The Best, Most Delicious Food Tour in Madrid

Updated: 01/28/20 | January 28th, 2020

During my first visit to Madrid I was incredibly sick and didn’t manage to see much of the city. When I finally managed to get back to Spain, I knew I had to give Madrid the attention it deserved.

After spending a week riding the rails around Europe, I found myself back in Madrid.

Since the city is famous for its incredible food scene, I decided I wanted to take a food tour to kick off my visit. When I asked around for tips, numerous people pointed me to Devour Madrid (formerly Madrid Food Tours). It turns out, Devour was run by a fellow blogger I had met at a conference previously (small world)!

Devour is run by Lauren and James ad they took me around the city and taught me the history of Madrid’s food scene. Not only did I get to try some mouth-watering food but I learned a lot about the history of the city ad how that has influenced its cuisine.

To show you just how amazing the food scene is here, here’s a video I filmed on my food tour:

Since food was the focus of my visit, I ate a ton while I was here. If you’re looking to explore the city’s food, some of the best foods worth trying during your visit are:

• Chocolate con churros
• Cocido Madrileño (pork stew)
• Bacalao (salted cod)
• Huevos Rotos (potatoes and eggs)
• Fresh olives
• Oreja a la Plancha (pig ears)
• Jamon Ibérico

I spent four days in Madrid and essentially just ate my way around the city, moving from market to market and tapas restaurant to tapas restaurant.

Even without a food tour, it’s incredibly easy to wander this beautiful city and eat amazing food. But, if you really want to get behind the scenes and learn about the city, it’s food, and its culture, take a food tour in Madrid. You’ll learn much more that way and have a much more insightful and nuanced experience.

Disclaimer: Despite me offering to pay, Lauren and James provided the food tour for free.

Get Your In-Depth Budget Guide to Europe!

My detailed, 200+ page guidebook is made for budget travelers like you! It cuts out the fluff found in other guidebooks and gets straight to the practical information you need to travel and save money while backpacking around Europe. You’ll find suggested itineraries, budgets, ways to save money, on and off the beaten path things to see and do, non-touristy restaurants, markets, and bars, and much more! Click here to learn more and get started!
 

Book Your Trip to Spain: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines, because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the largest inventory. If you want to stay somewher eother than a hotel, use Booking.com, as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. I use them all the time. My favorite hostels in Madrid are:

• Sungate One – Super clean, in a great location, and very social. They organize pub crawls, communal meals, and walking tours too!
• The Hat – This boutique hostel balances the social aspect of hostels with a more upscale vibe. It’s clean and the staff are incredibly helpful. It’s my favorite place to stay in the city.
• MuchoMadrid – This hostel is clean, comfortable, central, and provides a decent breakfast. Everything a budget traveler needs!

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it, as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• World Nomads (for everyone below 70)
• Insure My Trip (for those over 70)

Looking for the Best Companies to Save Money With?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all the ones I use to save money when I travel — and I think they will help you too!

Want a Guide?
Madrid has some really interesting tours. My favorite company is Take Walks. They have expert guides and can get you behind the scenes at the city’s best attractions. They’re my go-to walking tour company!

Looking for more information on visiting Madrid?
Check out my in-depth destination guide to Madrid with more tips on what to see and do, costs, ways to save, and much, much more!