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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!
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....
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 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.
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.
FROM 50GBP/ PERSON (low price guarantee)
NOTE: Our tours fill up quickly.. Please book today to avoid missing out.
Highlights:
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A personalized experience.
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Small Groups (max 10 pax).
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Great Food and Drink.
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12+ tastings (some groups manage 20!)
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A bit of History and Culture.
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Hot tips for the rest of your stay.
Adventurous Appetites has been named a Winner of the 2025 Global Tourism Excellence Awards!
Adventurous Appetites has been named Best Personalised Tapas Tours Provider 2025 – Madrid in the 2025 LUXlife Travel and Tourism Awards
Adventurous Appetites has been named a winner in the THA Travel and Hospitality European Awards 2024/5
Adventurous Appetites has been named Best Tapas Tour Experience 2025 in the EUBusiness European Travel Awards
Adventurous Appetites has been named Most Innovative Tour Experience 2024 - Madrid in the Corporate Vision 2024 Global Business Awards
Adventurous Appetites has been named Adventure Tour Operator of the Year in the CorporateLiveWire Global Awards 2024/25
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.
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.
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
Prizes and awards
Adventurous Appetites has been named Best Authentic Tapas Experience 2024 – Madrid in the 2024 LUXlife THospitality Awards 2024
Adventurous Appetites has been named winner of Travel and Hospitality Awards 2023 Award for Exellence in Culinary Experiences in Madrid!
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 Culinary Tours & Experiences Finalist in the 2024 European Arival Tour Review Spotlight Awards (Medium Operator Category)
Adventurous Appetites has been named Best Traditional Tapas Food Tour 2024 - Madrid in the 2024 LUXlife Travel and Tourism Awards
Adventurous Appetites' has been named Spain Prestige Awards' Food Tour Operator of the Year 2023/24.
Adventurous Appetites' Madrid Tapas Tour has been named Continent Winner in the Food Tour Category in the 2023 World Luxury Travel 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.
Culinary Experience of the Year 2021 - Community of Madrid
Tour Company of the Year 2019 in Community of Madrid
TripAdvisor Hall of Fame for Certificates of Excellence in 5 consecutive years
Culinary Tour Company - of the Year 2018 in Madrid
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LTG Culinary Tour Operator of the Year 2019
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.