On my recent trip to Madrid, I joined the Madrid Tapas Trail nighttime tour. After waiting in the wrong plaza for our 7:45 p.m. meeting time, my friend and I were able to make contact with our tour guide, Emily. Once we finally met up, we discovered we were the only two booked that night; lucky us, we had an exclusive experience! For €80, the tour includes all the food and drink (including alcohol) sampled on the tour.

Emily, our guide, is Irish, having moved to Madrid from Dublin more than a decade ago. She helped start the company and has been working on the Madrid Tapas Trail for four years. We instantly clicked with Emily, who was funny, witty and knowledgeable; it felt more like we were hanging with a friend than a stranger or a tour guide, and Emily gave us great recommendations for our remaining time in Madrid.

Our first spot was Taberna Almendro 13 in the Latin Quarter. The quaint pub-like establishment is a hidden gem, and Emily was clearly well known there. We started with beers and the popular huevos rotos con jamon, fried potatoes with bits of Spanish ham and broken fried eggs. It was one of my favorite dishes from my time in Madrid; this was absolutely not a place or a dish I would have found on my own.

Next, we visited Mercado de San Miguel, one of Madrid’s top tourist spots but also loved by locals. In here, we had our choice of wines and foods from any of the numerous food stalls. It reminded me of Philadelphia’s Reading Terminal Market, with a more upscale twist. It was loud and energetic, and the prawns in a lightly salted butter sauce were a wise choice. Here, we also sampled peppers stuffed with sausage, which had a soft, squishy texture. I enjoyed it, but my friend Jill did not. 

By stop three, I was getting full, but I managed room for fried cod at Casa Labra, a specialty for which they are well known. The not-too-greasy, melt-in-your-mouth fish was accompanied by a shot of vermouth at the institution, in operation since 1860.

We ended the night with manchego and wine at Taberna Malaspina, a cozy tapas bar off Plaza Santa Ana. Our tour ran over the allotted time and became about so much more than just enjoying tasty tapas; it was an excellent introduction to Madrid, the people, culture and cuisine. Every tour visits different stops and each will be slightly different. I highly recommend creating your tapas tour experience should you find yourself in Madrid. 

— Kim Krol, managing editor