El Minibar — Restaurant in Madrid

🌟 An unforgettable night at El miniBAR Madrid

From first glance to final bite, El miniBAR delivers one of Madrid’s most vibrant and delicious tapas experiences. Tucked just off Plaza Mayor in Austrias at Calle del Mesón de Panés 1, this cozy subterranean gem radiates character, warmth, and exceptional value. (Tripadvisor)

🍽️ Tapas and Flavors That Hit the Mark

The standout dishes—such as their infamous grilled goat cheese with tomato jam, croquetas, and crispy boar or eggplant rolls—are generously portioned, beautifully flavorful, and effortlessly shareable. The goat cheese, in particular, was described by many reviewers as “amazing” and “the star” of the night. (TripAdvisor)

Courteous staff offered thoughtful portion guidance (three dishes per two people is usually plenty), helping optimize both taste and budget. (Tripadvisor, TripAdvisor)

🥂 Drinks, Atmosphere & Vibe

The cocktails at El miniBAR are quick, fresh, and excellent value—many averaging around €7–8—making them a highlight alongside the tapas. (TripAdvisor)

The space is a solid, energetic tapas bar with Spanish-local charm. It's lively but never chaotic, attracting both locals and alert international visitors—all drawn by quality food, reasonable pricing, and authentic hospitality. (Tripadvisor, Tripadvisor)

👏 Service & Hospitality

Despite being busy, service remains warm and attentive. Staff frequently clear away empty plates, anticipate needs, and gracefully guide orders for a seamless experience. Reservations are possible and recommended—especially after 8 pm when queues can form. (Tripadvisor, TripAdvisor)

💰 Exceptional Value

With tapas averaging €5–8 each, and a variety of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten‑free options, the quality-to-price ratio is outstanding. This restaurant has been consistently ranked around #190 of over 12,000 in Madrid on Tripadvisor, with a 4.5-star rating from thousands of verified reviews. (Tripadvisor)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Bottom Line

If you're in Madrid and in the mood for honest, flavorful tapas in a lively yet approachable setting, El miniBAR hits all the right notes. From standout plates like their goat cheese and croquetas to their vibrant cocktails and welcoming staff, it’s tapas done right—without breaking the bank.

Must-tries:

Grilled goat cheese with tomato jam Ham or ibérico croquetas Crispy boar or...

By far the best place we have been to in Madrid ♥️

We came here because of the good reviews, and afterwards already made a reservation for the next day too because it was SO GOOD! There were 90% locals, which is also always a good sign.

Food We had their famous goatcheese (Tapa Bretón), pankitos, tacos de solomillo ibérico, and rabas de calamar. Everything was delicious. Kristin hated goatcheese beforehand, but completely fell in love with it in the tapa bretón - it is a MUST TRY, believe me.

Location In the heart of Madrid, but like a hidden gem. It looks cute but not spectacular on the outside, but definitely is on the inside. (It’s 18 + because of the art on the wall)

Service Lovely and very attentive personell. Super friendly to locals and foreigners alike. We felt very welcome the whole time ♥️

Costs We spent very reasonable prices both times we went there. Each time we had 3-4 tapas, a bottle of white wine, and a gin tonic.

If you are in Madrid, do yourself a favor and take time to come here. You can thank us later ;) (Reservations are recommended, because it is very well loved)

PS: if you look closely, you might find our message under one of the tables with a coin from Linz! (As...

The food quality at this restaurant was adequate - meeting the basic standard of what you'd expect in Madrid, but nothing special or memorable. While not poor quality, it wasn't particularly impressive either.

What really disappointed us was the service. The two staff (or owners?) displayed obvious impatience, making exaggerated annoyed expressions whenever we asked questions, making us feel as if we had done something wrong.

During our visit, we observed them pressuring customers at the neighboring table to order quickly. The atmosphere was so uncomfortable that both we and those two other customers ended up leaving shortly after, we met them on the street soon after we left.

After dining at other restaurants in Madrid, we discovered that most places offer exceptionally friendly service (also with better food), which made the attitude at this establishment even more unacceptable by comparison.

With so many restaurant options in Madrid, I cannot recommend this place due to the unpleasant service experience, even though the food itself...