bar el comercio

Updated August 2022

“We’ve been neighbours for how long and you’ve never eaten here before?” owner Paco Rivera asked me in disbelief back in 2015. The answer was almost 22 years! Well okay, I had actually been in many times over the years for the famous all-day churros, but somehow only got round to trying out their tapas at that time.

Founded in 1904, and passed from father to son since then (both Paco and his father were born in the living quarters above the bar), Café Bar El Comercio is very much old school. A fairly narrow frontage in a wood design typical of the time leads to the bar area, which still has the original tile front and wood top bar, and glass fronted wall cupboards. The walls and shelves are filled with wonderful clutter, including a cute model of the front of the bar with a costalero enjoying churros. At the back is a dining room, with the original marble topped tables.

Its opening hours are a little untypical, being adjusted to its location in a main shopping street, opening at 7.30am, and closing at 9pm, and also closed from Saturday afternoon through Sunday. For the same reason El Comercio is best known for its excellent churros and chocolate, but there’s also a good selection of traditional tapas, montaditos and toasts (try the matecaido, mini or full-size). Just the thing for when you’ve been shopping.

Bread/Service Charge: 0€