Txirimiri
Txirimiri brings Basque pintxos culture to La Latina in a small storefront on Calle del Humilladero. The counter is lined with plates of bread-based pintxos, most topped with combinations that rotate daily: ibérico ham with fig jam, smoked salmon with salted butter, bacalao with red pepper, slow-braised oxtail on toast. Each piece costs between 2 and 4 EUR, and the quality matches what you'd find in San Sebastián's Parte Vieja, even if the volume is smaller. The kitchen also runs a short menu of hot pintxos and raciones, including a mini hamburger of braised cheek that's become a signature. Txakoli, the slightly sparkling Basque white, pours from height into small glasses at the bar. Wines by the glass cover the Spanish regions and include a few Basque bottles you won't see in most Madrid restaurants. The space is narrow, loud, and standing-room only at peak hours, with just a few seats at the counter.
What to Expect
A packed narrow space, bread pintxos arranged in rows along the counter, the splash of txakoli being poured from height, and a crowd talking over each other in Spanish and occasionally Basque. The smell of seared bread and aioli hangs in the air.
Busy and functional, closer to a San Sebastián pintxos bar than a Madrid tapas joint.
No music; ambient chatter fills the room
Casual. La Latina standard.
Travelers who want Basque pintxos without leaving Madrid
Cards accepted; cash works for small orders at the bar
Price Range
Pintxos 2-4 EUR each, txakoli 3 EUR, cana 2.80 EUR, glass of wine 3.50-5 EUR, raciones 8-14 EUR, mini hamburger 5 EUR
Pintxos ~$2-4.30, txakoli ~$3.20, cana ~$3, raciones ~$9-15, mini hamburger ~$5.40
Hours
13:00-16:00 and 20:00-00:00 Tue-Sun, closed Mondays
Insider Tip
Order the mini hamburger de solomillo; it's the item regulars come back for. Ask the bartender to pour txakoli properly, from height, to get the correct fizz. Grab pintxos directly from the counter rather than waiting for table service; that's how the Basque system works.
Full Review
Txirimiri is one of a handful of dedicated Basque pintxos bars in central Madrid, and the most consistent. The front room is narrow, with a long marble counter on one side and standing space on the other. Plates of pintxos cover the counter in rows, each topped with a different combination that rotates every few days. The back room, accessed through a tight corridor, holds a few tables for those who want to sit with a larger order of raciones.
The quality is genuine. The kitchen does its own bread, its own jams, its own cures, and the combinations on the pintxos range from classic Basque standards to Madrid-oriented inventions like wagyu cheek on toasted brioche. Prices are higher per piece than the free tapas you'd get at a Madrid bar, but a pintxos meal here runs 20 to 30 EUR per person and covers ground you won't find elsewhere in the city.
The drinks list skews Basque. Txakoli, poured from height into small wide glasses, is the default match for the food. Sidra, the Basque cider, gets its own pour technique and a handful of regulars. Wines by the glass cover Rioja, Ribera del Duero, and less-seen regions like Txakoli de Getaria and Bizkaiko Txakolina. Beer is available but misses the point.
Compared to the surrounding La Latina tapas bars, Txirimiri feels like a different tradition transplanted. The Cava Baja taverns are traditional Madrid: vermouth, tortilla, cured meats, loud and boisterous. Txirimiri is more restrained, more detail-focused, more expensive per bite. Regulars alternate between the two styles over a long evening. Weekend nights fill up by 21:30; arrive earlier or plan to stand.
The Neighborhood
Txirimiri sits on Calle del Humilladero, a short street connecting Plaza de la Cebada with Cava Baja. The immediate area has one of the densest concentrations of tapas bars in Madrid, with half a dozen worth visiting within a two-minute walk.
Getting There
Metro La Latina on Line 5, then two minutes on foot south on Calle de la Cava Baja and left onto Humilladero. From Sol, walk 12 minutes south through Plaza Mayor.
Address
Calle del Humilladero 6, 28005 Madrid
Where to stay in Madrid
Compare hotels near the nightlife districts. Free cancellation on most properties.
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