Madrid isn’t just meant to be explored on foot — but through food.
If you’re planning to visit the Spanish capital, or want to get to know it a little deeper, doing a Tapas Tour in Madrid is one of the best ways to understand its culture, its neighborhoods, and, of course, its people.
From old taverns to trendy bars with a traditional twist, the Madrileño tapas scene has a story as rich as its dishes. At MadRide, we go beyond the food. Here are a few fun facts about Madrid’s taverns that might surprise you during the tapas tour experience.
Tapas Tour; more than a food tour.
Some taverns in Madrid have been serving cañas and tapas for well over a hundred years. One of the most iconic is Taberna Antonio Sánchez, opened in 1830, still alive and buzzing, and part of our route. Places like this don’t just serve food — they serve time capsules. Another favorite is La Casa del Abuelo, which has been dishing out the same sizzling garlic shrimp since 1906.
The recipe hasn’t changed a bit. And really, why would it? When something works, you let it be. The word “taberna” itself comes from Latin, and back in medieval times they were more like hybrid spaces — part shop, part bar, part meeting point. In Madrid, many of these spots became hideouts for writers, politicians, artists… and of course, the occasional wine lover who was more into the glass than the conversation.
So no, a tapas tour isn’t just about eating. It’s about catching the city´s vibe — the noise, the smells, the random conversations between strangers leaning on the same bar. You’ll hear stories as much as you’ll taste croquetas. But here’s the thing: not every taberna is what it looks like.
In recent years, there’s been a growing trend in Madrid known as neorancio — new places that pretend to be old. You know the vibe: vintage tiles, dusty wine bottles, waiters in aprons… except the bar opened last year and the prices say “modern startup”, not “local dive”.
Some of these neotabernas are charming, others feel more like a performance. Still, they’ve become part of the city’s landscape, and that says something too. We’ll be talking more about them in future blog posts — the crowd, the prices, whether they’re worth it or not — and other little quirks of Spanish daily life that you’ll want to catch if you’re truly trying to understand Madrid.
