Madrid Ultimate Spanish Cuisine Tour
3 hours
Max 12 people
Commentary: Guide · en
Madrid, Spain
About this activity
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 8 family-run eateries.
- Try top-quality products from a typical local market.
- Taste the bites you can't leave Madrid without trying.
- Eat among locals in central Madrid.
- Step into cafes, bars, delis, and more.
Full description
Get a crash course in Spanish food and culture as you taste your way through the market stalls and eateries of central Madrid’s most charming neighborhoods. Your expert local guide (and new foodie friend) will take you inside the decades-old establishments that define Madrid. Savor Spanish classics like hand-sliced Iberian ham and incredible freshly baked chorizo rolls. Navigate a traditional market like a local to sample seasonal produce, and bite into only-in-Madrid specialties such as a fried calamari sandwich. This Madrid food tour is your ultimate introduction to the city’s most unmissable bites. By the time you say goodbye to your guide and small group, you'll be ready to take on Madrid's food scene with confidence during the rest of your trip.
First up on your Madrid 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.
(Note: Churros stop only available on morning tours. If you select the 5 pm tour, you'll instead visit a popular tapas bar to try two beloved local tapas and a beer.)
Next, you’ll set off on an essential part of many madrileños' daily routines: buying freshly baked bread. 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. You'll also sip Spain's favorite aperitif red vermouth and learn why it's special and when to drink it. This is an experience most visitors to Madrid will never have, and a fascinating way to experience local life.
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.
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.
You’ll finish your Madrid food tour in Plaza Mayor, Madrid's central square, that's been at the heart of the city's most important events—past and present.
(Note: Churros stop only available on morning tours. If you select the 5 pm tour, you'll instead visit a popular tapas bar to try two beloved local tapas and a beer.)
Next, you’ll set off on an essential part of many madrileños' daily routines: buying freshly baked bread. 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. You'll also sip Spain's favorite aperitif red vermouth and learn why it's special and when to drink it. This is an experience most visitors to Madrid will never have, and a fascinating way to experience local life.
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.
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.
You’ll finish your Madrid food tour in Plaza Mayor, Madrid's central square, that's been at the heart of the city's most important events—past and present.
Included / Excluded
- Local English-speaking guide
- Expertly guided walking tour
- 8 tasting stops with 15+ tastes and 1 drink
- Hotel Pick-up/Drop-off
- Gratuities
Meeting point
Start Location
Plaza santa Ana, Plaza de Santa Ana, Madrid, Spain
Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of your tour, your guide will be waiting for you holding a red Devour Tours tote bag or sign. This tour meets at Plaza Santa Ana at the statue of Calderon de la Barca in front of the big, white hotel.
Get directions →Important information
Know before you book
- This tour is in English.
- Unfortunately due to the nature of this tour it is not suitable for guests with mobility impairments or with wheelchairs, or strollers.
- This is a walking tour. Guests should be able to walk at a moderate pace without difficulty.
- Churros stop only available on morning tours. If you select the 5 pm tour, you'll instead visit a popular tapas bar to try two beloved local tapas and a beer
- This tour is adaptable for: Vegetarians, Pescatarians, Gluten free (not celiacs), Dairy free, Non-alcoholic options & Pregnant women, however, please note that you may not have a replacement food option at every stop.
- This tour is not suitable for vegans or those with celiac disease.
- Those with dietary restrictions or food allergies need to email our Guest Experience team at info@takewalks.com after booking the tour so we can arrange your ingredients.
Know before you go
- Please arrive 15 minutes before your tour start time for check-in. Out of courtesy to other guests, we’re unable to wait for latecomers. No refunds can be provided for late arrivals or no-shows.
- Those with dietary restrictions or food allergies need to email our Guest Experience team at info@takewalks.com after booking the tour so we can arrange your ingredients.
- Comfortable shoes recommended.
- The tour covers breakfast and lunch.
- Guests with serious food allergies will need to sign an allergy waiver at the start of the tour.
- Tips/gratuities (for your guide) are always appreciated.
- Walks and Devour comply with all local government regulations. Please refer to local government guidelines for the most up to date information.
Cancellation policy
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity starts
Cancellations received greater than 24 hours prior to tour commencement are fully refundable. Cancellations received within 24 hours of tour commencement are nonrefundable. Amendment requests are subject to availability and price changes. Late arrivals and no shows are nonrefundable. This is applicable to any tour participant that fails to arrive, or arrives after tour departure.
Additional information
Ticket Age Range
Adult (15+)
Child (2-14)
Infant (0-1)
Adult (15+)
Child (2-14)
Infant (0-1)