Why Do a Tapas Tour in Madrid: A Guide’s Guide to Unlocking Madrid’s Best Food
¡Hola! My name is Oliver and I’ve been guiding food, wine and tapas tours in Madrid for nearly a decade. (You may have seen my wildly popular video about Spanish olives!) Aside from loving olives and any nibble or sip related to the aperitivo, I am a guide with Walk and Eat and recent home owner (making me extremely madrileño) who has called Spain home for the last 15 years.
When done right, Spain leaves no one indifferent. It is so easy to find enjoyment in simple and routine parts of life here.. Shopping at a market, for example, can result in sharing a beer with the ham guy or trying the new cheese your quesero has recently started selling. Going out for tapas in Madrid is such a wonderfully simple way to live this quotidian pleasure while surrounded by people.
Oliver (in white) introduces his guests to Roberto, the best olive vendor in the Barceló Market! Tapas tours like this one are the best way to meet the people behind Madrid’s unique foods and flavors.
For visitors though, Madrid tapas bars can be a bit intimidating. This is why I would love to make the case that as soon as you get into Madrid, you must get on a tapas tour in order to get your bearings and experience the best of Madrid.
What is a tapas tour?
Travel anywhere in the Mediterranean and Southern Europe and you will find some version of tapas. From mezze or meze in Greece and Turkey, to antipasti in Italy and petiscos in Portugal, this style of shared family plates is ubiquitous throughout this part of the world.
Tapas are always enjoyed with family and friends, always accompanied by wine or beer, and always a several hour long affair.
Even for the most intrepid traveler, it can be challenging to partake in Madrid’s sacred local custom. Enter the tapas tour.
The best way to find the small shops and tapas bars that make Madrid unique is to join a tapas tour!
A tapas tour is a multi-stop meal spread across different tapas bars (usually 3-4) where you’ll try the specialty at each spot. Most Madrid tapas tours are led by local guides like me. The best ones will also give you the background and cultural context of the restaurant, the family or chefs that run it and the food and drinks you taste. Some tapas tours in Madrid (like ours!) will include all of the food and drinks you are served throughout the evening in the price of the tour.
I know I’m a bit biased having guided these experiences for many years, but here are the top reasons I think tapas tours are the best way to experience Madrid:
Tapas tours put you together with other like minded travelers.
They pair you with an experienced local guide like myself who can give you the lowdown on not just what to eat but also where and how to do tapas.
They show you several different bars and restaurants and their especialidad de la casa (house speciality)
Great tapas tours introduce you to Spain’s historic wine tradition and ordering customs
And they give you tips and tricks to be able to find the truly authentic and local haunts after you have finished.
Our De Tapas in Malasaña: Evening Wine and Tapas Tour explores the emblematic central Malasaña neighborhood. Here you’ll be introduced to four locally owned eateries and enjoy a drink and a tapa (or three!) in each. You’ll try sweet and spiced on-tap vermouth, the perfectly poured caña, and even do a wine tasting to figure out if you are team Ribera or team Rioja. At each stop you will get to meet the people who make each local business so special.
A tapas tour in Madrid is truly a must if you want to get away from microwaved paella, frozen pre-made croquetas, bottled gazpacho, or any of the other atrocities awaiting the ill-informed in certain areas of the city.
Why do a tapas tour in Madrid?
As Anthony Bourdain often said, “the history of the world is indeed in front of you on your plate.” In Madrid, that couldn’t be more true. We have dishes with Arab influences like gallina en pepitoria. Chocolaterias serve chocolate originally brought back from the Americas. A plethora of regional Spanish cuisines bring us Galician marisquerías (temples to seafood) and Valencian arrocerías specializing in rice dishes like paella.
Madrid and its many unique and characteristic neighborhoods definitely can be a tough nut to crack. So what is your “in” to trying traditional tapas, learning about local wines, and exploring the neighborhood from a local’s perspective? A tapas tour in Madrid.
Here are the 7 reasons I always recommend taking a tapas tour in Madrid:
1. Get access to the best tapas bars
Madrid is a city where personal space is a concept radically different from Northern Europe and the United States. Locals are totally at ease sharing bar space and sometimes even tables with strangers.
A few years ago the chef in my local tapas bar put a new dish on the menu. I noticed the group next to me had ordered it so I asked how it was. They promptly told me ‘¡coge y prueba!’ (take a piece and give it a try!).
This comfort with sharing space–and sometimes even food!–with strangers in Madrid can sometimes make for a very intimidating experience if you aren’t from here. Countless times I have seen the adventurous traveler wander into a busy tapas bar, take a look around, try to order, struggle to get the attention of the bartender, and walk out defeated.
It is our mission at Walk and Eat to make sure that doesn’t happen! Our tapas tours take the reins and order the local specialty and drink for you while showing you how to do it on your own for the rest of your trip.
Tapas tours in Madrid get you into the best tapas bars and show you the specialty tapa and drink so you can experience them like a local!
2. The language barrier is real
When comparing Spain to other European countries we are smack dab in the middle regarding English proficiency. Young Spaniards are often comfortable in English and delighted to chat up curious travelers. Their parents and grandparents, on the other hand, more likely than not learned French in school rather than English!
The reality is that most of Madrid’s traditional taberneros (those who run tapas taverns and restaurants) speak quite limited English. It is enormously helpful to have a local guide coordinate orders and explain the history behind the establishment and their most emblematic dishes so you can understand just why each bite is so special.
3. Taste more tapas!
Variety is the spice of life, and the tapeo (the act of eating tapas) is a beautiful reflection of that. Spanish tapas bars usually divide their menus into raciones (dishes meant to be shared amongst 4-5 people) and medias (half-size plates still designed to be shared between 2-3 diners).
This style of shared eating allows groups to try the widest variety of dishes possible. Eating in Madrid is inherently social. The tapeo is a very hard activity for the solo traveler or even for just two people since dishes are designed for sharing! Jumping on a tapas tour allows you to truly tapear like a local and try as much of the local fare as possible.
From tapas to raciones, tapas tours allow you to taste a wide variety of foods!
4. Your key to eating seasonal
Spain produces about one fifth of Europe's fruit and vegetables. Given the incredible quality of food products cultivated throughout the country, seasonality is central to the Spanish diet.
From plump, meaty tomatoes and jammy figs in summer to leafy greens and artichokes in the winter, eating what’s in season is one of the great delights of living in Madrid.
No one knows what is in season and how to prepare it better than those who shop at the markets and prepare the menus for the local eateries. An expert guide knows just what to order and when as we are in constant contact with the chefs and market vendors!
Markets are the best place to see what is in season!
5. Meet likeminded travelers
Traveling is not only about exploring new places, but it is also about meeting new people. A Madrid tapas tour allows you to share bites with fellow travelers and accompany each delicious bite and sip with a conversation and connection. That is what makes the Madrid experience so warm and human!
6. Learn how to order tapas in Madrid
A good friend came to visit a few years back and I took her to one of my favorite tapas bars. As the shared plates came out at one point she looked at me and said “Wait, where is my food?”
Let’s face it, dining practices at tapas bars in Madrid are very different from other countries! Menus here are all aimed at providing variety and built around sharing. Ordering might be a bit tricky to the uninitiated but once you have figured it out you can’t not love it.
On a tapas tour, you’ll learn to speak Madrid menus so you know how it's done for the rest of your stay! Post-tapas tour, ordering will no longer be a daunting task, but rather an exciting one.
7. Get the inside track on Spanish Wine
Spain’s fascinating wine industry can seem like a lot to the uninitiated. With more than 70 different denominaciones de origen, or official wine regions, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed when asked what type of wine you’d like to drink.
For this very reason, all of our tapas tours in Madrid incorporate a fun, informal wine tasting!
As you sip your way through two glasses of wine, you’ll learn about the different regions and their most emblematic grape varieties. Most importantly by the end of the tasting you’ll be able to decide which is your favorite in order to know how to respond when the bartender asks Ribera o Rioja?
Are you on team Rioja or team Ribera? Find out on a tapas tour in Madrid!
Best Neighborhoods for Tapas in Madrid
Madrid is a bustling metropolis of nearly 7 million people. The city is truly a collection of many unique barrios and there is a strong identity built around each neighborhood. In order to get a feel for the city and how life is different in each microcosm, our tapas tours focus on Madrid’s most emblematic neighborhoods.
Malasaña
I am definitely biased about this one! Malasaña was one of the first neighborhoods I found my footing in when I moved to Madrid.
People often assume Malasaña is best for hip coffee shops and vintage clothes. The neighborhood definitely has both, but it also boasts a handful of classic tapas restaurants (think a centenary tortilla bar or a hole-in-the-wall spot serving up the classic vermouth and olives). Besides those classics, Malasaña is also home to many new establishments looking towards the future and serving up modern takes of classic dishes.
La Latina
There is no secret here. The main drag of the La Latina neighborhood, Cava Baja, hosts more than 50 tapas bars in one short street!
But wander off the main street and you’ll find hidden gems such as a family-run establishment serving grilled sardines since 1977, the perfectly poured caña served with a delicious plate of olives, or a Palestinian restaurant that has been featured in Eva Longoria’s series Searching for Spain.
The best tapas bars in Madrid are often found just off the beaten path.
There is a reason the neighborhood is one of the first places that shows up on internet searches for the best tapas neighborhoods in Madrid!
On our De Historia in La Latina: Madrid Paella, History and Tapas Tour we get off the beaten path to walk and eat our way through some of the most historic streets in the city. From seasonal tapas at the century-old market to the best paella in the city center, this tour shows you the local side of this famous neighborhood!
Alcalá de Henares
The birthplace of Cervantes and the home one of Europe’s oldest universities, Alcala de Henares is a must visit not only for those interested in literary history. While doing my Master’s degree in this lovely historic town, I was delighted to discover it had a lively tapas scene.
Around Calle Mayor there is a plethora of tapas bars. One of my favorites is the classic Bar Nino, Alcala’s oldest bar which specializes in mushrooms (it’s always a good sign when there is a speciality).
Alcalá de Henares is about one hour by Cercanicas train from the Atocha train station, making it a perfect day trip for lovers of gastronomy and literature alike.
Who should do a tapas tour in Madrid?
A tapas tour in Madrid is a fun, informative, and worthwhile experience for all travelers. However, in particular the following groups will find it especially meaningful.
Families with kids
Going out for tapas in Madrid can be fun and delicious for the whole family! By joining a tapas tour, you’ll ensure that you’re visiting tapas bars when they are a bit quieter so your kids have more space. Tapas tours are a great way to try lots of different types of classic Madrid dishes to find the bites your kids like best!
When not guiding tapas tours, I also work as a teacher and have extensive experience working with kids. We make sure to adapt our tours to families and actively work to engage children and make sure they try new foods, learn some Spanish, and have fun. Check out our article here for more information about traveling together as a family: A Mom’s Guide to to Exploring Madrid
A family-friendly tapas tour is a great way to experience Madrid’s tapas culture in a way that works greatw
Solo travelers
As previously mentioned, dining solo in Madrid can be tricky and limiting. Doing a tapas tour in Madrid is the perfect way to partake in our unique way of dining socially with likeminded travelers and engaging guides.
People with dietary restrictions
Madrid is definitely not the city I encountered in 2010 as a 23-year-old vegetarian. We now have abundant vegan and vegetarian tapas in Madrid and increasingly more and more gluten free places that adapt to celiacs.
If you are traveling with dietary restrictions, a tapas tour can be a great way to know that the foods you are eating are safe. It is also a great way to learn about the foods that you can eat!
Here at Walk and Eat we have worked closely with the chefs, owners and waiters at each tapas bar we visit on our tours to design specific menus for guests with food allergies and dietary restrictions.
We have celiac protocols so bars are extra careful about cross contamination. We have special off-menu dishes that our chefs prepare specially for vegetarian guests. And we’ve sourced the only cured meat in Spain that isn’t made of pork so guests who don’t eat pork can experience this essential Spanish tradition!
Because we have such close relationships with the bars and restaurants we visit, we know every ingredient and can plan the most delicious and interesting menus possible for guests with dietary requirements!
The Best Tapas Tours in Madrid
Is it biased to say that our tapas tours here at Walk and Eat are the best in town? Yes. Is it true, though? I sure think so!
Cheers to a fun and delicious evening of walking and eating!
From the quality of the food and drinks to the experts like me that serve as guides, our tours are all about quality over quantity. The maximum group size is only 8 guests which means I get to know every person on the tour and can give personalized recommendations.
The hardest part is deciding which tour is the best fit for your trip! Here’s a quick recap to help you decide:
De Tapas in Malasaña: Evening Wine and Tapas Tour
Learn more or book your spot here.
Focusing on the Malasaña neighborhood, a local expert (like me!) will show you four local haunts and introduce you to the people who make them so special.
From the best croquetas in the neighborhood paired with a sweet and spiced vermouth, to the obligatory wine tasting at a beautiful local vinoteca this tour is all about experiencing a night out like a local. The tour ends in a classic family style dinner with plenty of tapas for you to try everything!
De Historia in La Latina: Madrid Paella, History and Tapas Tour
Learn more or request your private tour here.
Madrid is a historic city, and there is no better way to learn about the history of Madrid and its Moorish roots than through its food. This tour is designed to tell the story from Madrid’s founding in the 9th century as a Moorish outpost to Toledo, to modern day Madrid as a royal city and bustling metropolis.
No visit to Madrid is complete without visiting one of Madrid’s authentic mercados, and we will take you to visit one of Madrid’s oldest and largest and try seasonal produce. The tour finishes in a famed arrocería, serving a proper paella to which you will have to compare all other paellas.
De Tapas in Familia: Madrid Neighborhood Tapas Tour For Families
Request your private family tour here.
There is no surprise that traveling with a family has its own unique set of challenges. We get that and are here to help in the food department!
This family-friendly tapas tour includes three stops. We make sure to visit each restaurant just a bit earlier than usual in order to make sure families have a bit more space and time to enjoy the experience.
Guides bring along a treasure hunt in order to make sure kids are engaged and learning. We even make an often-needed stop at a playground to let the kids play with other kids in the neighborhood. In Madrid tapas are a family affair and this tapas tour makes sure that everyone gets to experience it!
I hope to see you in Madrid one day soon!