La Chata
La Chata has been serving Cava Baja since 1916, making it one of the oldest taverns on the street and one of the most photographed thanks to its painted azulejo facade. Inside, the space retains its original tile work, aged wooden bar, and a back room with a handful of tables. Vermouth on tap is the house specialty, poured from a brass spigot into short glasses and garnished with a slice of orange and an olive. The food follows the Madrid cocina clásica: croquetas, patatas bravas, tortilla, oreja a la plancha, callos a la Madrileña, and a short list of stews that change with the weather. Most items come in tapa and ración portions. Regulars stand at the bar for a quick vermouth and a plate of callos, while visitors tend to book the back tables for longer meals. The kitchen stays open later than most surrounding taverns, which makes La Chata a default late-night stop on a Cava Baja crawl.
What to Expect
The chime of the brass vermouth spigot, regulars standing at the bar with tapas plates balanced on a napkin, the smell of simmering tripe from the kitchen, and conversation loud enough that you'll need to lean in.
Old-Madrid tavern with tile walls, worn wood, and a bar that has seen a century of conversations.
No music in the traditional Madrid tavern style
Casual. Blend in with Madrileños who treat La Latina as a neighborhood rather than a destination.
First-time visitors who want authentic Madrid vermouth culture
Cards accepted for table meals; bar drinks usually cash
Price Range
Vermouth on tap 3 EUR, cana 2.80 EUR, wine by the glass 3-4 EUR, tapas 4-7 EUR, raciones 10-16 EUR, callos 12 EUR
Vermouth ~$3.20, cana ~$3, wine ~$3.20-4.30, tapas ~$4.30-7.50, raciones ~$11-17, callos ~$13
Hours
12:00-16:30 and 20:00-01:00 Wed-Mon, closed Tuesdays
Insider Tip
Order the vermouth on tap, not the bottled version; the tap vermouth is the house's own blend and the main reason to come. The callos are a serious commitment, rich and heavy; split them between two people. Avoid peak Sunday lunch if you don't want to wait; weekday vermouth hour around 13:00 is the sweet spot.
Full Review
La Chata's azulejo facade is one of the most recognized images on Cava Baja, a mosaic of blue and yellow tiles with the bar's name in scroll lettering across the top. Inside, the feel matches the outside. Tile work covers the lower walls, bottles crowd the back bar, and an antique clock hangs above the entrance. The space is narrow but deep, with a bar running along the right and a set of worn tables to the left that extend into a back room.
The vermouth is the reason regulars return. La Chata makes its own blend, poured from a brass tap into short glasses, served with orange and olive. It's slightly sweeter than the standard Yzaguirre or Lustau vermouths you'll find on other bars, with a bitterness that settles on the back of the tongue. A second vermouth usually follows the first. Food pairs accordingly: callos a la Madrileña is the classic order, a thick stew of tripe and chorizo that's been served here for decades, along with oreja a la plancha, pig ear grilled with garlic and paprika, a Madrid specialty that divides visitors.
Compared to Casa Lucio, the famous Cava Baja restaurant two doors down, La Chata is cheaper and less formal. Casa Lucio trades on its historic clientele; La Chata trades on genuine continuity. Compared to newer additions to the street like Juana la Loca, La Chata offers traditional cooking rather than creative reinterpretations. The two fit different moods on the same evening: vermouth and callos at La Chata early, then creative tapas at Juana la Loca before dinner.
Saturday and Sunday lunchtime fills the bar past standing capacity, with Madrileños coming for the traditional vermut de aperitivo before moving on to a full meal elsewhere. Weekday visits are less frantic. The staff are regulars themselves, many of them having worked here for years.
The Neighborhood
La Chata anchors the middle of Cava Baja, La Latina's most famous tapas strip. Dozens of taverns line the street between La Latina metro and Plaza del Humilladero, and a crawl through three or four of them is the standard Madrid evening.
Getting There
Metro La Latina on Line 5, then one minute on foot onto Cava Baja. The bar is about halfway up the street at number 24. From Sol, it's a 10-minute walk south through Plaza Mayor.
Address
Calle Cava Baja 24, 28005 Madrid
Where to stay in Madrid
Compare hotels near the nightlife districts. Free cancellation on most properties.
Other Venues in La Latina
Taberna Tempranillo
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La Musa Latina
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Cafe del Nuncio
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Delic
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Taberna de Almendro 13
Traditional Madrid tavern on Calle del Almendro known for its huevos rotos and croquetas. The crowd is a mix of regulars and visitors who've heard about the food. No reservations; expect to wait on weekends.
El Viajero
Three-story bar on Plaza de la Cebada with a rooftop terrace offering views over La Latina's rooftops. Each floor has a different atmosphere, from casual ground-floor bar to restaurant to open-air cocktail terrace.