Madrid
Eat like a local in Madrid
Local Food & Drink Tastings • 3 hours
5.0
(6)
Eat like a local in Madrid
Tapas, Mercado San Miguel and churros from heaven (or a chocolatería, but you get the point).
What makes this experience special
Key highlights
- Join your personally chosen host as they take you on a journey to discover Madrid’s cuisine - apparently, there is a life beyond tapas
- Take in all of the sights and smells of one of the city’s finest eating establishments; Mercado San Miguel where you’ll visit a trendy tapas bar and sample some quality produce like slivers of Iberian ham
- Walk past a handful of Madrid’s most iconic landmarks on your travels through the Central district
- Pick up the locals’ favorite street eats as you wander - calamari sandwiches and churros! (Luckily not at the same time)
- Stop by a low-key local eatery where you can try a seasonal dish that’s loved by the locals
What to know before you go
Here’s everything you need to know before your day unfolds.
3 hours
Fully tailored to your preferences
English Other languages may be requested
What’s included
Private and personalized experience
4 hours with a host
6 tastings at a market with tapas bars, a local eatery and street food spots
3 glasses of wine, beers or soft drinks
Walking experience (if required, your host can suggest public transport or private taxi options)
Hotel meet-up (available on request for central location)
What’s not included
Additional food and drinks
Tickets to any attractions
Transportation costs
Gratuities
Meeting point
Your hotel/apartment or any other central locationCancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experienceWhat to bring
- We recommend wearing comfortable shoes and carrying a light bag for your essentials.
- Public transport may be used during the experience - please bring a travel card or small amount of cash for fares.
How your day could unfold
A flexible, unscripted experience designed entirely around your interests. Your host will adapt the day based on what excites you mostWhat you’ll do
You’ll join one of our local Madrid hosts to feast your way around the city together. It turns out there’s more to life than tapas, and your host can’t wait to share their city’s whole food culture with you- Don’t worry though, there is still tapas to be had.
You could start in Puerta del Sol where there’s a marker known as Kilometer Zero, where all six of Spain’s national roads lead to, so it’s no surprise that Madrid’s food scene has become a combination of styles and flavors from across the country.
Pick a direction and you’re off! Explore a market like the newly refurbished Mercado San Miguel and try the finest regional produce like slivers of Iberian ham and some pinchos (tiny tapas held together with a stick) from the trendy tapas bars inside the market.
Then on your way to the next stop, pick up a Bocadillo de Calamares, Madrid’s most famous street eat (a calamari sandwich). Let your host take you to a low-key eatery, where you could try a seasonal dish - refreshing gazpacho in summer or Cocido Madrileño (a hearty chickpea and pork stew) in winter.
And there’s always room for dessert, right? You’ll indulge in the most heavenly churros with a thick, rich chocolate sauce at a place that’s the locals’ go-to spot at all hours of the day.
You might actually be crawling home after all of that food!
1. Select a date
2. Select start time
3. Tailor your experience
Answer a few quick questions to help your host craft the perfect day tailored to you.
1. What’s your preferred hosting style?
2. How would you like the pace of your day?
3. What’s your walking comfort level?
4. Are you celebrating something special?
Real Stories, Real Connections
See our hosts and guests creating memories
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What travelers think of this experience
Morgan,
Nov 2024
We had a wonderful time exploring the city with Lisa. Very professional and knowledgeable. We went back to one of the tapas places she introduced to us because we enjoyed it so much! Really tasty food (croquettas and stuffed mushrooms were the best!)
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Glenn,
May 2019
Joanna was our guide and she was fantastic! My son and I found her so easy to get along with. She was very friendly, knowledgeable of the history of the various barrios we walked through, and she turned us on to some some fantastic food and drink treats. Her organization, CityUnscripted, has a real gem of a person/tour guide in Joanna.
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Michael,
Mar 2025
Alba was great for our 2 hour tour. Being a native of Madrid provided great insights into the history and kicked off our Spain trip. Highly recommend Alba.
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Julia,
Jan 2025
Lisa was fantastic-very flexible and accommodating; she adjusted the itinerary on the fly and customized the experience according to our interests. All in all, a wonderful day in Madrid!
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Ann,
Dec 2024
Spending this time with Lisa as our guide through the neighborhoods of Madrid was fantastic! We loved the opportunity to customize where we went and what we saw all throughout the day! We learned about the history and culture of Madrid, as well as stopped at some local spots to see shops and cafes that had an interesting history. Exploring with Lisa was like spending time with a friend. She was informative and funny, checking if we were enjoying our time, and giving us a perspective to what it is like to live in Madrid. We also loved hearing her stories about her journey to Madrid from Venezuela and the US, and we are so impressed with her entrepreneurial spirit of starting her own company. Fantastic day! Highly recommend! Thank you Lisa for highlighting the wonderful city of Madrid for our family!
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Kim,
Dec 2024
Let me tell you about the incredible time I had with my tour guide, Lisa, in Madrid! From the very moment we met, it was like reconnecting with an old friend who was very knowledgeable about this amazing city. Lisa was a lot of fun and brought the energy I was looking for in a guide. I wanted a flexible agenda for our 6 hours together since I was only in Madrid for part of a day. The tour was a masterclass in personalization. It wasn’t about a script or a schedule—it was about me. What I wanted to see, feel, and experience. And somehow, Lisa just knew exactly how to craft the perfect day. We had an amazing connection and by the end, I wasn’t just saying goodbye to a guide—I was saying goodbye to a new friend. If you’re thinking about exploring Madrid, Lisa is the guide you need.
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