Madrid Ultimate Spanish Cuisine Tour
Enjoy a delicious initiation to Spanish cuisine at the small, family-owned eateries Madrid locals know and love best.
Highlights
- Enjoy 15+ delicious tastes at 10 family-run eateries.
- Try top-quality products from a typical local market.
- Taste freshly fried churros and thick hot chocolate.
- Eat among locals in central Madrid.
- Step into tapas bars, pastry shops, delis, and more.
What's included
- Local English-speaking guide
- Expertly guided walking tour
- 8 tasting stops with 12+ tastes and 4 drinks
- Hotel Pick-up/Drop-off
- Gratuities
Overview
Get a crash course in Spanish food and culture as you taste your way through the market stalls, pastry shops, and tapas bars of central Madrid's most charming neighborhoods. From Spanish classics like hand-sliced Iberian ham to only-in-Madrid specialties such as a fried calamari sandwich, consider this your introduction to the city’s most unmissable bites.
First up on your Madrid morning food tour, you’ll unlearn everything you thought you knew about churros—and discover the real origins of chocolate—at a beloved neighborhood café serving up the best version of both in all of Madrid.
Next, you’ll set off on the next stop in many madrileños’ morning routines: buying bread for the day. At a tiny storefront managed by a passionate young baker from northern Spain, you’ll learn why good bread in Madrid can be surprisingly hard to come by—and taste for yourself why this spot is the exception, in the form of their delicious homemade chorizo-stuffed rolls.
From there, it’s off to the market! You’ll explore the vibrant Mercado de Antón Martín as locals from all walks of life do their daily grocery shopping. Along the way, you’ll stop at a variety of stalls to taste their finest products: flavorsome olives, cured meats, locally sourced produce, and Spain’s very own liquid gold: extra virgin olive oil.
After tasting your way around the market, you’ll make your way to an unassuming neighborhood deli with a surprising past. It was here that the owner’s father held clandestine meetings to plot against Spain’s newly established dictatorship in the 1930s! Today, that same space is where you’ll sit down for a mini tasting of cheeses from around Spain paired with two different wines.
The next stop is a favorite among locals and infamously hard to reserve—but luckily, your spot is already guaranteed! Here you’ll try freshly fried croquettes—a staple of tapas bar menus across Spain—and wash it down with an ice-cold beer while learning all about tapas culture.
The only thing you should eat around Plaza Mayor is your next bite: a calamari sandwich. You can find it almost anywhere in the surrounding area, but today you're trying the best one around, with calamari rings cooked to perfection in light, crunchy batter. Enjoy it standing outside the bar, just like the locals do.
Finally, you’ll finish your Madrid morning food tour on a sweet note at a pastry shop that’s been going strong since 1855. Opened by the Spanish queen’s own personal pastry chef, this incredible spot is seemingly hidden in plain sight. You might recognize this elegant shop from Spanish-American chef Jose Andrés' travel show, but we've known about this hidden gem for years! Here you’ll try a classic Spanish dessert with your choice of coffee or tea.
Points of interest
Mercado Antón Martín, Calle de Santa Isabel, Madrid, Spain
Plaza Mayor, Plaza Mayor, Madrid, Spain
Additional Information
The tour is in English.
Guests with serious food allergies will need to sign an allergy waiver at the start of the tour
This our is not recommended for vegans.
This tour is adaptable for: Vegetarians, Pescatarians, Gluten free (not celiacs), Dairy free & Pregnant women. If you have a dietary requirement or food allergy, please note it when booking.
Our group tour utilizes multiple areas that are not wheelchair accessible. Those with wheelchairs should contact us so we can arrange your visit.
Due to the risk of gluten cross-contamination, this tour is not adaptable for those with celiac disease
Those with dietary restrictions need to contact us at [email protected] at the time of booking so we can arrange your food.
Before you travel, please read the "Know Before You Go" section for essential information, requirements, and possible disruptions regarding your tour.
Mobile tickets will be accepted.
Know before you go
Meeting time is 15 min before the tour star time to check in. No refunds can be provided for late arrivals or no-shows.
Comfortable shoes recommended
The tour covers breakfast and lunch.
Cancellation policy
Cancellations received greater than 24 hours prior to tour commencement are fully refundable.