Food Tours in Madrid

Spain is famed for its food, and tasting your way around Madrid is one of the best ways to get to know the country. Here, it’s about more than just paella and patatas bravas.

Food tours in Madrid take you on a gastronomic journey through the historic city, stopping at atmospheric bars and taverns. You’ll dive into a culinary heritage that spans centuries, with all sorts of tasty treats on the menu.

Here's all you need to know about food tours, some of the most delightful gastronomic experiences in Madrid.

What are the best food tours in Madrid?

Guided wine and tapas walking tours

The most popular food tours are the tapas in Madrid paired with wine tastings, which take place on foot in the city center. These are cost-effective group experiences with a social vibe that keeps the trip light-hearted. Participant numbers are usually capped at 13 so the trip remains intimate.

After meeting your foodie guide, you’ll head out into the city, stopping at different bars along the way. In each venue, you’ll be treated to delectable dishes of regional specialties, as well as a glass of wine if you wish.

You’ll learn how cuisine has influenced Spanish culture through the years and enjoy historical insights about the area while you eat. Visits to around four bars are included, for a varied and scrumptious experience. Book a night tapas walking tour if you fancy a livelier evening out.

History and tapas excursions in the Old Town

Combine city sightseeing with eating on these fun food tours in Madrid. These trips usually take place in the evening, which is perfect for beating the sizzling daytime temperatures in the capital. You’ll have four hours so expect a leisurely pace while you tick off the top landmarks and bars.

Culture and food are intertwined in Spain, so understanding the city’s major sites will help you make the most of your culinary foray. You’ll hear stories of Madrid’s Old Town, while popping into bars for sausages and sangria.

Throughout the evening, you’ll enjoy a multi-course dinner across several venues, accompanied by the city’s finest beverages.

Highlights of this unique excursion include seeing the Royal Palace of Madrid, tasting garlic shrimp and exploring secret plazas. You’ll be experiencing the hidden side of the city, just like a local.

Evening flamenco show and traditional dinner

If you prefer a more relaxing foodie experience with added music and dance, then a flamenco show in Madrid is just the thing. These immersive evenings focus on traditional performances while you tuck into dinner. This is an unmissable night out for first-time visitors to Madrid.

These tours don’t have a guide, but you’ll have all you need with the artists bringing folk stories to life before your eyes. The singers and guitar players set the scene, while the dancers evoke the spirit of flamenco with their mesmerizing moves. You don’t need to understand the tales – the movement and music are enough.

As the show goes on, you’ll be served up a feast by the friendly waiters and waitresses. The food is all inspired by local Spanish flavors, giving you further insight into the deep culture than runs through the country’s veins. It’s sure to be an evening to remember.

Tapas cooking class

Once you’ve tasted the tapas and fallen in love with Spanish cuisine, the next step is to learn how to cook it yourself. That way, you can recreate your favorite dishes when you return home, letting the memories linger. This is a small group experience, so you’ll have plenty of personal attention from the professional chef.

During these laid-back Madrid cooking classes, you’ll go on a culinary journey through the different regions of Spain. Learn how to cook 10 typical tapas dishes and discover a little about the history of the corresponding province. It’s a hands-on experience with traditional as well as modern techniques being demonstrated.

You’ll be using fresh local ingredients to create these authentic Spanish dishes, and you can take the recipes home! Favorite offerings include Catalonian pan tumaca, which is a type of bruschetta, and gilda, which is an anchovy-inspired delicacy. Of course, you’ll get to eat it all at the end, along with a glass of sangria.

Private food tasting tours in Madrid

The ultimate food tasting tours in Madrid come with a private guide and specially curated experiences. They’re perfect for discerning foodies as well as travelers who prefer to explore more independently than a group setting allows.

These culinary adventures often take place in Madrid’s Chueca neighborhood, where some of the oldest bars and restaurants can be found. You’ll get to sample tapas from all around Spain, with expert wine tastings in Madrid to bring out the flavors.

Some tours take in local markets as well as taverns, so you can see and taste some of the food at its freshest. It’s a colorful experience and gives an intriguing insight into the city’s hidden gastronomic delights.

Which places are visited?

Traditional tapas bars

Nearly all food tours in Madrid take in traditional tapas bars and taverns in the Old Town. If you want to taste some of the most authentic dishes in Spain, this is where to do it. Wine, beer or cider is served alongside your food, with water or soft drinks available if you prefer.

Popular morsels include a cold tomato soup known as salmorejo and crispy croquetas filled with ham and Manchego cheese. The Spanish omelet known as tortilla often makes an appearance, alongside hearty portions of chorizo and Madrid Iberian ham.

Chueca neighborhood

The lively neighborhood of Chueca is a favorite haunt of foodies searching for a traditional tapas tasting experience. This area is trendy and welcoming, with a plethora of street cafés, eclectic restaurants and vintage boutiques.

Nightlife here is legendary too, which is why pub crawls in Madrid often take in these buzzing streets.

This is also where you’ll find some of the best markets, including Mercado San Anton which is famed for its food stalls. Here, you can sample traditional cuisine alongside Asian and Italian offerings for a bit of variety.

Fresh produce is sold here too, so you’ll get to see some of the more unusual ingredients that you may not have encountered back home.

Flamenco theaters

Flamenco is an integral part of Spanish culture, and there’s no better way to enjoy it than at one of the city’s famous tablaos. The settings are intimate, with impassioned performances showing off the elegance of this renowned dance.

Some of the best singers, dancers and musicians in Spain will captivate you with their skills.

One of the most popular venues is the Torres Bermejas Tablao – the historical building design was inspired by the Alhambra Palace in Granada. Expect plenty of Arabic architecture, ornate tile work and carved wooden ceilings, just like you’d find in Morocco.

How much do food tours in Madrid cost?

The evening Flamenco show with traditional dinner costs €30 per person and includes the live performance and a meal. Meanwhile, Madrid tapas and wine walking tours are €70 per person for 2.5 hours and €80 for 3 hours. This small group experience includes tastings and drinks and can be treated as a meal out.

Cooking classes in Madrid are priced at €70 per participant for a 2.5-hour group lesson. This includes ingredients, professional instruction and a souvenir apron. If you’d prefer a private experience, the price increases to €80 for 3 hours.

For the history-focused food tours in Madrid, expect to pay €110 for a 4-hour excursion. A guided sightseeing walk is included alongside the tapas tastings.

Private food experiences in Madrid start at €120 per person for a 3-hour tapas tour. You will have a personal guide and a choice of departure times. Premium experiences with a sommelier are more expensive at €150 per participant.

What is included?

Madrid food experiences include everything you need for a good afternoon or evening out, including a bilingual guide who will assist with menu translation.

You can expect on your tour visits to around four tapas bars, up to 12 tapas tastings (three at each venue), and one drink at each stop. You are welcome to purchase additional tapas dishes and drinks at each restaurant you visit.

The flamenco and dinner tours at evening package rate include a live flamenco music and dance show, entry to the theater, and traditional dinner and drinks.

The cooking classes all include fresh ingredients and cooking instructions, with a professional chef to direct the lesson. You will also get a souvenir apron and recipes to take home, as well as a glass of sangria.

Hotel pickups are not generally offered on food tours in Madrid, but the meeting points are easy to access.

Where does it start?

The meeting point for food tours in Madrid is always a convenient location, near some of the best bars and taverns. Popular locations include Santa Ana Square near the Spanish Theater and the Metro Opera in Plaza Isabel II.

The flamenco show takes place at Tablao Torres Bermejas, which is just off Calle Gran Vía in central Madrid. It’s a short walk from the Callao and Gran Vía subway stations.

For the cooking classes you will need to make your way to the restaurant where the course is taking place. Common spots include Calle de la Farmacia in the city center and Calle de Valderribas in the southeast of Madrid.

How long does it last?

Food walking tours in Madrid tend to last between 2.5 and 4.5 hours, with most settling around the 3- or 4-hour mark. Choose a longer excursion if you want to enjoy a more in-depth tasting experience.

The flamenco dining experiences last about an hour, but you can linger afterward for more drinking and eating. Cooking classes are between 2.5 and 3 hours long, including time at the end to enjoy eating your creations.

When is the best time for a food tour in Madrid?

Madrid food excursions take place during the afternoon and evening, with the latter being more atmospheric as the city comes to life. For a quieter experience, choose an earlier tour when the bars will be less busy.

These excursions are a great introduction to Spanish food. By booking one at the start of your trip you’ll be able to make informed culinary decisions during the rest of your stay.

Are there any combos available with food tours in Madrid?

Food experience in Madrid plus live flamenco show

Elevate your evening out by combining two of Madrid’s most evocative offerings – food and flamenco. You’ll head to a legendary tablao in the historic center, where passionate music and dance will touch your soul.

During the flamenco performance, you can tuck into traditional Spanish dishes for an authentic taste of Madrid. Local wines are on offer to wash it all down. If you want to get lost in folklore and song, go for a night of flamenco in Madrid.

Madrid tapas tasting plus guided tour of the Prado Museum

This combo trip brings art and food together in a unique way. Your visit begins with a guided tour of the Prado Museum in Madrid, which is home to masterpieces that date to the 12th century. Popular artists like El Greco, Rubens and Rembrandt all feature.

Afterward, it’s time for the food. You’ll head to a traditional tapas bar for tastings and to learn about the culinary secrets of the capital.

Travel tips

• Don’t arrive with a full stomach – you’ll be eating a lot during these food tours in Madrid.
• Book your experience online so you can compare prices and search for the best deals.
• If you have any special dietary requirements make sure your provider is aware of this in advance.
• Most Madrid food tours are undertaken on foot. This means you’ll be doing a fair amount of walking so comfortable footwear is recommended.
• There is often a minimum age of 9 on these excursions.