Adventurous Appetites
Madrid Tapas Tours
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Award-winning tapas tours, helping you discover Madrid
through its food and drink!
Our Mission
Is there anything better in this world than eating and drinking with friends? Our goal is to leave you with an authentic and memorable night out, getting a real feel for the city and its people through what we believe is the best way possible - eating and drinking like a local! We mix in a bit of light history and culture with some seriously good food and drink! By sharing dishes you try a great range of different flavours; by moving bars you experience a variety of local atmospheres; by sharing a night out you share life...!
Our Tours
Our Madrid Tapas Tour
(evening)
Tour Description - We aim to give you the best introduction to Madrid, mixing in a bit of light history and culture with some great food and drink in some of our favourite local bars. Our tapas experts will advise you on the specialities in each Spanish bar we visit, providing a translation and explanation of each dish. We will visit four very different, but very Spanish bars, to enjoy the local specialties. Traditionally, tapas are done standing up, though we often try to book a sit-down table for our last stop. All bars are approximately 15 minutes walking distance from each other, though this usually takes longer as we regale you with fascinating local facts and anecdotes about Madrid and its culture while walking you through the streets of Madrid and giving you insider tips and ideas for the rest of your stay!
Start time: 8pm
Duration: Tours last about three and a half (3 1/2) hours and start at 8pm, ending around 1130pm**
Meeting Place: Tours start from between the 2 metro entrances of Metro Opera in Plaza Izabel II (Map). Our tapas experts will arrive holding a bright yellow Adventurous Appetites flier to easily identify them.
Availability: Every Day (except Sunday).**
Group Size: We try to limit groups to an average maximum of ten (10) people, but this can be bigger in periods of high demand.
Pricing: From GBP50 (or EUR70 per person if paid in cash on the night of your tour for last minute bookings only.) The price includes the first 'aperitivo' in a traditional Madrileño bar (minimum 1 drink and 3 tastings); however, additional food or drink is not included so that you have more control over what you choose to eat and how much you pay at each Spanish bar we visit. On average, we calculate that you'll spend a total of around EUR35-40 on food and drink for your entire night and will have eaten and drunk to your stomach and heart's content! Also, Spanish tapas are made for sharing! So, our tour groups often put their money together in a pot at the start of the night, as this tends to be the easiest and best value way of doing things. This is decided by individuals on the night of the tour. For groups of eight (8) or more, we also offer an all-inclusive (no spirits) tour for GBP85 (or EUR100 per person if paid in cash on the night of your tour for last minute bookings only.) Please send us an email if you would like to book an all-inclusive tour.
Our Aperitivo, Vermut and Tapas Tour
(lunchtime)
Tour description - On this lunchtime tour you will get to experience the age-old Madrid tradition "La hora del vermut" or "hour of the Vermouth". This is not actually a single hour but any time between about 11am and 3pm when you will find groups of Madrileños getting together for a pre-prandial drink and an aperitivo, to catch up on news and whet the appetite before lunch, Once we have got you in the mood we will do a bit of a walking tour to see some of the main sights of Madrid, with a stop to sample some Spanish ham and cheese where you will learn to what extent "the pig is King" in Spain, a tapas stop to feast on a selection of some of the best dishes Madrid has to offer, and we will leave you in a bar to finish off with some of the famous "chocolate con churros". The idea of this activity is to give you an overview of the main sights of Madrid and send you home with a real and lasting feeling of what the city and people are all about. Tapas is normally done at night, and by most people's standards pretty late! If you are not a late-night person, have younger members in your group, or fear you might not have the energy to last the course after a long trip, this might just be for you....
Start time_ 12pm (noon)
Duration: Tours last about three and a half (3 1/2) hours and start at noon, ending around 330pm
Meeting Place: Tours start from between the 2 metro entrances of Metro Opera in Plaza Izabel II (Map). Our tapas experts will arrive holding a bright yellow Adventurous Appetites flier to easily identify them.
Availability: Every Day (except Sunday).**
Group Size: We try to limit groups to an average maximum of ten (10) people, but this can be bigger in periods of high demand.
Pricing: From GBP55 (or EUR75 per person if paid in cash on the day of your tour for last minute bookings only.) The price includes the first 'aperitivo' in a traditional Madrileño bar (minimum 1 drink and 3 tastings); however, additional food or drink is not included so that you have more control over what you choose to eat and how much you pay at each Spanish bar we visit. On average, we calculate that you'll spend a total of around EUR35 on food and drink for your entire tour and will have eaten and drunk to your stomach and heart's content! Also, Spanish tapas are made for sharing! So, our tour groups often put their money together in a pot at the start of the night, as this tends to be the easiest and best value way of doing things. This is decided by individuals on the night of the tour. For groups of eight (8) or more, we also offer an all-inclusive (no spirits) tour for GBP85 (or EUR100 per person if paid in cash on the night of your tour for last minute bookings only.) Please send us an email if you would like to book an all-inclusive tour.
We also organize Corporate and Group Tour events. From small group settings to gala events, we showcase the very best of Madrid.
Please see our Corp/Group Tours page for more details
Why us?
In a world that offers an increasing amount of off-the-peg, copy-cat, samey, standardized experiences,
WE ARE DIFFERENT AND WE ARE PROUD OF IT!
AUTHENTIC:
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We have been running award-winning tapas tours for over 20 years.
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8pm start (we do offer earlier tours, but Spanish people eat late and our flagship Madrid Tapas Tour offers you a crash-course in tapas and shows you how the Madrileños really do things)
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Each bar we visit has its unique feel and specialty food and drink.
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You'll try great traditional Spanish dishes from old favourites to more adventurous tastes.
PERSONALIZED:
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Our guides LOVE Spain and Madrid and transmit this, each in their individual way.
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Our pay-as-you-go system allows us to personalize what we order according to the likes/dislikes of the group on the night.
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We are (probably too well-) known in all the bars and get you great service.
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Added value – we will give you hot tips on what to see/eat/drink during the rest of your stay in Madrid and, where we can, beyond!
COMPLETE:
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Food, drink, history, culture, sightseeing, laughs, advice - all mixed into a fun and social evening.
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Not heavy, learnt by rote info, but more fun and fascinating anecdotes - we don’t feel a list of dates sticks!
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Not just bravas and tortilla, we try to expand your culinary boundaries a little...! You will be STUFFED by the end of the tour and have a great understanding of Madrid and its culinary scene!
GENUINE :
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We DON’T have any commercial agreements with bars - we go there because we think they are the best.
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We DON'T charge an all-inclusive price and then give you the cheapest food so we make more money - you control what you eat and drink.
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We are NOT highly commercialized - our aim is to give you the best and most authentic experience we can.
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We DO ask you to allow us to be your "friend in town" for the day and to get you straight to the heart of Madrid through its food and drink.
Why we have a pay-as-you-go system...
Because we think it is better, FOR YOU!!!
Our pay-as-you-go system allows us to personalize what we order according to the likes/dislikes of the group on the night, It is designed to give you more control over what you eat and drink and how much you spend. The tour price includes the food and drink in the first bar (minimum 1 drink and 3 tastings) and thereafter you pay for what you consume. Íf you would like champagne, have champagne... If you all are very anti-octopus, we will avoid the octopus... We will advize you on the best things to try according to your tastes and budget, although we will encourage you to expand your culinary boundaries!!! You should expect to spend 35-40€ for food and drink on the tour and you will have eaten and drunk till you can eat and drink no more and you will try anything between 12 and 20 different dishes!!! We generally recommend clients split the bills as tapas are for sharing, and this tends to work out cheaper and you will try many more dishes... but this is decided by individuals on the night. We will help with bills and maths as instructed by the group. Both cash and card (American Express is more difficult) are easily usable.
FAQ
Please see below to answer any common questions you might have. If you cannot find the information you are looking for please do ring us or send us an email 1. Is your tour Vegetarian / Celiac friendly? It is true that Madrid is a very carnivorous/fishy place, but we often have vegetarians who come with us and can find plenty of options to try! It is relatively easy to avoid wheat and whilst in some places you may eat more and in others less, we are confident you will be full at the end of the night! 2. What is the minimum age? / Is this tour suitable for children? In Spain it is common to find young children in the bars till very late, however we do not really advise our Tapas tour for young teenagers/children as it involves quite a lot of walking, ends at around midnight and is really based on trying the food and usually alcoholic drinks (but we can offer soft drinks alternatives) in the bars. If you have younger children our Lunchtime Aperitivo, Vermut and Tapas Tour might be a better alternative. We do not have a children's rate. We remind clients that the legal drinking age in Spain is 18. If you feel it would be something that your children would enjoy please ask us and we may be able to offer a private tour. 3. How much walking is involved? The actual distance between bars is about 10 minutes’ walk maximum, but this takes considerably longer as we tell you fascinating facts about the streets we pass through. Our longest walk lasts about 35 mins. Tapas is generally done standing up leaning against the bar and while we will try to book a table to sit in the last bar, we cannot guarantee seats in the others. The tour is not suitable for wheelchair users and we do not recommend it for people with walking difficulties. 4. Can I just show up? Our tours tend to book up pretty quickly, so we strongly advise booking as far in advance as possible. Our tour fee for people turning up on the night without a reservation is 70/75€ pp. (there is a discount for advance booking). 5. How much does it cost? Our Madrid Tapas Tour costs GBP50 (70€ if paid in cash on the night, last minute bookings only) and includes the food and drink (no hard licuor) in the first bar. Our Aperitivo, Vermut and Tapas Lunchtime Tour costs GBP55 (75€ if paid in cash on the night, last minute bookings only) and includes the food and drink (no hard licuor) in the first bar. Additional food or drink is not included so that you have more control over what you choose to eat and how much you pay. You should expect to spend around 35-40 Euros on food and drink on the night. As tapas is about sharing food, we recommend clients pool their money at the start of the evening. 6. Can I use card to pay for my food and drink on the night? We always used to say bring cash but in the ever more cashless post-covid society you can certainly use credit/debit card (not American Express) if you prefer. 7. Where do we meet? Tours start from between the 2 metro entrances of Metro Opera in Plaza Isabel II. Your guide will be carrying an A4-sized yellow Adventurous Appetites flier. 8. How long is the tour? Our evening tour starts at 8pm and finish around 1130pm (Mon-Sat incl). Our lunchtime tour starts at 12 noon and finishes around 330pm. At the end of the tour we can point you in the direction of hotel/transport or leave you in a bar for an after-dinner/lunch drink. 9. What time does the tour start? Evening tours start at 8pm and finish around 1130pm. Lunchtime tours start at 12 noon and finish around 330pm. During peak seasons we may sometimes be able to run a tour starting at 6pm. 10. What is the maximum group size? We have an average maximum group size of 10 people. This can be slightly larger in peak periods depending on whether people bookin in 1s, 2s, 3s etc If you would like to reserve for a larger group, please contact us directly as we would be delighted to adapt things and personalize an activity for your group. 11. Where can we book? We really appreciate it if you book directly with us as it will be the same price for you but we don't end up paying commission!!!! Please book through our website https://www.adventurousappetites.com/bookings FOR ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR QUERIES PLEASE EMAIL US AT adventurousappetites@yahoo.es or ring us on +34 639 331 073.
Some of Our Awards
Winner of the 2025 Global Tourism Excellence Awards!
Winner in the THA Travel and Hospitality European Awards 2024/5
Your Guides
James Fraser
Founder and director of Adventurous Appetites, James has been living and working in Madrid for over twenty five years and has what one might call an "unhealthy knowledge" of the better and more authentic bars and restaurants. He speaks English and Spanish fluently, as well as Italian and French and will be able to help you with any language difficulties that may arise. He will easily help you navigate through menus and advise you on local food and drink favorites. Formerly a financial journalist in London, James studied Classics and Italian at Edinburgh University and has always had a strong interest in European culture. His passion for the people and culture of Madrid is evident in the way he's able to provide interesting snippets of information about all things Madrid, plus advise you on what must not be missed during your visit!
My favourite tapas: Alcachofas en flor a la parilla. Melt-in-your-mouth artichoke hearts cooked on the grill to give a toasted crunchy outside My favourite tapas bar: I don't actually have one because I like hopping from one to another, but high on the list would be La Castela in Calle Doctor Castelo 22, 28009 Madrid. Always packed, but if you can elbow your way in it has a great bustling atmosphere and great food to wash down with a fresh Albariño white wine or caña (small beer). I am a big fan of the chipirones encebollados (grilled little squid with caramelized onions) and the rabo de toro (fall-off-the-bone bull's tail stew) My favourite sit-down restaurant: Rincon de Jaen I in Calle Don Ramón de la Cruz, 88, 28006 Madrid. Great Andalusian bar, my favourite is the bandeja de mariscos (seafood tray!!), Change the cigalitas (Dublin bay prawns - a lot of work for not much meat) for carabineros (huge red prawns) and then have solomillo trinchado (juicy sirloin steak you cook yourself on a hot stone - it comes accompanied by a big plate of potatoes, peppers and asparagus). Don't order dessert straight off, as after the meat you will get free chocolate ices, chocolate covered glacier fruits and a digestive liqueur! My favourite museum: Museo de Sorolla, Madrid's first impressionist artist, his light is fantastic. Housed in his old dwelling, a very digestible collection! My top tip on Madrid: Come prepared to dive into the busiest bars and be charmingly pushy. Don't order all your food at once, but order one plateful, see what others around you are eating, and point and smile!!!
Charlie Charlwood
Charlie has lived in Spain for more than 22 years, between Valencia and Madrid. He has worked in the Entertainment Industry for the last 25 years in various roles, has been an Events organizer and has led guided tours over the last 3 years. Although he likes to watch his diet he also loves Spanish Gastronomy (sometimes too much!!!) and will take great pleasure in recommending the best tapas, wines/beers etc. in each bar. He has a very good knowledge of the Spanish culture and although not a Historian will be able to give you interesting facts and anecdotes about Madrid and its history, and of course advice on what not to miss while in Madrid.
My favourite tapas: I am a great fan of the Tortilla (Spanish Omelette) which is delicious and filling, or otherwise Croquetas, basically béchamel balls usually filled with Ham or other meaty ingredients..Mmmmmm! My favourite tapas bar: I don't have a favourite favourite but a place I really like is called el Anciano Rey de los Vinos, right opposite the Cathedral, in Calle Bailen 19, 28013, Madrid. They do a fantastic Puff Pastry Tapa filled with Bulls meat! My favourite sit-down restaurant: El Urogallo For a bit of outside eating in the Casa del Campo (The Spanish Kings' hunting grounds) with views over the man-made lake. Great to get out of the bustle of the city centre and do steak cooked yourself over hot coals, octopus and their home-made pâté with orange marmalade. You will find yourself surrounded by fit cycling Madrileños and their families having a swift beer after their exercise. My favourite museum: El Prado Museum. One of the World’s best Museums, OK it's huge and you probably won’t get round it all in one day but very well worth a visit. Houses all of the Spanish painter Goya’s best works.. My top tip on Madrid: When in Rome (Ok Madrid), go with the flow. Don’t expect to eat at English or US times, in Spain dinner starts around 10pm. Don’t be afraid to try things you’ve never heard of before and if you don’t know what something is called just point and use sign language, the Spanish are very helpful if they see you are trying!
