Ministry of Foodies Review
Cuisine: Spanish
Average price per person: 25€
Environment: 8.5/10
Food: 8/10
Service: 8/10
Other: Vegetarian options, Gluten-free options
Website: https://grupoardosa.es/la-ardosa/
Bodega de la Ardosa was established in 1892 so it’s one of the oldest and most well known tapas bars in Madrid. During weekends, you will often see lines outside its eye-catching black and red exterior.
It was one of the first places I visited when I moved to Madrid. This month I took the opportunity to visit again during lunch with a friend who came to Madrid for a few days.
Location/Environment
Bodega de la Ardosa is located in Malasana. It’s interior is dark and has a classic wooden barra, high tables and traditional tile decoration on its walls.
The bar has a lot of old wine bottles and alcohol posters on the wall, basically narrating a whole story going back for more than a hundred years. Bodega de la Ardosa had many “firsts” in Madrid, including being the first place that installed a Guinness tap and the first place that imported Pilsner Urquell from Czechia.
The staff is efficient, although considering the amount of customers, sometimes in a rush, that makes them come off as borderline rude. Nevertheless, some of them have been there for a while and are really a pleasure to chat with.
Bodega de la Ardosa – Menu
This is a classic tapas bar and serves all the dishes that you expect to find in a place like this. It’s famous for its salmorejo soup (I can also confirm that it’s delicious) as well as for its wine, beer and vermouth options.
Bodega de la Ardosa – Food
As I mentioned the salmorejo is one of my favourite things to try here. Fresh tomatoes with good quality olive oil, bread and garlic from this cold thick soup which is topped with eggs and jamon. Absolutely delicious.
The gildas are also tasty and balanced. Not the best I ever had, but quite good.
The tortilla de patatas had good consistency and flavour without the egg being overpowering. However it was definitely salty, even though my friends had no issues with it. It was served at room temperature almost cold in the middle. While this is not uncommon, serving the tortilla hot is always my preference.
The croquetas with Jamon came in a large portion and were very creamy, which I personally enjoy. The Jamon flavour was not prominent though so it was more like eating a creamy bechamel croqueta.
The ensaladilla rusa was also a decent portion, and there was plenty of bonito fish in the mix. It was rich with nice texture, again not the best I ever had but a very solid version.
Finally, we got the grilled artichoke which was soft in the center and crispy on the edges. A simple but well executed dish.
Conclusion
Bodega de la Ardosa might seem like a touristy place, but it has a classic charm. The food is good, the environment takes you back many decades, and you will find a mix of different people here. While it might not be the place that you would want to hang out all the time, it’s definitely worth visiting this institution in Madrid. For me, together with Casa Labra and La Perejila, are the most iconic, old-school tapas bars in Madrid.
Visit: June 2025