



Cervecería Oldenburg
Cervecería Oldenburg
Cervecería Oldenburg opened in September 1986 and is one of the pioneers of imported beer in Spain. Founder José Luis Ramírez served beer the German way from day one and earned a Guinness record for the most imported beers per square metre; since 2007 his nephew Juan Carlos Cabezón has run it, now at Calle de Hartzenbusch 12, a few metres from the original. Expect around 180 beers, many Belgian, ten taps and boards of pâté, cheese and sausages, and a Solete in the Guía Repsol.
Background
About Cervecería Oldenburg
The Story
José Luis Ramírez emigrated to Switzerland at 18, and later, running a roadside hotel on the Valladolid to Madrid road, poured his first imported beer, a German Spaten. He spent a decade helping bring German beer into Spain before renting a bar in Madrid that was already called Oldenburg and keeping the name. It opened in September 1986 with three taps and a handful of bottles, served beer poured in stages and left to settle, and lost some customers who didn't understand why. In 1995 the tiny original, about 14 square metres, entered the Guinness book for the most imported beers per square metre. Ramírez also took part in creating Te Deum, a Belgian abbey beer made to Spanish taste, and co-founded the Cofradía Madrileña de la Jarra de Carlos V. His nephew Juan Carlos Cabezón, who grew up in the bar, took over in 2007, and around 2010 it moved into the current premises; the original stayed open alongside until 2014.
The Cuisine
Beer first. There are about 180 regular references served in some 30 different glasses, from ten taps and the fridges, with Belgium the house speciality and Germany, the Czech Republic and the UK close behind; Spanish craft beer has joined the list in recent years. Some have been there since the first day, such as König. On draught you'll find the likes of Te Deum, Chouffe, König Pilsener and Erdinger plus a beer of the week, and there has been a beer brewed for Oldenburg by the Basque brewery Laugar. To eat, it's all for sharing: pâté and cheese boards, assorted sausages, Ibérico ham, smoked-fish toasts, a herring salad and a Nordic sandwich.
Highlights
What Diners Say
Consensus
Cervecería Oldenburg Ratings & Reviews
Diner Ratings
Restaurant Guru
4.5
1730 reviews
4.5
1574
TripAdvisor
4.2
92 reviews
Reservations
How to Book Cervecería Oldenburg
Booking
Reserve
Experience
Cervecería Oldenburg Dining Experience
Walking in is like entering a beer museum: posters, enamel signs, bottle caps, glasses, cans and trays collected over four decades cover the walls. Each beer comes in its own glass at the right temperature, and staff, or Juan Carlos himself, will steer you. Regulars keep around fifty personal tankards on a shelf, each with a photo of its owner as a child, many of them members of the beer brotherhood founded here.
Navigate
Cervecería Oldenburg Location & Neighbourhood
Address
Calle de Hartzenbusch, 12, Chamberí, 28010 Madrid, Spain
Get directions→Getting There
Calle de Hartzenbusch 12, in the Trafalgar area of Chamberí near Glorieta de Bilbao, just off Calle Cardenal Cisneros, the street now known for its beer bars. The original Oldenburg stood a few metres away on the corner of Cardenal Cisneros and Alburquerque.
Nearby
Trafalgar is the calm shoulder between Malasaña and the wider avenues, residential enough to feel lived-in and central enough to walk out of. The eating skews to neighbourhood favourites and small confident kitchens rather than destinations. It gets quieter, and better value, the further you go from Gran Vía.
Nearby Restaurants
Where to stay nearby
Hotels we rank within walking distance of Cervecería Oldenburg.
Details
Cervecería Oldenburg Reservations, Hours & Contact
Opening Hours
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday | 19:00–00:00 |
| Tuesday | 19:00–00:00 |
| Wednesday | 19:00–00:00 |
| Thursday | 17:00–00:00 |
| Friday | 13:00–16:00, 19:00–01:00 |
| Saturday | 13:00–01:00 |
| Sunday | 13:00–16:00 |
Cervecería Oldenburg hours verified 2026-09-18. Contact the restaurant to confirm.
Contact
Good to Know
Questions
Cervecería Oldenburg FAQ
Does Oldenburg have a Michelin star?
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No. Oldenburg holds a Repsol Solete, a Guía Repsol distinction that sits below a Sol, and it isn't in the Michelin Guide.
What kind of place is Oldenburg?
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A pioneering beer bar in the Trafalgar area of Chamberí, open since 1986: around 180 beers from Belgium, Germany, the Czech Republic, the UK and Spain, with pâté, cheese and sausage boards for sharing.
When is Oldenburg open?
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Monday to Wednesday 19:00 to midnight; Thursday 17:00 to midnight; Friday 13:00 to 16:00 and 19:00 to 01:00; Saturday 13:00 to 01:00; Sunday 13:00 to 16:00.
Is Oldenburg dog-friendly and good for groups?
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Yes to both, and there's a wheelchair-accessible entrance.
What beers does Oldenburg pour?
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A long imported list: German beers such as Augustiner, Andechs and Ayinger, Belgian bottles from Achel to De Dolle, Lindemans fruit beers and Spanish craft from Dougall's, plus draughts including Chouffe, König and a beer of the week.
How much does Oldenburg cost?
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Around €26 to €50 per person; cards and contactless accepted.
How old is Cervecería Oldenburg?
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It opened in September 1986, founded by José Luis Ramírez. His nephew Juan Carlos Cabezón has run it since 2007, and it moved a few metres to Calle de Hartzenbusch 12 around 2010.








