We don't need excuses to enjoy it.
For example, that it has its own world day, as some claim.
Because, although it is not in our DNA, we know how to find - and enjoy - the
aperitif moment
, thanks to the countless establishments in Madrid that have made it
their hallmark
.
Traditional or newly minted houses in which to indulge in pickles and salted meats, sausages and cold cuts, pickles and cheeses ... Or any other dish that, with a well-drawn beer, a vermouth or a wine, bring us closer to glory.
Vinegar brothers.
Vinegar Brothers
The modern house that the Valentí brothers, Enrique and Carlos, opened just before the pandemic a step away from Retiro is already a temple of the aperitif, so much so that since last December it has had another headquarters in Chueca.
And what does this tapas bar inspired by the
most classic taverns in the capital have
?
As a genre first: pickles, pickled, smoked or preserved
Prepared
.
The proposal exceeds twenty dishes and moves around the usual aperitifs, but with the
Valentí
touch
and updated to the 21st century.
Here are a few to get you started: Madrilenian style pickled anchovies;
anchovies on butter toast
;
Chicharrones from Cádiz
;
classic marriage of anchovy and anchovy;
smoked pickled mussels;
natural cockles with spicy and lime;
fresh tuna as if it were mojama with almonds;
sobrasada Lyo ... And, to accompany it,
tap beer,
house brand
vermouth
and some wines by the glass.
Addresses:
Narváez, 58. Telephone: 91 539 11 69 / Gravina, 17. Telephone: 91 524 91 31.
Manero
Manero
We arrived at another of the fashionable addresses, and already essential for the aperitif time. Carlos Bosch's neo-cast boutique bar (owner of El Portal, El Singular and Manero, all in Alicante) is not lacking in
arguments
. For example, its proximity to the
Puerta de Alcalá
; the spectacular space inspired by the European bars of the beginning of the last century and conceived for
hedonism
; a successful format of
traditional gourmet tapas
that has been triumphing in Alicante for three years and a perfect proposal for an aperitif (or whatever you want). From the
fine side with its own brand
(razor clams, mussels, sardines, cockles ...), salted, Iberian and cheeses up to veal nuggets, muffins, Russian salad tapas with belly or brioches with John Torres bread.
In the cellar, an
arsenal of bottles
is displayed in its large bar: vermouth, wines, beers and champagnes.
Address:
Claudio Coello, 3. Tel .: 965 14 44 44.
The Fisna.
The Fisna
In 2016 it opened its doors as a wine bar and tavern in the old Casa Donato, although it was previously a
renowned wine shop
. Today, this charming space - exposed brick walls,
iron columns
and a bar with an aluminum counter (which, for the moment, by Covid measurements, can only be looked at) - is one of the must-see destinations for drink lovers of Bacchus and also the aperitif. For this, there are plenty of reasons: it has about
600 national and international references
, of which
about 60 are served by the glass
. "These are constantly changing. We usually have about 15
generous ones
, which go great with the aperitif; four or five sparkling wines; whites; reds, a vermouth", explains
Delia Baeza
, soul of the project.
In the solid part, a
rich
appetizer
proposal
: Russian salad;
beef jerky and San Simón cheese croquettes;
red peppers roasted in a wood oven;
Madrid-style tripe;
cured meat and Iberian tenderloin from Casalba;
anchovies in vinegar (from
Pescaderías Coruñesas
);
Anchovy and black olive pisaladière or beef heart tomato from the
family garden
.
Address:
Amparo, 91. Tel .: 91 539 56 15.
Riverita
Riverita
It has barely been open for two weeks and the brand new tavern owned by the
Francisco and Alberto Rivera
brothers
(you know, the creators of
Candeli
, a chamberlain restaurant in Ponzano specialized in fire and embers and in good product treated with simplicity) seems born to
succeed
, also to the "aperitif hour". Located a few meters from the mother house, its proposal does not lack
charcuterie and high-altitude
cold
meats
(Iberian sobrasada, cured beef picaña from Cárnicas Lyo);
canned food at home
(razor clams in EVOO and tripe and cockle sauce from the estuary with Malaga ajoblanco and grated almonds);
the Russian salad with tuna belly and mojama, the anchovies from Santoña or the octopus cooked at home with their revolconas ... And, if you want to
extend the "moment" with more substantial dishes
, you can use
a stew
, like some spicy tripe, some pochas from Navarra with sobrasada or a house-style crab.
To throw yourself into the queue,
sparkling wines and national wines
.
Address:
Ponzano, 31. Tel .: 91 737 88 44.
The Ardosa.
The Ardosa
How not to include this centennial tavern that opened its doors in 1892 as a bulk wine dispatch and that in the 70s of the last century - at the hands of the Monge family - mutated into the brewery that we know today. There is no
national snack
that is not served here: potato omelette, very juicy and among the best in the capital; Salmorejo; croquettes; tripe and artichokes in season (five of their specialties); a good and representative selection of
sausages and national cold meats
(cured meat from León, ham from the DO Dehesa de Extremadura; Joselito chorizos and salchichones, cheese aged in the Cuenca caves); pickles ... And, if hunger strikes, stews. To drink,
tap vermouth
(Zecchini), some wines (including
one from Ribera
) and, of course,
beers
, not in vain was it a pioneer in the capital in serving
imported beers
.
Address:
Colón, 13. Tel .: 91 521 49 79.
From the neighborhood. © FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD
From the neighborhood
We close our aperitive route where we started, in the
Retiro area
, and with a novelty in the form of a modern, rogue and traditional tavern.
Canalleo and casticismo
present in the dish, where classics reign such as pickled anchovies, anchovies;
the salad;
the salmorejo;
sausages and salted meat (loin head, Iberian sausage and chorizo, jerky) and marine products, such as
prawns from Huelva
or pickled mussels from the estuary.
In the liquid offer, a
good representation of vermouths
(Zarro, Quintinye, González Byass and Petroni) and wines from different Denominations of Origin, among them, a generous chapter.
Address:
Fernán González, 48. Tel .: 91 288 06 27.
According to the criteria of The Trust Project
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