Bodega De La Ardosa

Step into Bodega de la Ardosa and you’re transported back to old Madrid. This historic tavern, pouring drinks since 1892, is a living piece of the city’s past. The walls are covered floor to ceiling with dusty liquor bottles, vintage photographs, and chalkboards scrawled with the day’s offerings. It’s the kind of place where locals rub elbows with tourists around wooden barrels, everyone clutching their Pilsner and joining in the convivial chaos.

The star of the menu is undoubtedly the tortilla de patata. This isn’t just any Spanish omelette—the house recipe follows an exact formula, with potatoes cut to a precise size before being folded with eggs and onion and fried to perfection. Order the salmorejo too, a creamy gazpacho from Córdoba that’s satisfying enough to be a meal on its own. If you arrive hungry, the plates of Iberian ham, golden croquetas, and hearty huevos rotos won’t disappoint.

Don’t come expecting a quiet meal in a comfortable booth. Bodega de la Ardosa is typically standing-room-only, with patrons gathered around barrels and perched on coveted stools if they’re fortunate. There’s a small dining area in the back—you’ll need to duck under the bar counter to reach it—but the real action happens up front where the day drinking and spirited conversation flow freely.

This is Madrid at its most authentic: neighborhood abuelos chatting with first-time visitors, glasses clinking, and some of the best tortilla in the city. Whether you’re looking for a quick afternoon bite or a leisurely evening of tapas and drinks, Bodega de la Ardosa delivers an experience you won’t soon forget.