30 bars worth the trip across Spain, editor-ranked by TableJourney. All Spain guides.
Sips ★ 4.8 · Barcelona
eixample · Carrer de Muntaner 108, 08036 Barcelona
Sips in Barcelona's Eixample is Marc Alvarez and Simone Caporale's Worlds 50 Best No. 1 cocktail bar (2023): a glass cube on Muntaner, tasting-menu drinks.
Tip: Reservations book 6 weeks ahead. The 8-course cocktail tasting at 110 euros is the order.
Paradiso ★ 4.7 · Barcelona
born · Carrer de Rera Palau 4, 08003 Barcelona
Paradiso in Barcelona's Born is the speakeasy through-a-pastrami-shop on Rera Palau: Worlds 50 Best No. 1 in 2022, now book months ahead for cocktail theatre.
Tip: Reservations via Instagram or Resy open 4 weeks ahead. No walk-ins; the queue at the door is for the dispatchers.
Ganbara (counter) ★ 4.7 · San Sebastián
San Jeronimo Kalea 21, 20003 Donostia-San Sebastian
Ganbara's ground-floor counter on San Jeronimo in San Sebastian's Old Town pours Txakoli alongside the autumn setas pintxo and the spider-crab plate, the Martinez-Ortuzar mushroom institution.
Tip: October to December for peak mushroom season; the counter is busy from 13:00.
La Cuchara de San Telmo (counter) ★ 4.7 · San Sebastián
Calle 31 de Agosto 28, 20003 Donostia-San Sebastian
La Cuchara de San Telmo on Calle 31 de Agosto in San Sebastian, open since 1999, pairs the made-to-order pintxos with a Rioja-leaning by-the-glass list and a tight Txakoli pour.
Tip: The carrillera with a Rioja red is the canonical Cuchara order. Queue early.
Two Schmucks ★ 4.6 · Barcelona
raval · Carrer de Joaquin Costa 52, 08001 Barcelona
Two Schmucks in Barcelona's Raval is the Pavel Davydov and Moe Aljaff dive-cocktail bar: low-light, loud music, pickle martinis and a Worlds 50 Best top-10 list.
Tip: Walk-up only; queue starts at 22:00. The pickle martini is the order; cash easier than card.
Dry Martini ★ 4.6 · Barcelona
eixample · Carrer d'Aribau 162, 08036 Barcelona
Dry Martini in Barcelona's Eixample has poured the city's reference martini since 1978: a polished wood bar, white-jacketed bartenders and the silver-counter ritual.
Tip: Open daily 13:00 to 02:30. The martini at the bar is the only order; cocktails-on-the-rocks at the table.
Salmon Guru ★ 4.6 · Madrid
las-letras · Calle Echegaray 21, 28014 Madrid
Salmon Guru on Calle Echegaray in Madrid is Diego Cabrera's neon-lit cocktail room (2017), the World's 50 Best Bars regular with tiki-style drinks, custom glassware and a tasting-flight menu.
Tip: Closed Mondays. Book the back-room tasting flight (4 cocktails for 40 euros) three days ahead; bar takes walk-ins.
Borda Berri ★ 4.6 · San Sebastián
Fermin Calbeton Kalea 12, 20003 Donostia-San Sebastian
Borda Berri on Fermin Calbeton in San Sebastian cooks hot made-to-order pintxos off a tight blackboard menu, with a Txakoli pour and a single house red as the drinks list.
Tip: No counter display; read the blackboard. Closed Sundays.
1862 Dry Bar ★ 4.5 · Madrid
malasana · Calle del Pez 27, 28004 Madrid
1862 Dry Bar on Calle del Pez in Madrid's Malasana is the speakeasy-style cocktail room since 2014, named for Jerry Thomas's 1862 bartender's guide, with the classic-drink canon and 80 reference rums.
Tip: Walk-in but the room is small (35 seats). Closed Sundays. The classic Sazerac (14 euros) is the headline order.
Azotea del Circulo Bellas Artes ★ 4.5 · Madrid
centro · Calle de Alcala 42, 28014 Madrid
Azotea del Circulo on Calle de Alcala in Madrid's Centro is the rooftop of the 1926 Circulo de Bellas Artes art club, with 360-degree views over Gran Via and a cocktail-and-tapas carte.
Tip: Entry fee 5 euros. Open daily 11:00-02:00. The sunset slot (19:30) is the busiest; book on Tickets.com to skip the queue.
Casa Urola (downstairs counter) ★ 4.5 · San Sebastián
Fermin Calbeton Kalea 20, 20003 Donostia-San Sebastian
Casa Urola's downstairs counter on Fermin Calbeton in San Sebastian's Old Town is the entry-level Basque pintxo bar with the city's deepest Txakoli pour and a kokotxas pintxo on every visit.
Tip: Stand at the counter for pintxos; upstairs takes reservations for full sit-down.
Bar Tamboril ★ 4.5 · San Sebastián
Arrandegi Kalea 2, 20003 Donostia-San Sebastian
Bar Tamboril on Arrandegi next to Plaza de la Constitucion in San Sebastian's Old Town, run by the same family as Ganbara, keeps the mushroom-in-olive-oil pintxo as its house plate.
Tip: Listed in the Michelin Guide as a Bib-recognised pintxo room. Counter standing only.
La Vina (counter bar) ★ 4.5 · San Sebastián
Calle 31 de Agosto 3, 20003 Donostia-San Sebastian
La Vina's front counter on Calle 31 de Agosto in San Sebastian pours sherry and Pedro Ximenez alongside the burnt cheesecake wedge, the canonical pairing in the Old Town.
Tip: Closed Mondays. The wedge plus PX is the proper Old Town stop.
Bar Txepetxa ★ 4.5 · San Sebastián
Pescaderia Kalea 5, 20003 Donostia-San Sebastian
Bar Txepetxa on Pescaderia in San Sebastian, since 1972, pours Txakoli alongside the vinegar-cured anchovy pintxos for which the city queues, the canonical seafood-counter stop.
Tip: Two anchoas with a glass of Txakoli; closed Mondays.
Boadas ★ 4.4 · Barcelona
raval · Carrer dels Tallers 1, 08001 Barcelona
Boadas in Barcelona's Raval, off the Rambla, has poured cocktails since 1933 in a triangular Art Deco bar: Miguel Boadas trained at La Floridita in Havana.
Tip: Open Mon-Sat 12:00-02:00. Closed Sunday. The Daiquiri is the canonical order; counter only.
Solange Cocktails & Luxury Spirits ★ 4.4 · Barcelona
eixample · Carrer d'Arago 211, 08011 Barcelona
Solange in Barcelona's Eixample is the James-Bond-themed cocktail bar with a deep luxury-spirits cellar: high-quality classics and a list of signature martinis.
Tip: Open daily 18:00 to 02:00. Book ahead Fri-Sat; walk-ups easier Tue-Thu.
Dr Stravinsky ★ 4.4 · Barcelona
born · Carrer dels Mirallers 5, 08003 Barcelona
Dr Stravinsky in Barcelona's Born is the apothecary-themed cocktail bar with its own bitters lab in the back: 30+ house bitters and a quiet basement room.
Tip: Open Tue-Sun 19:00 to 02:00. Closed Monday. Reserve the basement table.
Bobby's Free ★ 4.4 · Barcelona
eixample · Carrer de la Granada del Penedes 16, 08006 Barcelona
Bobby's Free in Barcelona's Gracia is the password-required speakeasy behind a barber shop on Carrer de la Granada: low-light, jazz, classic drinks.
Tip: Open Tue-Sun 19:30 to 02:30. Closed Monday. Password sent on Instagram after booking.
Macera Taller Bar ★ 4.4 · Madrid
malasana · Calle de San Mateo 21, 28004 Madrid
Macera Taller Bar in Madrid's Malasana infuses its own gins, vodkas and rums in glass jars at the back of the bar, with rotating fruits, herbs and roots since 2013. The cocktail carte uses only house infusions.
Tip: Walk-in only. The cocktails (10 to 14 euros) are the headlines; the infused-spirit bottles sell to take home.
Del Diego ★ 4.4 · Madrid
chueca · Calle de la Reina 12, 28004 Madrid
Del Diego near Gran Via in Madrid is the 1992-founded cocktail bar by Fernando del Diego, the canonical Madrid coctelero, with the Del Diego eponymous cocktail and the classic-drink-only carte.
Tip: Closed Sundays. Cash and card accepted. The eponymous Del Diego cocktail (12 euros) is the headline; classic Negronis are the second order.
The Room Madrid ★ 4.4 · Madrid
salamanca · Calle Conde de Aranda 7, 28001 Madrid
The Room Madrid in Salamanca is the speakeasy-style cocktail bar by chef Paco Perez since 2019, in a hidden basement behind a hotel reception, with a 40-cover bar and signature mezcal-led carte.
Tip: Closed Sundays and Mondays. Entry through the Hotel Aranda; reservation recommended for weekend evenings.
Casa Camacho ★ 4.4 · Madrid
malasana · Calle de San Andres 4, 28004 Madrid
Casa Camacho in Madrid's Malasana has poured the yayo (vermut with gin and seltzer, served from height) since 1928. The room runs on cash, formica tables and standing-room only, untouched since the 1960s.
Tip: Cash only. Closed Sundays. The yayo is 3 euros, the boquerones 3, the bocadillo de calamares 4.50; nothing else on offer.
Museo del Whisky ★ 4.4 · San Sebastián
Alameda del Boulevard 5, 20003 Donostia-San Sebastian
Museo del Whisky on the Boulevard in San Sebastian's Old Town displays 3,400 whisky bottles across two floors, including the world's smallest, with 200 available to drink by the glass.
Tip: Owner Paul Bordonaba mixes cocktails at the upstairs bar; the basement is the piano room.
Atari Gastroteka ★ 4.4 · San Sebastián
Calle Mayor 18, 20003 Donostia-San Sebastian
Atari Gastroteka on Calle Mayor in San Sebastian's Old Town pours Txakoli from height across the city's busiest standing-room terrace on the steps of the Santa Maria church.
Tip: Terrace fills first; the Friday and Saturday close is 02:30.
Mala Gissona Beer House ★ 4.4 · San Sebastián
Calle Zabaleta 53, 20002 Donostia-San Sebastian
Mala Gissona Beer House in San Sebastian's Gros, a hundred metres from Zurriola beach, runs 12 draught taps with the house Oiartzun brewery beers plus 150 bottles and cans.
Tip: Industrial-minimalist room; the brewery flights are the value pour. Open daily.
Bar Marsella ★ 4.3 · Barcelona
raval · Carrer de Sant Pau 65, 08001 Barcelona
Bar Marsella in Barcelona's Raval, founded 1820, is the city's oldest cocktail bar: dust-stained mirrors, marble tables and the absinthe ritual still served by the glass.
Tip: Open Mon-Sun 22:00-02:30. Cash only. The absinthe with sugar-cube ritual is the order.
Old Fashioned ★ 4.3 · Barcelona
eixample · Carrer de Santa Teresa 1, 08012 Barcelona
Old Fashioned in Barcelona's Gracia is the speakeasy behind an unmarked door on Carrer de Santa Teresa: 60 bottle bourbons, rye, the classic-drink set.
Tip: Open Tue-Sun 19:00 to 03:00. Closed Monday. Ring the bell at the unmarked door.
Negroni ★ 4.3 · Barcelona
raval · Carrer de Joaquin Costa 46, 08001 Barcelona
Negroni in Barcelona's Raval is the small-room cocktail bar named for and specialising in the Italian aperitivo: 12 Negroni variations and a deep amaro list.
Tip: Open Mon-Sat 19:30 to 02:30. Closed Sunday. The barrel-aged Negroni is the order.
Museo Chicote ★ 4.3 · Madrid
centro · Gran Via 12, 28013 Madrid
Museo Chicote on Gran Via in Madrid is the 1931-founded cocktail bar by Perico Chicote, the Madrid cocktail pioneer. The room hosted Hemingway, Ava Gardner, Lola Flores and the post-war Madrid scene.
Tip: Walk-in. The art-deco room is the headline; the dry martini (12 euros) is the canonical order. Open daily until 02:00.
The Passenger ★ 4.3 · Madrid
malasana · Calle de Pez 16, 28004 Madrid
The Passenger on Calle del Pez in Madrid's Malasana is the train-carriage-themed cocktail bar with a jazz programme, signature cocktails and a daily-changing curated music list since 2013.
Tip: Walk-in. The carriage-shaped room seats 30; live jazz Friday and Saturday. The Jazz Age cocktails run 11 to 13 euros.