La Venencia
La Venencia
La Venencia is a historic sherry bar on Calle Echegaray in the Barrio de las Letras. It serves only wines from Cádiz, Manzanilla and Fino, Oloroso, Amontillado and Palo Cortado, with no soft drinks or beer, chalked up on the wooden bar. The room keeps its old traditions: no photos, no tips, and simple snacks like cured meats, mojama and cheese.
Background
About La Venencia
The Story
La Venencia is a long-standing sherry bar in the Barrio de las Letras. It's remembered as a Republican gathering spot during the Civil War, with Ernest Hemingway among its regulars, and its no-photographs rule is traced to that era. It still pours from the barrel, chalks each round on the wooden bar and refuses tips.
The Cuisine
Drinks come first: only sherries and related Cádiz wines, Manzanilla, Fino, Amontillado, Oloroso and Palo Cortado, poured by the glass from the barrel, with no beer or soft drinks. Food is limited to bar snacks meant to go with the wine: mojama, huevas, cured meats, olives, cheese, almonds and anchovy tostas.
Highlights
What Diners Say
Consensus
La Venencia Ratings & Reviews
Diner Ratings
4.4
3266
TripAdvisor
4.3
388 reviews
Reservations
How to Book La Venencia
Booking
Experience
La Venencia Dining Experience
It's a plain, time-worn gaditano bodega, all dusty bottles, barrels and old posters, where tabs are chalked on the bar, photos aren't allowed and tips aren't taken.
Navigate
La Venencia Location & Neighbourhood
Address
Calle de Echegaray, 7, 28014 Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Get directions→Getting There
On Calle de Echegaray in the Barrio de las Letras, Madrid's Centro district.
Nearby
Barrio de las Letras is Madrid's literary quarter, its streets named for Cervantes, Lope de Vega and the writers of the Spanish Golden Age, centred around Plaza de Santa Ana and the Huertas nightlife strip. The eating mixes old tabernas with newer wine bars and cocktail rooms, and the crowd runs late into the night.
Nearby Restaurants
Where to stay nearby
Hotels we rank within walking distance of La Venencia.
Details
La Venencia Reservations, Hours & Contact
Opening Hours
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday | 12:30–15:30, 19:30–00:00 |
| Tuesday | 12:30–15:30, 19:30–00:00 |
| Wednesday | 12:30–15:30, 19:30–00:00 |
| Thursday | 12:30–15:30, 19:30–00:00 |
| Friday | 12:30–15:30, 19:30–00:00 |
| Saturday | 12:30–15:30, 19:30–00:00 |
| Sunday | 12:30–15:30, 19:30–00:00 |
La Venencia hours verified 2026-09-18. Contact the restaurant to confirm.
Contact
Not accepted
Good to Know
Questions
La Venencia FAQ
What does La Venencia serve?
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Only Cádiz wines, Manzanilla and Fino, Oloroso, Amontillado and Palo Cortado, with simple snacks. No beer or soft drinks.
Can you take photos inside?
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No. A long-standing house rule bans photographs, traced to the Civil War era.
Where is it?
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On Calle de Echegaray in the Barrio de las Letras, Madrid's Centro district.
When is it open?
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Daily, for lunch and evening (12:30–15:30 and 19:30–00:00).
Can you book at La Venencia?
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No, it doesn't take reservations.
What's the history behind La Venencia?
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It's a long-standing sherry bar in the Barrio de las Letras, remembered as a Republican gathering spot during the Spanish Civil War, with Ernest Hemingway among its regulars. Its no-photographs rule is traced to that era.
How much does a round cost at La Venencia?
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Under €25 per person, for sherry by the glass and simple bar snacks like cured meats, mojama and cheese.
Does La Venencia accept tips?
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No. Tips aren't accepted, and tabs are chalked up on the wooden bar.
What food does La Venencia serve?
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Simple snacks meant to go with the wine: mojama (salt-cured tuna), huevas (cured roe), cured meats, olives, cheese, almonds and anchovy tostas.