Madrileños are passionate about food and this is testament to the high standards on offer. The options come in all shapes and sizes from enticing tapas to hearty regional dishes and modern Spanish cuisine.

Food – Madrid is the melting pot for flavours from all over the country. Tapas is a strong feature and you can try individual offerings or move from place to place sampling different types. This is referred to as a tapeo and is akin to a British pub crawl.

Drink – With over 12,000 establishments, the city certainly thrives on bar culture. A firm shout of “oiga” should ensure prompt service and it is usual to pay for drinks (plus small tip) together before leaving. The beer is generally good with wine being a very affordable option, although best to order by name unless you are happy to take a mediocre house wine. Sherry (vino de Jerez) is also worth trying and sangria is popular in summer.