Adventurous Appetites
Madrid Tapas Tours
Experience Tapas Like a Local and Find the Madrileño in You
We love Madrid... and all things Spanish, particularly the vast variety of culinary delights that the vibrant tapas culture of Madrid has to offer!
Mix a bit of sight-seeing, light history, culture and anecdotes with amazing, traditional Spanish food and drink, and you get Adventurous Appetites - a unique and deliciously adventurous introduction to the inside culinary world of Madrid.
We strongly believe that the way to truly understand a country’s culture is through its food and drink, and at Adventurous Appetites, we offer incredible tapas tours that deliver an authentic feel for the city and its people.
Named 12th Best Food Experience in the World By Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards in 2022 and 8th Best in 2019, we are one of the longest established, and top-reviewed tapas tours in Madrid, with more than 20 years of experience of helping you discover Madrid, just like a local.
Our unique pay-as-you-go system differentiates us from other all-inclusive tours, which are generally of shorter duration and where food and drink tends to be pre-ordered and lined-up on the bar, allowing minimal to no choice in what you eat or drink.
At Adventurous Appetites, our team of charming tapas experts talk you through the options and recommend local specialities, personalizing what we order according to the the likes and dislikes of the group on the night, as well as any dietary needs. Our Madrid Tapas tours are designed to give you greater control over what you try and how much you spend, all while immersing you in true tapas culture, just like a Madrileño.
So, come with an empty stomach, an open mind and a spirit of adventure - be prepared to find the Madrileño in you!
Adventurous Appetites has been named Most Innovative Tour Experience 2024 - Madrid in the Corporate Vision 2024 Global Business Awards
Adventurous Appetites has been named Best Authentic Tapas Experience 2024 – Madrid in the 2024 LUXlife THospitality Awards 2024
Adventurous Appetites has been named Culinary Tours & Experiences Finalist in the 2024 European Arival Tour Review Spotlight Awards (Medium Operator Category)
The Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards are based on reviews and opinions collected from travelers and diners over a 12-month period, Winners are among the top 10% of listings on Tripadvisor.
Adventurous Appetites has been named Best Traditional Tapas Food Tour 2024 - Madrid in the 2024 LUXlife Travel and Tourism Awards
No. 12 - worldwide
Tripadvisor® Top Food Experiences - World
Tripadvisor's Travelers' Choice® Award series: The Best of the Best Things to Do have named our Madrid Tapas Night Walking tour the 12TH BEST FOOD EXPERIENCE IN THE WORLD 2022
This award is presented annually to those businesses that are the Best of the Best on Tripadvisor, those that earn excellent reviews from travelers and are ranked in the top 1% of properties worldwide.
Travelers’ Choice award-winners are among the top 10% of listings on Tripadvisor and consistently demonstrate a commitment to hospitality excellence.
Adventurous Appetites' has been named Spain Prestige Awards' Food Tour Operator of the Year 2023/24.
Adventurous Appetites has been named winner of Travel and Hospitality Awards 2023 Award for Exellence in Culinary Experiences in Madrid!
Adventurous Appetites' Madrid Tapas Tour has been named Continent Winner in the Food Tour Category in the 2023 World Luxury Travel Awards.
Prizes and awards
We won The Award for Excellence in Culinary Experiences in Madrid in the 2022 Travel and Hospitality Awards!
Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice 2020
Reviews from millions of Tripadvisor travellers place
Adventurous Appetites Tapas Tour ⬤⬤⬤⬤⬤
in the TOP 10% of attractions WORLDWIDE.
TripAdvisor® Top 10 Food Experiences - World
8TH BEST FOOD EXPERIENCE IN THE WORLD 2019
Travelers’ Choice awards are the highest honor TripAdvisor can give – meaning our business is truly exceptional. Based on reviews and opinions from millions of travelers, we’re one of the top experiences on TripAdvisor.
No. 8 - worldwide
Food and Travel Blogs
What are bloggers saying about our tours?
We never know who may be on our tours. Here are several bloggers who wrote about their experiences with Adventurous Appetites:
Adventurous Appetites in Madrid
- OMGSDFWFOOD
An Adventurous Tapas Tour in Madrid
- Savored Journeys
Adventurous Appetites Tapas Tour
- Bay Area Foodie
Seeing & Savoring Historical & Modern Madrid
- Lucy Komisar
NotintheBusiness - Review of Adventurous Appetites
- Arabella
Eat Like anExpert with Adventurous Appetites
- Sauce Boss Shelby
History of Madrid
What makes Madrid so special?
The ever-evolving story of Madrid and the many cultures who have resided there since the 2nd century B.C. offer quite the historical background for Madrid being such a magical place for adventures.
Historians tell us that Madrid’s name derives from the originally Moorish city established in the mid-9th century which was first named Mayrit “the land of abundant waters” and later became Madrid after changing hands several times.
In the early 11th century, the Christian king Alfonso VI of Castile conquered the citadel and thus began the centuries-long history of a cultural mesh of architecture, food and religion that today remains apparent in the remarkable cityscapes and incredible cuisine, including tapas, making Madrid a fascinating place to visit.
For more details on Madrid's rich history and much more on Madrid, visit Madrid's official tourism website here.
Speak Like a Madrileño
Want a few survival phrases for a great time in Madrid?
Although approximately 400 million people in the world speak Spanish, Madrileños have a language all their own.
Here are a few key phrases to keep handy when traveling in Madrid:
Vale:
Okay or Yes.
Una copita de vino tinto/blanco por favor:
A glass of red/white wine, please.
Una caña por favor:
A small house beer, please.
Hasta Luego:
Bye or Later.
No entiendo:
I don't understand.
Puede ayudarme?:
Can you help me?
Gracias:
Thank you.
Donde están los servicios?:
Where is the bathroom?
La cuenta por favor:
The bill please.