Did you know there is a famous tapas street in Madrid?
Madrid’s Tapas Street is called Calle de la Cava Baja, and it’s where you need to go for the best tapas in the city.
Calle Cava Baja is found in La Latina neighbourhood, the best area for tapas in Madrid and one of the best barrios to stay in.
The long narrow street, lined with tapas bars and restaurants, is just a few minutes’ walk from Plaza Mayor in the centre of Madrid.
Visiting this street is one of the best things to do in Madrid, popping in and out of bars for a cold caña and a couple of pinchos.
Keep reading for the best tapas bars on Calle Cava Baja (Madrid’s Tapas Street).
Fancy doing a guided tapas tour in Madrid instead? Join this amazing Madrid tapas and wine tour led by an expert local guide.
1. Taberna LA CONCHA
Taberna La Concha is the best tapas bar on Madrid’s tapas street, offering local dishes made to share.
Highlights from the menu include ‘albóndigas caseras’ (homemade meatballs), ‘pimientos de piquillo’ (oven-baked stuffed red peppers) and ‘tosta de bacalao’ (traditional smoked cod on crusty bread).
Taberna La Concha also does the best homemade vermouth in Madrid.
Take a seat at the bar and watch the waiters make the renowned ‘Manuela’ cocktail in front of your eyes, spraying gin from a spritzer and adding dashes of Campari.
Even better, you can push the famous ‘press for cava’ bell on the bar to be served a glass of crisp Spanish cava in seconds.
2. La Perejila
La Perejila is a lively flamenco-inspired tapas bar on Madrid’s tapas street.
The tapas menu here is varied and offers something for everyone.
Highlights include plates of jamón ibérico and local cheese, bacalao carpaccio and tostas topped with octopus, potato and paprika.
They also do a boozy mandarin sorbet, which is served in a champagne flute and tastes amazing.
3. Taberna El Tempranillo
Taberna El Tempranillo is a great little bar with authentic Spanish tapas on offer.
Favourite tapas dishes at Taberna El Tempranillo include ‘gambas al ajillo‘ (sizzling garlic prawns), mushroom pinchos and tuna steak salad.
If you’re mega hungry, both tourists and locals rave about the duck dishes on the main menu.
Tall racks of wine bottles promise the perfect glass of Spanish wine for every palate, and the atmosphere here is buzzing every day of the week.
4. Casa Lucas
Casa Lucas is another great tapas bar on Calle Cava Baja.
Offering really good albóndigas (meatballs) and croquetas, it’s popular with both tourists and Madrileños.
The pinchos at Casa Lucas are also tasty, as are the Spanish wines and cold local beers.
5. Díaz y Larrouy
Diaz y Larrouy is a wine bar with local tapas to accompany the drinks.
The intimate spot offers a variety of tostas if you just want a small snack (their speciality is Canarian cheese with honey – it’s so good!).
Larger dishes from the main menu include peppers stuffed with hake and prawns, Russian salad or melted provolone cheese with tomato and dipping bread.
There’s an extensive Spanish wine selection at Diaz y Larrouy, and they can all be purchased by the glass.
6. Taberna del Tuerto
Taberna del Tuerto is a buzzing tapas bar with the best cava in Madrid.
Small tostas are served for free with each drink you order, topped with local ingredients like iberian ham, manchego cheese or pâté.
If you want something a bit more substantial, the tapas del día is always tasty and features dishes like traditional Spanish beef cheek, mini hamburgers and cheese boards.
7. Lamiak
Lamiak is a well-loved tapas bar, where stools are clustered around old beer barrels and punters spill out onto the street with a cold beer in hand.
The tapas dishes here are cheap but tasty.
The artichoke hearts with salsa roja are really popular, as is the baked aubergine with mince meat and the vegetarian pintxos.
8. Pez Tortilla
We all know tortilla is typically Spanish, and Calle Cava Baja has its own cantina which is completely dedicated to the dish.
Using the traditional recipes of the founder’s abuela, Pez Tortilla offers a selection of homemade tortillas by the slice with crusty bread.
You can’t go wrong with the clásico, the authentic recipe with egg, potato and caramelised onion.
Other options include red pepper and morcilla (Spanish black pudding), spicy jalapeño, and goats cheese with spinach.
Tortilla is served warm and in the traditional way with the eggs still slightly runny.
Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it, because it’s absolutely delicious.
9. La Osita
La Osita is technically a tap room rather than a tapas bar, but they serve great little tapas alongside the beer.
Connected to the renowned Oso Brewing, one of Madrid’s best craft beer breweries, La Osita is the place to sample all of the beers on offer in a relaxed atmosphere.
Drinks come accompanied with a tapas of chorizo/ salchichón and sourdough bread.
If you want to order something bigger from the menu, they offer meat and cheese boards.
Which are the best hotels, Airbnbs and apartments near Calle Cava Baja?
Mid-range accommodation near Calle Cava Baja: Rhythm & Flow Apartment
Rhythm & Flow Apartment is a stunning studio apartment just off Calle Cava Baja and mere seconds away from all of the tapas bars.
It’s the perfect holiday apartment if you plan to spend your weekend eating your way along Madrid’s tapas street.
Rhythm & Flow Apartment is also just a couple of minutes’ walk from Plaza Mayor and Sol.
You can book Rhythm & Flow Apartment here.
Luxury accommodation near Calle Cava Baja: Plaza Promises Apartment
If you want to stay in one of the most exclusive spots in Madrid, which is just two minutes’ walk from Madrid’s tapas street, then Plaza Promises Apartment is the place for you.
Juliette balconies open straight onto the historical square of Plaza Mayor, whilst sleek modern furnishings throughout promise a luxurious stay.
Plaza Promises Apartment also has three bedrooms and three bathrooms, so you can stay in a group with friends or family and all enjoy the best tapas in Madrid together.
You can book Plaza Promises Apartment here.
Budget accommodation near Calle Cava Baja: Posada del Dragón Boutique Hotel
Posada del Dragón Boutique Hotel is one of the only hotels which is actually located on Calle Cava Baja.
For a very reasonable price, you can book a room on Madrid’s famous tapas street and eat your way down the cobbles knowing that your comfy bed is mere metres away.
You can book Posada del Dragón Boutique Hotel here.
First time in Madrid? I can highly recommend using the Go City Pass to save a ton of money on entrance fees and tickets. The all inclusive pass provides access to all of Madrid’s paid attractions including the palaces, museums and galleries, hop-on-hop-off bus tour, flamenco shows, Real Madrid stadium tour and even segway tours around the city!
I hope you’ve enjoyed my guide to visiting Madrid’s tapas street, don’t miss The Best Cocktail Bars in Madrid or The Best Coffee Shops in Madrid.