¡A Tapear!

Published on Tuesday, May 22, 2007, by Aida Mollenkamp and Regan Burns / Edit Post

The Spanish tradition of tapas long ago split from its humble roots: a small plate of cheese or olives served as a cover (tapa) over a glass of wine to protect it from flies. On a recent trip to Madrid we had plenty of those simple dishes, as well as much more involved modern interpretations. Two local Chowhounds, Megan Cytron and Candy Laballe, gave us an overview of the city’s tapas bars—from obscure holes in the wall to beloved, if slightly touristy, spots. See the listings below for details.

¿A Donde Tapear?

Museo del Jamón
Neighborhood: Los Austrias
Calle Mayor, 7
915 314 550

Taberna el Tempranillo
Neighborhood: Los Austrias/La Latina
Calle Cava Baja, 38
913 641 532

Toma Jamón
Neighborhood: Lavapiés
Calle del Mediodía Grande, 6
913 662 917

Txirimiri
Neighborhood: Los Austrias/La Latina
Calle del Humilladero, 6
913 641 196

Casa Lucas
Neighborhood: Los Austrias/La Latina
Calle Cava Baja, 30
913 650 804

Díaz y Larrouy
Neighborhood: Los Austrias/La Latina
Calle Cava Baja, 6
913 667 089

Marisquería la Paloma
Neighborhood: Los Austrias/La Latina
Calle de Toledo, 85
(No phone number available.)

Mercado de la Paz
Neighborhood: Salamanca
Calle de Ayala, 28
914 350 743

Mesón de la Guitarra
Neighborhood: Los Austrias/La Latina
Cava de San Miguel, 13
915 599 531

ALLFeature
POST A COMMENT |3 Comments

COMMENT

  • Thanks CHOW! Found this street and hit up a few of the bars listed above. We had an awesome time. My favorite were the pimientos de Padrón (pictured above). Salty and delicious - my girlfriend got the really hot ones, but I was spared.

  • This brought back a lot of good memories of Madrid and her back streets at night...full of life and good food. Has anyone ever had the fried asperagas in Madrid.....great stuff, There was also a favorite of mine, a hole in the wall at the bottom of the steps out of the main courtyard in Madrid....fried mushrooms and Rioja wine!!

  • Tapas are absolutely the best thing God Created on Earth!! I am a huge fan of Tapas specially when you include in the mix the Italian/Greek/Arabic Tapas!!! Now that is a feast truly meant for gods..