In Madrid and other Spanish regions, tapas are bite-sized snacks served for free with a drink.
This culinary tradition began in the thirteenth century, when King Alfonso X of Castile issued an order for taverns and inns to serve alcohol with a small helping of food, in an effort to reduce the number of drunkards on the streets. According to other sources, a slice of bread was used to prevent dust or flies from landing inside wine pitchers, and this was the origin of the noun ‘tapa’ in its culinary sense (for ‘tapa’ means lid in Spanish).
Most bars offer a saucer with olives, chips, nuts or a slice of bread with a cold cut on top. In others, however, tapas have grown in size and become more sophisticated, transformed into a unique culinary experience in their own right.
In addition to the tapas that come with your drink, you can order a ración or a media ración to share (at a charge, this time). Madrid classics include patatas bravas (deep-fried potato cubes in a spicy sauce), Spanish omelette, croquettes, aged cheese or Ibérico sausage.
What about drinks? When you go out for tapas in Madrid, these are the most popular choices:
Most bars in Spain serve tapas with their drinks. Some, however, have become a household name for their tapas, which they have been serving for decades – even centuries. Below you’ll find some of the most iconic tapas bars in Madrid.
There is a high concentration of tapas bars in downtown Madrid. Some were mentioned above, but there are many others…
Going north of Gran Vía, you’ll find the trendiest tapas bars along with traditional inns, welcoming generations young and old.
These three traditional neighbourhoods in Madrid also house the trendiest, most innovative and multicultural districts in town. And, of course, lots of tapas bars!
La Latina
Barrio de las Letras (Literary Quarter)
Lavapiés
In Madrid’s most elegant, upmarket districts, you can also go out for tapas.
Retiro
Barrio de Salamanca
Chamberí
Madrid is peppered with tapas bars, even beyond the downtown districts. What’s more, some of the most genuine bars are to be found in the more distant neighbourhoods. A few of them are listed below.
East Madrid: Vallecas, Moratalaz, Ciudad Lineal...
North Madrid: Tetuán, Chamartín…
Southwest Madrid
Madrid is brimming with revamped markets where locals do their weekly shopping and meet friends for a drink and a bite to eat.
Savoury dishes and sweets, tapas and wines of the land. What and where to eat in Madrid.