The best bars and cafés Spain

This small wine bar is the work of Benjamín Romeo, oenologist and owner of Bodega Contador (the place was once used as a wine cellar by his parents). Among a wide range of wines by the glass, we recommend you try the Predicador (made by Bodega Contador), which can be accompanied by good tapas. In addition to his own wines, Benjamín offers an interesting selection of wines from all over the world for tasting: Argentina, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the United States, Uruguay, Chile and Portugal .

On the heights of Barrika beach, an excellent spot for aperitif time, with a large terrace facing the ocean to watch the surfers. At the arrival of fine weather, it is a very coveted place to drink a beer with friends or have lunch on the go. For example, you can eat cheap salads, share a plate of nachos, and for those who are hungry, opt for a burger. From time to time, the establishment also organizes concerts. A perfect place to watch the sunset, in a surfing atmosphere!

Welcome to Barbara Ann Sol, a bar-restaurant celebrating music legends! From AC/DC to ABBA, Madonna to the Beatles, you'll vibrate to the sounds of hits past and present. Shades of red and neon lights create a real rock'n'roll atmosphere. The musicians pay tribute to the great artists, and all the customers join in and sing along. The international cuisine and cocktails, named after famous songs, are excellent. On Fridays and Saturdays, the bar is transformed into a discotheque.

The Fine Arts Center combines exhibition halls, a cinema and a theater. La Pecera is the large adjoining café, with a delightfully romantic setting. It is a highly recommended address for a short break during a long day of sightseeing. The address, which serves a few tapas, has a unique decoration with its large statue in the center, its large marble walls, its woodwork... In short, it is the ideal place to enjoy a hot chocolate, write postcards (or text messages) or to leaf through the newspaper.

Tostas and especially good music! That's what the people of Madrid are saying about this rock landmark of the 1970s and today, which proudly displays its vinyl collection next to the bottles behind the bar. This small kiosk is one of the best bars in Lavapiés to enjoy a beer while listening to music at its best; and something that has become increasingly rare, a small tapa always accompanies the beer. La Aguja ("The Needle") offers a very rich tostas menu; try the one with grilled aubergines and honey.

In northern Spain, vermouth is called marianito. This small, authentic and popular bar in the Siete Calles has made it its specialty: here the vermouth is served with a drop of gin and Angostura (a concentrate of essences from the Caribbean), orange peel, and a plate of olives. You can drink it red or blue, in this case with a drop of curaçao, and opt for a small plate of shellfish as an accompaniment: whelks, shrimps, etc. The place is particularly lively on Saturdays and Sundays at noon!

The location couldn't be better - at the foot of the Cap d'Artrutx lighthouse - for this beach club renowned for its panoramic sea views and chill-out atmosphere. The menu features wines, cocktails, a selection of tapas and Mediterranean dishes based on local products and Km0 (octopus, Bellota ham, red tuna tartare, Menorcan beef carpaccio, cod à la minorquine...). Reservations are essential for a chance to admire the sunset from its spacious terrace. Not exactly cheap, but the setting is magical!

Designed by the "MindShakers", a young team of ultra-creative bartenders, this cocktail bar offers a cosy and cosmopolitan decor for a drink with friends. Its eclectic decor is organized in different spaces where oriental benches and cushions, Chester sofas, brick walls and mid-century style merge together. We like their cocktails, sometimes classic, sometimes inventive, which are accompanied by tapas and small dishes with exotic accents (ceviches, nachos, gyozas, etc.). Very fashionable, the bar is usually crowded on weekends!

A Casco Viejo classic on Athletic match nights: a crowd of fans gather in a lively atmosphere! The K2 also hosts temporary exhibitions of young artists and concerts (see the program on their website). A nice and lively place to have a drink in the evening, but also to nibble some pintxos and other unpretentious raciones (tortilla, burgers, etc.). A good address for football fans who want to see an Athletic match in a local atmosphere!

Located just a stone's throw from the Azkuna Zentroa cultural center, this musical bar is a sure bet in Ensanche for a sophisticated cocktail, with a varied musical program ranging from jazz to lounge sounds. We like the careful decoration of the place, which offers a pleasant framework to drink in the evening, but especially the card of coloured and tasty cocktails. Around the bar, the divine waitresses make heads turn, while the owner Jon ensures a pleasant welcome. A good address to meet people!

Renovated in 2016, the Gran Hotel Domine's bar has a chic and contemporary decor designed by the local agency Foraster Arquitectos. Luxurious materials, such as the large marble table at the entrance, the contrast between fabrics and beautiful materials and the cheerful designs of the famous Spanish designer Javier Mariscal make up a harmonious decor. Settle into one of its comfortable velvet sofas to enjoy an excellent cocktail in a cosmopolitan atmosphere. For those who are a little hungry, there is an interesting choice of tapas and raciones.

This small bar overlooking the ria is the haunt of students and artists of the neighborhood. Set up in an old tavern that has been brought up to date, it has a charming décor combining sky blue earthenware tiles and bohemian furniture. The perfect place to sip a good beer or a marianito (vermouth) at any time of the day in an authentic atmosphere. For those who are a bit hungry, there are also good sandwiches and salads. As a bonus, the nicest terrace in the surroundings to enjoy pleasant views of the ría!

A room with a modern and uncluttered design, which offers several atmospheres throughout the day. We stop there for an early morning coffee, a vermouth at aperitif time, or a glass of champagne accompanied by oysters. You can also savour delicious raciones, such as anchovies from Bermeo or asparagus from Navarre, and above all drink good cocktails made with great skill. In the evenings, concerts and DJ sessions provide the atmosphere for a diverse clientele. A cosmopolitan place to go at any time of the day!

Inaugurated in 2015, this superb bar with a contemporary decor specialises in beer. At the bar, 6 beer barrels that change according to the seasons, and a very careful menu of bottled beers from all over the world, which also leaves a special place for local artisanal production. To accompany them, good pintxos and raciones of regional products, such as anchovies from Santoña, cockles from Galicia or cecina from León. The bar regularly schedules tastings and concerts. Very beautiful decor with an industrial aesthetic.

A small family bar where you can enjoy great cocktails and pintxos. With its large terrace on the Gran Vía, it is a meeting place at any time of the day, where you can meet señoras for coffee or thirty-somethings for an aperitif. Among its specialities appreciated by the regulars: the pintxo de tortilla, considered one of the best in the city, and its small toasted sandwiches that are eaten on the stroke of 11 o'clock for breakfast. In the evening, good atmosphere on two floors and around the bar!

Charming café with a bohemian spirit, a popular meeting point for breakfast during the week or brunch on weekends. In the early morning, you can enjoy grilled avocado and salmon tostadas, scrambled eggs, or bowls of yoghurt with fresh fruit and granola. With its vintage furniture, homemade cakes and quality coffee, it is also the perfect place for a gourmet snack break. For those who are a little hungry: quinoa salad, veggie sandwich and other good and healthy options.

Opened in 2018 on the banks of the ría, this trendy spot functions as a cultural space, concert hall and nightclub in the center of Bilbao. One stops here to see a concert, drink a cocktail after work, sip vermouth in the sun on Sunday lunch or dance on the dance floor to the sound of Djs. In a stylish decor of beautiful Art Deco lamps and light effects, or simply on the terrace by the water, this is the new meeting place for Bilbao's hipsters! Check the program on the website.

When Parisian chic meets Spanish tradition, the result is definitely worth a look. This is the case in this bistro on Rue Ledesma, an unmissable pedestrian street that is always very lively, where the vermouth aperitif is brought up to date. The house offers more than 50 references and many variations (rum, cava, vermouth sangria, etc.)! It is eaten with some gildas (typical Basque pintxo), cockles or anchovies. More consistent: Iberian ham croquetas and plates of smoked salmon, octopus or sheep's cheese.

Sure, it's not the best location in Irún, but this craft brewery has everything to seduce within its walls: a trendy industrial decor, large friendly tables, and a gourmet menu to accompany the beer tastings. With the fermentation room as a backdrop, one can appreciate the subtleties of the craft beers, while enjoying delicious small dishes to share with various influences: nachos, fried calamari, quesadillas, pastrami sandwiches and burgers will delight the gourmets!

La Lupe de Huertas is a small night bar well known in the neighborhood. Here, tourists and (young) Madrilenians mingle to listen to commercial music, wiggle their hips more and more as the night progresses and above all drink shots! The prices are very attractive since they are degressive... An offer that can be interesting to taste a maximum of chupitos... Beware of difficult tomorrows! In addition, the house organizes many events and fancy dress parties. Go to the website.

Don't be fooled by its very exotic name (Koh Tao is a Thai island...)! This small café in the centre of San Sebastián is in fact a bohemian refuge, where exhibitions of local artists and concerts are regularly held in an intimate atmosphere. Decorated in a vintage spirit, the place is just as pleasant during the day to drink a coffee as it is in the evening to have a drink with a pintxo of tortilla. His homemade cakes and avocado or smoked salmon tarts are a big hit at breakfast time!

For more than three decades, this Malasaña classic has been hosting good and varied concerts every weekend, from reggae to soul, and especially indie rock. This obscure place, with its hipster decor of old Iron Maiden and Bad Religion posters,and its walls that inevitably smell of alcohol, is certainly the place to be for music-loving night owls in search of the neighbourhood's rock spirit. Pool lovers can also enjoy the table while sipping a beer.

Café Manuela, like many cafés in the area, was well known during the Movida. Witness of those crazy years, he keeps a "je-ne-sais-quoi" of that time. The ideal place to read a book peacefully or to have an aperitif. Sometimes debates, poetry days and even plays are organized. Jesus, the former bartender turned owner, serves delicious fruit juices, cañas, absinthe and tinto de verano. In short, a bistro the way we like it, well away from the tourist trails.

In a lively street in the Gros district, a wonderful address for gin and tonic lovers! In Spain, this trendy cocktail is constantly being emulated, so much so that this bar offers a menu specialising in gin from all over the world, with a multitude of references. The preparation of cocktails is a show in itself, so we advise you to settle down at the bar to watch the barmen at work. Continue the evening on the terrace, where the atmosphere is always lively!

Scandinavian decor, all light wood and white, for this friendly bar on Calle Matía, a lively shopping street in the heart of El Antiguo. On weekends, the locals meet there to drink a beer or a "marianito" (vermouth served with a drop of gin), accompanied by cod fritters, a plate of Iberian sausages or a salad. It's also a good option for a sandwich, burger or a good dish of the day in a very local atmosphere. On Sunday at 1pm, don't miss the "Marigilda" with live concert and vermut!

This is an excellent cocktail bar on the outskirts of Gran Vía, somewhat hidden in Calle Reina, and one of the best known in the capital, where all the local and international stars, including actors and models in high heels, have already gone. And not for nothing: more than fifty compositions are offered à la carte. For around ten euros, you can sip perfectly executed cocktails. A piece of advice: sit at the bar to observe the talent of the house's bartenders. A good address.

On the ground floor of the Hotel Maria Cristina, the Dry bar features a menu designed by Javier de las Muelas, the king of cocktails in Spain. The perfect place for a chic aperitif in a Belle Epoque setting that pays tribute to the film stars who frequented the hotel, including Bette Davis, whose portrait sits enthroned above the bar. A la carte, timeless classics and signature cocktails that will delight the most demanding palates. Tea time, another privileged moment, is accompanied by a selection of biscuits, madeleines and delicate cakes.

This is a small place out of the ordinary and somewhat out of time. In the room next to the café, there are concerts, poetry, book presentations and small cultural events that are so representative of Lavapiés. On the menu, you have a variety of coffees and teas of all kinds. To be enjoyed with a small welcome home-made pie. And when it's time for an aperitif, cocktails replace coffee, but the good atmosphere, bohemian and baroque, always remains the order of the day. A little more expensive than the other bars in the neighborhood.

5 Océanos Chill Out is a restaurant with a youthful, relaxed atmosphere, very popular in the port of Alcúdia. It has two terraces distributed around the central cabana/kitchen, furnished with colorful armchairs and sofas covered in cushions... Music is one of the basic ingredients at 5 Océanos, as is the bar, which offers some pretty good cocktails. Perfect for a drink or a plate of well-made tapas with a sunbath at any time of day, or in the evening for a more festive atmosphere. Restau 5 arroces opposite.

Here is a very pleasant address, in particular thanks to its small terrace, which makes it possible to benefit from the agitation of this animated district. We go there to have a drink with the few locals of the corner and to put ourselves in the atmosphere to begin the evening well. To nibble, you can always choose between some raciones and other tapas. If it is not exceptional, it is rather good, especially the paella and the empanadas... In short, a small and unpretentious establishment which is a nice stopover during a long night in Sol.

La Palma café is a multi-dimensional space, a veritable indoor maze where you can start by tasting a mojito in the bar section or sitting on a pouffe in the oriental lounge (the café area always hosts an exhibition of photos or paintings). Then, go to the disco part to dance to the music of a DJ or to listen to a band live (it happens every week, from Thursday to Sunday), sometimes in open mic. A definitely hybrid place and a real actor of the culture of the district.

On the way back to the centre after a visit to the Prado Museum, how could we not stop at Casa Alberto? This is one of the capital's historic addresses, an old house that opened its doors in 1827 and that has kept its faithful cohort, whatever the era. If you can also come and sit at the table at Alberto's, what a pleasure to sip a drink with a worker on his break or a nerd passing by to read. The place's speciality: vermut with a twist of orange. Not to be missed.

The Café Colón, with its superb Art Deco style and uncluttered decor, is a great place to stop for a drink before or after a visit to the city's Fernán Gómez cultural center, just a few yards away. A menu of sweet treats and a fine selection of wines are on offer. And if you like the setting, you can go on to enjoy some Mediterranean-inspired dishes. On sunny days, you can also sit out on the terrace overlooking Plaza Colón.

Design armchairs mixed with the building's old exposed bricks, the D'Mystic is banking on a trendy decoration in the image of the Chueca district. Here, gays and straights meet to have a drink while watching offbeat and libertine spots: Madonna clips, half-naked men parading on a podium and other clips. This bar seems to be a good introduction to the general atmosphere of the district: mixed and above all without complex! Ideal to warm up before going to a club, in Chueca or elsewhere, and to extend the evening late into the night.

Both a place for a drink and a nightclub. Once inside this traditional Canarian house, the first bar welcomes you in a cosy atmosphere (stone walls, subdued lighting, long zinc and small areas with tables). At the far end is the discotheque area, also with its own bar. On the music side, there's plenty of reggaeton, salsa, electro and house. But suggestions from customers are also welcome. A DJ is on hand at weekends. On the second floor, players will find a beautiful pool table and a dart board.

At the top of Calle Hortaleza, Areia offers an intimate atmosphere that invites hedonism. We wallow happily in deep sofas covered with cushions in red and purple tones while admiring the ceiling studded with stars projected by the lights. Unless one chooses to have a good time on a swing with a drink in hand. The cocktails are divine, sometimes aphrodisiacs depending on the menu, and the perfect atmosphere for a smooth start to the evening. It is also possible to smoke a chicha.

In the center of Poblenou, close to the beach, this former local hardware store has been converted into a cocktail bar, with a striking vintage facade. The owners have preserved many of the original features, while adapting the interior layout. The place itself is a haven for locals and the more nostalgic who come to listen to good live jazz or electro music at a volume pleasant enough to chat while enjoying a good cocktail. Just the thing to wake up from a lazy Sunday!

With its white and blue walls and wave logo, it's the surfers' and kitesurfers' bar par excellence. And for some, the best bar at all. It is of course located a stone's throw from one of the urban beaches of Corralejo and in a small street near the port. To get your strength back after exercise, it offers a large menu of smoothies, but also cocktails (sangria, mojito) also without alcohol. Installed inside on sofas, or on the terrace, you really feel on vacation. Great atmosphere and presence of DJ on the weekend.

This is a great spot to enjoy the beauty and tranquility of the lake of Banyoles. Here you can enjoy a drink and a tapa, sometimes in the company of ducks that venture out of the lake to the bar's pontoon. In the summer, you can also enjoy the many activities that take place there, such as monologue sessions, parades, magic shows or concerts. And perhaps especially of the supervised swimming area which is next to it, to be rallied by taking a dip or by using the small ladders. Just to join the ducks.

Ses Palmeras is a small, simple bar with a pleasant terrace overlooking the Plaza Colom, in the shade of the palm trees (hence the name). It is run by Roberto, a friendly Italian expatriate in Menorca. You can stop here for a good breakfast, a solid meal based on homemade dishes at noon, consider an ice-cream cone in the afternoon, or have a drink between dog and wolf. It is worth noting that we tasted the best cappuccino in Maó at Ses Palmeras!

This artisanal (and committed) micro-brewery is run by Christophe, a 27-year-old Frenchman. The idea behind his concept is unique: the beers are made with bread salvaged from the "Alma" bakery. Named after the French chemist Lavoisier, the brewery fully embraces his philosophy of "Rien ne se perd, rien ne se crée, tout se transforme" ("Nothing is lost, nothing is created, everything is transformed"). This philosophy of transformation is reflected in every aspect of the establishment, from the reclaimed furniture to the lighting fixtures, right down to the beer, of course. Over 10 different types of beer are on offer.

Nestled in the narrow streets of the Marina, almost hidden (no sign will tell you that you have arrived), the Boodiou is a small address as we like them. Tony, the French owner, runs the shop with passion, taking care of his guests from the aperitif to the digestif. On the menu, there are some very good dishes halfway between French cuisine and Iberian specialities, while behind the counter, cocktails with fine recipes are prepared. Note that the local prepares its own hierbas ibicencas.

A mecca for mixology, this bar born in 2018 is the new meeting point for cocktail lovers and chic ambiences! Located near the Guggenheim Museum, it offers an ultra-tidy decor with its wooden shelves lined with multicoloured liqueurs and jars, its trendy green velvet benches and its luminous globe. Behind the bar, the stylish waiters will concoct elixirs for you to fall down and choose from a menu of "new classics" and signature cocktails. As a side dish, try their delicious pancakes!

Nestled in the Palau Salort, this cocktail bar specializing in gin is the perfect place for a romantic stopover in the old town. Tapas and dishes are served in the elegant setting of a former ^17th-century Menorcan palace. On the menu: a platter of Menorcan cheeses, grilled scallops with garlic and parsley, red tuna tataki with pistachio, salmon ceviche with mango... as well as signature cocktails created by barman Alessandro Bellone. You can also enjoy a delicious brunch!

Welcome to the A'Barra restaurant reception desk! The bar area of this fine gourmet address is the ideal place to sip an aperitif or digestif at mealtimes. To relax, head for the oval bar in polished terrazzo and quartz (weighing in at a whopping 13 tons, after all!), a real meeting place and the perfect place to enjoy a few tapas informally or savor a delicious Joselito Vintage ham accompanied by a glass of Jerez wine. Before we get down to business in the restaurant...

This small bar attracts a lot of people thanks to its privileged location facing the port and its high quality musical program. As soon as there is a ray of sunshine, we settle down on the terrace or on the stairs that climb up to Mount Urgull to enjoy the panorama. The boss, Imanol Basterra, selects good local beers, such as those from Basqueland and Gora, and takes care of the musical programming. He often deejays from soul and ska to more pop-rock sounds as the night progresses.