tl;dr don't let the touristy location fool you; crowds have flocked to this tapas bar for fried cod for over a century Casa Labra may know a thing or two about tapas; that's how they have stayed in business since 1860. In fact, this tapas bar has even earned an official "comercio centenario" designation by the City of Madrid (recognizing a historic shop that has remained open in the same location with the same purpose for over 100 years). What's more, Labra was also an early clandestine meetinghouse for the Spanish Socialist Party (the current ruling party in Spain). Nowadays, Labra continues to draw crowds for its signature Tajada de Bacalao (fried cod). The bar maintains its traditional decor, from the marble walls to dark-wood bar shelves to the ornate lighting structures hanging from the soaring ceiling. A shoulder-high ledge runs the perimeter of the room to precariously perch glasses and tapas plates. The dedicated dining room in the back is austere at best. The menus are scribbled onto chalkboards next to their respective ordering stations (as is customary for traditional tapas bars, tapas are ordered separately from drinks). Chatter and clinking glasses echo around the room. Outside, bar-height stainless steel tables are peppered across the sidewalk. Even on a rainy day, expect a queue to trail from the right entrance down the block. I visited Labra for a guided food tour, and I returned because I was so impressed. Of the tapas, the best was, unsurprisingly, the fried cod. The small portion was more than made up for by the crispy texture and rich flavor. Also excellent for the draught vermouth, which balanced sweet with spice and was my favorite across Madrid. The vermouth paired perfectly with the Queso Manchego (Labra's generous "raciones" portion of cheese stacked two layers across a frisbee-sized plate). Less exciting to eat was the Croqueta de Bacaloa (cod croquette). The skin reminded me of a fish stick, while the filling erred on dense. Further, the Banderilla de Atun (tuna skewer) was an unweildy dud. The tough texture and inconvenient preparation overshadowed the modest flavor. The staff were unspoken pros -- they efficiently managed the crowd and discreetly bussed dirty dishes. The queue moved moderately quickly, as Labra prepared tapas by the platter for maximum efficiency. The prices felt reasonable; just 2 euros for the must-try cod, and 2.50 for a small glass of vermouth. Casa Labra perfectly pairs a convenient location with excellent fried fish; that being said, you will need to hit up other spots to find other above-average versions of more standard tapas. read more

Casa Labra - Banderilla de Atun (left), Croqueta de Bacaloa (middle), Tajada de Bacalao (right) - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M

A traditional spanish tapas bar. Stopped by during a food tour and devoured this place. We had their cod fritters (amazing), manchego cheese (creamy goodness) and their famous vermut on tap (nice chilled red vermut). The vermut was very refreshing and paired beautifully with the deep fried cod fritters. It is a traditional bar and there is usually a huge line to get in and its popular in the evenings. Top notch bar food and even better Vermut. Highly recommend. read more

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Casa Labra carries the weight of history, where every corner hums with stories from the past and the city's energy feels alive. We arrived just before their midday closing (3:30PM) and were lucky to get the last batch of croquetas, fried cod. And oh my; crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside, and absolutely unforgettable. Simple eats, but amazing. The restaurant's historic ties and its location near Puerta del Sol add to the charm, and the building itself creates a warm, inviting ambience. We had to take out since we came so close to closing, but if I'm ever back, I'd love to dine in and savor it properly. read more

Casa Labra - Outside - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M

Casa Labra came up on many of my lists for a must try tapas spot. Clearly, I wasn't the only one who saw these lists, since the place was swarmed with locals, but mostly tourists alike. They have indoor seating and outdoor tables. The outdoor tables are just up for grabs, while there's a separate line for indoor seating. If you just want to grab a bite outside, you get in the line and pick up your food at the counter to the right. There were servers around taking drink orders if you wanted to add something from the bar (a must). We had the croquetas and fried fish with two tintos. I like that each of the items is available by the piece so you can order as many or as little as you want. Prices are definitely reasonable and I thought everything was delicious! The fish does have some bones in it, so be careful! read more

Casa Labra - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M

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One of my favorite tapas stop in Madrid. Popular place for a quick grab of cod fish fritters, croquetas and to accompany with a beer. The vermouth is my favorite, so I stuck to the vermouth. Place is behind an old building few steps away from the puerta del sol. This place is popular for the locals and it right across the entrance to the basement grocery department or el Corte inglés. This is a must stop every time we are in Madrid. Check it out!! read more

Casa Labra - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M

It's a small place, but it's worth to try the croquetas de bacalao and tajada de bacalao (fried cod). I personally liked the fry cod, it was very smooth and tasty. Also try their vermouth read more

Casa Labra - Fried cod and croquettes - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M

We finally tried Casa Labra after passing by / watching the crazy queues for so many days. We got (6) fried fish, (2) croquettes for €10.x. IMO, the croquettes were pretty decent, albeit really salty. The fried fish was a huge disappointment. The crazy queues really hyped it up, and I was honestly hoping it would have more flavor & crunch. Perhaps I needed to pair it with a beer? read more

This historic tapas place near Puerta del Sol is known for its fried cod, as well as for being the birthplace of the Spanish Socialist Party (in 1879). The hightops out front are apparently the place to be -- as soon as Casa Labra opens for lunch, they're packed with Madrileños who line up at the small bar for beer, wine and pieces of cod. If you can't find a spot outside, the bartender will show you to an inside table, which offers the same menu without the sidewalk energy that makes Casa Labra such a popular spot for locals. Prices are extremely reasonable -- a glass of red wine is less than €3 and you can have a bottle for €13.50. The cod is also pretty inexpensive, but we were underwhelmed by our order -- while the fish was tender, it was generally lacking in flavor. The croquettes were better, but not as good as others we had in Madrid. All told, I'd recommend Casa Labra for the history and the atmosphere, but only if you can score an outdoor table. There are better places in Madrid if you're looking for a great tapas meal. read more

This is a high demand restaurant off of Puerta Del Sol that has been in business since 1860. The building is very old. Despite how busy they were, the line moved quickly. The waiter yells the orders so it gets loud. The fried cod, croquettes, and salmon flag are sold by the piece. They are famous for their cod. The cod tasted so fresh that it tasted like the sea. You must get it. We didn't get lemon with our fish. The locals come in and take out for dinner. Some locals eat their fried cod on the front counter or on a thin ledge on the wall. If you get the Veal sandwich, there isn't much meat. It's mostly bread. read more

The perfect greasy snack or compliment to a drink. The atmosphere is informal, the food is fast and the drinks are plentiful. If the weather holds out, grab a drink from the bar and your fishy snack from the other bar and park yourself at the many silver tables outside. If not, you will have to wait for a table in the back. The fried cod and croquettes go quick, so they are always fresh when you pick them up. Downside is that you have to wait for the next batch if they all get snapped up by the guy ahead of you. I just pointed and paid, seemed to get by on sign language alone. read more

Casa Labra - Cod fish fritters - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M

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There was a small wait, and we were seated in a packed room. "Packed" is a good sign. The elegantly dressed waiter showed up as we were settling in with a pad of paper, ready to write down our order. Except...we had no idea what was on the menu. He quickly figured out we didn't know the game here, so he grabbed a menu. He hurried us through the order, which should have bothered me, but somehow it didn't. I took that as more the personality of the restaurant than an insulting interaction. The fried cod and cod croquettes arrived a minute after we ordered. Seriously. The cod croquettes were a silky dream inside, and crispy outside. The fried cod was perfectly sweet, and nicely crispy. How do they do this when the food Is clearly pre made? Shortly after that, the Spanish omelet arrived. I've been used to the American Spanish omelette, with cheese, chopped green peppers , and tomatoes. The traditional Spanish omelette is loaded with potatoes and onions, and no cheese, tomato, or pepper. Salt would have helped, but it was still hearty. The waiter missed our meat pie order, but he brought it out immediately (and I do mean immediately) when we reminded him. The pies were crispy and a bit lacking in depth, but still hearty. The "large" beer was 340 ml (less than 12 oz)...it's in the spirit of tapas that way, since it was cheap (2.6€). Wine was similarly small and cheap. The objective seems to be hurrying customers through so the next customers can get a seat. And, it felt more like I was in a situation comedy than having rude service at a restaurant. We ordered another round of the fish, and eventually we were defeated by the sheer volume of food. Everything is cheap here, with most of what we ordered under 2€. The whole bill for 3 of us, with some to take back to the hotel, was under 50€. Come here for a quick (and I do mean *quick*) meal, stay for the personality of the waitstaff. read more

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Fry cod is good but the service is not friendly. Very rush. That day outside is windy, we seat inside. We only try fish with beer and wine. read more

Casa Labra - Fry Cod - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M

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Fantastic bacalao! Make sure you don't wait in the queue on the right. Jump to the one on the left, order your food at the station and get your drinks at the bar. So damn tasty! read more

Casa Labra - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M

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First food stop on my tapas tour, this place was super busy at 7pm on a weeknight. There is no seating, only a few hightop tables outside and some low shelves where you can balance your beverage while you eat your tapas, or where you balance your tapas while you enjoy your beverage. Absolutely a cool vibe here, but definitely crowded. Founded in 1879 which is amazingly awesome. Get a croquetta and a glass of their Spanish red wine. It was fabulous! [Review 12520 overall, 2310 of 2019.] read more

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Casa Labra was a historic place located close to Puerta del Sol and you won't miss it since there is always a line there since they open everyday. The wait wasn't bad but watch out there were 2 different lines for dine in with service and dine outside of their restaurant with cheaper price. We ordered their top 3 sellers from the menu which were Tajada de bacalao (fried cod), Croquetas de bacalao (cod croquette) and Atun con Tomate (Tuna steak with tomato). The Fried cod was our favorite and it was juicy inside, the fried layer wasn't crispy but not bad. The cod croquette was creamy like clam chowdor. We didn't like the tuna steak which we thought was not really fresh and hard. All of these you could order by piece and tried the variety. People also recommended their beer which was super cheap. read more

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Fish was excellent except we found a number of bones we weren't expecting. Small glasses of wine and beer were ok. Would go back.

Learnt about this place through a Travel Show.. and loved the fritters and the croquettes! The cod fritters...were the best. We also tried the Vermouth martini.. (red) Went twice in our stay.. so yes it's worth a visit! read more

Casa Labra - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M

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Casa Labra, since 1860, has been famous with locals long before the touristas invaded...so be prepared for a line even on a Monday night. The bar and outside areas: Only €1.50 for their famous deep fried cod tapas, and they are tasty indeed! Only €1 for a small beer or wine to wash it down. Win and win! Except for that wait... Or just get lucky and waltz in like my wife and I did at 9:40pm and score a table at small fancy restaurant area where prices are a bit higher, but you get full sit down service with a friendly waiter, and air conditioning. Casa Labra's menu has a good variety of dinners, but they specialize in hearty Cod entrees: Bacalao a la vizcaína: Cod cooked in a sauce made to the traditional recipe: Serrano ham, onion, paprika, olive oil and garlic (17,50 €)...GOOD! Bacalao con setas y alcaparras: A large piece of cod served in a sauce made of olive oil, leeks, wild mushrooms, capers, tomato purée and orange juice (17,50 €)...GOOD! Gazpacho was light and tasty too, but a bit pricey for 6,50 €. Bottles wine start at only €7 for the house wine...why can't we have nice things like this in America? read more

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One if the best tapas spots in Madrid. Just off Calle Mayor don't let the long lines and large crowds scare you. It moves quickly and once you get to the counter it's fairly easy to order. Get the potato croquettes and cod fritters with a small light beer una caña. Absolutely delicious and plenty of standing height tables inside and outside for a delicious snack before you move on to the next stop. read more

Casa Labra - Cod and potato fritters - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M

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This is an "ancient" Madrid eatery, with a small, but specialized menu. But the Food and service was Excellent! We even had an issue and our waiter corrected it instantly without question! The ambiance and decor is antique and yet a favorite place of Locals for its great food and service! Authentic Madrid! read more

Casa Labra is hidden inside a small alley way near El Cortes Ingles department store. Must visit when you are in Madrid. There is often a long line but the line moves fast. They accept credit card as well but it is easier to pay cash. They have a short menu, but would suggest to go with their ham croquettes and definitely their bacalao. Their bacalao are freshly made and steaming hot still when you eat it. Best balacao I've had on my trip so far. They also have cheap alcoholic beverages as well. There is a dine in area behind the counter but separate line. read more

Casa Labra is a 150 yr old restaurant and bar near Puerta del Sol and the birthplace of the Spanish Socialist party. Up front is a small bar area with outside seating (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/_LGLUZQBxB9GT1CNUn2bBg?select=YMiCvz-gnba-Pm7-yZR-yA) and table seating in back. In the bar they have a short list of food items (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/_LGLUZQBxB9GT1CNUn2bBg?select=7F0TBZroNaBv6hzS5CDGew) and are famous for their cod dishes. They have fancier dishes in the restaurant and in the bar serve fried cod (1.25 Euros) and cod croquettes (0.80 Euros), the first two items listed on the chalkboard. Order drinks from the bar and tapas from the counter to the right and pay for each separately. Their reputation is well deserved with both fried cod items perfectly seasoned and cooked (not my pic http://simplespanishfood.typepad.com/.a/6a013487d45991970c0154328889c2970c-800wi). I did prefer the sliced and fried piece over the croquette. I thought this place would be more touristy being just off Puerta del Sol, but appeared to be mostly locals enjoying the fried treasures. read more

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I went here every single night when I was in Madrid. It's tucked down a side street with high top, standing room only tables and a line that moves quickly. Service with a smile and as a solo, American traveler with blonde (albeit fake) hair, I received the biggest of smiles from the workers. Beer, vermut, wine, bacala. The fish is PERFECT and needs nothing but a drink to wash it down with. There is nothing I can say that someone has not already said. I went around 6 every night and was in and out and ready to hit the town! GO! EVERY DAY! read more

We found this place on google as it was on the same street as our hotel. It was covered in scaffolding and hardly noticeable but once inside it is bustling with locals and shoppers from nearby places del sol. Staff were so welcoming and very historic interior. We tried all the special appetizers and the Fresh cod and cod fitters were top notch. Try the sherry as an after-dinner drink. read more

My friend has been promising to take me here for ages and we finally made it, with a friendly welcome from a waiter who has apparently been there since she was a child. Having heard much tell of the salt cod croquetas I actually enjoyed the deep fried cod pieces more. Also I enjoyed telling my friend it reminded me of fish and chips, as she is very proud of what her Madrid specialities. Seriously though, if you like fish and chips you will enjoy it! Wash it all down with some claras and eat it standing up outside for the full messy experience. Fun fact: the Spanish socialist party was founded here. read more

This is my third trip to Europe (France, Austria and now Madrid). Of the three, my Spanish is the strongest, but I'd still give it a 3/10. Everyone I've met along he way has been lovely and patient with me as I muddled my way through. Not here. Knowing there's usually a wait, I called from my hotel to make a reservation (they take them for after 8:15pm and there's no email address listed). The person on the other end didn't speak English, but I was able to make and confirm the reservation ( I was SOOO proud of myself...lol). When I arrived at the time of my reservation (after a long day of site-seeing), I spoke my carefully rehearsed statement that I had a reservation (and I could see that a table had been reserved for one person, in a corner...super excited). The waiter told me he had nothing for me. When I fumbled in my broken Spanish to explain, he lost his patience with me and made it very clear I should leave. So I did. I really wanted to try their famous cod, so I waited on the Tapas line, got my cod, croquettes and some wine and stood at the bar. The food was fine, but I'd had better. read more

This place is right there at Plaza del Sol and easy to get to from the metro. When you approach it, don't get scared as I did - you'll soon realize all those people outside are standing around with their food they already ordered. It does look like a haphazard line from afar but it's an organized chaos as they say. There are two lines. One to sit inside and another for carry out / to get your food and then stand at a table outside. The takeaway line moves quickly and they do take credit cards! I made the mistake of not paying attention and pointed to what I thought was the fried cod - I actually got the cod croquette. Of course, I polished off the croquette (ok, not out of this world) and got right back on line for the fried cod. Lucky me, b/c I was the first to get some from a fresh batch and they were quite good! Reviews are on point - pretty good! After the first one, I started to pull the fried batter off and just ate the cod - I probably wouldn't have except I already polished off the croquettes. A must visit when in Sol! read more

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This place is ridiculously good. It's not far off from the busy plaza area, so at first I was cautious it could be a tourist trap, but no, the prices are extremely reasonable and the food, namely the fried cod pieces, are exceptional. My hard-to-please father was also impressed by the freshness of the fish. Not too much seating area in the back, but most people seem to enjoy standing at the bar or the outdoor standing tables to have a quick bite and drink. read more

Casa Labra - Fried cod, cod croquettes, bread. - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M

Food is very good! That's why I went a second time. They let people order food and drinks one hour before closing, than 15 minutes later, they decided it was time to close, and went as far as turning the lights off while we were still eating. This is not how you treat customers. We would have taken the food to go if they told us before we ordered that they were closing at 10:15 instead of 11:00. read more

Long lines but worth the wait for the bacalao and croquetas. Plus a small red wine (that equals about 4-5 sips) is only 1.5€

If you're strolling around Puerta del Sol, you should make an effort to stop by! Grab some beer and cod tapas, and you've got yourself a very satisfying and delicious meal or snack (depending on how many pieces you get). The cod croquettes and fried cod are so good. The cod croquettes were my favorite. They were perfectly crispy on the outside and very creamy with the bechamel and cod on the inside. The fried cod was pretty salty, but I have to admit I still loved that fried, salty goodness. Both of these options are super inexpensive. The bar area is very small, but there's more seating in the back if you prefer to sit down. Overall, a great spot for tasty and reasonable food. read more

Casa Labra - fried cod and cod croquettes - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M

I love Cod and this is one of the best! They serve it in two forms; Meaty-flaky and fry breaded. And then puréed and fry breaded. Both are great tasting. It all depends are your texture preference. Check for times because they do close for "siesta" and it is busy when it's is on. One line is for the food and the other for the drinks at the bar. It is great to stand outside at their high tables (no chairs) because you get to share tables with other customers, which many are locals. I'll be back for sure!!! read more

Casa Labra - Puréed cod (croquettes) very nice texture and taste. - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M

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You'll need to know what you're doing. It would be nice if you could speak Spanish. It's nothing fancy but the food is amazing so try to go if you can! Cod croquettes were so hot and delicious. read more

First off this place is a total tourist trap.... but so worth it! It's one of those quintessential places you have to visit when in Madrid. The skill in which they get people through the lines is impressive. The fish is so amazing flaky and moist the beer batter used very light. Did I mention the croquettes amazing. The prices were very affordable. My recommendation get a couple beers a few pieces of fish some cheese croquette, and some manchego cheese! read more

As our first dining experience in Madrid, we stopped here for a snack and tried the infamous Cod Croquettes as well as the Chorizo Bocadillos. The croquettes were really good and for someone like me to say that (who isn't a seafood fan), that speaks loads. The bocadillo was a little less impressive b/c of the hardness of the bread. It was really hard to eat and enjoy. read more

Very nice Madrilenian place. I had a vermú and some food (Bacalao, Croquetas and Empanadillas) in the small Taberna and it was enjoyable. Service is good and prices are also rather low considering the central location. read more

Casa Labra is a must visit when in Madrid. After walking around plaza Del sol area there is nothing better than having some of the extremely tasty fried cod washed down with a cold beer. Each order comes with 3 strips of perfectly fried cod. The breading still has a crunch and the fish remains flaky and juicy all at the same time. When you get there I suggest walking in and grabbing a beer to have while you wait for your fish. Although it's usually busy the line moves fast but I prefer to wait with a beer in my hand! Enjoy this gem! read more

Skip-less taberna in the heart of Madrid. This place is a classical opened since 1860 and packed every single day. Their speciality is the Croquetas de Bacalao for an Euro, having it with a glass of Bermú is a must. Highly recommended! read more

Casa Labra - Lines.... - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M

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Was very highly recommend so we tried it. It was good not spectacular. The line you see is for ordering & eating outside. There are about 10 tables inside where you will be served by a waiter. We ordered the standard; fried bacalao & croquettes. The croquettes were very rich and cheesy. Tasty. The fried Bacalao was very fresh & flaky. Basic cod fish flavor & batter. No special flavor. My reason for 3 stars..very very oily. A nice cold beer helps cut the grease, but still. Go for the curiosity, experience & form your own opinion. read more

Increible comida!!! Las croquetas estan que te mueres, los camareros son super amables. Lo recomiendo a todos! read more