Episode 1
24 Minutes – Madrid – Spain
In this first Episode of Eating Europe we are talking about Tapas in Madrid. I’ll talk about the different tapas I ate there, the tapas tour I went on and give some recommendations as to what to eat.
I talk about:
Garlic shrimp
Some seriously good wine
The best Spanish Tortilla in Madrid
This is the bar with the best Tortilla tapas: https://www.juanalalocaes.com/
This is the Tapas tour I went on. https://getyourguide.tpx.lu/MSHmJwCB
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Transcript of Eating Europe, a food and travel podcast
Welcome to Eating Europe, the podcast where we explore the heart of Europe through its food, its markets, and the stories behind every dish.
I’m your host, Julia Doust, and if you’ve ever planned a trip around a meal, you’re in the right place. Let’s dig in.
Today, we’re going to talk about tapas. What does tapas mean to you? What do you think of when you think of tapas?
I know when I think of tapas, I think of evenings spent with friends around a bar, with lots of little bits of food that we’re all trying. I think of arguments about whether we’re gonna have the ham croquettes or the vegetable croquettes. I think of debates about who says black pudding isn’t good and the others who think it’s the best tapas ever.
My memories of tapas go from various holidays in Spain. I remember going to Burgos, where my daughter tasted croquettes for the first time — and it’s been a love affair ever since. I remember going to Malaga, standing up in a bar, and having the best patatas bravas with my best friends.
That’s the memories I have of tapas: always with friends, not always in Spain. I’ve had good tapas in London as well, though some of the tapas bars in London can be very expensive.
So when I went to Madrid, tapas was obviously top of my list of things to eat — which is a good job really, because tapas is absolutely first and foremost when it comes to eating in Madrid. You don’t see a lot of what I would call ordinary restaurants around. What you see is tapas bars everywhere — they are everywhere. And that’s not a bad thing, it just is.
But travelling on my own meant it was a bit awkward, because tapas is communal, it’s social. So how was I going to have the tapas experience that I wanted in Madrid on my own? I decided to go on a tapas tour.
You’ve probably seen these food tours — you can book through Viator or GetYourGuide. I booked mine through GetYourGuide, a tapas and wine tour, because I like wine and I thought this would be a good way to find out a bit more about tapas from a Spanish guide and to find some of the better spots in Madrid.
Tapas bars can be quite intimidating if you’re not Spanish. There’s no user manual — you go in, there’s all these people, maybe standing by the bar or sitting on barstools. They all seem to have food, yet no one’s offering you a menu. There’s no menu written down, and you’re not quite sure: do I go and order at the bar, do I wait for someone to come to me? It’s not easy as a traveller.
A tour takes away some of that uncertainty. I wouldn’t say stress — that would be the wrong word — just uncertainty. It makes you feel more at ease and means you can actually enjoy it.
What We Ate on the Tapas Tour
Was it worth it? We ate a lot of different things. We had four different tapas bars, with three or four choices at each. The best was probably the garlic shrimp — absolutely delicious, fresh as anything.
We started in a little bar, where on the left-hand side there was a small screen and a man standing behind gas burners, cooking shrimp in small dishes. He added olive oil and garlic, and the flames went up. The aroma of garlic filled the place. The prawns were fantastic, and dipping the bread in the sauce was almost better than the prawns themselves.
We didn’t start with the prawns, though. We began in a wine and cheese shop that had branched out into a little tapas bar with some bar stools. One of the advantages of going on a tour rather than going in yourself is that they lead you straight to the back room. There was a table set out for about a dozen of us, and the food arrived. You didn’t have to think about ordering or prices, which meant you could really concentrate on the food.
On the first plate, we had toasts with four different toppings:
- Iberico ham, the special ham from pigs fed on acorns — rich, melt-in-the-mouth, and delicious.
- Cheese with quince paste — a classic Spanish specialty.
- Smoked tuna — big slabs, sliced and smoked; one guest said it almost tasted like meat.
- Thin slices of beef, again melt-in-the-mouth.
This was served with a generous Monastrell wine from a vineyard celebrating 150 years — full-bodied, like a Syrah or a Côte du Rhône.
From there, we went to other bars. One served a chickpea stew, normally with pork, but the specialty included tripe. I struggle with tripe, but I promised myself I’d try everything on this tour. It wasn’t delicious, but it absorbed the flavours of the stew beautifully.
We also had deep-fried pork, a bit like pork scratchings, and deep-fried dogfish cubes, surprisingly good. Vegetarian options included garlicky mushrooms on toast. Even though Madrid tapas has a lot of meat and seafood, there are plenty of vegetarian dishes available.
Tapas Culture and Drinks
We explored the Barrios de las Letras, the literary quarter, and ended up in Plaza Mayor. My tip: avoid eating on tourist squares for the best food — you’re paying for the view, not the flavours.
We also tried Cava, the Spanish sparkling wine made in the traditional method, and Spanish vermouth on tap. Spanish vermouth is less bitter than Italian and less sweet than French, and it’s drunk as an aperitif with tapas.
Standout Dish: Potato Tortilla
The highlight of my trip was a caramelized onion potato tortilla near the French Embassy. Unctuous in the middle, rich in flavour, and perfectly balanced — this tortilla alone was worth the trip to Madrid.
Another favourite was the garlic shrimp, which I’ll definitely be cooking at home. Tapas is meant for sharing, so next time I’ll bring friends — it’s communal, and that makes the experience even better.
Final Thoughts
Madrid is a tapas paradise. A guided tour is great, especially for solo travellers, as it helps you navigate the culture and dishes. After the tour, I felt confident exploring other bars and trying new things.
Thanks for joining me on Eating Europe. If you enjoyed today’s episode, share it with a fellow food traveller and don’t forget to subscribe for more delicious adventures.
Until next time, bon appétit and happy travels!