the walk in order
Four bars, twelve tapas: the Madrid tapas and wine tour in order
From the Lorca statue on Plaza de Santa Ana to the last glass near Plaza Mayor, what happens and how long each part lasts.
Save your place at the bar ↗The tour at a glance
| Part | What happens |
|---|---|
| Meeting point | Plaza de Santa Ana, beside the bronze statue of Federico García Lorca |
| Briefing | About five minutes before the first bar |
| Bars | Four, about forty-five minutes at each, in Las Letras and El Madrid de los Austrias |
| Between bars | Three to seven minutes on foot |
| Finish | Near Plaza Mayor |
Finding the statue
The tour begins in Plaza de Santa Ana, beside the bronze statue of Federico García Lorca, which stands in front of the theatre. Starting times appear when you pick a day, and the time you choose decides which meal the walk replaces.
The five-minute briefing
Before anyone has a glass in hand there is a short safety briefing of about five minutes. Then the group sets off on foot.
Three bars in Las Letras
The first three bars sit in the Las Letras quarter, the neighbourhood the tour describes as the Literary Quarter. At each one the group spends about forty-five minutes with a drink and a run of tapas. The guide picks the food, taking into account what the place is known for and what the group likes, so the plates vary from day to day.
How the ordering works
The rhythm is simple: go to a bar, enjoy the tapas and your drink, order something extra for later if a dish catches your eye, and move on. The drink at each bar is one choice from wine, beer, soft drinks or mineral water. The guide uses the time at the counter to explain the wine regions, the origins of the dishes and how tapas culture works.
The streets in between
Between bars the group walks three to seven minutes along seventeenth-century streets. The guide tells stories and anecdotes about Madrid on the way, so the walks carry as much of the tour as the stops do. It is a little walking, not a hike: the distances between the bars are short.
The fourth bar and the finish
The last bar lies in El Madrid de los Austrias, the old centre built under the Habsburg dynasty. After it the tour finishes near Plaza Mayor. This is the moment to ask the guide where to go next, whether for coffee, a second round or a walk through the square itself.
What guests describe
Guests talk about knowledgeable, friendly guides, a well-paced walk and tapas and wine that matched the places they were eaten in. Many mention meeting travellers from other countries around the same counter. A few would like more commentary at each stop, so ask questions: the guide shares history between the bars and at the counter, and the group is small enough for it.
What costs extra
The fare covers the tapas, one drink per bar and the guide. Cocktails and other additional drinks are paid for on the spot, and tips are optional. Transport is not needed, because the route is walked from start to finish.