Eating Madrid: Food Walking Tour, Small-Group Tapas & Wine

About this experience

Join a small group for a 3.5-hour walking food tour through Madrid's Old Town, Plaza Mayor and the Literary Quarter. A local guide leads you to five food stops where madrileños actually eat, sharing the history of each plaza along the way. The tour begins in a wine bar with walls covered in comic-style drawings. You'll move on to a tavern tucked beneath Plaza Mayor, a calamari counter Madrid treats as an institution, and a Literary Quarter tavern open since 1906. The final stop brings a buttercream-filled milk bun, a short walk from Puerta del Sol. Five tastings and four drinks, including cava, vermouth and Tinto de Verano, add up to a full meal, so come hungry.

What to expect

1. Stop 1 · 25min

   Start in Madrid's most playful wine bar, its white walls covered in black comic-book drawings. You'll taste Iberian ham on pan con tomate, bread rubbed with ripe tomato and olive oil, alongside a glass of Spanish cava or a soft drink.

2. Stop 2

   Step into a charming medieval square and explore one of Madrid’s oldest civic centers, where beautifully preserved buildings reflect the city’s early history and timeless architectural character.

3. Stop 3 · 30min

   Taste one of Madrid’s most beloved tapas with blistered Padrón peppers and sizzling garlic mushrooms topped with chorizo, rich in flavor and tradition. Pair this local favorite with a vermouth or Tinto de Verano, Madrid's answer to sangria.

4. Stop 4

   Stroll through a grand historic central square known for its arcaded architecture, vibrant cafés, and street performers, offering classic local bites and lively atmosphere.

5. Stop 5 · 20min

   Skip the queue at a counter just off Plaza Mayor for the bocadillo de calamares, crispy fried squid rings piled into a soft roll. It's Madrid's most loved street sandwich.

6. Stop 6

   Step into the lively square in Madrid known for its theatres, cafés, and connection to the city’s literary history.

7. Stop 7 · 30min

   Cross into the Literary Quarter for gambas al ajillo, shrimp sizzling in garlic and olive oil, at a tavern serving them since 1906. Pair them with a caña, a small draft beer, or the house sweet wine the tavern has made for generations.

8. Stop 8

   Walk into Puerta del Sol, Madrid's busiest square and home of Kilometer Zero, the point from which every Spanish road is measured. You'll see it from the outside, including the clock whose chimes all of Spain follow on New Year's Eve.

9. Stop 9 · 15min

   End on a sweet note with a bollo de leche, a soft milk bun filled with buttercream, from a pastry shop that bakes Bilbao's favorite treat. Your tour wraps up at the nearby Plaza de las Descalzas, a short walk from Sol.

Tour & ticket options

Options may have different inclusions and meeting points. Choose your option when booking on Viator.

Meeting & pickup

• Your guide will be waiting for you wearing our purple Eating Europe bag!

Please aim to arrive 15 minutes early, so the tour can start on time. You do not need to print out a page to join the tour - showing us the confirmation email you will receive on your phone is fine!

Before you go

• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• This activity requires a minimum of 2 guests. Should this not be met, we will contact you directly to help you get rescheduled or reimbursed.
• Children under 4 years old do not need a ticket and can join the tour for free. However, food is not included. Paid tickets with food included are available for ages 4 and up.
• Please note that the tastings mentioned are a selection of the delicious foods we often feature. Both offerings and tour stops may vary by day or season, but you're sure to enjoy a delightful array of local flavors!
• Have dietary requirements? Simply email us or add a note at booking, and we’ll do our best to accommodate vegetarians, gluten-free guests or other dietary needs where we can. For guest safety, this experience isn’t suitable for those with severe or life-threatening food allergies to ingredients found on the tour, and the company cannot take responsibility for any food allergies or intolerances.

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.