Casa Alberto

It’s a historical tapas bar opened since 1827. Fully decorated with old paintings and pictures. The ambiance is vibrant and local. Nothing fancy but you feel truly Spanish I ordered mussels and pepper-stuffed seafood. The flavour is great. I appreciate how they season and make the food magical The staff doesn’t speak much English but I had no problem ordering food. they are friendly and the service is so professional! They remain efficiency despite it was as busy as a battle during rush hours They have many tapas on the shelf that I can order directly because I was at a standing space at the bar. If you want to sit at a table, there’s always a long queue. Be well-prepared not to wait until you are already hungry. come here earlier and prepare for queuing *went back again and received the same warmth hospitality! I tried Russian salad and the stuffed pepper as last time, the same great experience as last time

The place is amazing, it takes you back in time and has is typically local place. The bartender was very welcoming and easy to order a drink to. We drank a vermouth around the corner. The food from starter to the main course was very delicious. You van order the usual meal that most of the people eat around there (pic meal) and is simply amazing.

Busy spot with good service and decent food. We had heard the oxtail was especially good here so we all ordered it. Each of us thought it was pretty good. However, the full portion just came with three pieces, two of which were large and easy to eat,but the third piece was tiny and didn't really have much edible meat on it. For the price, I felt it wasn't really worth it and would've appreciated a more edible third piece and/or some sort of side included to soak up the sauce (e.g. fries). I would come back but I would probably try something cheaper on the menu.

Casa Alberto, a Madrid icon of food serving classics at competitive prices. The Rabo de toro is hearty and melts in your mouth coated in a silky sauce packed with flavor and a bit of spiciness for the perfect kick, this is an absolute must if it’s the first time you visit. The accompanying french fries are also great and homemade. The langostillos al ajillo come to your table sizzling and be ready because they don’t skimp on the garlic, a simple dish but still with lots of depth and flavor. Service is friendly and straightforward

As good as it gets. Oxtail, croquettes, freqshly baked bolillo bread and gambas al ajillo perfectly executed. The place has a Castizo old Madrid legacy vibe. Spanish locals plus savy tourists. If you know you know.

Founded in 1827 which already makes it 3rd oldest operating restaurants in Madrid.. older than most modern nations. Casa Alberto sits quietly near Plaza Santa Ana pretending to be just another tavern while casually flexing nearly 200 years of Madrid history. Cervantes once lived and worked in this very building in the early 1600s so yes, you are technically eating near Spanish literary royalty. Inside feels like a museum that decided food was more important than plaques. Dark wood, old tiles, an onyx bar that has seen enough vermouth to fuel several empires. The vibe says serious tradition, the menu confirms it. Sopa Castellana arrives humble but deeply comforting, garlic, paprika, egg, the kind of soup that feels like it was invented during a long winter and never improved because it did not need to be. Bocatin de calamares con alioli proves Madrid does not need a coastline to dominate the squid sandwich game, crispy, greasy, glorious. Bacalao does its usual Spanish duty, reliable, soulful, and quietly reminding everyone that cod has held this country together for centuries. Service is very Madrid. Warm if they like you, efficient if they do not, zero interest in fake smiles. You are here to eat, not to be emotionally validated. Touristy? Yes. Worth it? Also yes. Some places survive nearly two centuries because they adapt. This one survives because it refuses to change and somehow gets away with it. Verdict. Come hungry, order wine, respect the soup, and remember you are dining inside a building that has outlived kings, wars, and probably better chefs than you.

We visited Casa Alberto on September 5th, 2025, as a group of 10 people. We were lucky to have Florentin as our waiter – besides the fact that we spoke English and Spanish, him knowing our native language – Romanian – was a huge life saver. Thanks to that, we understood the menu much better and felt more confident in our choices. His recommendations were spot on – the food was absolutely delicious, and we got to taste authentic Spanish dishes that perfectly matched the atmosphere of the place. On top of that, he shared some interesting insights about the restaurant itself, which made the whole experience even more special. Casa Alberto is definitely worth a visit if you’re looking for great food, authentic vibes, and attentive service. Highly recommend!

Definitely book if you want a seat in the restaurant. Such a good variety of traditional food such as beef cheeks or fresh hake. Seen some reviews saying the staff were not friendly - they do not speak much English & are super busy so do not let this put you off. Such a good atmosphere and was made to feel welcome.

One of our favorite places in Madrid! Ambience: hectic, fun, lively, and a mix of locals and eager tourists. Service: extremely slow. LOL. Truly. Really. Slow. Expect to spend a lot of time waiting, and don't hesitate to waive down the waiter for what you need or a check if your food is coming. Food: authentic and delicious. Lots of various meats we didn't expect like tripe, and veal. We loved the tripe soup, and the artichokes were great too. Tips: Get a reservation in advance!!! It'll make your experience much better and you'll get a more full menu. If you can't get a reservation, you can still wait in line, and get a slightly abbreviated tapas menu! Come before rush hour and get there by 7:30!

Madrid Must If there's one taberna you have to visit in Madrid, it's Casa Alberto. This place was founded in 1827 and you can tell that they perfected the craft. Each dish is expertly crafted and transcends all expectations you may have of a tavern. We started off our meal with free pork rinds with our drinks (super traditional of Spanish restaurants). As we sipped into our good vibes, we knew we had to try the bonbons of blood sausage. If you've been following us long enough, you'll know we love blood sausage. This plate however changed the game for us. They managed to mix the blood sausage with a perfectly peanut exterior and added a tiny sauce that sealed the deal for us. This was next level and I'm not sure why I've never had this before. Who would have thought of adding nuts to morcilla?! Of course, we also got some other classics like the croquetas, tortilla and the callos a la madrileña. I loved sitting at the bar because we had the bartender explain how to dig into the snails and even gave us some vermut on the house. After all they are known for their vermut. If you're in Madrid. Skip all the other tabernas and run here. Pincho de Tortilla - 4.25 Portion of Omelette Croquetas Caseras de Jamón - 12.80 Homemade Iberian Ham Croquettes Bombones de Morcilla - 12.00 Bonbons of Blood Sausage Caracoles a la Madrileña - 17.50 Madrilenian Snails Callos a la Madrileña - 21.50 Madrilenian Tripe

This Place is a must! We stopped there today for lunch and we were more than happy to pick the place. We came at the very busy time and had to wait about 10-15 min, but the bartender served us wine and olives while we waited. The food is amazing! So tasty and portions are perfect. Their recipes for common dishes like Russian salad and sardines was amazing. The server was great!

As one local said, " This is a touristy neighborhood but the restaurant is not".. Well spoken!... This place really is classic Madrid ....You can reserve tables in the back but the fun is up front... Get in line and then grab a seat at the bar or one of the tables front of house... Tasty small plates and excellent house wine served by waiters who never rest....Great great fun..

Festive atmosphere, make sure to sit by the spigot on the left by the entrance. Love coming here, tasty tapas with your drinks, and attentive staff.

Awesome food and experience!!! We went twice and sat at the bar....don't miss the in house made Vermouth!

Maybe I should have waited longer to be served before giving up in the taverna side of Casa Alberto. I did step up to the bar and the bartender said that he would come by my table soon to take my order. Well, that didn't happen for another ten minutes. At that point, I gave up. Maybe next time. A shame, too. One of the oldest restaurants in Madrid.

Really good food! We had lunch at the bar (standing). The bar tender was very amicable. The food was delicious. The Patatas Bravas were awesome. We had a baguette with Calamari (don't remember the name). It was delicious. The bartender give us some samples of pig ears. Very good seasoning and flavors. Casa Alberto is on Calle de las Huertas. This is a a street with many tapas places. There is a good vibe in the area. Casa Alberto did not disappoint. If you are in the area give it a try

Had an excellent tapas collection. Great space. Vibrant and warm. Fast service and braid options for drink and food.

Worst meal out of my whole Spain trip. Grilled Cod on Ragout of Verdina Beans and Vegetables- cod was under cook, flavorless came with steam cafeteria looking veggies Steak- most disappointing. Asked for medium rare but the steak was not cooked evenly. Ends were well done, middle was quite rare. They put salt on top of the steak so some parts had no flavor and some was overly salty. I really wanted to ask for A-1 sauce. Never want to come back. Pricey and not good.

This small bar/restaurant quickly became our favorite on our recent visit to Madrid. We sat at the bar on our visits and the bartenders gave great menu suggestions and made our nights with their interesting, friendly conversation. I'm jealous of everyone who gets to go there as we head back to the states.

OMFG!! This place is phenomenal!!! Old school tavern in Madrid just a short walk away from Atocha train station and Reina Sofía museum. It was packed on a random Thursday afternoon so I waited at the bar while a table cleared up for lunch. I was immediately greeted by a small plate of fried pork rinds and a glass of house red wine. The wait went by pretty fast sube 15 minutes) and I was shown to my table. In true European (and especially Spanish) fashion, the dining room was a bit too tight compared to what were used to in America but it doesn't feel crowded. If anything, it's cozy. I knew I wanted the pork belly stew (callos a la madrileña) so I told the waiter to choose a starter for me. He suggested a wonderful plate of hummus and roasted artichoke hearts which was amazing. And beautifully presented. Light but flavorful! Then came the entree... wow. I was blown away with how good the callos were here. Seriously. Perfectly cooked together with a small blood sausage, spanish chorizo and bacon. I'm still thinking about it... And what better way to end it than with a nicely prepared espresso and a slice of chocolate and hazelnut cake? I kid you not, every bite into this cake tasted exactly like a Ferrero Rocher chocolate. Inclusive of the crunchy bits and soft filling. Amazing. I will be coming back with my family next week. And will certainly be redoing it whenever I'm back in Madrid. Don't miss this place if you're in the city.

Great ambience! The bellman at our hotel recommended this bar. Great decor! Delicious chicken wings with "secret sauce"!

We arrived to a massive crowd revealing utter chaos. We left and returned later to a filthy situation. My traveling companions wanted to dine here so we stayed for a few tapas. Nothing was amazing in fact, it was mediocre at best. Service was ok. To me, it's a tourist trap.

This is a great stop to eat. Their tapas are great. But you just try off their classic menu. The Rabo de res (ox tail) tail is amazing. The staff is friendly and will recommend dishes. They also give you either chicken wings or cracklings when you order your drink. Stick with the caña and wine. But you must try their vermut cocktail and ask for it straight. Amazing food and drinks. Just walk up to the bar and order it can be very busy at time. Seating is available.

Casa Alberto is an authentic taberna in the Cortes District of Madrid where you can grab a drink and enjoy some tapas while rubbing shoulders with locals. The venue is narrow and cramped and the walls are covered with old photos; we were seated at a tiny table near the back by the bar. The servers aren't exceptionally warm toward tourists, but were treated respectfully for the most part. Here's what we got: Boquerones en Vinaigre, or fresh anchovies marinated in a pungent mix of vinager and olive oil - As expected, the fish is extremely salty and teases a hint of citrus, which might not be everyone's cup of tea. Chipirón en Tempura con Pisto Negro, or fried baby squid served on vegetables soaked in squid ink - I have a particular affection for squid ink-based preparations, so I found this dish to the best one, crunchy and rich in flavor. Chistorra con Pimientos de Padrón y Patatas, or spicy, thin mini-links of sausage swerved with potato and green chilis - The dish was spicy and savory, but a tad too oily for my taste. Croquetas de Jamón, or fried pocket filled with pureed ham - You can't really go wrong with croquettes anywhere, especially filled with jamón or seafood.

A very traditional taberna with hilariously flirty (in a charming rather than creepy way) waiters. They know my friend quite well and gave us a chupito at the end of the meal, which was much appreciated. We tried the croquetas and some kind of patatas/chistorra sausage/pimientos combo which were both nice although I would prefer to have some dipping sauces with a more piquant flavour to spice them (I am a heathen though obviously, who loves peri peri mayonnaise). The star of the show was a pepper stuffed with rabo del toro (bull's tail/oxtail) then deep fried in breadcrumbs giving it a finish not dissimilar in appearance to a croqueta. The rich beautifully tender meat was perfectly complemented by the slight bitterness of the pepper. All this was washed down with 2 "claras" - beer and lemon Fanta (aka Spanish shandy). Well worth a trip for a classic tapas experience. Note the restaurant at the back has a different menu of much heavier dishes.

Don't you hate those times when one person in your party really wants rabbit and snails while the other just won't go home until they have some lamb chops? Well my friends, when this situation arises, avoid all conflict and head to Casa Alberto. We made reservations on the early side for a party of 6 on a Friday night and got a great table nestled in the very back of the restaurant. It was a bit disappointing to hear we couldn't order off the tapas menu while sitting at those tables but it gave us a good excuse to try out their exquisite main dishes. With visitors in town looking for an "authentic" taste of Madrid, this proved to be the perfect place. We decided to share a few dishes- their renowned oxtail stew, rabbit and snails, hake with garlic shrimp and lamb chops. We also received complimentary fish croquettes and imbibed on a great bottle of Ribera del Duero wine. It was all delicious but I'd have to say the oxtail was by far my favorite with the snails falling close behind. While the servers could have been a tad more attentive, they were willing to give one of us a complimentary menu that they wanted to take home as something to remember the restaurant by. Leaving was a bit difficult as the bar area was packed with locals feasting on tapas and drinking vermouth. I'd definitely come back to experience that and leave the more formal area for when visitors are in town.

Casa Alberto is the best place to come for Ox tail Stew. Of all the restaurants I've ever eaten it, this was by far the best. It was so good that I came here twice simply for the Stew. First time I came in was when they just opened for the evening and it wasn't packed. But when I came in around 11pm on another day, it was packed! I enjoyed it more when it wasn't packed but it was still a pleasant experience regardless. The only reason I gave 4 stars is because the Sangria wasn't that good. Both times I ordered, there was no consistency and the taste seemed off. Perhaps because I have a certain way of making it at home and I like it slightly sweeter and less tart. Will be back when I'm in the Museum Neighborhood. That Ox tail Stew is worth the return!

Crazy packed and crazy busy, I'm not sure if there are more tourists or locals at this place. We sat at the bar and had a couple of sangrias and a few tapas. The sangrias were horrible - it tasted like cough syrup and was almost at thick. Surely this wasn't the sangria I was familiar with back in the States! I wasn't sure, because this was my first sangria in Spain. Later sangrias at other restaurants were more what I expected. So now my conclusion is that they make a horrible sangria! The only dish I liked was the pepper stuffed with ox tail. The pig's ears were in a weird sauce that I didn't like.

This place was amazing! I took my aunt and cousin for the first time and we had an arrangement of tapas. We went during the day when it wasn't so crowded and the ambiance was great- we met a couple next to us who had visited 30 years before too! This place has history and the food was amazing! My cousin fell in love with the tortilla, I loved the meatballs too. Visit, you will not regret it :) !!!

Amazing little bar area. We had a few tapas, and I will not get the names correct. One was a pepper stuffed with "tail". It had so many delicious flavors, the combination was amazing. We also had the baked potato stuffed with chicken. It was like a hearty chicken stew within the potato. Again, so flavorful! We also tried the burrata salad, which was absolutely perfect. The place had a lot of old fashion memorabilia and was so cool inside. It is located in a great area, where walking around is easy and convenient. We throughly enjoyed this experience!

First and foremost, make a reservation. Don't sit around for an hour and a half waiting for a table like I did. That fact that I still gave the restaurant a 5 is telling. Food and service are excellent. It's a 200year old restaurant and it still relevant. Enjoy!

I had a great time here, and consider it one of my most authentic taberna experiences in Madrid. It seems like all the action is in the front bar area, so I preferred that environment over waiting for a table in the back restaurant. Yes, the bar gets crowded--welcome to Madrid! You have to be open to the craziness of the tapas experience in order to enjoy this place. Other reviewers have made note of the flirty-but-not-creepy wait staff, which is spot on! One waiter spontaneously danced with me through the crowd, and another wrote me a note saying to come back soon. Oh, and try the zucchini ravioli, it's really good!

We were walking around town and decided to check this place out. We hit it at just the right time, as the second table inside the front door was open, and nobody was at the bar. The guy behind the bar took our drink and food order, and passed our drinks to me across the bar. As the food we ordered was ready, another guy brought the dishes to our table. As we were eating and drinking, the bar area filled up, and was elbow to elbow by the time we were done. We had the albondigas (meatballs) and croquetas de jamon, and both were yummy. And the tap vermouth is something to be treasured while in town, as you can't find that in the States. It was a fun, local experience.

Small, intimate, lots of history. Staff was friendly and the food was tasty. The vermouth was refreshing and not overly spicy; great taste.

Came here with my family for our first meal in Madrid. Great place with lots of atmosphere. We were there around 3:00 and the place was jumping. Loved the waiters and the food. Steaks are on the rare side (as in the rest of Spain), so order accordingly.

If you are not from Spain and you are a tourist, avoid this place at all costs. Our hotel recommended and called ahead (they told the hotel they had a table for us) but once we arrived they had no table for us for 40 minutes. They treat tourists like $#!+. Food is good but my euros are the same color as theirs. Do yourself a favor and AVOID THIS PLACE.

We had a nice time here. Ate in the restaurant part in back. Good food, friendly staff, and nice atmosphere. But in the end I think I would have preferred to eat tapas in the front, but it was too busy/crowded. Restaurant part was somewhat pricey.

To be fair it seems like the best experience here would be in the bar/Tavern area rather than in the restaurant. They have similar menus and seems like the tapes menu is one diverse and smaller portions of the already really rich hearty dishes. We sat in the restaurant area which has a completely different vibe than the bustling downstairs where you walk in. I was a little intimidated by the crowd but which we stayed down there. Up at the top the menu is 3 times the prices of the same things you can get down below. I got the Callos Tripe dish, I am not familiar with Spanish cuisine but this looked good and was well worth the adventure. Stewed in a thick roux type stew with sausages the Tripe is soft and gets a very smokey and distinct flavour. One of those which unfortunately you can't have too much of, and it becomes overpowering. Hubby got the suckling lamb chops mostly because the server talked him out of the lamb knuckle, which we kind of wished we had tried. Didn't really appreciate that. The lamb was okay but he wasn't impressed with the fries that came with it. At the price we paid it's over priced. If you were to do tapas I think is more reasonable. The place is super tiny and even with a hand full of tables there are 4 servers running around and serving at a good pace. Except when they split my wine bottle. Twice. There's apparently a bit of history to do with bullfighters hanging out here as of the 1800s.

Food was great. Bartender was very friendly and attentive. Really made my visit an excellent experience. Can't say the same for the host (heavier set fellow). Denied us a seat right away and was very rude from beginning to end. Bartenders was the one who seated us!

This place was alright, but I wouldn't go back. It was over priced for what you get. My grilled pulpo was over cooked and very hard to cut much less chew. The jamon croquetas were fabulous. The meatballs and potato dish was perfect for my 9 year old. One waiter was very rough around the edges and kept people away with his "you can't eat tapas here" attitude; "this is a dining experience." I saw two groups walk away. The other waiter serving us was friendly and helped my son feel welcome. We paid 57 euros which seemed like a lot for croquetas, meatballs and pulpo with a juice and caña. Try the bar experience and avoid the restaurant part.

Best patatas bravas!!! Food is high quality and the service is great. We took our kids and they loved the food as well.

This review is for the Tapas in the bar area. One of the best dishes we have eaten in Spain was here- the caramelized red pepper with goat cheese and shrimp was exquisite! French toast with ham interesting and worth trying if you are sharing- the whole thing alone would have been too much. The place is busy. We went in at 2:30 and were seated right way but by the time we left there was a line. Good beers too. The staff are professional and fast.

We had a FANTASTIC time here. Food was excellent, not just your average run of the mill tapas but many unique delicious options. Veal meatballs! The waitstaff was super nice and friendly, very accommodating to tourists although it is definitely a popular place with the locals. The front room is cute and casual and the back is a more formal sit down experience. Very fun, very easy, and very good food!

We discovered this place while looking for â restaurant at night. We really enjoyed the place. We ordered patatas bravas, a zucchini-meet-goat cheese ravioli, a peperoni filled With meet and pork ears. They offered olives for free ! They were vertu good ! All this for 20 euros ! Great atmosphere!

4 stars for the bar area and 2 stars for the restaurant. 1 star for the prices. The bar tapas were good if a bit overpriced and the atmosphere was nice. The restaurant was very overpriced for what it was, the food average and the service surly.

All I gotta say is if you want a hearty meal with a nice drink and fantastic staff, this is your place. It has an old bar feel with tables dating back to old bullfighters coming in and enjoying a delicious meal. Our waiter remembered us from our first visit and went out of his way to have us eat at their "bullfighter" table. As far as the food, it doesn't get any better. The oxtail and tripe stews are gamechangers!!! Rich and hearty. One of those you can eat during Sunday dinner or a cold evening. Their fried cod is also amazing as a tapa. Out of all the places we went in Spain, this place (for food, service, drinks) was the best place we went to during our entire honeymoon. If you're an out of towner, they give you a postcard and historical brochure on the place as a little parting gift.

Real Madrid A true taste of tradition with authentic tapas served in historic wooden-panelled surroundings. Pop in for a glass of vino tinto and a few pinchos on your way up from the Prado to Plaza Santa Aña.