Viva Madrid

Bistro · Cortes

Viva Madrid

Bistro · Cortes

1

C. de Manuel Fernández y González, nº 7, Centro, 28014 Madrid, Spain

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Viva Madrid by null
Viva Madrid by null
Viva Madrid by null
Viva Madrid by null
Viva Madrid by null
Viva Madrid by null
Viva Madrid by null
Viva Madrid by null
Viva Madrid by null
Viva Madrid by null
Viva Madrid by null
Viva Madrid by null
Viva Madrid by null
Viva Madrid by null
Viva Madrid by null
Viva Madrid by null
Viva Madrid by null
Viva Madrid by null
Viva Madrid by null
Viva Madrid by null
Viva Madrid by null
Viva Madrid by null
Viva Madrid by null
Viva Madrid by null
Viva Madrid by null
Viva Madrid by null
Viva Madrid by null
Viva Madrid by null
Viva Madrid by null
Viva Madrid by null
Viva Madrid by null
Viva Madrid by null
Viva Madrid by null
Viva Madrid by null
Viva Madrid by null
Viva Madrid by null
Viva Madrid by null
Viva Madrid by null
Viva Madrid by null
Viva Madrid by null
Viva Madrid by null
Viva Madrid by null
Viva Madrid by null
Viva Madrid by null
Viva Madrid by null

Highlights

Lively historic bar with stunning tiles, great cocktails  

Featured in Conde Nast Traveler
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C. de Manuel Fernández y González, nº 7, Centro, 28014 Madrid, Spain Get directions

vivamadrid1856.com
@vivamadridtaberna

€10–20 · Menu

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C. de Manuel Fernández y González, nº 7, Centro, 28014 Madrid, Spain Get directions

+34 914 20 35 96
vivamadrid1856.com
@vivamadridtaberna

€10–20 · Menu

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Last updated

Aug 20, 2025

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15 Best Bars in Madrid

"Diego Cabrera of Salmon Guru fame—and arguably Spain's best mixologist—took one of the oldest and most storied bars in Madrid (est. 1856) and converted it into a terrific cocktail-centric taberna. The once-crumbling space is now a gorgeous amalgam of new and old with flamboyant azulejos, carved wood accents, and contemporary designer furniture. Try the media combinación, a gin cocktail made with vermouth and bitters that's been a Viva Madrid classic since 1927. It's still the signature drink, and mixologist Cabrera has invented four new riffs on it (the Cubana, with muddled mint and curaçao, tastes like vacation)." - Benjamin Kemper

https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/best-bars-in-madrid
View Postcard for Viva Madrid

Enes Hizli

Google
Tiempo Modernos cocktail (on the left in the photo) was fantastic, with a strong kick for those who enjoy a higher alcohol content. The waitress was friendly and very proactive, which made the experience even better.

Felipe Colomo

Google
Great place, excellent service and awesome tapas!! Cocktails are also very very good! Loved it!

Jei Filipino

Google
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.

Dimitri Byrnes

Google
This place is simply great! Perfect speak easy but not too quiet and surely you’ll enjiy chatting with your drinking and eating company. From time to time, you’ll be asked how your food is and if you need any more drinks but in a cery friendly way - thanks Oscar. He recommended the croquetas and broccoli which is lovely and must try. All the food we tried didn’t disappoint. I’ve tried a few Gilda’s in San Sebastian and Madrid and this one is definitely on the top of the list. Had a few to make sure 😂 Apart from that, the place was established in the 1800s and was frequented by Jose Rizal, national hero of the Philippines. I wonder how good it was before but its nice to see establishments keep the quality, ambience, and service that will make you frequent the place and enjoy their culinary and mixology handiwork.

Emily Canares

Google
Loved our visit so much the first time, had to go back again for the Porn Star Martini! Food was good as well and such a good price for the service. Honestly preferred this place over its sister bar Salmon Guru for its cocktails and ambiance.

Vivien Francis

Google
This spot is a fantastic place to enjoy some tapas and a glass of vermouth. The callos a la madrileña and the octopus were both superb!

Fabrice Lubin

Google
What an amazing and pleasant place this is. I came here knowing nothing about Madrid, and boy. Was this a wonderful introduction to such a beautiful city. I was able to not only secure a table but also had many delicious cocktails, and there was enough space to have a chat with family from out of town.

Pamela Thoss

Google
One of the best bars I've ever been to. Perfect place to get drinks and snacks in the middle of the day. Not loud or obnoxious, and the historic ambience is wonderfully preserved.
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Penprapha B.

Yelp
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.
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Meagan S.

Yelp
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.
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Jenny M.

Yelp
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.
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Yolanda O.

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

Yelp
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.
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Crystal R.

Yelp
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.
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Artem M.

Yelp
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.
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Edward S.

Yelp
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.

Bruce G.

Yelp
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.

Tasha L.

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

Yelp
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.
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Kevin T.

Yelp
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!
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Anice N.

Yelp
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
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Dean T.

Yelp
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.
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L B.

Yelp
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.
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Amanda L.

Yelp
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.
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Brandi B.

Yelp
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.
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Jen W.

Yelp
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.
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Tyler A.

Yelp
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.
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Gillian K.

Yelp
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.
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Anna B.

Yelp
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.
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Amit P.

Yelp
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
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Bruce G.

Yelp
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.

Qype User (Coober…)

Yelp
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!

Cityvox User (lucycd…)

Yelp
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.
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Qype User (freddy…)

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