Tapas with history in the Plaza de Santa Ana (Madrid center)

J. L. Gamallo. Across the center of Madrid tapas bars abound, particularly in the Plaza de Santa Ana and the surrounding streets. It is possible to recommend recommend some places near the hostel Horizonte, special sites either by seniority, history, decoration, or the excellence of its tapas (snacks). Huertas Street in which case it is the oldest tavern in Madrid, Casa Alberto, founded in 1827, is a tavern bullfighting tradition, has preserved its nineteenth century. It specializes in oxtail. In the Plaza de Santa Ana are two significant places one hand the Cervecería Alemana, founded in the early twentieth century, especially recommend the dumplings, homemade croquettes, octopus and clams vinaigrette with seafood. Also in the Plaza de Santa Ana is one of the most traditional places of Madrid flamenco venue (tablao) Villa Rosa (1911), with some extraordinary images of Spanish cities made from tiles on its facade. The interior is beautifully decorated in Moorish style. Beside this flamenco show at the Callejón Alvarez Gato, is the Casa de las Bravas, whose origins date back to 1933, where concave and convex mirrors would inspire their facades D. Ramón María del Valle-Inclan figure of absurdity (Bohemian Lights). From the fifties would be when start preparing the potatoes in the famous hot sauce (salsa brava), the best in all of Madrid, other specialties, also accompanied by the sauce, are Spanish tortilla and ears, along with the squid, kebabs, and ham croquettes and chicken. In Victoria Street is another very traditional tavern, the Casa de El Abuelo, also with a century. It specializes in grilled shrimp, garlic, prawns in gabardine, grilled shrimp, shrimp flags, shrimp croquettes, and accompanied the house wine. The passage Matheu, a small pedestrian street, is the mussel La Ría, where you can eat mussels in Galicia, either with lemon, spicy vinaigrette or mayonnaise. Finally returning to the area of ​​the Plaza Santa Ana are two other establishments recommended, Viva Madrid (founded in 1856), also with a facade with beautiful tiles, highlighting the Cibeles fountain, and stands inside the coffered ceiling with harpies and tin bar. By day working as tavern and at night as a bar. In Echegaray Street Tavern La Venencia typically Andalusian, with the best wine of Jerez (palo cortado, thin, amontillado, oloroso), accompanied with excellent olives. On the walls of the exhibition posters Cadiz. A fully nineteenth environment yet well known by tourists.