Madrid Local Tapas & History Tour with Dinner
About this experience
Discover Madrid through the eyes of a true local. Join a Spanish‑American native guide for an evening exploring three hidden Madrid tapas bars with a side of history, finishing off with a full sit‑down dinner that travelers consistently call the best night of their trip. Along the way, you’ll also get personalized recommendations for the rest of your stay in Madrid — the same local spots I share with friends and family.
Meeting point
Places you'll discover
- Plaza de Isabel II
- Puerta del Sol Square
- Plaza Mayor
- Plaza de la Villa
- Royal Palace
Itinerary
- 1Meeting Point: Plaza Isabel II
Our meeting Point is a five minute walk from Puerta del Sol at Plaza Isabel II, where one of our guides will be waiting with a "Native Spanish Tapas" sign or table, and get ready for an authentic Madrid Historical Walking Tour alongside some of the best local's tapas establishments with a fun, and dynamic bilingual guide explaining the past and present history of Madrid. We will be stopping at three traditional establishments for some of the best tapas and drinks that Madrid has to offer.
- 2Calle de Arenal
Our first food tapas stop is at a quaint tavern that has been operation since 1860 offering some of the best Croquettes in Madrid near Madrid's Puerta del Sol square; "Spain's Time Square". You will learn about the history of this square and other interesting facts such as the origin of the 12 grapes that Spaniards eat the last twelve seconds of the year.
- 3Puerta del Sol Spain's "Time Square"
We will enter Madrid's 1800´s "Time Square" with some very interesting anecdotes including why Spaniards eat 12 grapes the last twelve seconds of the year during New Year's Eve. Alongside an introduction of our current Borboun dynasty versus the precious Hapsburg dynasties.
- 4Plaza Mayor
Madrid's 1600's main square is a must see Madrid tourist attraction. We will then make our second food tapas stop at a local's favorite tavern at the perimeter of this amazing square for some amazing Spanish ham, chorizo, alongside a beverage of choice, we recommend the beer here, they use a traditional tap system.
- 5Botin: The oldest standing restaurant in the world
We will be entering the oldest quarter of Madrid dating back to the 1500`s and a peak at the world's oldest standing restaurant called Botin. It is not easy to get a reservation there, but our guides sometimes manage to do so. This beautiful little square has some very entertaining historical facts, including an anecdote related to Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code novel.
- 6Plaza de la Villa the oldest square in Madrid
You will have arrived to Madrid's oldest square dating from the 1500's. Get your camera ready, it is very picturesque, and romantic, in fact it's where marriage was proposed for centuries in Madrid, where we can appreciate three hundred years of different architecture just in this square.
- 7Spain's Royal Palace
We will be bordering Spain's Royal Palace and Cathedral, for some interesting anecdotes related to the Statues on the roof of the perimeter of the Palace and its gardens. Another must see of Madrid, being our last landmark before we sit down for a full tapas dinner, we highly recommend the homemade wine there.
- 8Full paella, tapas and home-made Sangría sit-down dinner
We will be heading back near the meeting point where we'll stop at a local favorite sit-down traditional restaurant for one of the best paellas in Madrid, alongside a variety of other tapas and Sangria, finishing off with traditional Castilian after-dinner liquor shots. Our guide will walk you back to the meeting point and give you recommendations you on where to go next and what to do during the remainder of your stay in Madrid.
Included / Excluded
- Goods And Services Tax
- Food & drinks
- Wifi
- Parking Fees
- Tips & gratuities
- Entrance / admission fees
- Landing And Facility Fees
- Entry Tax
- Departure Tax
- Bus Fare
Know Before You Go
- Stroller Or Pram Accessible
- Public Transportation Nearby
- Wheelchair Accessible
What To Bring
Comfortable shoes
Umbrella if rain is forecasted
Other Things To Know
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Minimum drinking age is 18 years
- May be operated by a multi-lingual guide
- Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
- You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
