Taberna Averías

Taberna Averías has anchored the wine end of Calle de Ponzano 16 in Chamberí since 2016. The cellar runs past 400 references, Spanish, French, Italian, and New World, plus champagnes and sherries, and the house policy is the point: everything pours by the glass.

It suits drinkers who treat a wine list as a menu of experiments. It will annoy anyone who wants a long seated dinner; the room is a standing taberna with exactly four high tables.

The Room

A white marble bar for the pours, a narrow ledge running the walls for glasses and plates, and stools you have to earn. EsMadrid describes the design as classicism and modernity in one room, which translates as a clean modern space wearing taberna manners.

The Drinks

Tell the staff a direction and a budget; sommelier led service is the house engine, with glasses from around 3.50 euros and a 16 to 30 euro spend covering a serious evening. Time Out highlights the by the glass policy as the best wine education on Ponzano. The food list backs it with charcuterie, salted fish, pickles, and full dishes like callos and fabada.

The Crowd

Chamberí professionals, wine trade regulars, and the younger crowd Wanderlog's Madrid wine ranking notes has adopted the place. Thursday through Saturday nights run loud and shoulder to shoulder. The midday weekend shift drinks slower and asks more questions.

The Neighborhood

Calle Ponzano is Madrid's densest eating street, served by Alonso Cano and Iglesia metro stops. Make it a wine crawl with La Fisna in Lavapiés, or stay classic at Vinoteca Moratín near the Prado.

When to Go

Thursday lunch is the insider window, when the full list pours into a calm room. Friday and Saturday after 21:00 deliver the full Ponzano roar, for better and worse.

What Regulars Say

• Trust the staff; Tripadvisor reviewers consistently name the sommeliers as the reason to return.
• Everything really is by the glass, including bottles you expected to be off limits.
• Standing is part of the deal, so dress for a ledge, not a booth.
• Pair the big reds with the callos, a repeated local recommendation.

Who It Is For

• The drinker who wants twelve regions in one evening
• A Ponzano crawl that starts with intent
• Avoid if you need a chair and a slow seated dinner

Madrid has grander wine rooms, but none more generous with the cellar. Averías pours its entire list one glass at a time, and that policy alone earns the metro ride.

Explore more wine bars in Madrid, or start from the full Madrid bar guide.