Vermut is not just a drink; it is a ritual. Between noon and two on Saturdays and Sundays, most of Spain is on a bar terrace with a copa of red vermouth on ice, a slice of orange, an olive, a handful of crisps and a plate of anchovies. It is the single most Spanish moment of the week, and it happens to be the best first-date format on earth.
The genius of the vermut date is that it is short by default. Nobody stays past two — everyone is expected home for the Sunday family lunch — which caps the meeting at ninety minutes and removes the awful decision of when to end it. It is public, it is cheap (five to seven euros a round), and it is warm without being romantic in an intimidating way.
The best vermut bars in Madrid are Bodegas Rosell, Casa Camacho, La Ardosa and Bodega de la Ardosa in Malasaña. In Barcelona, Quimet & Quimet, Bar Bodega Quimet in Sant Antoni, and La Puntual in the Born are unbeatable. In Valencia, Café Madrid and La Pilareta are the classics. In Málaga, Casa Lola and Antigua Casa de Guardia have been serving vermouth for well over a century.
Suggest a vermut for a first date and pay attention to who says yes. It is the fastest cultural test in the country — anyone who understands why the invitation is charming already understands half of what dating in Spain is really about.
"Sunday, noon, a copa de vermut, olives, sunshine — the case for the lowest-pressure date on earth."
Written by the Best Dating Spain editorial team and reviewed before publication by a relationship coach based in Madrid. We test every app ourselves and never accept sponsored placements.