The Best Bars in Spain

A hidden gem for sophisticated cocktail enjoyment. The glamorous bar in one of the city's most prestigious establishments exudes exclusivity and elegance and offers a cocktail experience that is second to none. The club bar for connoisseurs offers everything from signature and Champagne cocktails through to pure gems such as Louis XIII cognac.

Madrid's hippest bar is a mystery and is modelled on an American underground bar from the 1920s during the Prohibition era. The drinks and cocktails here are only referred to as objects and are presented accordingly. "The Bible" is served in a hip flask hidden in the cut-out pages of a Bible and the "VSOP Fragrance" is served in a real perfume bottle with original packaging. The creativity of the mixologists is hard to beat and the innovative cocktails are a theatrical experience that appeals to all the senses. To gain entry, you have to find the secret password on the bar's Instagram account.

Set within the Monument Hotel, this serene space offers inviting lounge areas and a tranquil swimming pool. The culinary experience, crafted by acclaimed chefs Martín Berasategui and Gabriele Milani, is available year-round - though the terrace, open exclusively in spring and summer, offers a particularly enchanting setting for dining al fresco.

Led by Marc Álvarez and Simone Caporale, this acclaimed venue is considered one of the finest cocktail bars in the world. It is divided into two distinct spaces - the vibrant Drinkery House and the more intimate Esencia. The menu features over 25 expertly crafted cocktails, alongside a thoughtful selection of non-alcoholic creations. With impeccable service and a refined yet welcoming atmosphere, it’s a standout destination for cocktail enthusiasts and style seekers alike.

A bar with a classic ambience where the focus - as the name suggests - is on the classic dry martini. Owner Javier de las Muelas is a legend of the local cocktail scene and of course also serves other drinks and delicious snacks.

Cocktails and vibes of the magical kind. The bar is a wondrous shrine of mysticism and kitsch. Pictures of saints and rosaries flicker in the candlelight. Crosses, flowers and dark, atmospheric lighting conjure up the magic of the supernatural. Here, you don't choose your drink based on the ingredients, but are asked by the bartender about your current state of mind and your wishes to make your life more beautiful. The cocktail menu offers magical potions and elixirs that are said to give strength and inner peace, drive away demons and heal the spirit. The original cocktails with innovative ingredients such as liquorice, apple sake, black cardamom and plum wine are skilfully combined and eloquently presented. In keeping with the mystical theme, you can even have your tarot cards read at the bar every Thursday.

Hip ambience with comic-inspired wall art and neon ceiling lights. Manga illustrations jump out at you in one room, while in another you feel like you're in an aquarium. But all this is nothing compared to the bizarre presentation of the cocktails! Tried and tested classics, sparkling, chilled creations and the house specialties are served in chemical bottles, tiger and dragon sculptures or other creatures.

Liquid prescriptions are offered in the pharmacy in Málaga's old town. Inspired by the American speakeasy bars of the 1920s, the pleasant, classic ambience makes you feel like you've been transported to another century. The subdued lighting exudes a mysterious atmosphere and the artfully crafted cocktails make this bar so extravagant and unique!

The bar has been an institution in Madrid since 1921. With its wooden columns, coffered ceilings, comfortable leather seats, an ornately carved fireplace and a classically beautiful bar, you'll find the ambience of an old-fashioned gentlemen's club and immediately feel transported back to the glamorous old world. The cocktail menu reflects the retro atmosphere of the bar and offers meticulously prepared classic cocktails, as you would expect in a place like this.

Timelessly elegant bar in the chic Malasaña district. The fact that the name dates back to 1862, the year of publication of Jerry Thomas' first cocktail book, says a lot about this bar. The large selection of elaborate cocktails guarantees sophisticated cocktail enjoyment.

This elegant bar in the New York style of the 1990s offers the ideal ambience for fans of sophisticated cocktails. It offers everything from classics to its own creations, including personalised cocktails and a large selection of different gin brands with more than 40 references.

While many bars lean into spectacle, this one is defined by its focus on essence. A quiet favourite among discerning spirits aficionados, it offers depth over drama - yet still embraces imagination. Soon to open is Stravinsky’s Parfumerie, an inventive extension featuring a cocktail bar, an experimental lab, and a fictional museum dedicated to a Russian perfumer and alchemist. Innovation is at the heart of the operation, with house-made liqueurs and bespoke spirits crafted through techniques such as Rotavapor distillation, maceration, fermentation and low-temperature cooking. The bar pays subtle homage to its past life as a traditional grocer’s, preserving the original counter and a striking display of spice jars suspended in formaldehyde, a nod to both history and experimentation.

This bar makes you feel like you're in the last century. The charming 14 de la Rosa focuses entirely on sherry culture, whether straight or in cocktails. But it's worth a visit even if you're not a sherry aficionado: there are good wines and excellent coffee.

A serene escape high above Passeig de Gràcia, Terrat offers contemporary cuisine crafted from locally sourced ingredients. Sunset is the prime time to visit, when cocktails are served against the backdrop of golden hour. Open from April to October, with access reserved for hotel guests from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. On weekends, don’t miss Gold & Dusk - a sophisticated series of DJ sessions, tapas and cocktails.

With a magnificent view of the sea, cocktails are served in a pleasant, elegant ambience. Here, they know how to handle exotic spirits in the shaker. The menu offers Mediterranean and tropical cocktails. The attention to detail in every drink is proof of the mixologists' skill and passion. "Classics" are also prepared on request.

Opened in 2018 and now helmed by Ignacio Ussía - whose credentials include acclaimed establishments such as Vía Veneto, Ideal, and the world-renowned Gaggan - this venue delivers an experience as polished as its pedigree suggests. Guests can begin with a refined drink and an elegant bite in the lounge, or proceed to the tasting room for a curated menu that leans confidently into Asian influences. Each course may be paired with inventive mini-cocktails, described by the team as “a symbiosis of solid and liquid”, a concept that speaks to both playfulness and precision. The cocktail menu is equally arresting: signature serves arrive in bespoke vessels, often with theatrical flair. Highlights include the smoky allure of the Colima de Jalisco and the mysteriously named Ley Seca, whose presentation is as bold as its flavour. This is a destination where gastronomy meets spectacle - and neither takes a back seat.

Funky ambience (lots of neon and graffiti slogans), and an exciting cocktail menu, created by Sebastián Oliva, scores with classics (the Chester Collection) and creative, more unusual variations (the Punk Collection). You should definitely try the Caipirinha de la Pasión and the Walking Dead cocktail, a version of the classic Zombie. Due to its high alcohol content, only two of the latter are served per person. Regular live music sessions.

An oasis of sophisticated cocktail art. Nusa is dedicated to the craft of mixology and combines traditional and innovative techniques for its elaborate creations. A wonderful bar to enjoy an exquisite cocktail on the Ibiza-style terrace overlooking the port of Málaga.

There has been a gimlet bar at this location since the 70s. After a gentle renovation, the Marlowe Bar inspired by the fictional detective Phillip Marlowe - also a lover of gin cocktails - opened its doors. This is excellent here, but there are many other drinks.

This bar in the Eixample district has been around for over thirty years. It attracts an older clientele, many of whom are regulars. They appreciate the elegant atmosphere and the large selection of cocktails, ranging from classics to signature drinks.