is one of those places in Madrid that you have to try at least once in a lifetime especially when your young stomach still has no filter. It doesn’t matter, if you are only going to be in Madrid one weekend whether your culinary tastes are the most refined, you must stop by this bar and live the experience of the newcomer to the capital.
📍 Calle de las Infantas, 23 (Chueca) and Calle de Hortaleza, 23 (Chueca)
3. El Lagar Restaurant
Few bars in Madrid have as much emotional value as El Lagar for students who have just arrived in the capital. This bar in Argüelles is located in front of the PSOE headquarters, on Ferraz street. At El Lagar, the more drinks you order, the higher the quality of the tapa you receive. Or at least that’s the word of mouth. An uncomplicated, traditional and neighborhood bar.
📍 Calle Ferraz, 39 (Argüelles)
4. El Respiro
El Respiro, an authentic Madrid tavern, is run by Galicians who not only serve one of the best beers in Spain (Mahou), but also accompany it with tapas ranging from scrambled eggs with asparagus to braviolis (bravas and aioli). Impossible not to return.
📍 Calle de las Infantas, 34 (Chueca)
5. La Pomarada
La Pomarada is a traditional Asturian bar, which is defined as a “cachopería” that is usually full and has survived the gentrification and overcrowding of the city Conde Duque maintaining the same aesthetics and menu. A rara avis. The tapas vary every day and from time to time they do a round of pinchos around the place. We recommend trying their potato omelette.
📍 Calle Conde Duque, 3 (Conde Duque)
6. Sierra Bar
The Sierra bar is in Chamberí near Moncloa. So it is common to see this small place full of students looking for the magic combo: accompany the beers with tapas for the same price because the Madrid night promises to be long.
📍 Calle Galileo, 41 (Chamberí)
7. La Pequeña Graná
La Pequeña Graná is already an icon of Embajadores Street. Granada is the epicenter of free tapas and gives Madrid a fair and healthy competition. And that is precisely what you will find in this bar: Andalusian-style tapas philosophy in its purest form.
📍 Calle de Embajadores, 124 (Delicias)
8. The Abulense corner
From Andalusia we move to Avila with El rincón Abulense, where the tapas are homemade and the waiters have a very friendly sense of humor. This bar is located next to the Hotel Senator, at Gran Vía a privileged location to kick off the Madrid revelry.
📍 Calle Caballero de Gracia, 18 (Downtown)
9. The Enemies
Los Enemigos is the mythical free tapas bar where you can get drunk on fried food. It took its striking name in allusion to its competition, the Amiga bar, which was next door and which, unfortunately, closed, but at least the anecdote has remained.
📍 Calle Ezequiel Solana, 116
10. Bodega Salvaje
Bodega salvaje brews its own beer and they also accompany it with a free tapa with the best product of La Mancha. Of Castilian tradition and homemade cuisine. It is located in the district of Arganzuela very close to the Crystal Palace this is one of the best kept secrets of the neighborhood, so we can take advantage of the visit to get to know the area better.
📍 Jaime el Conquistador Street, 25 (Chopera)
11. La Chata
La Chata is one of the classics in the Cava Baja in La Latina and joins the tradition of serving a free tapa with every drink. It is easily recognizable by its facade of tiles painted in the style of Los Gabrieles, with the most touristic icons of the city included in the illustration. Here, as its name and the text on the door make clear, the typical dishes are wine, beer and a cheese or ham tapa, alternating with their tripe and croquettes, to go with it. Nothing new, nothing to go wrong.
📍 Calle de la Cava Baja, 24 (La Latina)
In Madrid, knowing how to pair calamari, bravas and tortilla with beer is culture, but we let ourselves be advised and influenced by any gastronomy that adds attractiveness to the local free tapas.