A historic bodega in the heart of the Judería
At number 7 on Calle Judíos, Bodega Guzmán has been pouring wine for over a century and shows no interest in updating the formula. The wooden barrels are lined up behind the counter exactly where they have always been. The bullfighting posters on the wall are originals, not reproductions. The tumblers the wine comes in are old-fashioned on purpose.
The Fino Amargoso arrives cold and dry with that characteristic bitterness that divides opinion — you either come back for it three times or you switch to the Oloroso Abuelo, which develops into walnuts and dried fruit by the second glass and pairs well with everything the kitchen sends out. The Judería crowds thin out a block away, but Bodega Guzmán stays busy with regulars.
Traditional tapas and authenticity
The menu does not try to be interesting. Chorizo in wine, veal with tomato, black pudding — all made properly, all served generously, all priced without a tourist premium. Walls covered in bullfighting memorabilia provide the décor nobody chose but nobody would remove. Faded photographs, corrida posters, capes that have seen better days. For more authentic local addresses, see our guide to Córdoba's tapas scene.
A genuinely local experience
Bodega Guzmán is what people mean when they say they want a real local bar. No menu in six languages. No QR code. The owners communicate with a smile and genuine hospitality that does not require shared vocabulary. Two minutes from the Synagogue and the Mezquita — ideal after a morning of sightseeing when what you need is a glass of something honest at a table nobody is rushing you from. Vinoteca Ordóñez on the same street has 100+ labels with Mezquita views if you want to go deeper. For Montilla-Moriles further afield, see our wine route guide. El Barón on Plaza de Abades is the neighborhood's other wine reference.
