El Respiro

Being so close to El Tigre meant that for years this bar was generally regarded as the second-best option if ‘The Tiger’ was full. However, with time El Respiro has won a coveted spot on the list of best places to have a beer in Madrid. The beer is well-pulled, the service attentive and the tapas (potatoes with sausages and pepper, chicken with garlic sauce, savoury pastries, paella, etc.) are plentiful, tasty and, best of all, free. With a couple of rounds, you will have satisfied any hunger pangs. Get there early at the weekend because now the word is out, it fills up fast.