Madrid Food Tour: Tapas, Wine & Calamari Sandwich Crawl

Summary

Old Town flavors, jamón slicing in cellars, Barrio de las Letras bites

You’ll wander Madrid’s Old Town with a local guide, slicing jamón ibérico in an underground cellar and sipping Rioja wines before skipping the line for iconic calamari sandwiches. Try bold new takes on Spanish rice in Barrio de las Letras and finish with handmade chocolates and thick hot chocolate. You’ll leave full—of both food and stories you’ll want to tell again.

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t expect to care so much about how you slice jamón ibérico, but there I was, sleeves rolled up in this old underground cellar in Madrid, trying not to mangle the thing while our guide Luis grinned at my technique. The place smelled faintly of stone and cured ham — a little musty, a little sharp. We’d only just started the food tour and already I felt like I’d stumbled into someone’s family kitchen instead of a “tour.” Rioja wine in hand (I still can’t pronounce it right), we toasted with strangers who suddenly didn’t feel so strange.

The walk through Madrid’s Old Town and Barrio de las Letras was more like tagging along with a friend than following a group. Luis waved to people he knew at nearly every corner — one woman called out from her bakery window and handed us tiny pastries for free. At La Campana, we skipped the line (thank god) and bit into these fried calamari sandwiches that were hot enough to burn your tongue if you weren’t careful. Greasy fingers, soft bread, crunch — it’s simple but honestly perfect after all that walking. I kept thinking about how locals just eat these standing up outside, chatting about football or politics like it’s nothing special.

I thought I knew Spanish rice dishes but the stop in Barrio de las Letras proved me wrong. It wasn’t paella exactly — more intense somehow? Saffron and something smoky clung to my fork. Someone asked about the recipe and the chef just winked. We wandered past Plaza Mayor and Mercado de San Miguel as dusk fell; lights flickered on over market stalls and the air smelled sweetly metallic from all the chocolate being poured into cups nearby. My feet hurt by then but I didn’t really mind.

The last stop was for handmade chocolates — rich enough that I almost felt guilty eating two (almost). Luis told us stories about old Madrid between sips of thick hot chocolate; his hands moved as much as his mouth did. There was laughter when someone tried to say “gracias” with a Scottish accent (not even close). Walking back through those narrow streets, full and happy, I caught myself hoping I’d remember these flavors next time I hear Spanish spoken back home.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Madrid's food and wine scene

• Visit underground cellar for Rioja wines
• Practice slicing jamón ibérico
• Eat fried calamari sandwich at La Campana
• Walk through Barrio de las Letras
• Taste fancy Spanish rice dishes
• Enjoy handmade chocolates and hot chocolate
• Visit Plaza Mayor and Mercado de San Miguel

Top questions

How many food stops are included on this Madrid food tour?

The tour includes five different food stops throughout Madrid.

Is there a local guide during the tapas & wine tour?

Yes, an English-speaking local guide leads the entire experience.

What neighborhoods does this Madrid food tour visit?

The tour explores Old Town Madrid and Barrio de las Letras.

Are drinks included on this tapas tour?

Yes, three local drinks including Rioja wine are part of the experience.

Do you get to try jamón ibérico on this tour?

Yes, you’ll taste jamón ibérico and learn slicing skills at a centennial cellar.

Is lunch or dinner included on this Madrid food crawl?

The experience includes several substantial tastings across five stops—enough for a meal.

Does the tour include Mercado de San Miguel or Plaza Mayor?

You’ll stroll past both Mercado de San Miguel and Plaza Mayor during the route.

Can infants or small children join this Madrid tapas tour?

Yes, infants and small children can participate; prams or strollers are allowed.

What’s included

Your evening includes five curated food stops across Old Town Madrid and Barrio de las Letras with three local drinks like Rioja wine; skip-the-line access for classic calamari sandwiches; hands-on jamón ibérico slicing at a centennial cellar; tastings of creative Spanish rice dishes; handmade chocolates with hot chocolate; plus an English-speaking city & food guide leading you from Mercado de San Miguel to Plaza Mayor—all at an easygoing pace suitable for everyone.