Little in life has ever been accomplished on an empty stomach. Perhaps the abundance of satisfied bellies is a key factor in why Spain has become one of the most progressive countries in the world; cuisine takes center stage in Spanish culture—so much so that the average Spaniard eats 4-5 times a day, and lunchtime is a leisurely affair, often stretched out over the better part of two hours.

This laid-back attitude toward food epitomizes the Spanish attitude toward life in general—they like to relax, take it easy, and welcome everyone to the table, both metaphorically and literally. LGBTQ+ rights in Spain are some of the best in the world, and honestly, you’d be hard-pressed to find any establishment that is unwelcoming to the LGBTQ+ community.

Inclusion isn’t a problem in Spain, but navigating the tourist traps to find authentic Spanish restaurants can be. Taking a food tour solves that problem, providing you with the guidance of a passionate, in-the-know local. Spanish food tours are about more than just the food—as delicious as Spanish cuisine is. Every restaurant visit offers insight into the Spanish way of life, and every morsel devoured comes with a story. Food tours are the best way to learn those stories from the mouths—so to speak—of experts.

While many dishes are typical across Spain—croquettes, tortilla (Spanish omelette), and cured ham being among the most popular—each region also has its own unique dishes. Let’s take a look around the key cities of Spain and the best food tours to truly get a taste of what makes Spain, well, Spain.

Madrid LGBTQ+ Tapas Tour

Madrid is both Spain’s beating heart and its pleasantly satisfied belly. The capital city boasts some of the best restaurants in Spain—if not the world—serving an eclectic mix of Spanish cuisine from every corner of the country. Those wishing to really hone in on the Madrid LGBTQ+ experience, while still filling their bellies, might consider our very own Madrid LGBTQ+ Tapas Tour. Chueca is Madrid’s infamously fun gayborhood, and as locals who may have been known to frequent the area somewhat, we know all the best places to eat, drink, and be merry.

On the three-and-a-half-hour hetero-friendly tour, you’ll visit a contemporary Spanish tavern, a popular Galician tapas bar, Chueca’s bustling food market, and the best tapas bars Chueca has to offer. You’ll sample everything from ensaladilla rusa (Russian salad) and gilda (an olive, anchovy, and spicy pepper skewer) to Madrid’s trademark chipirones (battered squid)—all garnished with just a little queer history. Then—should you find the night calling to you after your five free drinks—we’ll recommend how to go about inserting yourself into Chueca’s spicy gay nightlife.

Madrid Tapas, Taverns & History Tour

There are plenty of food tours in the city to choose from, but some of the best are run by LGBTQ+ friendly Spanish food experts, Devour Tours. To “devour,” they say, is about more than just eating. It’s about seeing, smelling, and experiencing both the food and the establishments that serve it. They believe in responsible tourism and taking their guests to the best family-run restaurants all over the city.

On their Madrid Tapas, Taverns & History Tour , you’ll step back in time in the historic city center as you try tapas from century-old taverns while learning about their histories and the stories behind the dishes they serve. You’ll meet the owners and feel like a true local. You can expect all the favorites like croquettes and tortilla, but also some less obvious offerings like grilled stuffed mushrooms, fried padrón peppers, and the mouth-watering morcilla (blood sausage). All of this is washed down with the best wines and a range of traditional Spanish beverages.

The tour also includes a 45-minute history walk through the city center, where you’ll see the Royal Palace, all the iconic plazas, and learn how Madrid transformed from a collection of villages into the grandiose city it is today. After working up an appetite, you’ll visit the restaurant where gambas al ajillo was first invented—prawns cooked in the most delicious garlic and olive oil sauce you’ve ever tasted—and enjoy a sit-down meal in the best restaurant tucked away among the tourist traps off one of Madrid’s main squares, Plaza Mayor.

Madrid Tapas & Wine Tour

Devour’s Madrid Tapas & Wine Tour puts the emphasis firmly on the winning combination of wine and cuisine. On this tour, you’ll stroll through the peaceful cobblestone streets of Barrio de las Letras—famous for being the home of renowned artists, actors, and authors like Cervantes himself. In fact, you’ll see their very words carved into the streets—quite literally. Away from the crowded center, you’ll uncover all the best taverns and wineries, usually only accessible to those in the know or those who know how to get around needing a reservation!

Along with all the delicious Spanish cuisine you’d expect, you’ll flirt with a morning hangover with typical Spanish drinks such as vermouth (a sweet, fortified wine perfect to start any evening) and some of the best red and white wines from across Spain. You’ll taste wines like the robust Rioja, aromatic Albariño, and a few others—seriously, there isn’t a grape that doesn’t grow somewhere in Spain. By the end of the tour, you’ll be both tipsy and able to tell your Riojas from your Riberas.

Barcelona Tapas, Taverns & History Tour

Barcelona is more than just beaches, nightlife, and the Sagrada Família: it also has an exquisite foodie scene for those who know where to look. As Spain’s most popular holiday destination, the city is full of tourist traps, waiting to snap shut on the unwary—leaving you with a big bill and a grumbling stomach.

Devour's Barcelona Tapas, Taverns & History Tour offers the solution, taking you to the most authentic locales in Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter. The legendary barrio is an atmospheric labyrinth of medieval streets filled with churches, monuments, bars, and eateries. Devour’s tour takes you to a 100-year-old bar for not one, but two aperitifs paired with cured meats, Spanish cheeses, and tapas. Then, you’ll take a guided tour through the winding backstreets of the historic Gothic Quarter, including a visit to ancient Roman ruins, while learning about Barcelona’s evolution through the centuries.

After working up an appetite, you’ll visit a tapas bar whose menu is so good it hasn’t changed since 1945, and enjoy a sit-down meal in an iconic wine-shop-turned-tapas-bar—sampling homemade Catalan-style cannelloni along with local red wine, and finishing the tour with a classic dessert: the Catalan precursor to crème brûlée.

Seville Tapas & Flamenco Tour

Seville, in the southern region of Andalucía, is Spain at its rawest. There’s no city in Spain that feels more quintessentially Spanish than Seville. Fuego (the fiery passion of Spain) manifests in both the unrelenting sun and the electric energy on Seville’s streets—where locals drink and dine on busy terraces, serenaded by flamenco from street guitarists.

On Devour Tours' Seville Tapas & Flamenco Tour, you’ll dive right into the heart of the city’s two pillars—food and flamenco. The tour begins at an abacería (a part shop, part bar unique to Andalucía) to get the lowdown on all the local tapas, starting with an aperitif in the form of vermouth—because what good food tour doesn’t start with one?

From there, you’ll go to a bona fide flamenco show in a 15th-century building tucked away in the beautiful Jewish Quarter. Despite what tourist-trap flamenco shows might have you believe, true flamenco is all about improvised passion, and this show is completely authentic and improvised. A touch of sherry served with flamenco flair will certainly amplify the experience. Finally, you’ll head to a modern, family-run local bar to discuss the performance as you tuck into a creative range of tapas and fine Sevillian wine.

San Sebastian Ultimate Pintxos & Wine Tour

Conversely, San Sebastian, in Northern Spain’s Basque Country, couldn’t be more different from Seville. The Basque Country has its own distinctive style, worlds apart from flamenco and paella.

The picturesque town is tucked within the shell-shaped Bay of Biscay, and its gorgeous old town is a foodie’s dream come true. Here, ‘pintxos’ replace tapas—essentially small slices of bread with any exciting combination you can imagine piled on top—and it seems as if every Basque restaurant tries to outdo the others in originality. Lonely Planet even ranked going out for pintxos in San Sebastian as their #1 foodie experience in the world.

No, in San Sebastian, the problem isn’t tourist traps. It’s that you’re spoiled for choice. Devour’s San Sebastian Ultimate Pintxos & Wine Tour  helps prevent getting overwhelmed by the options and is easily the best way to learn how to navigate the gastronomical paradise like a local while braving the crowded—yet atmospheric—pintxos bars.

Starting strong at one of the city’s best bars, you’ll try the best mussels in town and participate in a unique northern tradition involving a rather novel way to drink cider—I hope you have a steady hand. From there, you’ll head into the Old Town and visit several family-run businesses, devouring the tastiest variety of pintxos made from local ingredients. The Basque Country is also well-known for its grilled steaks, and the tour will take you to find the very best, washed down with a glass of barrel-aged Navarra wine. Finally, your “dessert stomach” will be satisfied with San Sebastian’s legendary burnt cheesecake—the best cheesecake you’ll ever eat.

Taking a food tour in Spain not only opens up a whole new world of delicious cuisine and rich culture but also immerses you in the true spirit of the country. Spanish mealtimes are about more than just the food—as delicious as every morsel is. Food tours in Spain introduce you to the world of sobremesa—the experience around the table after a meal, when tongues loosen, conversation flows like wine, and true connections are made.

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