Spanish tapas€salamancaTue-Sun 12:00-16:00, 19:00-00:00; Mon closed
El Doble on Calle Ponzano in Madrid is the cana doble (double-pour beer in tall glasses) headline counter, with sharp Mahou and short-cellar wines.
Signature: Cana doble, Boquerones, Tortilla
Order: A cana doble (3.50 euros) at the bar with boquerones en vinagre and a pincho de tortilla.
Tip: Walk-in only. Standing room at the bar. Cash strongly preferred. The terrace is on weekends only.
Wine bar€€las-letrasMon-Thu 09:30-00:00; Fri-Sat 09:30-01:00; Sun 11:00-18:00
Casa Gonzalez on Calle del Leon in Madrid's Barrio de las Letras is the 1931-founded ultramarinos (deli-and-wine-bar), with 30 by-the-glass wines and tablas.
Signature: Tablas de quesos, Iberico, Wines by the glass
Order: A tabla de quesos (12 euros), a plate of jamon iberico de bellota and three by-the-glass wines.
Tip: Walk-in only; the marble tables fill up by 13:30. Closed Sundays. The deli sells the same products to take away.
Madrileno Taberna€€retiroMon-Sat 11:00-16:00, 20:00-00:00; Sun closed
La Castela near El Retiro in Madrid is the family-run taberna behind a zinc bar, with croquetas de bacalao, pisto manchego and the daily-changing pizarra.
Signature: Croquetas de bacalao, Pisto manchego, Tartar de atun
Order: The croquetas de bacalao, the pisto manchego with fried egg, and a tartar de atun. Cana de Mahou.
Tip: Book two days ahead for weekday lunch. The bar serves the same pizarra menu standing for half the dining room price.
Spanish tapas€€retiroTue-Sat 12:00-16:00, 19:00-00:00; Sun 12:00-16:00; Mon closed
Bodegas Rosell near Atocha in Madrid has poured the vermut de grifo from oak barrels since 1920, with a marble counter, formica tables and bocadillos.
Signature: Vermut de grifo, Boquerones, Bocadillo de calamares
Order: A vermut de grifo (2.50 euros) and a bocadillo de calamares. A pincho de tortilla on the side.
Tip: Walk-in only; the counter fills up at 13:00. Cash strongly preferred at the bar. The terrace is on weekends only.
Madrileno Taberna€malasanaMon-Fri 09:00-02:00; Sat-Sun 09:00-02:30
Bodega de la Ardosa in Madrid's Malasana has poured the vermut de grifo since 1892 from the 30-foot zinc bar, with salmorejo, tortilla de patatas.
Signature: Salmorejo, Tortilla de patatas, Vermut
Order: Vermut de grifo (2.50 euros), a slice of tortilla de patatas, salmorejo. Crawl in via the back door.
Tip: Walk-in only; the back room takes 8 people max. The historic main bar fills up at 13:00; cash preferred.
Spanish tapas€€la-latinaMon-Tue and Thu and Sun 13:00-15:30 and 20:00-24:00; Wed 20:00-24:00; Fri-Sat 13:00-16:00 and 20:00-01:00
Casa Lucas on Cava Baja in Madrid's La Latina is the modern taberna since 1997, with a focused carte of solomillo Carlitos (pork sirloin with cabrales sauce).
Signature: Solomillo Carlitos, Croquetas, Ensaladilla rusa
Order: The solomillo Carlitos, the croquetas de jamon and the ensaladilla rusa.
Tip: Book five days ahead for weekend dinner. The bar at the entrance takes walk-ins for tapas; the dining room books fast.