Madrid Small Group Premium Lunchtime Tapas & Vermouth Tour

We will meet betweeen the two metro entrances of Metro Opera in Plaza Isabel II and introduce you to fellow travellers and explain the plan for tour. PLEASE NOTE THIS ITINERARY IS AN EXAMPLE ONLY AS WE CHANGE THINGS AND ADAPT ACCORDING TO THE NEEDS OF THE GROUP ON THE DAY.

We will walk past the impressive Spanish Royal Palace (the largest Palace in Europe) and your guide will tell you interesting facts and stories about the building and nearby area.

First bar: We will stop in a century-old bar and introduce you to the all-important Madrid tradition "La hora del vermut" Here we will invite your to a traditional Madrid aperitif, a vermut (or equivalent of your choice) paired with appropriate delicacies. They might be crunchy ham croquettes, vinegary anchovies, fresh green olives or flaky pastry packets filled with bull's tail... The idea is to get you warmed up and in the mood before exploring some of the main sights of Madrid.

We will tell you all about this iconic square, its buildings, history and traditions.

Second Bar: You will have probably worked up a bit of an appetite by now so we will stop in a bar that is very popular with the locals for its quality price relationship and get you to try that must of Spain - a bit of Iberian ham and manchego cheese, washed down with a cold beer, tinto de verano or soft drink. Your guide will give you a crash course in Spanish hams, how they are made, preserved, cut and eaten!

Third bar: You will then stroll to the next bar, a very traditional Spanish tavern, where you will share various platefuls of tapas. Your guide will tell you all about the traditions of tapas and how tapassing is done Madrid-style. They may well try to expand your culinary boundaries a little and get you to try things you might not otherwise taste! You will try a range of different dishes, it might be anything from little green peppers from Galicia, Spanish black pudding, crispy sticky pork belly, artichoke hearts, steak with figs, bull's tail stew, deep-fried aubergine with a honey sauce, to octopus or baby clams. It is not a fixed, preset, preordered menu but your guide will personalise everything, advising you on the specialties and ordering according to the likes/dislikes of the group on the day.

By now you are likely to be pretty full so we will take a little stroll to help the food go down and for your guide to tell you a few stories and facts about the places you walk past!

We will walk through the Main Square of Madrid and tell you a bit about its history and traditions and make a few insider suggestions on what to see/eat/drink during the rest of your stay.

We will drop you off in one of Madrid's best-known places for something sweet to finish off the tour. Here you can try some of the chocolate con churros . Here your guide will help order before bidding you farewell and leaving you to savour this sweet treat.