Interior View of Bar La Campana

Bar La Campana

Restaurant Bar Beer hall Spanish restaurant

No-frills urban tavern known for fried calamari sandwiches, plus classic tapas dishes & sangria. People often mention calamari, sandwich, line, fried, good, bread, order, sandwiches, quick, friendly,


Address

C. de Botoneras, 6, Centro, 28012 Madrid, Spain

Website

www.instagram.com

Contact

+34 913 64 29 84

Rating on Google Maps

4.50
(87015.8K reviews)


Working Hours

  • Tuesday: 10 AM to 11 PM
  • Wednesday: 10 AM to 11 PM
  • Thursday: 10 AM to 11 PM
  • Friday: 10 AM to 11 PM
  • Saturday: 10 AM to 11 PM
  • Sunday: 10 AM to 11 PM
  • Monday: 10 AM to 11 PM

Visitor Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: calamari (46) sandwich (31) line (17) fried (16) good (15) bread (13) order (11) sandwiches (10) quick (9) friendly (9)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 3/5 Christine Castro (. 2 years ago on Google
    The service was very quick but server wasn’t too friendly. Felt very rushed and we ordered quickly. I’ve seen people with mayonnaise and lemon with their order but ours did not come with it. Would definitely ask for it if you get the chance to try out their calamari sandwich. It just felt very plain without any sauce but still happy with the quality of the calamari itself!
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Simo A. 2 years ago on Google
    A must try if you’re in Madrid! This place happened to be by our hotel and it seemed super popular! The waiting queues get pretty crazy during rush hours but the staff is used to it by now as they deliver orders faster than they take them lol. The concept of the calamari sandwich is pretty straight forward, deep fried crispy calamari rings inside fresh warm bread topped with some lemon juice and some mayo for the real ones ⚡️ plus, 3.50 for a sandwich makes it totally worth the try maybe a few tries even haha. We wanted to try their bravas but they didn’t have anymore potatoes left. Once we’re back in Madrid I’ll make sure to come back and try other places to compare with the Calamari Sandwich from La Campana!
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Boris V. 2 years ago on Google
    Very tasty calamari experience right next to the Plaza Mayor. The staff was really friendly and English speaking, while the products affordable - 3.50 Eur for a single calamari with fresh pastry. Both sitting inside and to-go options available.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Winnie Felicia G. 2 years ago on Google
    I really liked the calamari sandwich! I found it a bit too salty when I only ate the calamari. But when eating it with the bread, the taste was balanced and I enjoyed it so much. Service was quick and friendly. Definitely recommend this place to have a calamari sandwich in Madrid!
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Luis N. 3 years ago on Google
    This is a must try when you arrive in Madrid. Who knew that fried calamari on a sandwich was so good? There was a long line even when we wanted to get it for takeaway. However, the takeaway service was so fast that we were out in less than a minute! The calamari in itself was quite fresh and just a little bit salty. Outside being crispy while inside is nice and soft. We tried it without any sauces or lemons since we did not need it. Truly a wonderful eat that should be on anyone’s bucket list.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Poonie T. 2 years ago on Google
    I was hungry and just landed so looking for something quick to grab and ended up seeing many people recommended this place to get Calamari sandwich. It was quick and the portion was huge. But the calamari was too greasy for me I couldn't finish it. So far, it would be better if it came with lemon. Still, it is a must try dish and very cheap too.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Bee דְּבוֹרָה T. 1 year ago on Google
    This shop is popular for its calamari sandwich. It's already a long queue when we arrived in the morning. We could only order the calamari sandwiches because of our language barrier. Nevertheless, the calamari was really fresh and tasty. We had an economical ( only €4 each), delicious yet unhealthy breakfast of the day.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Stilyana D. 3 years ago on Google
    Best sandwiches I've ever had. It's strange how this simple dish can be so good, but the oil of the calamari soaks into the bread, and with olives and beer it's very delicious. Guys are super friendly and the atmosphere is really authentic. Visiting this place three days in a row. Best for late breakfast or afternoon meal.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Cate M. 2 years ago on Google
    Highly recommend! This place is the real deal for authentic calamari sandwiches. There was a line, but it moved quickly due to an efficient system (you wait in line for a table, and when one opens, you go to the counter to order and sit back down to wait until they call your order). Drinks come with free olives while you wait.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Andrej C. 2 years ago on Google
    Tasty and freshly prepared calamari, that are located right next to the Plaza Mayor. The staff was quick, friendly and English speaking. Pretty affordable prices with the opportunity to either takeaway the food, or enjoy it right in the place. Good for quick dinner when you're on the go. Also serve beverages and sangria.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Marie A. 1 year ago on Google
    Overall 7/10 Service 5/10 Cleanliness 5/10 The signature fried calamari is excellent. Not too salty nor oily. The calamari is not chewy but not sure is fresh. The sausage slightly salty but tasty. The screwed pork is tender and juicy. There's two line. One is dine in and the other is take out. For dine-in, is self service order at the bar. The mayonnaise and olive oil request from the service waitress.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Toni K. 1 year ago on Google
    A Madrid staple, I got the calamari sandwich to go, ate it when it was still piping hot and it was good, looked kinda dry but not at all. Definitely liked it a bit more with mayonnaise. If you want a table you have to wait quite some time, but to take away it’s easy and fast. Kind of oily, but what did i expect of deep fried calamari. It’s pretty cheap and they have other options as well. 4 euros for a sandwich. I think it’s definitely worth the try.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Olivia C. 2 years ago on Google
    In Plaza Mayor, Madrid, Bar La Campana is a great place to eat calamari and have a beer. The service was friendly, fast and inexpensive. I would definitely come here again for the fresh food!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Caroline L. 2 years ago on Google
    Apparently recommended as a top favourite spot to try the calamari sandwich. I liked the calamari, they were fresh and lightly battered. However I thought the sandwich was a tad dry and would have been nice if there was a side of sauce There were also a lot of people queueing so we had this as a takeaway
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Harvey O. 1 year ago on Google
    Delicious, fast, and affordable. Calamare and chorizo subs were 4 euros each and small beer was 2 euros. They give you some olives as free side, and those are also good. I got there before 12 noon on Tuesday and was able to get a table without waiting much. By the time I finished eating, the line started to form, so my suggestion is to get there early.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Laz R. 2 years ago on Google
    Great local place for tapas and wine. This was part of our tapas and wine tour in Madrid. The tapas were great. The staff very friendly. We tried the vermouth as recommended by our guide. Would definitely go back!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Elle G. 3 years ago on Google
    Probably the best place to try the famous bocadillo de calamari if a calamari sandwich was a thing worth trying. The chorizo sandwich is a tastier option. Fast service. Great area nearby other bars and the plaza mayor.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Catherine C. 2 years ago on Google
    It’s just fried calamari between bread with no sauce, but it hits different! Calamari is fried perfectly, and you get a decent amount of it.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Mrinal P. 3 years ago on Google
    Seems a bit too much of a trend then worth the taste. This for sure is the most famous shop selling this sandwich going by the waiting line. The long line and the hot weather made us to go for the takeaway option, which was only a 2 min wait time. But the sandwich was a bit too dry to our liking and needed some sauces. Probably the lemon might have helped but that was not part of the takeaway. Probably eating inside might be different.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jun F. 3 years ago on Google
    Wow what a treat for a 3 euro sandwich! Generous amount of delicious fried calamari and fluffy bread. Don’t get scared by the line. It goes by so fast as the staffs come to get your order while you wait in the to-go line, which is on the right hand side if you are facing the restaurant. It took literally less than 5 mins for us. And you will be so happy with your sandwich.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 wei 2 years ago on Google
    Though it’s located very close to the touristy Plaza Major, La Campana isn’t a tourist trap! Food is tasty and prices are reasonable 👍 Had the vermut with a plate of olives, grilled green peppers, a small piece of potato omelette, calamari sandwich and all were perfection. Calamari was so tender and freshly fried. It was a short line to wait to be seated, after which you’ll have to go to the counter to order, pay and bring your food back to the table to chow down!

  • 5/5 Gabriel G. 3 years ago on Google
    Really good sandwiches at a low price. You can get full with just two "bocatas de calamares"

  • 4/5 Kristie Y. 1 year ago on Google
    Please note there are 2 lines: one for sit-in and one for take out. The line looks intimidatingly long but if you are taking it to-go it moves very fast. The woman taking orders was very friendly, fast, and efficient. She made sure to give us plenty of napkins and a lot of people took to-go orders back to the Plaza Mayor to sit and eat (which is what we did too). The fried squid itself was very good, fried and seasoned to perfection... Make sure to try a bite outside of the sandwich.

  • 4/5 toufic t. 1 year ago on Google
    Famous place to grab a Calamari sandwich. When we arrived there we were worried at the sight of the queue outside the bar, but quickly realized this was the eat in queue, and that the take out queue was actually empty. 2 minutes later we had steaming hot calamari bocadillos in our hands, heading to plaza mayor to devour them while enjoying the surroundings. The calamaris were perfectly fried, and salted, and the bread was fine, you can probably opt for a no bread version , as we did not finish ours. Overall a great opening snack experience when arriving to madrid.

  • 4/5 S R. 1 year ago on Google
    Long line for this crispy calamari sandwich. Is it worth it? For the calamari, YES👍🏻 . For the bread, really they could have tried with a little bit better quality. it would have been a total 5 stars. A little disappointing there. However, the portion is generous for 4€ and the line actually move quite fast if you do takeaway. So I have nothing to complain and will come back whenever I crave calamari 😂

  • 5/5 Violeta M. 3 years ago on Google
    Delicious food and authentic atmosphere. Friendly service and clean place. Recommend for a quick bite 😊

  • 5/5 Nick P. 1 year ago on Google
    Came here twice it's good. It's really good and worth a visit. Calamari is fresh, lightly fried and put in a really good piece of bread. Note that at lunchtime the line goes down the block. Get here right at 10am or after lunchtime and there is no line. We walked by here for four days strait and every day after 6 there wasn't a single person waiting. They also have chorizo and other types of sandwiches.

  • 5/5 Maria Antonia Z. 3 years ago on Google
    I almost feel as if I should keep this place as a secret! Excellent quality price ratio and hidden between many touristic traps, personnel is super friendly, food is delicious and authentic. Not for a fancy meal but will definetley be a highlight of your day!

  • 5/5 Stephanie 11 months ago on Google
    I thought this 4 euro calamari sandwich was going to be a tourist trap but surprisingly it was so delicious. I saw calamari sandwiches at the nearby market that was priced at 8+ euros. THAT would have been a tourist trap. This sandwich was remarkably simple but remarkably delicious. Who knew fried calamari would go so well with bread. It's like a match made in heaven. The calamari comes piping hot (be careful not to burn yourself) and the crispiness pairs so well. I would get this over and over again if I could

  • 5/5 Robert M. 3 years ago on Google
    Best Calamari sandwiches in Spain. This place is very small and very popular. You can eat in or take out, but either way you will wait for a while. If you want to eat in, there is always a line to get a table, and depending on the time, it can be very long. They specialize in Calamari sandwiches, but they make other types and serve other foods. A must if you are in Madrid.

  • 5/5 Raphaël R. S. 3 years ago on Google
    Great atmosphere, more than reasonable pricing and finger-liking bocadillos!

  • 5/5 Andre K. 2 years ago on Google
    There was a line out the door but it went quickly. Fast diner-style type restaurant with awesome calamari sandwiches. Once seated, you order at the counter. Prepared fast and served with an olive plate. Highly recommend!

  • 5/5 Gioconda V. 2 years ago on Google
    Very popular place for the "Bocadillo de Calamares" (calamari sandwich) for only €3.50. Very good price, crispy golden calamari, fresh bread, lemon and garlic mayo on the side. The place is small and cozy, staff is very quick, there is a constant movement of people, food, plates, not a quiet moment here. You can pay with credit card or cash, they also serve Beer and a side of Olives with every "Caña" you order (that's how beer is called here). This place is located by Plaza Mayor so if you get to sit inside and enjoy your food like i did, when you're done eating you can have a nice walk afterwards in Plaza Mayor. Very good and affordable place to eat. Highly recommended 👍

  • 5/5 Nguyen Minh A. 3 years ago on Google
    Great place for the squid sandwich. Big portion and reasonable price. Love the atmosphere there. Worth trying

  • 5/5 Martin C. 3 years ago on Google
    Very busy place for your calamari sandwich. Totally Spanish. Worth it for the experience, but don't get comfortable, it's a conveyor belt!! Could do with some mayonnaise or sauce as the bread and calamari are a little on the dry side. Time your visit, go before 1330.

  • 5/5 Heedong D. 2 years ago on Google
    I love the vibe here! But, in my personal opinion, it is better to eat without bread.

  • 5/5 Mashhour Al S. 2 years ago on Google
    Classic place for calamari sandwiches. It is perfectly cooked and the fried potatoes with the red sauce is the cherry on the top. Highly recommended

  • 4/5 Rebecca C. 3 years ago on Google
    Really good calamari sandwich in the center of Madrid. Can't really understand why calamari is famous here since it's so far from the coast, but it's still good. Make sure you get a beer to wash it down!

  • 5/5 Leah D. 2 years ago on Google
    Very quick service. Didn't even have to ask for my order...they knew I wanted a Calamari sandwich. Good price and delicious (would love to try with sauce of some sort). They take both cash or card (some reviews say they don't but we paid with card).

  • 4/5 Bvin L. 2 years ago on Google
    Good. This restaurant is good for trying fried squid sandwich for the first time. But the fried squids are quite salty.. and there are so many people, you have to go to the kitchen and order yourself. Don't wait until the waiter comes to you. They don't come to you. Preparing cash would be better but you can pay by credit card too. Eating sandwich with Clara beer is good.


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