Taberna Tempranillo
Taberna Tempranillo is a narrow wine bar on Cava Baja, La Latina's famous drinking street. The bar specializes in Spanish wines with a rotating selection by the glass that covers regions from Rioja to Rias Baixas to Priorat. A glass runs EUR 3-6, which is remarkable value for the quality being poured. The space is tiny: a bar that seats maybe eight people, a few standing positions, and a small back room. There are no cocktails, no craft beer, and no elaborate food menu. Some cheese and cured meats are available. The staff are serious about wine and will guide you through options based on your preferences. Weekday evenings are manageable, but Friday and Saturday nights see the bar overflow onto the narrow street along with every other spot on Cava Baja. The crowd is predominantly local, ranging from young wine enthusiasts to older regulars who've been coming for years. If you're interested in Spanish wine beyond Rioja and have limited time in Madrid, this is the single best place to educate your palate.
What to Expect
A cramped, lively wine bar where the staff pour interesting Spanish wines by the glass. You'll stand at the bar, tell them what you like, and they'll pour something appropriate. The selection changes regularly. Expect close quarters and animated conversation.
Cramped, convivial, and wine-focused. The kind of bar where strangers share recommendations.
None. This is about wine and conversation.
None. Come as you are.
Wine lovers, anyone exploring Spanish wine regions, couples on a casual date in La Latina.
Cash and cards accepted
Price Range
Wine by the glass EUR 3-6, cheese/charcuterie EUR 6-10
≈ $3-7 wine, $7-11 snacks
Hours
Daily 1 PM to midnight (closed Mondays)
Insider Tip
Go on a weekday evening to actually talk to the staff about wines. Ask them to pour something from a region you haven't tried. The Mencia and Garnacha selections are consistently excellent.
Full Review
Taberna Tempranillo is easy to miss on a street full of larger, louder bars. The entrance is narrow, and inside the bar takes up most of the room. Bottles line the walls, and a small chalkboard lists the current by-the-glass options. The selection changes frequently as bottles empty and new ones replace them.
The staff are the bar's greatest asset. On my visit, the woman behind the bar asked what I usually drink, then poured a Garnacha from Aragon that I'd never encountered. It was EUR 4 and better than wines I've paid ten times more for. She followed it with a white Godello from Bierzo that was equally impressive. Each pour came with a brief explanation of the region and winemaker.
Cava Baja on a Saturday night is chaos, and Tempranillo is no exception. People stand three deep at the bar, conversations compete with each other, and the energy is high. It's fun but not the ideal setting for a quiet wine education. Weekday visits are calmer and give you more access to the staff's knowledge.
The food is limited to cheese plates and cured meats, which pair well but won't constitute dinner. Plan to eat elsewhere on Cava Baja before or after. The surrounding street has dozens of restaurants and tapas bars within a two-minute walk.
The Neighborhood
Taberna Tempranillo is on Cava Baja, the street that defines La Latina's bar scene. The street runs south from Plaza del Humilladero and is packed with bars, restaurants, and tapas spots. Sunday mornings, the nearby El Rastro flea market draws huge crowds, and the bars on Cava Baja fill with post-market drinkers.
Getting There
Metro L5 to La Latina, then a 3-minute walk south to Cava Baja. From Sol, walk south through Plaza Mayor and continue to La Latina. The bar is midway along Cava Baja on the left side.
Address
Calle Cava Baja 38, 28005 Madrid
Other Venues in La Latina
La Musa Latina
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Cafe del Nuncio
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Delic
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