Gastronomic Tour: Discover the best “Wines and Tapas of Madrid”

Madrid’s best food often arrives in small portions at old taverns, not polished dining rooms. This three-hour tour links five traditional stops with historic squares, local stories, wine, vermouth, beer, Iberian ham, olives, torrezno, tortilla, and more.

I like the small maximum group of 10, which gives your guide room to answer questions. I also like the clear food value: five drinks and more than 10 tastings are included, with no need to keep reaching for your wallet at each stop.

The main thing to consider is the pace. Five taverns in three hours means short visits, and the combination of wine, vermouth, beer, and a final liqueur can leave you pleasantly tipsy. Eat lightly beforehand, but do not arrive hungry enough to rush the tasting.

Key points at a glance

• Five traditional taverns: You visit long-running local places rather than stopping at one restaurant for a set meal.
• More than 10 tastings: Expect small portions of Iberian ham, cheeses, oils, olives, torrezno, tortilla, tapas, and other specialties.
• Five drinks included: Wine, vermouth, beer, and other pours are part of the price, with additional drinks available at your own cost.
• History between bites: The route connects Plaza Mayor, Plaza de la Villa, Puerta del Sol, La Latina, and other central Madrid areas.
• Small-group format: The group can include no more than 10 people, though it may sometimes be much smaller.
• A guide-led experience: Deyvis is named as one guide associated with the tour and is praised for combining Spanish history, art, food, and humor.

What this Madrid food tour is really about

This is not a restaurant crawl built around large plates. It is a guided introduction to the way Madrid eats and drinks: standing or sitting briefly in old taverns, tasting one specialty, hearing why it matters, and moving on.

The experience includes a historical tour as well as food and drink. That mix is important. Without the background, an olive is simply an olive and a slice of ham is simply ham. With a guide explaining the places and traditions, the food becomes a way to understand daily life in Madrid.

You will visit five historic and traditional taverns. The listed route also passes through several major squares, so the tour gives you useful orientation in the center. It is especially helpful early in a Madrid stay, when you are still learning which neighborhoods connect and where locals go for a quick drink.

The group size is capped at 10. That is a sensible number for old taverns, where space may be limited and conversation can otherwise become difficult. Some departures may be smaller, even down to a private-feeling experience with only one participant, but you should not book expecting a private tour every time.

Starting at Retiro and moving into central Madrid

The meeting point is the Monument to Alfonso XII in Retiro Park, at Plaza de la Independencia. The tour ends back at this same meeting point.

That start point is worth noting because the food stops are spread through central Madrid. The tour description does not specify the exact transport method between stops, so arrive ready for a guided route rather than assuming that every venue is beside the next one. Wear comfortable shoes and allow time to find the monument inside the park area.

The activity is offered in English, and an expert guide also speaks Spanish. Most people can participate, and the meeting area is near public transportation. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you make your own way to Retiro and away from the final meeting point.

Plaza Mayor, Plaza de la Villa, and Puerta del Sol

The first part of the route uses three famous squares as markers for Madrid’s older tavern culture.

Around Plaza Mayor, the group visits at least one tavern. The square itself is one of Madrid’s essential orientation points, but the value here is stepping beyond the open plaza and into a local drinking place. The stop is listed at about 10 minutes, so think of it as a brief introduction, not a full meal.

The route then reaches Plaza de la Villa, one of the city’s notable historic squares. Again, at least one tavern in the area is included, with about 10 minutes scheduled. The short stop should help connect the buildings and streets around the plaza with the food traditions you are about to taste.

Puerta del Sol brings another central Madrid landmark into the tour. At least one tavern in this area is visited, also for about 10 minutes. Sol can feel like a major city crossroads, so a guide is useful here. You get more than a photo stop, but you should not expect a long sit-down session at every early landmark.

These three short visits provide context and help you see Madrid as a city of linked neighborhoods rather than a collection of isolated monuments. The tradeoff is obvious: the history at each square will be selective because the food-focused stops take up most of the three-hour schedule.

El Anciano Rey de los Vinos and Madrid’s vermouth tradition

El Anciano Rey de los Vinos is described as a centennial tavern with royal connections, a strong wine selection, authentic vermouth, and signature tapas made from a secret recipe.

This is one of the most distinctive stops on the route. Vermouth is not merely a sweet drink to order before dinner in Madrid. It is part of the city’s social rhythm, especially when served with a small bite and conversation. Tasting it in a long-running tavern gives you a better sense of the custom than ordering an anonymous glass at a modern bar.

The visit lasts about 30 minutes. That is enough time for a drink, a tasting, and an explanation without turning the tour into a full restaurant meal. You may also get a glimpse of how an old tavern uses its setting and house specialties to keep tradition alive.

The phrase secret recipe is part of the tavern’s appeal, but you should not expect the recipe to be revealed. The point is the combination of place, drink, and a house tapa.

Mercado Jamón Ibérico and the character of Spanish ingredients

The Mercado Jamón Ibérico stop focuses on Spanish Iberian products. You learn about the history of Iberian ham, including the famous acorn-fed style, as well as cheeses and olive oils. The visit lasts about 30 minutes.

For many people, this will be the food highlight. Iberian ham can taste dramatically different from ordinary cured ham, with a texture and flavor that depend on the breed, curing, and feeding. The acorn-fed designation is part of the story, but the useful part of the visit is learning how to pay attention to the product rather than treating ham as a generic snack.

Cheese and oil broaden the tasting. Spain has strong regional food traditions, and a small sampling can show how a meal is built from a few carefully chosen ingredients. The format also works well if you are unsure what to order later in your trip.

This is a tasting stop, not a full market lunch. Portions are expected to be small, and the tour includes more than 10 tastings across the entire route. If Iberian ham is a priority for you, ask your guide questions while you are there, since a small group makes that easier.

Mesón Rincón de la Cava and the art of the olive

At Mesón Rincón de la Cava, the guide explains the secret behind the tavern’s olives and how they are prepared. The stop lasts around 30 minutes.

Olives can be overlooked because they appear on so many Spanish tables. That is exactly why this stop has value. Preparation, seasoning, curing, and serving style can turn a simple bar snack into a local specialty. The stop gives you a practical lesson in something you may encounter throughout Spain.

This is also a good palate break after ham and cheese. The tour is not built around one heavy dish after another. Instead, it moves through salty, cured, pickled, fried, and egg-based foods, with drinks spaced among them.

The tasting may appeal most to people who enjoy small details. If you want a large meal with a clear main course, this stop will feel more like a sample than a destination.

La Latina, La Muralla, and the torrezno ibérico

The route reaches Plaza de Puerta de Moros and La Muralla, a bar and restaurant on the old tapas street of La Latina. Here you try torrezno ibérico and hear about the secret inside it. The visit is scheduled for about 30 minutes.

La Latina is one of the best-known areas in Madrid for tapas and casual eating. This stop gives the tour a neighborhood feel after the grand central squares. The food is also more substantial than a few slices of ham or a spoonful of olives. Torrezno is a crisp, savory pork specialty, and the Iberian version brings the tour back to the quality of the meat itself.

The description promises an explanation of what lies inside the torrezno, so your guide will likely use the dish to discuss preparation rather than simply placing it on the table. Since the recipe details are not specified, do not book expecting a cooking class. You are tasting and learning, not making the food yourself.

La Latina can be a good place to return later for your own evening meal. Pay attention to the street and tavern names as you go, but remember that the tour ends back at Retiro rather than in La Latina.

CafeeKe, beer, and Madrid’s tortilla de patata

The final food stop is CafeeKe, where the tour turns to beer and Madrid’s most famous tapa, tortilla de patata. The visit lasts about 30 minutes.

Tortilla de patata is a simple combination of potato and egg, but its texture and seasoning can vary. It is a useful dish to taste with a guide because you can ask about what makes one version different from another. Here it is paired with beer, giving the final stop a familiar bar-food feel.

The tour also promises a look at the history of beer and includes what is described as the best in the world. That wording is broad, and the exact beer selection is not specified, so keep your expectations flexible. The important point is that beer joins wine and vermouth in the drink lineup.

One past itinerary detail also mentions a dessert liqueur with a surprise. The official inclusion list confirms five drinks but does not name every pour, so you should treat that final liqueur as possible rather than guaranteed. Either way, the alcohol adds up over three hours.

Five drinks and more than 10 tastings for $107.17

The price is $107.17 per person. That is not a low-cost snack walk, but the value depends on how you use the included food and drink.

You receive:

• Five drinks
• More than 10 tastings
• Visits to five traditional taverns
• An English and Spanish-speaking guide
• Historical commentary
• A route through several central Madrid areas

If you paid separately for five drinks, several food portions, and a guide, the price could make sense, especially if you value the access and explanations more than a large meal. The food is served as tastings, so this is not the right choice if you want three hours of full-sized dishes.

Additional drinks are not included. That is a small but important budget point. You can keep the cost close to the advertised price by sticking with the included pours, but a social evening at five taverns can easily cost more if you order extras.

The experience is booked an average of 41 days ahead, which suggests that planning early is sensible. I would especially consider booking ahead during a busy Madrid visit, since the group limit is 10.

What the guide adds to the experience

The guide is the difference between a sequence of snacks and a useful Madrid introduction. The strongest praise goes to the historical explanations, food knowledge, friendly humor, and ability to answer questions.

Deyvis is specifically associated with several strong tour experiences. His background is described as extending beyond food into Spanish history and Madrid art, including the Prado Museum. That does not mean every departure will be led by Deyvis, so check the guide details if his participation matters to you.

The best version of this tour is conversational. You taste a dish, hear where it fits into Madrid life, and ask what to order next on your own. A group of 10 or fewer supports that style much better than a large bus group.

The tour can also work well as a first-day orientation. You leave with names of foods to try, neighborhoods to revisit, and a better sense of how local taverns operate. If you are already an expert on Spanish food, the general history may feel basic in places, but the tavern visits still offer a practical route through Madrid’s eating culture.

Timing, alcohol, and practical comfort

Three hours is a compact schedule. Each major tavern stop gets about 30 minutes, while the first three square areas receive about 10 minutes each. That leaves little room for long pauses, shopping, or a relaxed meal.

The alcohol deserves planning. Five drinks may include wine, vermouth, beer, and other servings. One person described ending the experience tipsy, especially after the vermouth, wine, beer, food, and possible liqueur. I would avoid scheduling a demanding museum visit immediately afterward, and I would plan your return from Retiro before the tour begins.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are not provided. The activity begins and ends at the Alfonso XII monument in Retiro Park. It is near public transportation, but you remain responsible for reaching the meeting point and getting back to your accommodation.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund. Poor weather or failure to reach the required minimum number of participants can cancel the tour, with a different date or a full refund offered in those cases.

Who should book this food walk

I would choose this tour if you want a guided introduction to Madrid’s tavern culture and prefer several small tastings to one large meal. It suits first-time visitors, curious eaters, couples, solo visitors, and small groups who want history with their food.

It is also a good match if Iberian ham, Spanish wine, vermouth, olives, beer, and tortilla are high on your list. The format lets you try many classic items without committing to a full plate of each one.

I would be more cautious if you do not drink alcohol, need a large meal, dislike moving between venues, or want a slow evening with long time at every tavern. The food is central, but the schedule is active and the portions are tastings.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want Madrid explained through its bars and traditional foods, with five drinks and more than 10 samples included. The strongest reasons are the small group, the historic taverns, and the guide-led context around dishes many visitors might otherwise order without understanding.

Skip it if you want a quiet dinner, generous portions, or complete control over the menu and timing. For most food-focused visitors, though, $107.17 is a fair price for a three-hour introduction, especially if you book early and treat the included tastings as your evening meal’s first course rather than a small add-on.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

It starts at the Monument to Alfonso XII in Retiro Park, at Plaza de la Independencia, Madrid.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the same meeting point in Retiro Park.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately three hours.

What languages are offered?

The tour is offered in English, and the expert guide speaks Spanish and English.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 10 travelers.

How many drinks are included?

Five drinks are included in the tour price. Additional drinks are not included.

How much food is included?

The tour includes more than 10 tastings and visits to five historic and traditional taverns.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.