Ven y Vino — Local services in Madrid

I don’t understand the high rating of this place. When I entered this place the first thing that surprised me was how dirty it was. I lived many years in London and it reminded me of an old British pub rather than a wine bar. Anyway, we saw the good Google reviews so my partner and I decided to give it a try (he is Spanish). There were multiple free tables when we arrived and it was late enough that there were no reservations needed. I was shocked by how rude the waitress that welcomed us was. We politely asked if we can sit a table of 2 that was free but she told us that “it has only one chair and no more are available” (even if many others seats were free). The tonality of her voice was so unwelcoming and harsh, like she was about to start an argument. We were surprised but accepted it. She then asked what we would like to eat in a similar tonality. We said we were interested in some wine and she rapidly pointed to the menu on the wall and without saying anything more she left. Overall we were very disappointed. The first impression the place left was bad. I wouldn’t recommend it solely for their...

I’ve lived in Madrid for 14 years, and I’ve never experienced a bar charging €5 per bottle just to open a bottle of wine that we ordered from their own menu. The atmosphere was pleasant, and I want to assume the best, but I can’t help but wonder if the extra charge was added because we were speaking English.

After disputing the charge, it was removed, but if this is a standard practice, it should be clearly stated somewhere either on the menu (which we rechecked and saw no mention of) or communicated by the waiter before opening the bottle. Transparency is key to a good dining experience, and unexpected fees like this can leave a...

A lovely night took an unexpected turn when we noticed an unlisted charge on our bill. I've lived in Madrid for 6 years and my friend for 14, and in all our time here, we've never encountered a corkage fee at a wine bar/restaurant—unless bringing our own bottle. Yet, we were charged 5 euros per bottle simply for ordering wine from their menu. This fee was neither posted nor mentioned beforehand. When we questioned it, the charge was removed, but it felt like it was added under the assumption that we were tourists. Madrid is my home, and I want to warn others: if you order a bottle of wine here, check your...