Gastronomic Madrid Tapas Tours - A Savory Experience

Madrid is one of Europe’s most exciting cities, literally bursting with energy, and nowhere is this more apparent than in its bars, restaurants and cafes.  The city claims to have more eating establishments per capita than anywhere in the world, and with so many choices, the best way to get the most out of your visit is to let an insider steer you through the gastronomic pleasures Madrid offers.  This way, you don’t have to hassle with deciding where to go, how to get there, what to order, or how to communicate.  You can simply relax and enjoy the experience…or watch and learn for your next outing!

As the nation’s capital, Madrid has long attracted settlers from the rest of the peninsula, and their culinary traditions have turned Madrid into the most diverse eating experience in the country, where conventional Spanish dishes mix with gourmet tapas and fine wines.  My Madrid tapas tours help you enjoy this range through a variety of food and drink experiences that take full advantage of the unique offerings of each establishment.  This is complemented by a historic overview of the respective neighborhood, in order to better understand the area you’ll visit.

As for the price, some tapas tours charge just for the guide to accompany you, and in addition, you have to pay for what you consume.  With my tours however, there are no hidden costs, and the prices cover all of the food included on the tour and one drink per stop.  In addition to that, you’ll receive a copy of my very personalized Madrid Restaurant Guide, with specific food recommendations to help you narrow down the choices when you head out on your own!

Option #1 - Neighborhood of Letters Tapas Tour - 95€

Looking for a tapas and wine tour in one of the hottest neighborhoods in town, where the old-fashioned easily mixes with the avant-garde?  Then you’ll love the Neighborhood of Letters Tour!  I’ll be taking you on a three and a half hour walk through Madrid’s literary quarter, home to the city’s most historic theatre, el Teatro Español, and the former residence of illustrious Golden Age writers such as Miguel de Cervantes, author of Don Quijote.

We’ll begin in one of the neighborhood’s popular wine bars, where we’ll start with a tasting of artisan cheese accompanied by one of Spain’s most loved wines.  We’ll then head to one of the area’s newest and hottest establishments, where we’ll try gourmet versions of several classic dishes.  Our third bar-restaurant offers rustic specialties from the province of León, a region known for its hearty plates such as grilled chunks of prime beef.  We’ll then end our night at a historic bar that dates back to the 1920’s and is famous for serving only one drink, known across the world but understood by few.

• 6 people maximum (exception made for private groups)
• Four stops included
• Duration: 3.5 hours, available daily for lunch or dinner
• Stops are all within a 5-10 minute walk of each other
• Seating available at almost all stops
• Meeting point - Plaza Santa Ana (metro Sol or Sevilla)
• Discounts offered to large private groups

*Please note that a surcharge of 20 € per person would apply if you end up being only two clients on a non-private tour.

Option #2 - Neighborhood of Lavapiés Tapas Tour - 75€

Want to explore one of the lesser-known parts of central Madrid, where city-rents are still affordable and attract a more bohemian and carefree crowd?  Then we’ve got something for you!  Over a period of three and a half hours, we’ll visit three classic venues of this working-class, multi-cultural neighborhood, before ending our evening with a short metro ride back to Puerta del Sol, where we’ll enjoy churros and chocolate at Madrid’s cherished San Ginés Chocolatería.

We’ll begin our night at a bar that started life in the 1920’s as a wine store where you could consume in-house or take it to go.  There we’ll warm our digestive fires with draught vermouth and olives, followed by a soft, spreadable cured meat from the island of Mallorca.  Then it’s on to one of the neighborhood’s most beloved institutions, a Galician bar where locals throw their napkins on the floor and pack the place out nightly.  We’ll fill our stomachs with several regional specialties from Spain’s rainy northwest corner.  Then we’ll walk across the street to a landmark cafe that opened back in 1901, where we’ll enjoy a classic Spanish digestif to help bajar la comida.  Then it’s on to Puerta del Sol for churros and chocolate!

• 6 people maximum (exception made for private groups)
• Four stops included
• Duration: 3.5 hours, from 7pm to 10:30pm, Tues-Sat
• Stops are within a 5-10 minute walk of each other
• Seating available at almost all stops
• Meeting point - Metro Antón Martín (Line #1) - Exit Plaza de Antón Martín
• Discounts offered to large private groups

*Please note that a surcharge of 15 € per person would apply if you end up being only two clients on a non-private tour.

Option #3 - Neighborhood of Malasaña Vegetarian Food Tour - 85€

As a vegetarian on vacation in Madrid, you’re surely looking for something besides the repetitive rotation of grilled vegetables, out-of-season gazpacho, and bland salads overloaded with iceberg lettuce.

While it’s true that Spaniards are dedicated meat lovers, Madrid’s restaurants have developed a wonderful array of creative and classic vegetarian options over the past few years.  But as these types of dishes receive less publicity than their carnivorous counterparts, hunting them down can be a tiring experience.

That’s where the Madrid Tours & Tastings Vegetarian Food Tour comes in, as we’ve done the search for you!  We’ll start in one of Madrid’s hip central neighborhoods, known as Malasaña.  There we’ll visit a historic tavern that dates back to 1892 and is famous for preparing one of Spain’s classic dishes, with some arguing that this is Spain’s only true national dish.  We’ll also try a unique aperitif that is rarely seen outside its native homeland in southern Spain.

From there we’ll move on to one of the area’s new creative tapas bars, where you’ll taste old classics updated for modern times.  After that, we’ll sit down at one of Madrid’s hottest new restaurants, run by a team of Spaniards from Navarra, a historic part of the Basque Country whose fertile Ebro river valley produces some of Spain’s most appreciated produce.  The menu here is dominated by regional vegetarian specialties, although those who would like to add fish or meat to their evening can easily be accommodated as well.

• 6 people maximum (exception made for private groups)
• Three stops included
• Duration: 3 hours, available daily for lunch or dinner (except Sunday)
• Stops are within a 5-10 minute walk of each other
• Seating available at almost all stops
• Meeting point - Metro Gran Vía (Line #1) - Telefónica skyscraper exit
• Discounts offered to large private groups

*Please note that a surcharge of 15 € per person would apply if you end up being only two clients on a non-private tour.

Reserve a Tour or Ask a Question

To reserve one of our Gastronomic Madrid Tapas Tours, or if you have questions about one of the tours, you can use our contact form, email us at [email protected], or call us directly at (+34) 620 883 900.  Private tapas tours are also available for a slightly higher rate.  Contact for prices.