Bar
Museo Chicote
Spain's first cocktail bar, opened on Gran Vía in 1931 by Perico Chicote, with an Art Deco interior and a guest list that once included Hemingway…
La Ardosa
A Malasaña tavern dating from 1892, known for its tortilla, salmorejo, house vermouth and early imported beers, with a back room reached by ducking under the bar.
At a glance
- Type
- Historic tavern and beer bar
- Area
- Malasaña, Madrid, Spain
- Price
- $ · Budget
- Official site
- laardosa.es
Good to know
- Draught beer
- House vermouth
- Tapas
- Back room under the bar
Why we recommend it
La Ardosa is one of the classic taverns of Malasaña and a favourite of Madrileños for an evening drink. It traces its history to 1892, when Rafael Fernández opened a group of taverns under the La Ardosa name, and the bar on Calle de Colón still has some of its original decoration, including an engraved glass sign, tiled skirting and an old fan. Stepping inside feels like going back in time.
The tavern was an early importer of foreign beers to Madrid, and it has long been known for its Guinness and for Czech Pilsner Urquell on tap, alongside other lagers and Irish beers. It also serves its own vermouth, made exclusively for the bar, as well as wines from the Ribera del Duero and Rioja. The food is simple and home-made: the tortilla de patatas, cooked with a slightly runny centre, has a strong reputation, and the croquettes, salmorejo, a thick cold tomato soup, and grilled artichokes are other favourites.
The front bar is small and usually busy, with drinkers standing at the counter. The famous quirk is the back room, a small space with a few tables reached by ducking under a low hatch in the bar, which is a memorable way to reach your seat. It is first come, first served, so be patient or come early if you want a table.
La Ardosa opens from late morning, with service running into the night, and it is busiest in the early evening and at weekends. It suits couples, small groups and solo travellers who want a relaxed, traditional bar rather than a club. The mix of good beer, vermouth and tapas makes it a natural first stop before a night in Malasaña, or a long lunch on a weekend afternoon. Check the website or call for current hours, as they can vary.
Calle de Colón is a short street in the south-east of Malasaña, close to Calle de Fuencarral. Tribunal metro station on lines 1 and 10 is a couple of minutes away on foot, and Gran Vía station is around five minutes south. The Museo de Historia de Madrid and the shops of Calle de Fuencarral are nearby, and the Plaza del Dos de Mayo, the heart of Malasaña, is around ten minutes' walk.
La Ardosa FAQs
How old is La Ardosa?
It traces its history to 1892.
What is it known for?
Its tortilla de patatas, salmorejo, house vermouth and draught Guinness and Pilsner Urquell.
How do you reach the back room?
By ducking under a low hatch in the bar.
Can I book a table?
Tables are first come, first served.
Does it serve food?
Yes, home-made tapas such as tortilla, croquettes, salmorejo and grilled artichokes.
When is it busiest?
Early evening and at weekends.
What is the nearest metro?
Tribunal on lines 1 and 10, a couple of minutes' walk.
What is nearby?
Calle de Fuencarral, the Museo de Historia de Madrid and the Plaza del Dos de Mayo.