Over 20 Years of Sharing Madrid Through Tapas
At Adventurous Appetites, we believe the best way to understand a city is through its food and drink.
Our food experiences bring people together to discover the food, culture, and traditions that define Madrid, in a sociable, relaxed and memorable way.
Not just what you eat, but how you eat it. Standing at a crowded bar, sharing plates with friends, moving from one place to another, discovering flavours, traditions, and stories along the way. That spirit of curiosity and connection is at the heart of everything we do.
For more than 20 years, we have been introducing visitors to the real Madrid, guiding them through authentic neighbourhood bars and helping them experience the city the way locals do. Our tours are not scripted performances or fixed tasting menus. They are evenings of discovery, conversation, and great food shared in the places where Madrileños actually gather.
The joy of tapas lies in its variety and its sociability.
Madrid shaped me. I just love the joy of shared tables, the rhythm of its bars, and the power of stories told over good food and wine.
I’ve lived in Madrid for more than twenty years and have built what I jokingly call an “unhealthy knowledge” of the city’s bars and restaurants. Originally from the UK and formerly a financial journalist in London, I studied Classics and Italian at Edinburgh University before falling in love with Madrid and deciding to stay.
What I enjoy most is introducing guests to the Madrid I know and love, the places locals gather, the dishes that define Spanish cuisine, and the little cultural details that make the city so special.
Favourite tapa
Alcachofas a la parrilla – grilled artichoke hearts with a beautifully crisp exterior and melt-in-the-mouth centre.
Favourite bar
La Castela, a bustling local favourite where the chipirones encebollados and rabo de toro are exceptional.
Favourite Madrid tip
Don’t be shy in busy bars. Order one dish at a time, see what others are eating, point and smile!
Charlie has lived in Spain for over thirty years, between Valencia and Madrid. After a long career in the entertainment industry, he now divides his time between crooning and sharing his love of people, culture, and Spanish gastronomy as part of the Adventurous Appetites team.
Charlie enjoys sharing Madrid through its food, recommending great tapas, wines, and beers in each bar while weaving in interesting anecdotes about Spanish culture and the history of the city.
Above all, he believes the best way to understand Madrid is by experiencing its food culture the way locals do, relaxed, social, and always full of flavour.
Favourite tapa
Tortilla española or croquetas, simple, delicious classics of Spanish cooking.
Favourite bar
El Anciano Rey de los Vinos, opposite the cathedral, famous for its puff pastry tapa filled with bull’s meat.
Favourite Madrid tip
Go with the flow of Spanish life. Eat late, try new dishes, and don’t worry if you don’t know the name of something, just go for it!
Long before food tours became popular in Madrid, Adventurous Appetites was already introducing guests to the city through its bars and kitchens.
Over the years we’ve built strong relationships with the places we visit, from traditional taverns and family-run bars to neighbourhood favourites known only to locals. This long-standing connection allows us to share Madrid’s culinary culture in a way that feels authentic, personal, and genuinely welcoming.
Our aim is simple, to help you experience Madrid as it was meant to be tasted.
Tapas is not just about food, it’s about sociability.
It’s the joy of moving from bar to bar, tasting the specialties of each place, sharing dishes with the group, and discovering the rhythms of Spanish life. Some dishes you may love instantly. Others may surprise you. But together they tell the story of Madrid’s culinary traditions.
Along the way we share anecdotes, cultural insights, and practical tips that help you understand the city beyond the guidebooks.
By the end of the experience, most guests leave not only very full, but also with a deeper appreciation of the city, its people, and its culture.
For us, this has never just been about food.
It’s about bringing people together, sharing knowledge, and creating evenings that feel less like a tour and more like being welcomed out by a knowledgeable friend who knows exactly where to go.
Whether it’s your first night in Madrid or your tenth visit to the city, our goal is the same, to help you experience the culture, flavours, and spirit of Madrid in a way that stays with you long after the evening ends.
There are countless ways to eat in Madrid. We invite you to experience it the way locals do, moving from bar to bar, sharing dishes, stories, and the simple joy of being around the table together.
Whether you’re visiting Madrid for the first time, celebrating a special occasion, or simply want a deeper understanding of the city’s food culture, a tailor-made tour offers the freedom to explore Madrid exactly the way you want.
Get in touch and we’ll design an experience that reflects your tastes, interests, and curiosity.
