Madrina Bar y Tapas

This restaurant was a choice for small celebration and date night on a week day, so around 4 pm it was pretty empty, which allowed us to pick up our own seating which we liked. Patio looked decent ( dog friendly) but music outside was bit too loud, so we headed inside. Interior of the restaurant is probably the strongest point. A lot of attention to details made it a very pleasant environment to be. We were excited to try their chefs menu. Out of 10 dishes we liked 4 or 5. Dessert had a nice potential if wasn’t too salty at some points to the unbearable level. From the dishes we liked cream made of olives, gazpacho and egg yolk cones. Housemate veggie chips were delicious, except of a bit overwhelming taste of oil they been cooked in ( probably can be fixed) Overall we liked the vibe of the restaurant and presentation, might consider to return one day.

Girls Nite Out. There was a bit of a mix up with our table (table for 4 instead of 8) but it was resolved within 10 min. We were seated on the patio. Luckily the sun was setting so it made the temperature manageable with the occasional breeze. Although there were umbrellas, it wouldn't have cover our entire table so if you don't like sitting in the sun, consider indoor seating. Aside from Opera Night being held around the corner for ICFF which took precedence in music; Madrina's ambiance was comfortable and relaxing.. we all enjoyed sitting outdoors, under the city stars. Our server, Dayne, was wonderful. She was pleasant, courteous, knowledgeable and honest. We chose Madrina because we were told not everyone had to order from the tasting menu as a couple in our party had dietary restrictions. When we were seated, we were told the entire table had to participate. Dayne rectified it & honored our request as it was a call center mix up. 6 of us ordered the tasting menu and 2 off the menu. The presentation of the food & drinks were beautiful. Everyone enjoyed their cocktails and beverages. Being Michelin recognized, I had higher expectations for the tasting menu. Some dishes were slightly over salted while some lacked seasoning. Perhaps it was do to the fact that the dishes were not delivered in the order of the menu. Favorite dish- Patatas Bravas. This was an elevated French fry and I appreciated the effort it took for the final result. Least favorite- Eggplant and Zucchini Chips. The ratio of the tempura-like batter was too thick compared to the slivered vegetables. The oil wasn't fully drained as well, resulting in a greasy bite. The time in between each dish was long. It was close to 3 hours from start to finish. The sherry was a nice touch at the end. Thank you, Dayne! I would try Madrina again but à la carte.

To my 27 million plus readers and growing exponentially daily thank you. This one is definitely a must visit a hidden gem for any special occasion Madrina is definitely a standout dining experience worthy of Michelin recognition. From the moment we arrived, the ambiance was warm and inviting, setting the stage for an unforgettable evening. Our server was incredibly attentive, going above and beyond to ensure every detail was perfect. The food was nothing short of magnificent each dish beautifully presented and bursting with flavour. One of the highlights of the night was their impressive selection of over 80 types of gin. Their cocktail menu even offers a unique experience where the bartender crafts a drink tailored to your personal taste. I was celebrating my birthday, and when I shared that I enjoy fruity notes, he curated a gin with grapefruit and orange, crafting it tableside with the utmost precision and flair. The experience was outstanding an art form in itself. The only minor downside was the seating, which felt a bit cramped, but this did nothing to take away from the excellence of the food, service, and overall experience. Madrina is an absolute must-visit for anyone looking for top tier cuisine and an elevated cocktail experience in Toronto You would want to try the experience of this place and it will not be forgotten in your mind. 😊☺️

I went to Madrina Bar & Tapas to celebrate my wedding anniversary, and we had a lovely experience. The place is beautiful, and the service was excellent. The dishes are visually stunning and well presented. However, if you’re going with a big appetite and want to keep it budget-friendly, this might not be the best option — the portions are quite small. Even though Google shows it as a $$ restaurant, I would say it’s closer to $$$, as I found the prices to be on the medium-to-high side. We ordered a starter, main course, and dessert. In my opinion, the portions could definitely be more generous. That said, the overall experience was worth it — especially for a special occasion.

Absolutely a dining experience! We ordered cocktails (one was Cazador de Perlas, a gin drink with a raw oyster and caviar; the other was Citadelle, also a gin drink) and tapas (shrimp croquetas, chicken lettuce wraps, oysters with salsa). We were gifted with 2 glasses of sherry from the restaurant after we finished our tapas. Loved the atmosphere with a Dali vibe. Service was fabulous, reservations recommended.

Food was delicious and creative respect to the chefs. We ordered the tasting menu and everything was well put out until half way through where we had to wait over an hour for our next course. Manager was apologetic but didn’t comp/discount any bottles from the table and instead gave us more food, which we didn’t need. We were there over four hours. Poor service and timing but the food was well thought out. For the price I wouldn’t go again.

The service was excellent. Our server was very attentive and also gave us two complimentary sherry for my birthday. Very sweet. Food was good. Some dishes was a miss for me (the tuna tartare cone), the ham and the scallops were very good. We also enjoyed the oxtail bun (reminds me of the Shanghainese fried bun), the paella, and the oysters. If you visit, you have to order their sangria, both the Rojo (berry) and the Blanco (mango/citrus) was really good and they were very generous on the serving.

This was our first time here and we only came to have a few cocktails. I am more than happy that we picked Madrina! The service was excellent and our server(s) were friendly, very knowledgeable and helped with our choices. We had the Carajillo Martini and the Zarzamora Beso cocktails and I would highly recommend either one!

While the outdoor seating can experience the vibes of Distillery District, indoor seating has AC and a view of a gorgeous dining room. I loved the table tops looking like the tiled buildings. We had a group of 5 people, making reservations on OpenTable was EZPZ. Also with a large group, we cannot agree upon for the pre fixe, we can semi agree on various tapas though. Most of the tapas were in quantities of 2, so we either had to order 3 orders or someone has to forgo certain items. We ordered a whole galore: truffled egg yolk, iberico steak, steak tartare, patatas bravas, 2 types of toasts, 2 types of oysters. If you're adventurous enough, they have this flight of 3 cocktails, made on the whim via vibes by the bartender. You don't know what you'll get, and it won't be the same day to day. My favorite dishes would be the Iberico steak and the patatas bravas. Well made and got that Spanish flair as you would expect at a tapas place. Food was so good, we forgot to really chat. Depending on what you order, some dishes do feel overpriced and more like an amuse bouche at a cocktail party. If you have a group, definitely make room for 1-2 of their entrees. Worth!

We went trying few different places that night. We were looking for vegetarian and vegan options, they had both. Drinks were good. Couple of appetizers we tried were delicious as well. Ambience and service were good. Will definitely go back again sometime.

We had a wonderful experience and night here. First of all, the cocktails were outstanding! We particularly enjoyed the Barcelona Gin Sour, La Bonita, Lavender Early Grey Martini and Noche de pason. The cocktails were delicious, balanced and we couldn't get enough! The food choices were so fun- different than your normal menu. We shared 5 different items from the Tapas menu between two of us. Our favorites were the patatas bravas, shrimp croquettes and chicken lettuce wrap. Don't leave without trying the lettuce wraps! Our server was kind and helpful and we sat outside where we enjoyed live music in the square. All in all, great dinner. We'd go back!

Madrina Bar y Tapas is a celebration of all things Spanish, a fusion of traditional Catalan tapas with Toronto's rich, modern culinary landscape. They have taken traditional Spanish dishes and added their own twist to them, creating something new and exciting. The restaurant is located in the historic Distillery District of Toronto, which adds to the charm of the place. The restaurant's interior is cozy and inviting, with a warm ambiance that makes you feel right at home.

I was here to meet few friends. Overall ambiance is very nice, the staff were courteous. There are good options available to try different cocktails. It also has decent vegetarian food options. I will not come again, but worth trying if you're in the area.

My recent dining experience at Madrina Tapas in Distillery was an intriguing blend of highs and lows, ultimately leaving a positive impression. The overall experience was good, marked by an adventurous exploration of tapas flavors. The portions were generous, allowing us to savor a variety of dishes without feeling overwhelmed. The taste was commendable, each dish reflecting the authenticity and creativity that Madrina Tapas is known for. However, our seating arrangement was a bit of a letdown. The high chair table was perhaps the worst choice for comfort. The elevated seating felt awkward, and the table proved too small to comfortably accommodate the array of dishes we ordered. This, unfortunately, impacted the overall enjoyment of the meal.

I was pleasantly surprised to have really enjoyed the food here. Usually I haven't liked restaurants in the distillery district too much. Spanish tapas are not that common in Toronto and I'm so happy to found somewhere that serves pintxos! Their crab pintxos was so delicious and packed with crab. I loved their shrimp croquetas too. The only thing that was a bummer was the service was super slow. Even thought it was a Wednesday night, it was pretty packed so that might have been why.

Madrina was amazing. Located in distillery district, the interior is very chic. I was sat at the bar upon arrival. This place is Michelin rated, so the prices are according to that. I ordered light, but everything was really filling! I got a tortilla española and shrimp croquetas. The flavor on both was exquisite. The croquetas were nice and crunchy, while the tortilla was a bit creamy in the middle. Service was great, but it was a little slow maybe because I was solo. I had to flag down my server twice, but I wasn't in a rush so it wasn't a huge deal.

We enjoyed the beautiful dining room, fun music, delicious cocktails, and deep wine list. If we'd been here just for drinks my review would have been 5 stars. The food was also tasty, if insubstantial. Having done a $$ pri fix menu the night before, we decided to take our waitresses suggestion and order 4 dishes to start. As each dish was (not exaggerating) 2-8 bites of food for each of us, we were still hungry. In all, we ordered 9 vegetarian dishes, 3 cocktail, and one glass of wine for $243, which felt outrageous for the amount of food. Perhaps the most egregious example was $26 for two triangles of manchego and one slice of extremely hard toast (cut into 4 strips), with 4 tiny cubes of quince paste. They descriptions on the menu don't really tell you enough to know what you're getting. The "piqillo tart" is peppers stretched over a cracker with a few tiny dollops of goat cheese, for example. Anyway, come for cocktails. Don't come if you're a vegetarian and hungry.

I loved this place! Went here early in the week for dinner. Not busy not like the weekend which made for a calm experience. Everything we ordered was delicious! A real must try are the oxtail buns! I could eat a whole platter of those! The tomato bread, Rusa potato salad, the Gilda Madeira skewer was a delicious surprise! Shrimp croquettes were also tasty! What I can say to you in going here is each dish is meant to share! Bite sized tapas! Makes you want to go to Spain! Honestly, I was pleasantly surprised by everything. The flavours for each dish really popped! Definitely want to return! The customer service from beginning to end was so good. Positive, patient and so helpful whenever we had a question. Real standouts!

Food: 4.25/5 Madrinas Bar y Tapas offers a 10-course tasting menu for $89, which encompasses a large variety of their most popular dishes on the menu. We opted to order our own plates as there were specific items I came to try. My favourites and must-have dishes from the tapas included: 1) the Tuna Tartare Cones (soo creamy and delicious, flavoured with salmon roe and plankton aioli all served in a crispy cone shell), and 2) the Truffled Egg Yolks (topped with a strong truffled mushroom puree and fresh black truffle). The yolks came on a spoon and were meant to be eaten in one bite which created the most magnificent flavour explosion! I ordered the patatas bravas based all the positive reviews, but unfortunately it fell flat from expectations, with the bravas sauce tasting more like a very tart ketchup and the potato similar to a hash brown. More aioli would have been great to balance out the ketchup ratio. From the pintxos category, which are essentially small open-faced sandwiches, we had the crab (very yummy) and escalivada (roasted veggies, anchovy and truffle butter). The latter was good but not worth the price tag at $9 for two small pieces. As a truffle lover, I also opted for the espuma de patata con trufa (potato foam, low temp egg, black truffle, trout roe), which was as tasty as anything with truffle can be. From the platillos menu (larger version of tapas), we had the oxtail buns and steak tartare with foie gras. The buns were great when dipped in the red wine sauce, but not quite measuring up to the $19 price tag. For the tartare, the foie was shaved on top of the beef which caused the flavours to be lost in the dish. I would have preferred more foie or a small solid piece on top. Drinks: 5/5 Both cocktails we ordered were delicious and hand-crafted with complex ingredients. My partner exclaimed it was something he could drink everyday. The Barcelona Gin Sour (rhubarb & ginger gin, ginger liqueur, pomegranate syrup, lemon juice, egg white) was tangy and slightly spicy due to the ginger. The Noche de Pasion (gin, black currant liqueur, pedro ximinez sherry, lemon juice, fig syrup, vanilla and fig bitters) was sweet and refreshing. Coming from a gin lover and someone who enjoys cocktails on the sweeter side, this was perfect. Atmosphere: 5/5 The interior had a great vibe as the restaurant is located within the distillery district and kept the theme on the inside as well. The decorations, ceilings and walls resembled a distillery and the ambiance was cozy. We made a reservation ahead of time for standard seating which we preferred over the high tops that looked less comfortable. Service: 5/5 The servers were pleasant and both food and drinks arrived in a timely fashion, despite the busy night. We came for a birthday celebration and were given sherry digestif at the end of the meal for dessert, followed by a Madrinas Bar postcard wishing a happy birthday and hand-signed by all the staff. The lovely gesture shows that the restaurant goes above and beyond to make their guests feel appreciated!

Was happy to get a reservation here rather last minute and experience their tasting menu. The decor in this place is awesome -- clearly a lot of thought went into the pieces here. I thought the loud house music clashed with the vibe, maybe trying a little hard to be hip when the interior is already impressive. From the tasting menu, here's what we had ordered from our favorite to least favorite: - avocado gazpacho - tuna tartare cone - eggplant and zucchini chips - iberico ham croqueta - flan de queso y fresa - coca flatbread with escalivada - arroz negro con pulpo - patatas bravas - gilda se salmon - oysters with salsa aperitivo Many of these dishes could be improved with another hit of salt at the end. I felt a lot of these were under seasoned, especially the squid ink paella, which you'd expect to be bursting with flavor, which was bland. The weakest was definitely the oysters, and coming from an oyster fiend that says a lot. You could barely taste the oyster itself with the salsa and the shoestring bits made it really awkward to eat. Avocado gaspacho on the other hand had us off to a really strong start -- may not have topped that honestly. The first three courses were super strong and it was kind of a bumpy road from there. I'd go again and maybe sit outside on a nice day. As cool as the decor is in there I think I'd prefer it to be a bit less congested and loud during my meal.

This restaurant is in an amazing location, I love the distillery district. Atmosphere is nice but feels cramped, there is not space for large parties. Noise bounces around in this place extremely easily. Food and staff were good but not excellent, not what I'd expect for a Michelin star. Plates are extremely small compared to other restaurants of this style and lacking flavor in some areas. Great wine selection though

I'm no food critic but I can say our party thoroughly enjoyed their tasting menu!! The torched salmon and tuna tartare were just PERFECTION... Our server was informative and friendly, but the bussers were cold/rude. The overall ambiance is good for a company event or date night, and we enjoyed being able to peek inside the kitchen right from our seats. We will return to try the rest of the menu!

Excellent tapas & cocktails! Cool ambiance, decent service, and amazing food & drink! I had the flight of gin & tonics and they were three, quite large g&t's with very interesting flavors (one had beer and one had miso syrup!) and all were great. Everything we got was excellent (truffle manchego, oysters 2 ways, sausage, bread, shrimp croqueta).

Went there for my birthday August 9. The sangria was great and the tapas were very . My wife reminded the waiter it was my birthday and waiter went inside to bring, what traditionally should've been a dessert or slice of cake. But strangely he came out with a shot glass filled with pebbles holding up a lit candle? Very strange and somewhat disappointing. You'd think they'd want to feature one of their great desserts.

Great lively atmosphere & customer service. For a group of 5, we ordered multiple rounds of tapas to share as well as a drink each. The most notable favourites were the tuna tartare cones and oxtail buns! Definitely a treat for a girls night out.

What can I say? I was pleasantly surprised. Madrina Bar and Tapas was delightful. From the delicious array of food choices, to the warm and sexy ambiance, this restaurant checked every mark! The shrimp croquetas are an absolute MUST! A special thanks to our server, Latish! Your hospitality and attention to detail was exemplary. Erika & Mandi

A wonderful, tasty, afternoon spent on their patio . Began with a delicious sangria and slowly tasted our way through small tapas perfect to share. Each dish exploded with unique flavors. Well worth a stop while in the Distillery District of Toronto

We were looking for a good Spanish tapas bar in Toronto and happened to stumble upon this spot in the Distillery. The ambiance of this place is cozy and upscale and it was very busy on a weekend night (we were seated at 9:30PM and it was still packed in there). Service was a little slow and we waited a while for our drinks and food to arrive. Our server was friendly and sweet but you can tell that she was a little overwhelmed by the dinner rush. Our water never really filled and we waited over an hour for our "mains" to arrive. Unfortunately, the food just wasn't that great. It was okay, but nothing really stood out. The two of us shared the Ham Croquetas (not bad), Truffled Egg Yolk (really salty), Tortilla (my fav dish of the night - was creamy and flavorful), Octopus (tasted ok but $24 for 5 thin little slices of octopus is insane. It shouldn't even be listed on the mains category), and the Shrimp Paella (biggest disappointmnt of the night). What should have been the highlight of the meal, the paella, took over an hour to arrive and we both laughed at how small the dish was for a main. All in all, this is a tapas bar so don't expect to be very full but there are definitely some other great spots in town for a much better value. It could be a fun spot to hang out with friends but I wouldn't come here for an actual dinner again.

A cute cozy bar/restaurant in the heart of the distillery district, serving up Spanish tapas. The copper accents, stone walls, lighting gives it's a nice rustic Spanish feel. It does get busy inside, and without tapestry or sound absorption the restaurant does get noisy. Seleccion de Quesos - A selection of their cheese comes with crispy toast and cubed jam. This is selection has a blend of their 3 cheese from hard to soft. It is perfect to try their selection of cheese which all give off different characteristics. My favourite one by itself is the Idiazabal, savory and smokey flavours. The mahon is also good with the toast and cubed jam. The jam was also very interesting as it was more solid than typical jams, and came in individual cubes perfect to put on the small toasts. Seleccion de Embutidos - Similar to their selection of cheeses is their selection of cured meats. Here we get to try their Iberico ham, Salchinchon and chorizo. The chorizo has exceptional flavor and the spiciness is not overpowering. The Iberico flavor is a bit more subtle, ultimately not my favourite as thinly sliced expensive meats are not more preferred way of enjoying $$$ meats. Steak tartare on a roasted marrow bone - The contrast in this dish is the cooked bone vs the raw tartare. A very interesting combination of textures (oily from marrow and chewy from the steak). Served on a bed of herbs, frankly I wasn't sure what to do with it, seems like a waste to use all that rosemary for decoration (and not have it in the food). Finally served with toast, the same ones that came with the selection of cheeses. This part is a bit disappointing. Bread was crispy, overpowering the other textures. The toast also didn't absorb flavours very well so I think ultimately this addition of the toast subtracted from this dish. I would have preferred a softer white bread to come with this dish. Pulpo con papasa alinas - Octopus on crushed potatoes was my favourite dish of the night! Everything on here was cooked and seasoned beautifully. The soft potatoes carried the savoury flavours while the octopus gave the dish a nice contrast in textures. Manchego cheesecake - The cheese was wrapped in a hard fondant, didnt crack easily as I'd expect with a white chocolate layer. Maybe it had not fully thawed yet... The cake itself was super cheesey, like there was a lot of manchego cheese in it, and did not have enough fruity flavours or sweetness elements to offset the savoury cheese. Would not get again. Tocinillo del cielo - This was a delicately delicious plate. Every on it was so soft, and had such interesting contrast in flavours. On one side was this light custard like cake with yuzu sago and on the other side was the light whipped cream with espresso flavours. Both mixed togeter worked well! Would come back for the octopus, maybe try some of their cocktails as they seem to be very popular. Avoid anything with toast as its just thinly sliced bread turned into toast.

My friend and I were looking for a nice Thursday night dinner that was within walking distance of his flat in Corktown. This place was one of the few options that was open and lively from what we could see. We chose to sit in the patio and we had a nice server the entire time. I think for the price point, we expecting a bit more. My drink was ok, but nothing special. The tapas we were recommended were decent, but we didn't leave with a wow factor. I found the shrimp paella to be horribly overpriced for the quantity of the place. All-in-all, I wouldn't return here if I'm hungry. Between the two of us, we got about 5-6 small tapas plates, plus two cocktails and with the tip, it was over $180. I found that to be very expensive given the food quality wasn't necessarily amazing. I figure you probably pay more at this location given it's at the distillery district, but I left still a little hungry and itching for more.

Stopped by for snacks to listen to some jazz outside. With the jazz playing outside, it was a great relaxing afternoon with attentive service. Oddly the highlight was the most simple item: the PA AMB TOMÀQUET was just crispy bread with tomato and olive oil but the sharp umami of the tomato really shone through. I was expecting the PATATAS BRAVAS MADRINA LIKE A MILLEFEUILLE to be crispier/more wafer-esque, but it was nevertheless delicious with the sauces. The GRILLED GARROTXA CHEESE packed a punch and was good to try, though it was not mind-blowing in any capacity. SHRIMP CROQUETAS were an interesting attempt at fusion and they were pretty tasty!

We came here during the holidays and due to a snowstorm, it was not very full on a Friday night. We ordered - Heirloom tomato and quail egg salad - Escalivada montaditos - Seleccion de embutidos - Oxtail buns - Vieira gratinada - Tocinillo del cielo My favourites were the scallop and oxtail buns. Each dish was presented beautifully, but the flavours didn't necessarily blow us away. Solid place for date night in the Distillery District!

The good: location and ambiance! Really love the distillery district and the location of this tapas place. The ambiance inside is great and cozy! Love the artwork. Great service and friendly servers. The meh: I was underwhelmed with the portion sizes of the meal. Definitely felt overpriced and the actual food was not much, especially the paella. I've been to great tapas places in Spain and all over the world. For that price, it should have been much bigger and more shrimp.

Came here for a date night. This restaurant was highly recommended, and definitely with good reason. We loved almost everything that we ordered. The only dishes we felt were average were the chorizo sausage and the paella. My favourite dishes were their smoked octopus and Vieira Gratinada- which was scallop with piquillo pepper sofrito, idiazabal cheese and cava sauce. The service was amazing as well. Our server thoroughly explained the menu to us and was so sweet! It is quite expensive though but definitely worth the money imo

TL;DR The menu offers a good variety of tapas, so you can experience a broad range of Spanish cuisine, which is good. Everything we ordered tasted pleasant, but was underwhelming, same with the cocktails, and to top it off, service is slow. I'd be more content if they didn't charge top tier prices for a mid-tier overall experience. Let me preface this with some credentials. My husband is from Seville, born and raised and we both lived there together for the past 6 years before recently relocating to Chicago. So we're no strangers to Spanish cuisine. We were in Toronto for a long weekend vacation and always like to try interpretations of Spanish cuisine everywhere we travel. What we ordered: Truffled egg yolk Escalivada Vieira gratinada "Rusa" potato salad with tuna tartare Oxtail buns Pulpo con papas aliñás All our plates were generally good, but felt lackluster or were missing that extra "punch". I also found it weird that we arrived 15 minutes early, and asked if we could have a cocktail at the bar while we wait for our table, but we're told that if we did that we would lose our table reservation. ??? So instead of spending my money on cocktails here, we wandered the distillery area and purchased wine elsewhere while we waited for the text that our table was ready. Once we received the text that our table was ready, we returned to the restaurant, only to be told to wait another 8 minutes because the table was still being setup. ?? Confusing... Specific feedback is on two of our plates. Oxtail buns were the ones we were most looking forward to, in Spain "rabo de toro" is a staple and packed with flavor from the slow cooked process and robust red wine sauce. Here the oxtail was ok, a little on the dry side, which I understand is supposed to be marinated with the side of red wine sauce that it is served with, but the sauce was watered down and had little flavor, making me believe it was not the original sauce used to cook it but rather a broth of some sort instead. To top it off, the bun it comes wrapped in has an unusual chewy texture reminiscent of plastic, probably due to whatever reheating process it goes through before it is served. The other one, pulpo with papas aliñadas was tasty. The pulpo itself was cooked and seasoned perfectly, but not worth the price tag, and with the portion wouldn't have classified it as a platillo, but a tapa instead. The smoke under the glass dome didn't add anything to the dish. Lastly, our favorite was the viera gratinada. This was a perfectly cooked scallop, and that cheese sauce in contrast with the sofrito base was excellent. A creative tapa, and delicious too. It was a nice place to try, but not worth a repeat visit next time we're in town.

Sat outside on the outside patio on a Saturday in May, band was playing nearby so that was good placement. Had a late lunch so figured would grab some tapas to hold us over until dinner. The chicken skewers were probably the most tender chicken I've ever had. The eggplant was divine. Would definitely recommend to any in Toronto to try and will return to try more great dishes they had on the menu.

Stumbled upon Madrina's while on an afternoon walk through the Distillery District in Toronto. This bar has a very upscale feel to it: the interior of the restaurant is beautifully decorated, clean, and intimate; the exterior is lively, adorned with string lights and thoughtfully equipped with heat lamps to keep you and your date warm! We were able to snag a table outside without making a reservation. It was so cool to sit next to such a historic building, right in the central square of the Distillery District. We weren't looking to eat a full dinner, just grab a few drinks, people watch, and take in the city. Our waiter highly suggested we try the MANCHEGO, so we ordered it along with one glass of PONIENTE (the drink pictured with the lime slice in it) and one glass of ALHAMBRA (the drink pictured with the foam on top). Both drinks were flavorful and fun, and the little slices of bread and cheese were delicious. Our tab came out to $75CAD which is about $55USD including tip, so this place is pretty fairly priced for an upscale experience. Staff was friendly and helpful. Reservations were not necessary but encouraged-- the hostess does have a waitlist. Cards are accepted. Overall very fun and tasty experience!

I came here by myself for some tapas and a glass of wine (or two). The staff were friendly, helpful, and attentive. I ordered several savory tapas and one sweet tapas. I recommend the bread with olive oil and tomato. It's deceptively simple but was delicious and hit me like a warm hug. Another highlight was the chocolate ganache sweet tapas. Relaxed atmosphere, friendly servers, great food.

We tried the tasting menu. The food was terrible. It was $93 per person. Too salty and barely had any meat or seafood. The service was awful. We had a reservation at 4pm and they open at 4pm. As we walked into the restaurant at 4, this female staff wearing white T-shirt at the patio yelled at us aggressively "we're not open yet!" We had to ask the staff to fill up our water. They didn't check on us even once. I would not recommend this place.

The food was outstanding. The Michelin star is well deserved. The tasting menu was a wonderful variety of delicious food. The gazpacho was one of the best dishes I have ever tasted. The service was also terrific. Our waiter Altay was friendly and welcoming. He there when we needed him without hovering. His timing was perfect. We look forward to our next meal there.

Speaking of the food I had a horrible experience. I ordered the octopus because I read great reviews about it, but it wasn't good. First the portion is very very small (five little pieces for real). Second, the octopus was incredibly chewy (not soft at all) and the mashed potatoes had a very strong taste that bothered me (like onions or something similar). My husband was enough satisfied from his choice (the steak tartare), but the portion isn't worth the price. The restaurant is very cute and the service was friendly, but the food wasn't really good as I expected.

We went to Madrina before a show. The atmosphere was lively, the lighting and decor were pleasant and the service was attentive. We sampled from the tapa menu and had some lovely dishes like croquetas and patatas bravas. Each item was prepared with care and presented beautifully. The cocktails were tasty.

Having just one night to hop around Toronto, my wife and I made the most of it and visited quite a few places. If my review could only be two sentences, I'd end it by saying that this was our far-and-away favorite and highlight of the night. After walking around the Distillery District Winter Village, we made an impromptu decision to hop into Madrina for some tapas and cocktails, and we couldn't have been happier with our decision. Everything from the ambiance to the service, food, drinks, and everything in between was perfect. I started off with the Dos Mares cocktail, because when I see mezcal on a menu I can't resist. It was perfectly balanced, and you could tell the bartender knew their craft as it engaged my sense of smell as well as sense of taste - excellent presentation and the definition of a full experience in a glass. For food, we shared the ham croquetas, which were by far the creamiest croquettes I've ever had. We also had the fantastic mushroom and truffle open-faced sandwich. I have to say they did not skimp on the mushroom at all - great flavor. Lastly, we got the patatas bravas which were uniquely presented with alternating toppings of sriracha brava sauce and wasabi aioli. The best I can do for you is to say come and try Madrina for yourself. You won't be disappointed.

Was here not knowing it was a Michelin star restaurant. It was my 2nd time trying tapas, a girl friend of mines first. The hostess was very kind & welcoming and took our jackets upon arrival. They also had no hesitation taking care of the nut allergies at all times. We had the ox tail, a potato dish, and marinated olives and dessert, we didn't care for but everything else was divine, most courteous staff and excellent food. They even brought a cake with a birthday card. To top it off they gave us complimentary sherry before leaving. A bit pricey but well worth every penny.

We were looking for a good Spanish Tapas spot and I think we struck gold! First of all, the location is perfect. The restaurant itself has a persevered exterior that makes it look like the rest of the distillery district but has a very modern style inside. It was impressive just to look around. Our server Victor did a great job talking us through the menu and recommending the Chefs tasting menu. I've included photos with the review. The absolute star was the Tuna Tartare Cone in our opinion. The egg & truffle potato had an incredible texture and offered a very unique taste, delicious. Everything was amazing overall. We didn't opt for the drink pairing, but will do it when we are back soon! The wine list was a perfect length, and every choice we made was a good one, so well done for putting a great wine list together. Many thanks to the team there, you just earned two new fans!

A solid choice for tapas. Sampled a wide variety of items, no bad choices. Standout items: the artichokes with iberico ham (the puree underneath the artichokes was to die for - forgot to ask what it was, I could have literally eaten it straight with some bread); crab & avocado salad canelloni; steak tartare on roasted marrow bone; smoked octopus served under a smoke-filled cloche. Would definitely stop in again but oddly there was nothing to push this resto into 5-star territory. Drinks were insanely overpriced; all the dishes were solid but nothing really spectacular. Standard tables were a bit crowded - if only 2 guests maybe ask for a high top along the wall.

Atmosphere: The patio in particular is beautiful with white fragrant flowers contrasted by the burnt orange of the decor. Didn't spend much time inside but a brief peek in suggested similarly well thought out. Service: Friendly Food: Decidedly not vegan friendly. Asked re vegan options and directed to some items that were clearly not vegan eg butter, cheese. Olives all same variety, unwarmed, and somewhat off:I would have this to be a strength at a tapas resto. Bread w tomatoes and olive oil (don't recall name on menu but largely, bruschetta) was good, though similar item with mushrooms and truffles didn't allow for similar praise. Cocktail (Poniente,$19) was fine. Overall: Would return largely for a glass of wine and bruschetta-like app especially if in the summer on the patio. 3.5/5

A refreshingly modern take on spanish tapas, this menu was beautifully executed with bold new ideas and flavours that I haven't seen anywhere else. Let's start with the cocktails - the gin sour was the one of the most refreshing cocktails I've ever had - perfectly balanced between tart and sweet, while packing a pomegranate punch. The caprinha was similar to a margarita, and was decent but a bit too sour for my taste. The food was also excellent - I loved the patatas bravas, which were made hasselbeck style for that extra crispy texture. Croquetas were good but nothing out of the ordinary. The shrimp paella was excellent; they had 3 types of shrimp in there (whole, chopped, and tartare) which made for really nice bites along with the perfectly flavored rice. Lastly, the tomato bread was one of my favourites for its simplicity - warm bread, sweet tomatoes, silky smooth olive oil, all topped with flaky salt made for a perfectly balanced bite. Overall I loved this place and would definitely go back, however I would order 2-3 extra dishes next time as the food was so good it actually made me hungrier for more! Great for lunch or dinner, plus they have a beautiful patio in the heart of the distillery district.

Tapas were decent at best. Sangria was great. Our waiter was really polite. Why am I giving it 2 stars? My wife and I were having a great evening, continued ordering tapas throughout our time there, 2 pitchers of sangria, overall having a good time. All of the sudden one of the hostesses came to our table to let us know we needed to hurry up and leave because the next party for the table had arrived.... Place was EMPTY, nobody waiting to be sat. We were already wrapping up but when I was trying to explain that to her, she simply said "you have 3 minutes" turned around and walked away... spent $400 + to be kicked out like that and not even allowed to engage in a conversation. Ridiculous.

I had a fun experience. Starting with my custom made drink. It was a gin and tonic variation. The server asked me series of question on how I usually take my drinks and then came up with a creation that was tasty, semi sweet just how I like it. The menu is all tapas which is supposed to be for sharing however I found the portions extremely small. For example the beef tenderloin was listed under larger tapas and came with two Small pieces that's not sharable that's more of a tasting portion. Everything was tasty but the portions are tiny especially for the price

This place was so much fun. The atmosphere is unbeatable. Upbeat music that is high enough to be much more than background music but not so loud that you can't listen to your friends. The food was great, I liked everything I tried with the exception maybe of their smoked duck paella that wasn't really a paella in my opinion. I enjoyed several glasses of their sangria and I would have more now if I could. Servers were very kind and attentive even though the place was packed and sometimes it took a while to catch one of them. Great place overall.

Had a great experience at Madrina back in February. We enjoyed the duck paella, Spanish potato omlette, croquettes (which I felt was too salty), 2 cocktails, and their cheesecake. To be honest I went for their beautiful empress gin and tonic, but then remember i can make this at home while sipping it. But then i ordered the second cocktail called Flor De Jarez, it's made with rum, apricot brandy and vermouth....it was phenomenal!

I'm going to preface this by stating that this is based on my experience with delivery. Looking at all the pictures and reviews of other people's dine in experience, I hope to eat in the restaurant when we're allowed. We ordered the tasting menu for 2 and we were so excited to celebrate a special occasion with this food. When I took everything out of the bag, I was less than thrilled. There were some items that looked great, and there were some that looked not so great. Starting with the positives, I really enjoyed the Spanish croquetas. After heating it up in the toaster oven, they were crispy with a creamy inside. The steak tartare was so good and hands down our favourite menu item. The roll was super soft and was perfect to hold the tartare. I would order that again on its own. Now for the not so great. The first menu item, montadito de escalivada, looked to be a bite full of flavour. It was not. Even with the anchovy, there was not much taste to it. I also had to rebuild it as everything fell off during the trip. The crema catalana also took a beating during delivery as you can see in the photos. The taste and texture was like watered down condensed milk. The shrimp paella was disappointing. The rice was flavourful, I must say, but plain. There was a single shrimp. One. In a menu for 2. Do we rock paper scissors for who gets it? I understand a la carte it comes with one, but in a meal for 2 you would figure that each person gets a piece of everything. It would've made more sense for there to be one dessert for sharing. One shrimp for sharing is wrong. We ate according to the order on the menu. By the time we got to this point in the meal we were just eating to finish the food. There was no enjoyment. At a $100 price point this is not something that should be ordered for delivery. I don't think this style of cuisine is ideal for travelling. Perhaps packaging needs to be reconsidered.

Located on distillery district, an upbeat modern yet casual tapas restaurant that is a must try! Food was fresh and flavourful (especially the octopus) and did not lack in flavor for all dishes ordered. Service was on point; establishment is clean, and decor is well put together. Remember, this is a tapas restaurant! Which means it is small servings as shareable foods, so order more or try the whole menu ;). The pictures attached were good for 1 hungry couple.

To start my Toronto vacation, we had a late dinner at Madrina Bar y Tapas. Walking into the restaurant, I was blown away by how warm and rustic the interior was. It felt like I was in a classy establishment in Spain. Our server was very attentive all night and welcomed us to Toronto. We ordered so many things and they were all delicious, but must-try's are definitely the East Coast Oysters with Salsa Aperitivo, the Smoked Duck Paella, and the Selección de Embutidos y Quesos. This is the perfect place to eat, drink, and chat when you're in Toronto. I would happily come back again!

1st time here. Excellent services with unexpected yummy food. Everything good except a bit noisy (maybe I am too old for the music) Highly recommended.

Tapas was beautifully presented and cocktails were delicious. Service was fast and the ambience was lovely in the summer evening