One of the classic Malasaña neighbourhood bars, on Calle San Andrés near Plaza del Dos de Mayo. Named after the bar that Madrileños long ago nicknamed after an infamous collaborator from the Napoleonic period, Pepe Botella has the high ceilings, zinc bar, and lived-in quality of a bar that has survived several decades of changing fashions.
Vermouth on tap in the morning (a genuine Madrid tradition), beer through the day, and a mixed crowd of old regulars and younger Malasaña residents. No food beyond the occasional tapa that comes with a drink. The bar is worth visiting for the setting as much as the drinks. Metro Noviciado.