Viva Madrid

This is truly a HIDDEN GEM! One of the few places near the center and it’s not trash. The espresso martinis are amazing, as well as the croquetas, oxtail bao, beef slides and the cheesecake! The ambiance is very chill and cozy for two people or a group in the back. I highly recommend this place!

me and my friends visited this bar on our trip to madrid due to its iconic tile design on the front and once we were inside we loved the atmosphere and the attentiveness of our server. when he saw us take pictures he offered to take one of us which is really sweet. the place is beautiful, the drinks are great and reasonably priced. we didn’t try any food but did receive complementary crisps and water alongside our drinks. would recommend for tourists and anyone around! here are some 35mm shots i took inside the place.

I experienced what felt like racial profiling at this restaurant. I waited in line for about 30 minutes, and when it was finally my turn, I was told the place was full, despite having seen two groups leave just moments earlier. While waiting for my friends, I briefly stepped out of the line to call them and explain the situation. During that call, I witnessed a waiter allow a group of Caucasian customers who had been behind me in the queue to enter without hesitation. This was the first time, across all the cities I’ve traveled to, that I felt discriminated against. As we were intentionally visiting places historically frequented by José Rizal, my friends and I decided to wait it out. Eventually, another waiter came to the entrance and allowed us in. Unfortunately, while the atmosphere and overall vibe of the place were pleasant, the service, food, and cocktails were disappointing and ultimately dampened our experience.

This place has been in this spot since 1856. We dropped by this place for historical reason: this was the go to place of our country's national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. We ordered quick bites and it did not disappoint. Staff was courteous and quick to bring our orders. Highly recommended.

Very cozy space, the service was good och they were really friendly. The spanish omelette was really delicious and the beef skewers was amazing! The meat melted in the mouth. I definitely recommend.

Great tapas bar with amazing food and fast service! Will definitely come back!

We weren’t even planning on dining here—it was our first tapas stop in Madrid and just happened to catch our eye on the walk back to the hotel. But what a find! Located in the historic Barrio de las Letras, Viva Madrid blends old-world charm with a vibrant, well-designed interior featuring azulejo tiles and vintage tavern vibes, all while embracing a modern, energetic spirit  . Even though we had just landed and were running on jet lag, the great tapas—and the fact it was so close to our accommodation—made it a perfect spot. We overordered (classic us), but seriously, the mini burgers were a knockout—not typical tapas, but absolutely delicious. The croquettes and calamari were equally excellent. We’d happily stop by again anytime.

Very stylish place with perfectly excuted cocktails and polished service. Came solo for a couple drinks and the team were more than gracious. Well worth a stop on your Madrid adventures.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Very cramped space, with no proper tables or chairs. You have to sit hunched over your entire meal. The food itself was not the best. I had the pork cheeks with curry which really didn't seem to mesh together as a dish. My husband was neutral about the octopus and sea bass dishes. Service was slow at first, then picked up later on. Regular menu is in English, drink menu is not. They do have fast WiFi as a perk.

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.

This is the best bar in Madrid. This is the definition of mixology with bold and bright flavors that defy expectations and combine to form liquid alchemy. Viva Madrid has extreme visual appeal with aesthetics that draw your eyes to the walls. The music is audio honey for your ears, well curated, and tonight was playing legends of 90s hip hop.

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.

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.

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

WOW! We fell upon this place on its GRAND OPENING & we were impressed. It is owned by the same owners of Salmon Guru which is another great establishment down the street. From what it looks like they revamped the inside extensively. The environment and architecture on the inside is amazing and very traditional from the 18th century. We had ALEX as our bartender/server and wow is he talented and the art of cocktails taken to the next level. I would highly recommend this place to anyone who visits madrid! Drinks were very reasonable for how much effort and aesthetics they put into them. The only thing we did not try is the food but I would assume it is phenomenal based on the standards they have. A top 10 bar place to visit in Madrid!

If you want to try Spanish food, and for you it is important taste, so this is right place! Service is very good! We where a group of 7 person and we ordered different types of paella. Our opinion is that paella for 2 person is sufficient for 3. We were happy! Thank you

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.

Local bar the in front, relaxed restaurant in back. Delicious tapas- you would do great just ordering appetizers. Start with bread and "Eskimo" tuna tapenade. Also recommend the cod/potato croquettes, but definitely get the calamari, sliced thick with lemon aoli. For entrees, ox tail stew with fava beans was delicious; cod with squid ink done very well. Good food without being pretentious, I would bring return here and bring others.

Decided to come here after seeing it suggested on Yelp and reading some positive reviews. The place prides itself on being local and authentic Spanish restaurant and being a lively place loved by locals. The restaurant was completely empty except for three other tourist families, and the food was subpar at best. We ordered the pork tenderloin and the beef cheeks. The pork was fatty, chewy, and tough to cut and swallow. The cheeks were okay, but were listed on the menu as being served in a stew with creamy potatoes and steamed vegetables. We received three pieces of cheeks, French fries, and sautéed vegetables in oil. Overall, the dishes serve did not taste true to the menu, the quality was severely lacking for the prices you paid. Skip this place and find a local bar.

Wanted to like this place more than I actually did. Loved the Spanish/Moroccan tile decor and the space itself. Also liked that I could make a rez over yelp. Staff was pleasant but the food was just ok. We only ordered 3 dishes plus dessert, so maybe it was just what we ordered. Battered cod bites were good. Pulpo and the risotto like dish were just ok.

If you want the best mojito in madrid than come here! I absolutely adore this little hole in the wall bar my professor introduced me to years ago. The 1930s murals on the wall are stained with smoke, the wood is dark and worn and the patrons are locals. This used to be a hang out for bullfighters. It is located just off of plaza santa ana and is always one of my first stops when I go back to visit.

We sat outside at this charming restaurant and enjoyed the vibrant scene. We started with mussels and shared the seafood paella which I highly recommend. Great service and food.

Tasted and priced more like a Disney's Epcot take on Spanish cuisine rather than something authentic. Overpriced for what you get. Definitely find somewhere else. Only good thing was the service, which was prompt and attentive.

We went for lunch here based on a previous Yelp review. We were not disappointed. Although there was little English spoken by staff, we communicated our desires and were served good food. Enjoyed the simple paella and the melted Brie with Iberian ham. The wines were very good as well. Gorgeous interior here too.

We are visiting from Los Angeles where great restaurants are abundant. Our hotel recommended Viva Madrid when we asked for less touristic dining. The restaurant is located in a charming narrow alley. Food was very tasty and well presented. The house red wine was excellent.

The pork had no salt or taste to it. The ox was over salted. The "Andalusian" style calamari was really just deep fried with a mayo dip on the side. The 1 star is for the decent wine #massivefail given that it's such an old establishment

This bar tapas/restaurant is definitely one of the best where i ate. The whole staff is very nice and you have the choice between loads of tapas and more. Moreover, i went there a couple of times and to keep us waiting when it's full or for a birthday event they always offered cocktails on the house! The only thing is that it's a bit expensive even if it's really tasty. Enjoy!

On the tiles Arrive early to bag a terrace table for a jug of lethal sangria al fresco before dinner, then return after midnight and join the throbbing masses for a sweaty night of salsa in this beautiful historic tile bar. Head for the back if you like it rowdy.

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