This is a spot that feels like a little bar but is actually more like a casa with some food items. Here, they are big on pig and there are Iberico hams located on and around the bar for easy access. If you are vegan, coming here will only piss you off. In fact, a vegan in Madrid in general is ill-advised. The setting feels historic and rustic with exposed brick and stone that appears to be centuries old. They seem to make everything (both food and drink) behind that cramped bar which explains why most of their menu items are cold, pre-made, or easy to assemble from short lists of raw ingredients. This does not mean that anything is bad. It just means it is like producing charcuterie in a dorm room bar. A large number of items involve Iberico Ham and one of the barmen is constantly shaving off thin pieces for service. In fact the freebie snack they send out from the kitchen had some Iberico ham and Manchego cheese on it which was a really nice warm up of what to expect. Over the noonish lunch hour, I was the only tourist in the place surrounded by many locals that clearly know about this spot. I liked those odds for assuring me of a genuine authentic experience. It was an accurate predictor. I'm not the most experienced when it comes to true Spanish tapas but this seemed to be a very genuine depiction of what the locals look for in a rustic Iberico ham experience. And frankly, even if it wasn't I can't find anything to really complain about. It was a cool historic setting, there was ice-cold vermouth from a tap, and I spent an hour shoving local Morcilla (blood sausage) and Iberico pig parts into my pie hole for the better part of an hour. It was a great experience any way you choose to look at it. read more

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While visiting my daughter in Madrid, she took us to this little quaint tapas bar for lunch. A very small and cozy place. Server was friendly and efficient. Took our order within 5 minutes. We had the jamon platter, veal meatballs, and tortilla. Food was good overall. I highly recommend the meatballs. read more

Matador - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Madrid, M

We absolutely loved this spot! Tucked away on Calle de la Cruz in the heart of Madrid, it's truly a hidden gem. The menu is fantastic--we tried several dishes, starting with tapas like jamón and queso de cabra, along with the Matador's Toast, which was unbelievably good. The queso fundido was so rich and flavorful, we actually came back two days in a row just for that! We also had the sangria, and it was just as amazing--refreshing and perfectly balanced. Definitely make a point to check this place out! read more

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First place we ate after arriving in Madrid. It's quaint and the seats aren't the most comfortable nor is the place spacious. However, the staff was very cordial and made excellent recommendations. The food was tasty. read more

Matador - The Matador - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Madrid, M

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Must visit if only to meet Vicente Fernandez! Friendly staff, great drinks, great appetizers, great ambiance, great vibe. Perfect place to end the night. read more

This place is so tiny, but amazing. Not sure how one guy handles everything with such a friendly smile, but he made it a lovely evening. There was a short line to get in, but the drinks were good and the tapas outstanding! Some of the best I have had in not just Madrid but all of Spain! read more

The food was awesome, much larger than what we expected so we left feeling so full. My favorite was the Veal Albóndigas, the sauce was awesome when you used it to dip the rustic bread in. We also had the Matador, egg tortilla, and beef empanada. Each one was so good. If we ever get back to Madrid we stop in for some Tapas. read more

Matador - Yummy veal meatballs - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Madrid, M

This place was inexpensive and like a dive bar with very average food Our least favorite place in all of Madrid The service was terrrible too ...only one waiter but not many people and he seemed frazzled and made us wait 15 minutes after we told him we were ready to order The sangria was very watery and not good at all The meatballs were bland We stopped ordering food cause it all was so bad read more

This is a very cool place. Neighborhood restaurant. Very small. These guys work really hard in a really small space to deliver your drinks and meals. Food is very good. Small platters-like. Sangria was excellent - my girlfriend's fav during our trip to Espana. Went twice! That's how much we liked it. Only Americans in the place and we felt welcome - despite mi espanol es muy malo! Go there! Beware though it's very popular especially with the locals so it can be crowded. read more

Matador - Best Sangria we had in España was at the Matador! - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Madrid, M

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This place is a solid 4.5 hole in the wall. Hubby had the Ribera del Duero Roble Vina Mayor, which came with a little bit of a lovely cheese and bread, but didn't love it. I had the sangria and loved mine (but honestly, I've never had bad sangria...maybe I'm just lucky). We ordered the pincho de tortilla espanola (sorry I don't know how to access the accents on my keyboard), albondigas de ternera caseras (ooh, the sauce was so good w/the bread), and the Matador, which was delicious! Service was VERY relaxed, but the tables very tiny and the entire room quite cramped, especially as it got more crowded as the evening went on. It was a great first night in Spain and an intro to tapas. read more

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My partner and I stopped into Matador after catching an energetic flamenco show nearby, and it was the perfect spot to catch a bite to eat with a side of vermut. They do half portions on many of the tapas, so we decided to try the blood sausage, veal Meatballs, and then got the matador sando (which was incredible). They also gave us a complimentary salami with our drinks - which was very kind! The vibe is also a lot of fun and can definitely be a scene as it gets later on in the evening. read more

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Hands down, THE best food we had in Spain during our trip. We stumbled in right after our flight since it was right next to where we were staying and were completely blown away. Such a great welcome to the country. The tables are small and intimate and the portions are quite large. We got a bunch of tapas for such a cheap price! The smoked salmon was so fresh and definitely one of the best dishes there. We also had the iberico ham, espanola and the matador dish itself. Staff was also very friendly and quick. Our meal also came with a complimentary meat and breadstick crackers. These five tapas were definitely filling enough for a group of four! read more

Matador - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Madrid, M

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The tapas that we tried from the menu were both delicious. We ordered two rounds of Sangria, so we were given Jamon Iberico both times. Even if we wanted to order more, we couldn't because we were so full by the end of our meal. The server was very attentive and helpful. The place is small with tables limited. It is always busy and packed. They close in the afternoon and reopen in the evening, so walking in between 2 and 3 pm might be the best time to go. read more

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Matador - A Masterclass in Culinary Misdirection If you've ever wondered what it's like to pay premium prices for food that tastes like a dare, Matador is your place. It's less of a restaurant and more of an elaborate prank on unsuspecting tourists. 1. The Jamón (Or What's Left of It) Our culinary journey began with a pincho of jamón--small in size, large in disappointment. It was chewy, leathery, and old--closer to jerky than any Jamón Serrano I've known. And I should know--I'm from the very region that produces the best. This was inedible unless you've never tasted the real thing and think "dry and rubbery" equals gourmet. 2. Tortilla de Patata - A Monument to Misunderstanding Let me be clear: tortilla de patata is not a complicated dish. Every Spaniard can make it in their sleep. Somehow, Matador found a way to butcher it. It was absurdly thick--perhaps to impress tourists who confuse size with quality--and yet completely devoid of flavor. Not even a hint of salt. Dry, bland, lifeless. I've had more flavor chewing on a napkin. 3. Anchovies & Boquerones - Two Ways to Suffer We bravely tried both versions--hoping at least one might be edible. Neither was. We spit them out immediately. That's not an exaggeration--it was a reflex. They were aggressively unpleasant in a way that made us question our life choices. 4. Tuna Empanada - A False Sense of Hope This was, surprisingly, the least offensive item. But "least offensive" is not a compliment. We managed two bites before pushing it away. It lacked the texture, flavor, and heart of a real Spanish empanada. A shadow of what it could've been. 5. The Final Insult €30 for these four "tapas" would be acceptable if any of them resembled actual food. We shared our feedback, calmly, with what appeared to be the owner or manager. His response? "No one has ever complained." Of course not. I'm sure the mannequin in the corner loves the place. The Vibe If you're into faded mannequins in dusty matador suits, you'll enjoy the decor. It's the only authentic thing in the restaurant--authentically tacky. In Conclusion Matador should be studied--not as a restaurant, but as a cautionary tale. If this is what Madrid is serving its tourists now, it's no wonder some are cutting their trips short. You can dress up mediocrity in a costume, but at the end of the day, it's still mediocrity--just with epaulettes. Avoid at all costs. read more

Atmosphere was what I expected from a tapas bar in Spain. We also had the meatballs, and they were very good. Service was great as well. Seemed like locals were there at a few of the tables and at the bar. I think that is a good sign. read more

Matador - Cheese, salad of tomatoes and peppers, ham, marinated anchovies. - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Madrid, M

This tiny bar/tapas place is the perfect after-dinner stop point for socializing and a nightcap. Very narrow, very old-world, and with an extensive menu, it is situated within walking distance to almost every tourist must-see, including Torero (Flamenco Dancing spot) and Restaurante Botín. Drinks are very cheap and the staff is very friendly. Definitely add this to your list. read more

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Love this place. Great atmosphere, staff and tapas at a reasonable price. Great location by Plaza de Santa Ana.

Good beer, tapas were on point, service was nice. It's a small place with a great atmosphere. I went off of someone else's recommendation on yelp and the nailed it too. Not too far from the Plaza Mayor. You'll enjoy it, trust. read more

Tourist Trap Alert in Madrid We just left Matador, and I'm honestly stunned this place is still operating. If you care about food, respect, or not being ripped off -- don't go. Here's what happened: 1. Jamon Serrano? More Like Leather Scraps The "pincho" they brought out first was a thin slice of old, chewy jamón. I grew up around real Spanish jamón -- this wasn't just bad; it was offensive to the craft. Dry, flavorless, and clearly cut days ago. But it got worse. 2. Tortilla de Patata Disaster This is a national staple that even Spanish teens can make blindfolded -- but Matador botched it completely. It was way too thick, had no salt, and no flavor. The texture? Imagine drywall soaked in old egg. Disgraceful. 3. Anchovies... Where? 3. Anchovies... WHERE? 3. Anchovies... WHERE? This wasn't just bad -- it was offensive. The anchovies tasted horrible, like they'd been dragged out of a dusty pantry and dumped on the plate as an afterthought. Anchovies don't need seasoning -- just quality. These had none. Final Bill: High Respect: Nonexistent The staff confronted us after making our concerns heard and made no attempt to fix any issue. We paid the bill, left hungry, and felt insulted as both diners and humans. Verdict: Avoid at All Costs This isn't just bad food -- it's a trap for people who don't know what real Spanish food should taste like. If you're from the region (like me), you'll leave angry. If you're a tourist, you'll leave broke and confused. read more

Matador - A Masterclass in Culinary Misdirection If you've ever wondered what it's like to pay premium prices for food that tastes like a dare, Matador is your place. It's less of a restaurant and more of an elaborate prank on unsuspecting tourists. 1. The Jamón (Or What's Left of It) Our culinary journey began with a pincho of jamón--small in size, large in disappointment. It was chewy, leathery, and old--closer to jerky than any Jamón Serrano I've known. And I should know--I'm from the very region that produces the best. This was inedible unless you've never tasted the real thing and think "dry and rubbery" equals gourmet. 2. Tortilla de Patata - A Monument to Misunderstanding Let me be clear: tortilla de patata is not a complicated dish. Every Spaniard can make it in their sleep. Somehow, Matador found a way to butcher it. It was absurdly thick--perhaps to impress tourists who confuse size with quality--and yet completely devoid of flavor. Not even a hint of salt. Dry, bland, lifeless. I've had more flavor chewing on a napkin. 3. Anchovies & Boquerones - Two Ways to Suffer We bravely tried both versions--hoping at least one might be edible. Neither was. We spit them out immediately. That's not an exaggeration--it was a reflex. They were aggressively unpleasant in a way that made us question our life choices. 4. Tuna Empanada - A False Sense of Hope This was, surprisingly, the least offensive item. But "least offensive" is not a compliment. We managed two bites before pushing it away. It lacked the texture, flavor, and heart of a real Spanish empanada. A shadow of what it could've been. 5. The Final Insult €30 for these four "tapas" would be acceptable if any of them resembled actual food. We shared our feedback, calmly, with what appeared to be the owner or manager. His response? "No one has ever complained." Of course not. I'm sure the mannequin in the corner loves the place. The Vibe If you're into faded mannequins in dusty matador suits, you'll enjoy the decor. It's the only authentic thing in the restaurant--authentically tacky. In conclusion, Matador should be studied--not as a restaurant, but as a cautionary tale. If this is what Madrid is serving its tourists now, it's no wonder some are cutting their trips short. You can dress up mediocrity in a costume, but at the end of the day, it's still mediocrity--just with epaulettes. Avoid at all costs. read more

This is a locals' Tapas bar, and not to be missed. We got the tuna salad, the quiche (potato and egg), and ham with cheese. All delicious. Good prices on beer and wine. Good service too. read more

Great tapas. Good vermut. Probably some of the best food we had. But this place is HOPPING! So be prepared to be packed in and have it be quite noisy. read more

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Love this spot! Character for days, while unpretentious and just a fantastic bar to kick back and soak it all in Fantastic cheese and jamon, as well! read more

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Me encantó comer en el Matador, buen servicio, cerveza estelar y buenos precios. Recomendado

Love this place! Sure it's small and a little gritty and crowded but that all adds to the ambiance. The service is fantastic. Very friendly, very helpful, very accommodating. The tapas are all delicious. It's the kind of place you want to just hang out in all afternoon! read more

Matador is a fun spot to stop by to get a quick bite to eat and have some drinks. Atmosphere is very fun and is a great place to go with friends. read more

Matador - Tapas - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Madrid, M

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Tiny little place with great vibe. Food was good and drinks came quickly. Only three guys running the whole thing but with its small size, they manage well. read more

Excellent! We came twice during our trip it was so good. Very much a sharing style restaurant. The meat and cheese board was excellent! We had 1/2 raccion of the cheese and of the meat which was definitely enough for the 5 of us. The meatballs are great as well! The red pepper tosta was amazing! The blue cheese and cider tosta was incredibly strong blue cheese. 10.50 euros for a pitcher of sangria is excellent! Our server was amazing! Would recommend would come back! read more

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This place gets packed! It's definitely a mix of locals and tourists and since it is a bar, it gets rowdy. We sat at a small table in the corner looking for dinner and got a bunch of tapas (recommend the meatballs) and drinks for only €25. read more

I have been to thousands of restaurants in countries around the world, and this might have to take the cake as my favorite. The most genuine, local old time experience of a restaurant where I have found amazing service, surrounded by all commercial businesses. Packed with locals, us as tourists were still treated with great respect. Loved it so much we visited 5 times in 5 days. Great selection of food, the goat cheese red pepper toasty we had every single day. The free tapa was always great as well, rotated between cheese and meat. Place is SMALL, only seats maybe two dozen people. Stools like like they've been there for 50 years, but that is perhaps what makes this place so unique is that it's so authentic. Ended up getting free shots on the last day since they recognized us coming every day for Sangria and tapas. Great wait staff, prices are some of the lowest in this part of the city as well. Get the jar of sangria, or two, should be all you need! Hope when I come back here in a few decades that this place still stands, because I will definitely remember it! read more

Matador - Bread, cheese, ham, goat cheese red pepper toast, sangria - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Madrid, M

Local Tapas place in the center of the city. So you will see tourists and locals in this place. The food is excellent and the staff (3) is outstanding. Service is quick and friendly, and even if you do not speak Spanish they will understand what you want. Good selection of wine and beer. This is a very vibrant place in the center of Madrid. read more

Small indoor seating, but we had to wait about 10 minutes to get a seat. Also smaller sized single cup drinks, but can get a pitcher for decent price. Some of the best sangria we had. Food was also good. read more

This was one of my favorite joints in Madrid & I went to many places!! Small place with a 5 stool bar in the front... this is where you wanna sit to watch the cooks make the food. Great large Tapas menu & you have to try the Anchovies and the Jamon. Super busy all the time so don't expect great service here!! Get a spot at the corner of the bar and watch the hundreds of people walk by with a beer or a cuppa tinto. Trust me here// talk later read more

I will stop by this bar every time I am back in Madrid. Came here looking for some tapas and had the vermut, half a ration of Iberico jamon, and tomato salad. All were amazing and reasonably priced! I need to give a shout out to the wait staff, all were hilarious and very skilled at what they do. They made us feel like regulars and always made sure we had what we needed. I could spend all day in this establishment, sampling different things on the menu, people watching by the window, or conversing with the staff. Thank you, Matador, for an experience that we will cherish! read more

Matador - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Madrid, M

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This was my first time in Spain. I came here because of the high Yelp ratings. It was a perfect experience. They gave me loads of free cheese, ham, and crackers. They speak English, which was helpful. The draft beer was fantastic. The wine pour was generous. Overall, it was an outstanding experience. Highly recommended to all. read more

Matador - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Madrid, M

Small and extremely busy tapas bar. Good selection of pork and cheese tapas plus large menu of toasts. One chef and one waiter on a busy Weeknight, so service was really slow. But the food is worth the wait. read more

We came here for the sangrias and the free tapas. Pro tip: you only get one tapas if you order a pitcher but you will get multiple tapas if you order by the glass. We got a plate of jamon as our free tapas. Sangria was the best I've had! Full of flavor and fresh fruit. Ambiance was dark, moody, and cool. Perfect little hole in the wall spot. read more

Matador - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Madrid, M

well I would bet your grandmother anything "hot" is via a Temu microwave. the anchovy, tomato toast was the only thing that was nice. ambiance was perfect for a cool, old bar in Madrid and the wine was wine... so that worked. service was respectable as I think there was only one dude for the whole place. so shoutout to him for holding it down. the tortilla espanola was not really edible and the albondigas was 100% out of a microwave, but was tasty. just felt like I was eating some uncooked refrigerator funk. bread was good. I'm gonna try somewhere different next time. ps, I hate yelp. :O read more

Ambiance, service, food -- this should be your first stop in Madrid. Outstanding bar and food. Can't beat this vibe and the service is 5 stars. Highly recommend the veal meatballs (ternera caseras) read more

Matador - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Madrid, M

If you are looking for a bar to hit in Madrid Matador is the place to go. There was a great selection of drinks for cheap prices and the tapas was so delicious. It was 2€ a glass of red wine. We got free seafood and chicken paella and it was a pretty large amount. We ordered tuna empanadas which were unbelievably delicious. We needed up only spending 17€ for everything and left full. read more

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