Madrid Lunchtime Aperitivo and Tapas Walking Tour

On this lunchtime aperitif walking tapas tour your entertaining foody guide will take you off to experience Madrid's aperitivo tradition. But it`s not just food, you will learn the ins and outs of Madrid's culinary scene, discover interesting facts on Madrid's history, culture and customs and get ideas for the rest of your stay. You'll visit 3 traditional bars/restaurants to try authentic Spanish delicacies before finishing with something sweet. In each bar your guide will recommend the best regional specialties, while adapting to the tastes of the group. The tour price includes your first drink and tapas at the first bar you'll visit. You then choose how much or how little you'd like to eat and drink at the other bars/restaurants you'll visit. For a satisfying experience, expect to spend about 35 euros per person and to be very full at the end!

We will meet betweeen the two metro entrances of Metro Opera in Plaza Isabel II and introduce you to fellow travellers and explain the plan for tour. PLEASE NOTE THIS ITINERARY IS AN EXAMPLE ONLY AS WE CHANGE THINGS AND ADAPT ACCORDING TO THE NEEDS OF THE GROUP ON THE NIGHT.

We will walk past the impressive Spanish Royal Palace (the largest Palace in Europe) and your guide wil tell you interesting facts and stories bout the building and nearby area.

First bar: We will stop in a century-old bar and introduce you to the all-important Madrid tradition "La hora del vermut" Here we will invite your to a traditional Madrid aperitif, a vermut (or equivalent of your choice) paired with appropriate delicacies. Minimum 1 drink and 3 tastings. They might be crunchy ham croquettes, vinegary anchovies, fresh green olives or flaky pastry packets filled with bull's tail... The idea is to get you warmed up and in the mood before exploring some of the main sights of Madrid.

We will tell you all about this iconic square, its buildings, history and traditions.

Second Bar: You will have probably worked up a bit of an appetite by now so we will stop in a bar that is very popular with the locals for its quality price relationship and get you to try that must of Spain - a bit of Iberian ham and manchego cheese, washed down with a cold beer, tinto de verano or soft drink. Your guide will give you a crash course in Spanish hams, how they are made, preserved, cut and eaten!

Third bar: You will then stroll to the next bar, a very traditional Spanish tavern, where you will share various platefuls of tapas. Your guide will tell you all about the traditions of tapas and how tapassing is done Madrid-style. They may well try to expand your culinary boundaries a little and get you to try things you might not otherwise taste! You will try a range of different dishes, it might be anything from little green peppers from Galicia, Spanish black pudding, crispy sticky pork belly, artichoke hearts, steak with figs, bull's tail stew, deep-fried aubergine with a honey sauce, to octopus or baby clams. Your guide will advise you on the specialties and order according to the likes/dislikes of the group on the day.

By now you are likely to be pretty full so we will take a little stroll to help the food go down and for your guide to tell you a few stories and facts about the places you walk past!

We will walk through the Main Square of Madrid and tell you a bit about its history and traditions and make a few suggestions on what to see/eat/drink during the rest of your stay.

We will drop you off in one of Madrid's best-known places for something sweet to finish off the tour. Here you can try some of the chocolate con churros (though they also serve liqueurs if anyone needs a digestif!) Here your guide will help order your before bidding you farewell and leaving you to savour this sweet treat.