Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Viva Madrid

    4.3 (44 reviews)
    ModerateTapas Bars, Spanish
    Closed 12:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

    Viva Madrid Photos

    VIVA MADRID ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Intimate
    Quiet
    Dogs allowed

    Recommended Reviews - Viva Madrid

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Croquet and the salmon salad thing
    Kate A.

    Favorite place we went in Madrid. Ambiance upstairs is quiet and intimate. Perfect for unhurried conversation and great food and drinks. 10/10 vibes and will be going back anytime in Madrid. Great service, very friendly wait staff

    Bar view-
    Meagan S.

    Great overall experience. The service, the cocktails, the ambiance, the price all 5 stars. The bartenders were very attentive, could tell they were having fun and loved their job plus they were very personable and engaging. Unique cocktail and appetizer selection. After giving us our drinks they provided us chips to snack on then olives without us asking which was a nice surprise. Now we were there on a Monday night and heard it gets slammed later in the week that could change the experience but definitely a place to check out. Good vibes all around.

    Jenny M.

    Finally, I had the chance to visit this place, a favorite of one of the Philippine National Heroes, Dr. Jose Rizal, and a spot frequented by Ernest Hemingway, who even wrote here. The food we had was quite good and paired well with the drinks they offered. I just wish the bar incorporated more of its rich history into the menu and perhaps added some stories about its past to the walls, which would make it even more interesting. We enjoyed some wine--Riviera, which had a soft taste, and Madrid, which was stronger, according to their descriptions. Some of the other drinks seemed expensive at EUR 12, but it might be worth trying at least one. For food, we had Gilda Viva Madrid, Taco con carne, and Scallops with ginger--everything was delicious, and I savored every bite. The place offers outdoor, bar, and indoor seating. The indoor area is more suited for eating and drinking, with a great vibe and a perfect spot to hang out with friends. The service was fast and efficient, and we had no issues.

    Deep fried pork belly
    Penprapha B.

    I love the decor! We ordered two tapas to share. The grilled octopus was interesting. It might be better without that heavy brown sauce. Pork belly was outstanding. Me and my friends are still raving about it. Restaurant is beautifully decorated. Picture perfect location.

    Yolanda O.

    The food the service and cocktails were all so perfect! Great pit stop during the day for tapas and cocktails. Mixology at its finest

    Adrianna S.

    From the same owner as Salmon Guru, Viva Madrid is an excellent cocktail bar. We went in not expecting much but we loved. The decor is awesome. It is a vibe you can't really describe. Drinks are delicious. They have a creative menu and some old favorites. We didn't try any food. But everything others were eating looked good. Service was friendly and attentive. One of our favorites in Madrid.

    Art M.

    I highly recommend this bar. Drinks are delicious, staff members are super helpful & they can speak English and Spanish. The bar setting inside is beautiful & it's a local small bar. I highly recommend it. Drinks at this bar are very affordable & atmosphere is very laid back.

    The starter menue.

    My wife and I had one of the great taste experiences of our trip at Viva Madrid. It was a tapas called Saam Croquette; a sucking pig with smoked chili emulsion. I had their house vermouth with some crisps and then a crisp dry white wine with the croquette. The waitress was very helpful and spoke enough English to be understood. We sat inside in the bar area because there were no outside tables available. It seemed to be mostly locals and had s welcoming atmosphere.

    Robosapiens R.

    One of the oldest bars that underwent renovation that did not intrude into the aesthetics of the original venue. Drinks were very good and service was on point, friendly and everyone spoke very good English. Highly recommend for a drink or two if you are in the neighborhood.

    Dean T.

    Came by here a little too early as it was just opening and only late afternoon, but we sampled a couple of drinks and the friendly staff gave us a little free plate of tapas. Worth stopping buy alone to take a snap of the outside of the place as it is stunning. Can imagine it's a great place to be when it's dark as the streets surrounding the magnificent Plaza Santa Ana are really busy with life and this place would be one of the hotspots. I can see myself going back to Madrid and here will be high up on the list to visit again.

    Ox tail stew

    See all

    14 hours ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    20 days ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lisa M.
    16
    13
    1

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kate A.
    0
    21
    23

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    16 days ago

    The service was friendly fast and nice. The food was good, we will be back. A good place to go with a pleasing atmosphere when in Madrid.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Crystal R.
    27
    176
    42

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Art M.
    26
    119
    113

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 12
    Thanks 0
    Love this 15
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    We had an amazing experience here! Servers were incredible friendly. The food was delicious and the environment was awesome! We'll be back!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1
    Photo of L B.
    8
    38
    71

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Emilio C.

    Emilio C.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jen W.
    85
    16
    12

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Emilio C.

    Emilio C.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    24 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    15 years ago

    the best mojito ever, even if they are expensive. keep your camera on you cause the inside is just beautiful.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 2

    Viva Madrid Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Viva Madrid

    It is owned by the same owners of Salmon Guru which is another great establishment down the street.

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Entre Santos - Grilled octopus

    Entre Santos

    4.8(75 reviews)
    0.7 kmChueca

    My mom and I found this gem on TripAdvisor and decided to give it a try, and wow, we are so glad we…read moredid! From the moment we walked in, the staff was beyond friendly and welcoming, and the atmosphere was vibrant, lively, and fun. I ordered the sangria, which was honestly the best I had in Madrid, while my mom enjoyed a lovely glass of wine. We started with the padrón peppers, burrata with tomato salsa, and patatas bravas -- every single dish was packed with flavor and absolutely delicious. For the main course, we had the beef with chimichurri and butter, and OMG... it was phenomenal. Everything was cooked perfectly, and all the flavors complemented each other so well. To finish the night, we shared the chocolate dessert and the "Love Chueca" cocktail, which was incredible and the perfect ending to an amazing meal. Couldn't recommend this restaurant enough. Amazing food, fantastic drinks, wonderful staff, and such a great atmosphere. We'll definitely be back next time we're in Madrid!

    My favorite meal/experience during our visit to the wonderful city of Madrid. Many reviews highly…read morepraised the tapas so we decided to see if we could get in. As foreigners, we arrived earlier than the locals which worked out well. By the time we finished there was a crowd waiting outside. We loved the casual atmosphere and the elevated flavors of the tapas. The wine was perfect and we chose just the right amount of dishes that complimented one another. We felt like this was someplace special and were happy to have experience it.

    Photos
    Entre Santos - Bartender makes killer drinks

    Bartender makes killer drinks

    Entre Santos - Stuffed portobello mushrooms with goat cheese and crusted with coconut with a mango purée

    Stuffed portobello mushrooms with goat cheese and crusted with coconut with a mango purée

    Entre Santos - Rose and verajo

    See all

    Rose and verajo

    El Mesón del Champiñón - Champinon!!!! Delicious!!!!

    El Mesón del Champiñón

    4.5(157 reviews)
    0.7 kmSol
    €€

    Alright, as I continue to try to catch up on all the review drafts I wrote while on vacation, at…read morethis point a whole 5 months ago... I know this one was exactly 5 months ago, because we touched down in Madrid on New Years Day, and this was the first place we ate (sounds like they've been here for aeons, so I doubt they've changed significantly since January.) My plan when we landed had been to just go down the list I'd made before we left of the best quick food places near our hotel, and eat at the first one that *was* open on New Years. I was worried there wouldn't be any and we'd be eating snacks from a convenience store, but nope! This place was indeed open. Open, and an absolute *madhouse*. I'm not sure if it was just because it was New Years, they were open, and much of the street wasn't, or if they're always this crazy - but it was a decent wait to order, to the point that it wasn't *entirely* clear whether we were even waiting correctly to order, since the line had kind of turned into a blob. Ordering and picking up our food was slightly nerve-wracking with how crowded it was, and there didn't really appear to be anywhere inside to sit, so we figured we'd sit outside at the tables... that we got immediately yelled at for sitting at, because it turns out all the tables right outside their entrance, actually belongs to their next door neighbor. So if I were ever back in Madrid, I *would* totally consider getting food here again, but I'd just probably plan on bringing it back to the hotel, vs what we ended up doing, finding the closest nearby flat non-private surface and eating it standing up in an alley. It definitely felt like a cool historic building inside, though, would've loved to dine in, if it hadn't been wall-to-wall packed, which it sounds like they might just always be. Food was great, though. We shared (this was plenty of food): An order of the cider-braised sausages - wonderful. Bonus, we learned from personal experience, you definitely want to get an order of these sausages, as not only are the sausages themselves delicious, the resulting au jus was also great for dipping the other items into.) An order of the ham and cheese croquettes - pretty tasty, though they did fall apart. Even tastier dipped in sausage juice, though then they *really* fell apart. Worth it though. Didn't look like you got a lot per order, but looks are deceiving - they were *rich*. An order of their famous mushrooms - I was a bit surprised, given the name literally means "the mushroom bar", that they only had a single mushroom dish, though given the sheer volume of that one item they clearly sell nightly, I can see why. Anyway, as a mushroom fan... they were certainly tasty mushrooms, perfectly cooked, but in my opinion, just a bit oversalted. Also had a glass of sangria for 2.50 euro - it is extremely good sangria, though the glass for 2.50 was pretty small. They also sell it for a better price by the larger container, but sadly, while I absolutely loved the European spirit of trusting people to be responsible after leaving with a to-go alcoholic beverage... they don't sell the *larger* sized sangria if you aren't dining in. Was too bad, as I absolutely would have loved twice as much of that sangria, but it clearly wasn't worth standing in a long ordering line a second time for it.

    If you're looking for delicious mushrooms look no further! Beautiful old restaurant. Great service!read more

    Photos
    El Mesón del Champiñón
    El Mesón del Champiñón - Champiñones - mushrooms, and their claim to fame

    Champiñones - mushrooms, and their claim to fame

    El Mesón del Champiñón - Sirloin and grilled green peppers

    See all

    Sirloin and grilled green peppers

    Angelita

    Angelita

    4.8(65 reviews)
    0.6 kmChueca
    €€€

    This is another place I wish I could give half stars, in this case 4.5. On one hand, it's the…read more*exact* sort of quietly-pretentious cocktail bar experience I absolutely love, where all the drinks have been carefully curated with a bunch of small-batch ingredients, most of them, in this case, made in house. Each drink we ordered had an absolutely precisely perfect, super-unique presentation, and you could tell they were all carefully designed. I especially loved, while they don't advertise being a distillery, several cocktails even use their own in-house spirits, which if you ask about it and you're ordering a bunch of cocktails, you can just try a tasting flight for free. That was just super cool - you can buy bottles of some of them, too. Bit pricey at ~40 euro for a half-bottle, but they also distill some seriously unusual stuff, including one, used in their now-my-gold-standard bloody mary, distilled from a variety of mixed vegetables, the first time I'd *ever* seen a spirit distilled entirely from vegetables. On the other hand, with the exception of that bloody mary, all the drinks we had, especially for the price, were just... good. I loved the attention to detail on all of them, I could tell a lot of intention and effort went into each one, and again, it's always cool when you're drinking something that was distilled specifically by and for the bar you're at. But I also feel like I remember, mostly, a lot more about the presentation of the drinks and how much work went into some of the ingredients, than what most of them actually tasted like. On the third hand... that bloody mary. Seriously probably the best bloody mary I've had, as you'd expect from a place that hand-crafts literally everything including the base spirit. Assuming they still have it and it wasn't only on a temporary/seasonal menu... I'd go back for more of those, if I were ever back in Madrid. (If it was on a temporary/seasonal menu... too bad for me. I'll be savoring the half-bottle of the spirit I absolutely brought home with me, anyway! Though I still won't be making their bloody mary, which also used their own mix of several fresh-made stocks, for maximum flavor while also being totally clear still. That was super cool, and again, absolutely delicious.) Would I put it in my own personal "best bars anywhere on the planet" list? Probably not - that's a... lot of competition. Is it the best cocktail bar in Madrid? Also in my opinion, no, if I could only recommend one craft cocktail bar in Madrid, it'd be Salmon Guru. But if someone just asked me for recommendations for Madrid cause I'd been there, I could recommend any number of places, and they liked fancy, not-cheap craft cocktails? This would also go on the list, if that hypothetical person had time for two, as we did. Definitely do make a reservation, though. When we got there right when they opened, we were the only ones there... but that definitely didn't remain true.

    Angelita had pretty good food, cocktails, and ambiance. I visited around 9 PM without a reservation…read moreand we got a seat in the basement bar. We had a few drinks and dinner. They serve the same food menu downstairs as well as upstairs. I liked the decor a lot; dark but comfortable. FOOD Smoked beef ham croquette - €3.5 each - pretty good croquettes Organic "ratatouille" with egg yolk and rosemary mayonnaise - €17.5 smaller portion - it was a little like ratatouille. It was not very attractive looking -- it was a vegetable mush. It didn't seem like a full dish on its own; it needed meat. Oxtail stew cannelloni with Sherry hollandaise - €10.5 - pretty good; get two if you are sharing They also gave us some olives (tasty) and then later some nuts (bad because they were unsalted / unseasoned). DRINKS Apio y Citricos - tequila with celery etc - interesting and tasty Resina y Sombra - mezcal with mushrooms etc - also interesting and tasty Moscow Mule Citronela - it was a moscow mule. not very interesting. Topinambo - whiskey, chicken skin etc They were all €13 or €14 We liked two of them a lot, less so the other two.

    Photos
    Angelita - Bar

    Bar

    Angelita - Rice (I am not sure of the name it wasn't on the menu)

    Rice (I am not sure of the name it wasn't on the menu)

    Angelita

    See all

    Botín - suckling pig

    Botín

    4.0(891 reviews)
    0.7 kmSol
    €€€

    A great experience. Extremely busy restaurant but well orchestrated team of people working save…read moreknowing what to do. Daniel our server did San excellent job taking care of every detail. The ambience couldn't be better, a place to enjoy and experience what is to be in the oldest restaurant in the world. The food, El cochinillo ! Wow! It's an experience.

    Sobrino de Botín is the oldest recorded restaurant in the world according the Guiness Book of World…read moreRecords at over 300 years old. What foodie would pass up the opportunity to dine here? When I found out I was coming to Madrid I had to book a table. First things first, my suggestion is book way in advance. This place fills up fast. My friend and I waited too long and the only seating we could get was at 11:15 PM. No big deal though there's plenty of places you can get a light snack in the surrounding area while exploring the city. Walking in, the architecture immediately hits you. Low ceilings, gorgeous old brick, tight dining rooms, it really feels like you stepped back in time. The whole atmosphere is elevated without being stiff. Staff was super friendly and made the experience feel smooth from start to finish. There's also apprently a really nice wine cellar at the bottom I overheard other patrons bragging about. Food wise, I will keep it real, it was good, just not my favorite meal in Madrid. The sangria was solid, definitely one of my highlights. The croquettes were fire. Crispy, creamy, exactly what you want. My friend's seafood casserole was actually really good too, I lowkey wish I went that route. Now the misses. The sautéed vegetables with Iberian ham didn't do it for me. The veggies needed seasoning bad, and the ham leaned a little too salty, so together it just felt off. The suckling pig, the signature dish, was good, but I was not blown away. If I find myself returning here, I would explore other options. After dinner, there was a little show and they let you keep a souvenir menu, which was a nice touch and made the night feel more memorable. Overall I had a solid 3.5 star experience rounded up to 4. Sobrino de Botín is history, it is iconic, and it is worth saying you have been. Just do not expect it to be the best meal of your trip. Hit Botín, soak it in, then go explore the rest of Madrid's food scene, because that is where things really start to shine.

    Photos
    Botín - We got to wait right in the meat prep area

    We got to wait right in the meat prep area

    Botín - Roasted Suckling Pig

    Roasted Suckling Pig

    Botín - Bottom level

    See all

    Bottom level

    La Mi Venta - Black Pudding

    La Mi Venta

    4.6(167 reviews)
    1.2 kmPalacio
    €€€

    Came here for a delicious and leisurely lunch. The grilled squid with caramelized onions and squid…read moreink was a fantastic starter; the squid was not too chewy, and the saltines paired very well with the sweet onions. The grilled Iberian "secreto" was tender and juicy and flavorful. The paella had plenty of squid, prawn, clams, and mussels, and the rice itself had a very strong (in a good way) seafood aroma. The waiters are friendly, and you are not rushed through the meal. Highly recommend.

    We came here after visiting the Royal Palace, and the location couldn't have been more convenient…read more What really impressed me, though, was the dining room downstairs. It feels like you're eating inside an old wine cellar, with beautiful brick-vaulted ceilings, stone walls, and a cozy atmosphere that makes the experience feel very traditional and distinctly Spanish. We ordered the Iberian ham croquettes, the grilled goat cheese salad, and a charcoal-grilled steak with roasted potatoes and Padrón peppers. The croquettes were okay, but they were easily the least memorable dish of the meal. The goat cheese salad was excellent, with creamy, lightly grilled cheese that paired perfectly with the fresh vegetables. The steak was the standout. It was cooked exactly as requested, flavorful, tender, and served with delicious roasted potatoes and peppers. The staff were friendly, attentive, and never rushed us, making for a relaxed dinner from start to finish. I'm giving it 4 stars because one of the starters didn't quite live up to the rest of the meal, but the atmosphere, service, and quality of the steak more than made up for it. If you're looking for classic Castilian cuisine in a unique cellar-like setting near Madrid's major attractions, La Mi Venta is definitely worth a visit.

    Photos
    La Mi Venta
    La Mi Venta - Hake

    Hake

    La Mi Venta - Spanish wine rivals Santa Barbara County

    See all

    Spanish wine rivals Santa Barbara County

    Matador - Pimientos Asados y Rulo de Cabra (roasted peppers and goat cheese on Toast)

    Matador

    4.6(85 reviews)
    0.3 kmSol

    This is a spot that feels like a little bar but is actually more like a casa with some food items…read more 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.

    While visiting my daughter in Madrid, she took us to this little quaint tapas bar for lunch. A very…read moresmall 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.

    Photos
    Matador - Interior art

    Interior art

    Matador - Galacuan Pie. Very tasty!

    Galacuan Pie. Very tasty!

    Matador - Tapa

    See all

    Tapa

    Viva Madrid - tapas - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...