¡Toma Jamon! – You don’t have to ask twice…

Bars and Cafes, La Latina

by Ben Curtis

Toma Jamon

¡Toma Jamon!, the name of this favourite in La Latina, means ‘Eat Ham’. And that is exactly what I do when I’m there, from the moment I get through the door, until the bottle of wine is finished and we head on elsewhere. Ask for the house Crianza, I think it’s Rioja, but who cares – it’s delicious, and in any case, we are here for the ham! A plate costs 12 Euros and comes with a large helping of thick, tomato and oil covered bread – it’s ridiculous value for stuff this good.

I was shocked on my last visit to discover that this is one of a chain of 5 other ¡Toma Jamon! bars – you would never guess, it feels like a run-of-the-mill Madrileño bar. In any case, I shall never set foot in any of the others. This one is tucked away on Calle Mediodía Grande (no. 6 – map), in the back streets of my favourite late-night Barrio, and, what’s more, Princess Leticia’s dad used to drink here…
(…before they stopped him drinking in public ;) )

Comments

Comment from Gary
Date: January 21, 2007, 12:04 am

So, now i have two bars and a restaurant to go to – thats a good night out in anyones books. Right on the money as usual. Congratulations on your new launch.

Comment from ben
Date: January 21, 2007, 2:08 am

Thanks Gary! Plenty more where these came from!

Comment from Jules
Date: January 22, 2007, 1:58 pm

I need a week’s worth of good places in Madrid to eat & drink so this is all good news!!

Comment from Dave
Date: January 22, 2007, 2:44 pm

I tried to find the opening times on the website, but couldn’t.

Do you know what the opening times are of such a place? Is it open till quite late in the evening?

Comment from Ben
Date: January 22, 2007, 5:18 pm

Jules – there will be more, don’t worry, plenty for a week’s worth soon!

Dave – good point, I will look into that next time I am there, but they are always open from 8 onwards at least.

Comment from Gary
Date: May 7, 2007, 6:32 pm

…and now Ive tried it I know its great – and has the two tiniest waitresses on the planet!!
Cant wait to get back!

Pingback from La Latina Bars – some of our favourites… – Notes from Madrid
Date: November 14, 2007, 10:38 am

[...] Toma Jamon, El Viajero, Taberna del Almendro (full review), La Concha, Delic Cafe, Berlin Cabaret, La Solea, and Sanlucar. [...]

Pingback from What are Tapas? Where is the best place for Tapas in Madrid? – Notes from Madrid
Date: March 8, 2008, 9:32 am

[...] This process usually goes on until we are all full up of good food and delicious wine. This idea of tapas-hunting from bar to bar is what is known in Spanish as Ir de Tapas. A great area for this is La Latina, with La Taberna del Almendro, Toma Jamón, and one of our favourites, La Taberna Miranda, being great places to start. But of course you can ir de tapas in other areas of Madrid, like around Plaza de Santa Ana, Chueca, or even in your local neighbourhood. [...]