How to Order Tapas at a Bar in Madrid?
Start with a drink, order a couple of things to share. See what happens next. That’s the way we do it here.
In Madrid, as in the rest of Spain, there are countless ways to enjoy the enormous range of food on offer. Keep in mind that this city has more than 20,000 food and drink businesses spread across the city. That works out at roughly one place for every 175 people!! Depending on the plan, we choose one place or another, and there is always a specific kind of place for what we are looking for. This can be overwhelming for visitors, so this guide is here to reveal that secret code when it comes to ordering.
The language barrier
As a general rule, if you find a menu in English — or, even worse, in several languages — it means the establishment knows tourists come in, or is aimed mainly at tourists. It does not automatically mean the food will be bad, but it can be a sign that they may take certain liberties with how authentic their dishes are.
That is why we always recommend being a little adventurous. Go into places that do not look like they are trying to get you in. Go where there are only locals, and pay attention to how the place works and what kind of energy it has.
Most bars have a similar menu, so it is worth taking the time to translate it once at the beginning. After that, you will know what is what.
But if there is one thing I have learned from travelling, it is that you can never go wrong by looking at another diner’s food and pointing at it when the waiter comes over. Say that you would like to try that.
To help you, here is a list of the dishes you will see most often in bars and restaurants — and the ones that, from our experience with clients, people rarely order because they do not know what they are:
Ensaladilla rusa —Literally, Russian salad. It is our version of Slavic mayonnaise salads, with potatoes, tinned tuna, hard-boiled egg and pickles. There are many versions.
Huevos rotos — are fried potatoes topped with two fried eggs and runny yolks. They often come with toppings like jamón, cecina or papada. Before eating, someone at the table breaks the eggs and mixes everything together. A dish finished at the table!!
Pincho moruno —Marinated meat on a skewer. The name comes from its North African roots.
Tortilla de patatas — A national dish; Spanish potato omelette. Not a Mexican tortilla.
Torreznos — Crispy fried pork belly.; the perfect beer snack.
Chopitos —Small cuttlefish, usually fried.
Gambas or langostinos a la plancha — Grilled prawns or shrimps cooked on a hot griddle with a lot of salt.
Boquerones — Small anchovies, lightly floured and fried.
Tostas — Open-faced toasted bread with different toppings.
Classic Madrid Boquerones en Vinagre
Step 1 — Get the waiter’s attention
You have found a busy place: waiters calling orders across the room, people talking loudly and having fun. Whether you have found a small table or a spot at the bar counter, make yourself a little space respectfully so that the people around you know you will be standing there to eat or “tomar algo”.
Now, it is very likely that nobody will come over to serve you. It is not bad manners; it is just how things work here. You need to wave, speak up or make direct eye contact with a waiter to get their attention.
It is normal for them not to give you their full attention. They have a thousand other orders, and probably, they will have to clean dishes as well and wipe some tables too. Do not take it personally :)
Step 2 — Order your drinks first, then the food
It’s a bar, so it is understood that you can just have a drink without ordering food. That is when they may serve you an aperitivo or a tapa.
But in Madrid, do not count on a free tapa. You might get olives, crisps or even some proper food with your caña. Great. That is the trick: order your drink first, wait to see what they bring you, and then order something from the menu if you want to.
Other regions in Spain — and some bars in Madrid — are more generous with the tapa/aperitivo that comes with a drink. Others are not. It is not a test of whether the place is “authentic”.
Want to order like a pro?
On our small-group tapas tour, we will explain it first-hand and have you ordering like a Madrileño, so you feel confident doing it for the rest of your trip.
A tapa can mean a small bite with your drink, or a small dish from the menu. The word is flexible.
This catches a lot of visitors out. A tapa can mean a small bite with your drink, or a small dish from the menu. The word is flexible.
A ración is more straightforward: it is a plate for the table. You order one, everyone picks at it, and then you decide whether you need another. A media ración is the smaller version, when the bar offers it — useful if you want tortilla, croquetas and something else without ending up too full after the first stop.
A caña is small on purpose
The idea is to move from bar to bar and try different food, so if you have a big beer in every place, you probably will not last many rounds. The small beer in Madrid is called a caña. It is starting to disappear from some bars, probably because it is not as profitable as serving a doble, the larger size.
If beer is not your thing, order a vermut de grifo. That is vermouth from the tap — normally over ice, often with an olive or orange slice. It is especially good at aperitivo time, when a quick drink somehow turns into lunch.
For wine, ask for a chato if you want a small glass, or simply ask what is open. Madrid bars are not shy about giving you an opinion.
Are you eating, or just having a drink?
If someone comes over to seat you, they will probably ask a quick question to work out your plan: are you eating, or just having a drink?
That helps them decide whether to give you a table, where they know you will stay longer, or point you towards the bar for something quick.
Here the three more common cases:
1) If you say you want to picar algo, you mean you are having a drink and sharing a couple of tapas, but you are not sitting down for a full meal. You might stay at the bar, take a high table or sit outside for a while.
2) If you say you are there para comer, you mean you are properly eating. You will probably be given a table, order more food and leave full.
3) If you are there para tomar algo, the plan is simply drinks. You may end up ordering some food, but it is not the main reason you came in.
For me, the best place is at the bar counter.
This is where you find the essence of la barra madrileña. I have met so many people this way. It is a social thing. You might go alone or with someone, but there is always curiosity.
Many bartenders want to talk, tell you stories, or are genuinely passionate about what they serve and how they serve it. You might even get the chance to learn how to pour a proper caña and create that crema that Madrileños care so much about.
