From La Latina to Las Letras, these are the places to drink well, think deep, and maybe fall a little in love.
The best wine bars, for me, live somewhere between hush and hum. Not silent - God no - but not a brash stampede of noise either.
Music? Yes. Preferably something that sets a mood, but at just the right volume.
No intrusive kitchen smoke clinging to your clothes or stomping on your senses either... if I wanted grilled squid in my Tempranillo, I’d ask.
And the wine list? It needs to move. A static list is a dead list. Give me a rotating cast of glass pours, shifting with the seasons or the mood of whoever’s behind the bar. Wine should never sit still.
Madrid’s wine scene has come into its own in recent years. No longer just sherry-soaked bars and house Rioja by the glass. Below are five wine bars that make me want to sit for a while, maybe scribble in a notebook, maybe eavesdrop, or maybe just drink.
Mi Casita Bar à Vin: A French Embrace in Madrid
There’s a rare kind of wine bar that manages to feel like both a discovery and a second home.
Mi Casita is that place. Run by Swel and Georgia, it’s equal parts Spanish soul and French charm, with a list that roams freely. From elegant Rioja to natural Beaujolais and crisp Greek whites. The wines by the glass rotate regularly, and the bottle list is deep, personal, and full of surprises.
The front bar hums with good energy, but it’s the little back room that gets you. Soft lighting, Parisian vibes, and the kind of intimacy that makes you lose track of time. Outside, there’s a terrace for slower afternoons and warm nights. Swel’s passion is contagious, and the music is always spot on: A little bit of jazz, maybe some soul, never intrusive.
Food? More than an afterthought. Think cheese boards, charcuterie, and plates that actually respect the wine. I never leave without ordering something to share.
Mi Casita isn’t trying to be the coolest bar in Madrid, it just happens to be.
C. de Gutenberg, 6, Retiro, 28014 Madrid | 678 32 74 48 | instagram.com/micasitabaravin
Vinology: Pilar Oltra’s Ode to Wine
Vinology is the kind of place that gets wine right without ever making a song and dance about it.
Founded by Pilar Oltra, a sommelier with a sharp palate and a clear vision, it strikes that rare balance between elegance and ease. The space is polished - wood, stone, soft lighting - but the atmosphere is warm, never cold. Come as you are.
The wine list? Curated with intent. Mostly Spanish, but not just the usual suspects. You’ll find structured reds from Gredos, Atlantic whites, bottles from micro-producers, and the occasional wild card from abroad. By the glass pours rotate often, keeping things fresh and drinkers curious.
Pilar’s ethos leans towards wines with personality. Wines that are honest, expressive, and always food-friendly. Speaking of food, the kitchen delivers thoughtful dishes, seasonal produce, and plates that complement rather than compete with what’s in your glass.
It’s the kind of place where you can go deep on volcanic soils, or just say “I want something juicy” and be met with a knowing nod. A wine bar for grown-ups who still like to be surprised.
Calle del Conde de Aranda, 11, 28001 Madrid | 916 91 72 38 | https://vinology.wine
Calle de Zurbano, 13, 28010 Madrid | 915 27 20 66
Ganz: A Tasteful Refuge for Wine and Conversation
There’s a quiet elegance to Ganz that never tries too hard. It sits just off the leafy streets of Barrio de las Letras, all soft lighting, tiled floor, and framed artwork that somehow makes you drink slower. It feels lived in. Like it’s always been there waiting for you to find it.
The wine list is curated with a generous spirit. Classic Spanish regions meet small European producers, and there’s always something open that makes you pause mid-conversation. Nothing too showy, just good wines poured with care. The team know their stuff, but they’re more interested in sharing than showing off. A “you have to try this” kind of place.
And the food? This is where Ganz really earns its stripes. Proper bistro fare with a Mediterranean soul: burrata, slow-cooked meats, grilled vegetables, house-made desserts. Dishes that are both comforting and quietly refined. You could come for just a glass, but it’d be a shame not to stay for dinner.
There’s a calm intimacy here that’s hard to fake. It’s the kind of spot you return to. Not for the scene, but for the way it makes you feel. Familiar, easy, and full of grace. The world stays outside for a while. Inside, there’s wine and warmth. What more do you need?
C. de Almadén, 9, Centro, 28014, Madrid | 910 42 29 13 | www.instagram.com/ganz.winebar
La Fisna - A Wine Haven in Lavapiés
La Fisna has been pouring the good stuff long before Madrid decided it was cool.
Tucked into a corner of Lavapiés where graffiti meets old soul, it feels part wine bar, part bottle shop, but all heart. Dimly lit, a touch chaotic, and wonderfully alive; it’s the kind of place where the tables are close, the bottles are stacked high, and every night feels like it might stretch just a bit too long.
The wine list is sharp and full of character. Lots of Spanish, naturally, but it strays happily across borders to France, Italy, Germany, and the odd wild card thrown in for fun. Wines that tell stories, wines that ask you to lean in.
By the glass, things rotate often and with purpose. There’s always something expressive, unexpected, worth talking about.
While the focus is undeniably on the wine, the accompanying bites complement the experience without overshadowing it. It's a place where the wine leads, and everything else follows suit.
La Fisna has soul. It’s a little wild, a little worn, and all the better for it. Come thirsty, come curious. You’ll leave changed.
C. del Amparo, 91, Centro, 28012 Madrid | 915 39 56 15 | https://lafisna.com
Corchito: A Natural Gem in Lavapiés
Corchito feels like someone airlifted a bar out of East London - Dalston maybe, Hackney on a good day - and dropped it gently into Lavapiés. And thank God they did. There’s a familiar energy to it: the low light, the clink of good glassware, the buzz of a playlist that’s been chosen, not shuffled. The crowd’s effortlessly cool without trying: half wine folk, half people who just know a good spot when they see one.
The wines lean natural, yes, but without the sour funk or the sermon. I had a cracking pét-nat from Catalonia one evening that fizzed like mischief, and a Mosel Riesling that strutted in with a kerosene kick and didn’t apologise.
The list shifts regularly, always with something to surprise you, whether you're a casual sipper or a serious swirl-and-sniffer.
The food menu is short but intentional. Easy bites that hit the spot. Think panchitos (Argentine-style hot dogs) andcharred artichokes with truffle.
If you're in Lavapiés and want a glass of something interesting without the attitude, Corchito is exactly where you want to be.
C. del Salitre, 2, Centro, 28012 Madrid | 915 42 97 99 | instagram.com/corchito.madrid
A Final Swirl
If you're in Madrid and want to drink wine where it matters - not just what's in the glass, but how it's poured, how the air tastes, how the music bends around your mood - these are the places. No fluff. Just good bottles, human hands, and rooms that get it.
And if the wine doesn’t move you? Then move on. But I doubt you’ll need to.
Bonus: Casa Luna
Casa Luna feels like finding the key to the cellar you always wanted. A wall of bottles, all up for grabs, just pull one off the shelf, pay a small corkage fee, and it’s yours to open at the table.
The staff are relaxed but dialled in, always ready to recommend something off the beaten path without overselling it.
The cheese bar is its own quiet temptation. You point, they slice. Manchego, Valdeón, something creamy and soft you’ve never heard of but won’t forget. It’s tapas done your way, built from what you crave in the moment.
Corredera Baja De San Pablo 4
