Getting the accent right's hard enough. Let us take care of the ordering.
Ages
4+
Duration
3.5 hours
Departs
Daily 10:30 am, 6:00 pm
Highlights
Head underground to a hidden cellar with the largest collection of Rioja wines in the city, and channel your inner iberian ham-slicing ninja 🍖*
Skip the line at La Campana, the spot for Madrid’s top fried calamari sandwiches, and bite into crispy, golden perfection packed into a soft bun.
Wander through Barrio de las Letras and taste garlic shrimp that are a work of art in their own right 🥘
Dive into Madrid’s sweet side with handmade chocolates and a chocolate drink.
Stroll through Madrid’s Old Town, where Plaza Mayor and Mercado de San Miguel are just the opening act ✨
*you’ll get to enjoy the fruits of your labor: eat some of the King and Queen of Spain’s favorite Jamón Ibérico 👑
Tour Description
Skip the tourist traps and dive straight into Madrid’s food scene like a local!
Stroll through the lively streets of the Old Town and Literary Quarter, enjoying mouthwatering tapas, including the best jamón ibérico, sipping “Tinto de Verano” wine and discovering hiddencellars. You’ll even pass iconic spots like the Literary Quarter and Plaza Mayor.
We’ve mapped out Madrid’s tastiest treasures– now all that’s left is for you to enjoy!
Dietary Information
Vegetarian-friendly tours but vegan, gluten-free, or kosher options may be limited. Please share dietary restrictions upon booking for best accommodation. Note that tastings outside those catered for your needs are at your own risk. The company assumes no responsibility for any food allergies or intolerances. Guests with severe or life-threatening allergies cannot participate in this activity for their safety.
Why Eat with Us?
Expert Local Guides: Fun, knowledgeable, and English-fluent Madrid locals.
Milan’s Hidden Gems: Enjoy exclusive access to local favorites where you’re treated like family.
Culinary Diversity: Taste a variety of delicious dishes, and hear the stories behind the food.
Cultural Immersion: See Madrid through the eyes of a local.
Established Expertise: Europe’s best food tours, top-rated since 2011.
"From the very first “Hola!” with our incredible guide Carolyn, we knew we were in for a treat and Madrid did not disappoint. The city dazzled, the food was divine, and Eating Europe once again proved it knows how to deliver unforgettable experiences (and full bellies!).
Between bites of heavenly jamón and sips of vermut, we wandered through gorgeous plazas and vibrant markets, with Carolyn weaving stories that brought history to life, and laughs too! At one point I half-expected Chiquito de la Calzada
himself to pop out from around the corner yelling ¡Fistro de la pradera, pecadorrrl! because that’s exactly the kind of joy this tour brought us. Jorl!
If you’re in Madrid and craving not just amazing food but also a deep and playful dive into the culture, this tour is a must. Bravo Carolyn and bravo Eating Europe, you’ve done it again. ¡Hasta la próxima, pecadores!
"
Please note that the items above are a selection of the delicious foods we often feature. Offerings may vary by day or season, but you're sure to enjoy a delightful array of local flavors!
Meeting Point
Plaza de Ramales, 1
Madrid, 28013, Spain
Your guide will be waiting for you wearing our purple Eating Europe bag!
What Makes Old Town, Puerta del Sol, and Plaza Mayor Special
Madrid’s Old Town — the Madrid de los Austrias — is where the city’s imperial past lives on in grand plazas, baroque churches, and narrow streets that have barely changed in centuries. Its tapas bars and tascas are the real treasures here, serving patatas bravas, jamón ibérico carved by hand, and cazuelas of gambas al ajillo with crusty bread to mop up the garlic oil. Eating in old Madrid is a standing-up, elbow-to-elbow affair — hopping from bar to bar the way madrileños have done for generations.
Puerta del Sol is the city’s restless center — a swirl of energy where every street in Madrid seems to begin. Its surrounding lanes are packed with churrerías serving thick, golden churros dunked in dark chocolate, old-school vermuterías pouring ice-cold vermut on tap, and tiny bars where a caña and a pincho of tortilla cost next to nothing. It’s fast, loud, and impossible not to love.
Plaza Mayor presides over it all with regal calm — a vast, arcaded square where terrace tables spread beneath frescoed facades. Beyond the square’s edges the real finds begin — century-old mesones serving cocido madrileño, croqueta counters with queues out the door, and hidden bodegas where the wine list is whatever’s chalked on the wall. Madrid’s heart doesn’t just welcome you — it sits you down, pours generously, and insists you stay for one more.
What people are saying
5.0
★★★★★
Great intro to Madrid! Lovely experience not only eating amazing food from Madrid, but also getting the history of Madri and Spain along the tour. Incredible guide - thank you, Sirsa!!
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Dustin A
13 Feb 2026
This is a must do! Sirsa was an amazing tour !! We have enjoyed Eating Europe tours before and this was no exception!! Sirsa was knowledgeable, engaging and fun! Highly recommend- and come HUNGRY! The food was amazing- several great tapas and liquid chocolate to and the night! if you were in Madrid, you must try!
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SwimMom2001
11 Feb 2026
A simply incredible tour! Carolyn treated us to a wonderful tour of excellent local dishes, really showing us how to enjoy tapas as the locals do. We couldn’t praise the choice of venues highly enough, Carolyn has picked incredibly well! The evening was incredibly relaxed with Carolyn weaving in stories of the history of Madrid and the taverns as we went.
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Peter M
31 Jan 2026
Best food tour guide in Madrid! Sirsa was a fantastic host, tour guide. So informative. Loved her demeor. Every food destination was absolutely fantastic. Ended with a beautiful desert place. Well worth the money spent.
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Tour39854023154
29 Jan 2026
Highly recommended! Carolyn was an amazing tour guide. We thoroughly enjoyed the history of Madrid and Spain as she tied them together with the food and each different neighborhoods. The tour was especially fascinating as we ate specialized dishes inside historic restaurants. The food was freshly cooked and timely served. We left very satisfied and full, highly recommend doing this food tour early on your trip!
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Anh D
25 Jan 2026
Great food Carolyn is an awesome tour guide and she showed us some really great food that I would definitely want to go back again!! I was very pleasantly surprised at the food selections and so happy that we got to try them. The restaurants are now on my list to frequent again. Carolyn is also very warm and a great conversationalist.
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Thao L
25 Jan 2026
11/10 experience. An absolute MUST Caroline was an incredible tour guide. She was extremely friendly and knowledgeable. She crafted a perfect blend of various food options that left us completely satisfied. Would recommend this tour to anyone that is wanting a true glimpse of traditional Madrid cuisine. We will definitely book another tour with Eating Europe.
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Benjamin S
22 Jan 2026
Unbeatable experience Carolyn, our tour guide, is amazing. We can feel her strong passion in hoping tourists can eat like the locals. The food we tasted was fantastic and diverse in varieties. You never know what comes to next. And we had the chase to cut the ham ourselves! During our tour, Carolyn gave us many highlights in interesting historical stories. As just few people joined this tour, we enjoyed our conversations with Carolyn. Highly recommended this unbeatable tour for food lovers.
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Dreamer58492921276
18 Jan 2026
Prepare your tastebuds Growing up in NY, I thought I’ve tasted all that the world had to offer. This tour has changed my mind - the wines and tapas introduced on this tour has reminded me how large and vast this world really is. Highly recommend this tour to everyone visiting Madrid.
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Qi Feng H
16 Jan 2026
Great Madrid Food Tour 10/10 recommend and learned so much! A great way to experience restaurants and dishes you wouldn’t know to try as a visitor,
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Sam M
15 Jan 2026
Fantastic tour! Very informative, fun, and delicious! Our guide Sirsa was amazing. So engaging, and had tons of interesting facts and recommendations for us! A must do!
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Katherine Shirey
31 Dec 2025
This was an amazing food tour. Adolfo was a wonderful guide and his knowledge of local cuisine and jamon Iberico set this tour apart from other tours we have taken. Highly recommend and do not miss this tour while you are visiting Madrid. Come hungry!
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Susan Farinella
29 Dec 2025
Why Eat with Us?
#1 food and drink experience in Europe - 14 years. 500,000 Clients. 25,000 Five-Star Reviews!
Every tour is meticulously curated to showcase the very best of Madrid's food scene.
Exclusive access to the most legit local spots, from the famous hole in the wall to the trendy new restaurants.
Premium tours with expert guides, outstanding food, and drinks always included
Dining with Purpose
We proudly support World Central Kitchen. Every tour you book helps provide meals to communities in crisis.
Our Madrid food tours are led by people who live by Madrid's golden rule — never eat alone and never rush a meal. Tapas hunters, vermut devotees, and market regulars who know which backstreet bar has been frying the perfect croqueta for decades. They take you into the neighborhoods where madrileños actually gather — because in Madrid, the best food is always found where the conversation is loudest and the plates never stop coming.
Carolyn
I was born and raised in Madrid but also spent a few of my younger years in New York.
My favorite food in the city is a calamares sandwich, crispy and tender, simple yet so satisfying!
My favorite thing to do in the city is to explore Madrid's neighborhoods discovering new food stops along the way. I also love a nice stroll through the beautiful Retiro park.
Sirsa
I'm Sirsa, a transplant originally from L.A. and here to stay! I’ve lived in Madrid since the end of the pandemic. I love its friendliness, gorgeous architecture, and progressiveness mixed with pride in its traditions. Also, it’s super family-oriented and safe!
My favorite food(s) in the city (hard to just pick one) are gambas al ajillo (succulent garlic shrimp) and potaje - an Easter soup made with chickpeas, spinach and cod
Pro tips: La Venecia sherry bar, Circulo de Bellas Artes concerts, east side of Retiro to see peacocks!
Adolfo
I was born in a small Spanish city and moved to Madrid in 1993. I grew up helping my grandmother make chorizos, a task that taught me a lot about tradition and flavor. My three greatest passions in life are trying new dishes, traveling, and skiing.
When it comes to food, Madrid's cuisine has a special place in my heart. For a sweet treat, you have to try a torrija. When it comes to tapas, the classic tortilla de patata is the best tapa ever. My favorite traditional stew is rabo de toro, a dish that's rich and full of flavor. Finally, for a nice drink, nothing beats the classic vermut before a meal.
There are a few things I'd never skip in Madrid. Taking a stroll and enjoying a typical spanish breakfast “Barrita con tomate” in the lively and trendy neighborhood of Malasaña. And for a truly memorable moment, I head up to a rooftop bar to enjoy a glass of wine while watching the sunset over the city.
Yvonne Vaughn
I have been in Madrid for almost 12 years.
My favourite food in the city has to be the delicious, cured Iberian pork products and any modern fusion cuisine that puts an interesting spin on traditional Spanish dishes.
Tips for the city: Make sure to have a drink in one of the city's many rooftop terraces, my favourite are Casa Suecia and the classic Terraza Cibeles. Do your own tapas tour along the vibrant Calle Cava Baja and always have vermouth as your apero before lunch or dinner, try Taberna La Concha for their delicious homemade vermouths, also on Cava Baja!
Frequently Asked Questions
General Tour Information
Is a food tour in Madrid worth it?
Absolutely, a food tour in Madrid is highly recommended. The city is known as Spain’s gastronomic capital, along with being, you know, its actual captial, and a food tour offers an immersive experience in its rich culinary culture. You’ll have the opportunity to savor iconic dishes like cocido madrileño, croquetas, and calamari sandwiches, while also exploring local tapas bars and the bustling Mercado de San Miguel. From the classic flavors to the hidden gems, a Madrid food tour provides an unparalleled opportunity to experience the city like a true local.
What food is Madrid famous for?
At the top of the list are the city’s iconic tapas, with local favorites like patatas bravas (spicy roasted potatoes), tortillas (Spanish omelets), and bite-sized pinchos (skewered appetizers) that are best enjoyed with a refreshing glass of sangria.
Beyond the tapas scene, Madrid is celebrated for its love of jamón ibérico, the prized cured ham that is a national treasure. The city also takes great pride in its paella, the classic Spanish rice dish that is often prepared with seafood or chicken and saffron. And no visit to Madrid is complete without indulging in the local’s favorite: café con leche, a rich and creamy coffee beverage.
What’s included in the price of the food tour?
All food and drinks, as well as your professional local guide are included in the price you pay for the tour. No hidden charges or upsells here.
How long are the tours?
Our Madrid tours range in length from 3 to 3.5 hours.
What neighborhoods or areas do the tours cover?
Each tour’s area can be found listed as its “location”. You might explore Old Town, Puerta del Sol or Plaza Mayor!
What is the group size?
Our tours have maximum capacity of 12 guests. This ensures that our small groups are able to move unobtrusively through the neighborhoods we explore, respecting our surroundings and the locals that live in Madrid.
I’m traveling alone. Do you offer single tickets?
We love welcoming solo travelers! All of our tours are open to individual guests.
Food and Drink
What kind of food will we taste?
You will taste a variety of local and regional Spanish foods which tell the story of Madrid through its culinary culture. Each tour page lists the individual dishes you’ll be able to try as a part of that experience.
Offerings may vary by day or season, but you’re sure to enjoy a delightful array of local flavors!
Are drinks included?
Yes. All tours include drinks, and they’re always included in the price you pay.
Do the tours accommodate vegetarian or gluten-free diets?
Vegetarian-Friendly Tours but vegan, gluten-free, or kosher options may be limited. Please share dietary restrictions upon booking for best accommodation. Note that tastings outside those catered for your needs are at your own risk. The company assumes no responsibility for any food allergies or intolerances. Guests with severe or life-threatening allergies cannot participate in this activity for their safety.
For full details, guests should always refer to the specific tour page, as limitations may vary.
Are portions enough for a meal?
Yes. On each of our Madrid tours, you are guaranteed to eat at least the equivalent of a full meal.
Can I buy food or souvenirs at the stops?
Of course! If you would like to purchase something at one of the stops we make, you are welcome to do so yourself, or if you need assistance, you can ask your helpful guide.
Booking and Payment
How do I book?
Visit eatingeurope.com and click on the orange “Book Now” button: it’s simple as that! You will be able to choose your tour, date, time and number of guests before booking.
What forms of payment are accepted?
We accept major debit & credit card payments, iDEAL and Bancontact.
Are there discounts for children, students, or groups?
We offer discounts on tickets for adolescents and children, but unfortunately do not offer discounts on group bookings.
What is Eating Europe’s cancellation policy?
Small group tours can be cancelled and refunded up to 24 hours before tour departure. Private tours can be cancelled and fully refunded up to 7 days before tour departure. For full details, please see our cancelation policy page.
Accessibility & Safety
Are private tours suitable for all ages, including children or seniors?
We are committed to providing a great experience for all of our guests, so if you require a private tour to be suitable for children or seniors, please get in touch and we can create a bespoke experience for you.
Are the tours wheelchair/stroller accessible?
Please note that some of our tours involve areas with limited accessibility and are not wheelchair/stroller accessible. For assistance and alternative option, please contact us. We’re dedicated to providing a great experience for all our guests!
What should I wear?
There is no dress code on our tours, however it’s recommended to wear a good pair of shoes (these are walking tours, after all!) and be prepared for the elements, even though most of our stops are indoors.
Are tourists welcome in Madrid?
Yes, absolutely. There’s a Spanish tradition called sobremesa, which means lingering at the table to talk and enjoy each other’s company long after a meal is finished. That’s the feeling we believe every visitor should experience in Madrid.
You’ll find that spirit of sobremesa from locals when you connect with the city respectfully. It’s found when you support the traditional tapas bars in La Latina, respect the late-night quiet in residential neighbourhoods, and embrace the city’s vibrant, late-evening energy. This is the authentic Madrid experience.
It’s this connection we create on our Eating Europe tours. We step away from the crowds and take you to the places locals truly love, introducing you to the people behind the food and the stories that make this city one of a kind.
Tour Experience & Expectations
Will the guide speak my language?
Our guides are all fluent in English, and of course speak Spanish as well. For requests for tours in other languages, please contact us.
Can I take photos during the tour?
Yes! You are welcome to take photos and videos of the food and scenery throughout your tour. If you would explicitly like to get photos of fellow guests or your guide, we kindly ask that you get their permission first.
Do I need to tip the guide?
Tips for our lovely guides are not required, but they are appreciated!
Will we visit the same places as other tours?
No. While some tours may have one or two stops which other groups visit (can’t help it if they’re popular!), Eating Europe are proud that the majority of stops on every Madrid tour are restaurants and vendors who work exclusively with us.
Do you offer private or custom tours?
We do! Please see the “Book a Private Tour” option or contact us, and we can arrange a private or custom Madrid tour to suit your specific needs.
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A tour can be cancelled with a full refund up to 24 hours before tour departure.
Private Tours
A private tour can be cancelled and fully refunded up to 7 days before tour departure
Gift Cards, Travel Vouchers & Flexi-Pass™
Gift cards, travel vouchers and Flexi-Pass™ are non-refundable.
LATE ARRIVALS AND NO SHOWS
Due to extremely strict time slots for entry into attractions and for food preparation, both in-person & virtual/online, we recommend you show up 15 minutes before the scheduled starting time of the tour or experience. Our group tours begin & depart precisely at the scheduled tour or experience start time. If you show up late or cannot find the meeting point, for any reason, refund requests are not honored per policy. If you are having a hard time arriving on time we encourage you to contact us as soon as possible so we can do everything in our power to assist you with arriving at the meeting point at the scheduled time or reschedule to the next available tour.
CANCELLATION DUE TO PLANES, TRAINS, AUTOMOBILES OR ILLNESS
Inside of 24 hours, your spot on the tour has been reserved exclusively for you. Since we are unable to fill your spot if you’re unable to attend for any reason (including transportation or illness), we do not offer refunds after that time. Please plan ahead so that you are able to join us and don’t miss out!
DISCOUNT CODES
Discount codes are valid for new bookings only. They are not eligible for pre-existing bookings and can not be applied retrospectively.
AMENDMENT POLICY
We would be happy to assist you with rescheduling your tour, free of charge, with any requests made more than 24 hours of 8am CET on the date of the tour. We reserve the right to charge an amendment fee should you request to reschedule within 24 hours of 8am CET on the date of your tour . Once again, this is subject to availability and price changes. In general, we only charge you for any additional costs that we incur such as tickets. We have no intention of profiting from disruptions to your vacation and will work with providers and suppliers to get this cost reduced to a minimum.
CHANGES TO THIS POLICY
From time to time, the terms of this policy may change at the Company’s discretion.
CONTACT US
If you have any questions regarding this privacy policy, you can contact us using the information below:
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The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.