10 UNSPOKEN RULES for Ordering in Tapas Bars in Spain

I give you the 10 unspoken rules about ordering tapas, so you can handle Spain's busy tapas bars like a pro!

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Editor – Clément Letourneur
Thumbnail designer – Lucas Kieffer
Camera operator – Carlos Fernandez

==== WHO ARE WE? ====
Hola, Spain lovers! We're James and Yoly. James is a New Zealander, and Yoly is from Spain. We both live in Madrid. Our channel gives you a local insight into life in Spain and helps you experience this country like a local when you come to live (or visit!).

If that sounds like your kind of thing, bienvenid@!I

[AndyZuhha]

I love how you explain Spain to foreigners. As a Spaniard, I learn a lot about how my country is seen or understood from the outside. There are things that we take for understood, but that's not always the case. I love how well you know Spanish culture, and not just because you live here, it's because of the interest and attention you put into every detail, because I know people who have been living here for many years and are not as analytical as you. This channel is great for people who want to get to know Spain and our Spanish culture. I live in Valencia. I know you know a lot about Madrid culture, but I was surprised that your videos about the Comunidad Valenciana (Alicante, etc.) are also great, and sometimes even we Spaniards ourselves don't fully understand the culture of other regions in our own country. Your work is excellent.

[leonardopochetsaldias]

Really good explanation! As a waiter in Madrid I wish everyone watched this video, it would make my job much easier. Thank you! And yes, tips are welcome! 💕

[asensiorodriguez]

Normally the videos of foreigners for foreigners in Spain seem absurd to me but seriously this one surprised me hehehehe. It really is like that, as you count! Just one thing: Basque pintxos are a very special type of "tapas" that deserve a separate video (it is a whole gastronomic culture, with annual prizes and peculiarities, ...) I'm from the south, and the tapas in the south are amazing but the pintxos seem like a fabulous universe to me!! And you forgot to mention also that in most bars in the South you get a free tapa for every drink, and in some places like Granada they are gigantic.

[alanbow]

Hola James and Yoli. My wife and I went to Madrid for the first time two weeks ago. We stayed in Malasaña (after watching your “where to stay” video), tried lots of tapas, drank vermut in La Perejilla, visited Las Letras, ate amazing South American food at the food markets, and so much more. We loved Madrid and we will be back one day. Thanks both for all the recommendations.

[antoniohaem]

I am spaniard and have to say: Perfectly explained! You know very well this unspoken rules, different kinds of locals. Brilliant video!

[bobjong]

We just got back from Spain. We tried following all of your advice and recommendations. We visited "Casa Tony" (we had to queue up for like an hour but we had lots of fun once in). The amazing Victor was our server there. Thanks for all of your work guys!

[Emy]

I have to say, that prior to my first visit in late 2019, I found your channel either in 2018 or early 2019. I watched so many of your videos, and believe me...they were extremely helpful. I speak Spanish, so I was more familiar than the average non Spanish speaking tourist, but there was so much I didn't know. I learned so much from you and Yoli. Many thanks James. Always so happy to see you and Yoli.

[emilyserafamanschot]

Superb video! One thing I learned when I was a student is that you cannot order at the bar and then sit down at a table or at a terrazza. It costs more! It's fun to stand at the bar if you ust want a quick bite, and on a student budget, it's important to count euros (it was pesetas back in the day!) Fifty-two years later, I appreciate the seat, especially if you want to pass the time, people watch, and have a long sobremesa.

[jorgevazquez]

As a Spaniard, your video is really spot on in accuracy. So many true things explained in this clip.

[juanramonurzanqui]

As a Spanish citizen I have to say this is perfect

[eldeRobe]

Another great video, James. My wife and I are traveling to Barcelona and Madrid in early October 2024 and have watched your videos and purchased your Madrid Revealed travel guide. We're from Austin, Texas so it was a delightful surprise to see you wearing the Austin Eats Food Tours t-shirt. It never occurred to me, but it makes sense to offer food tours for tourists in Austin and other popular cities in the US. We take the various BBQ joints and other restaurants in Austin for granted.

[sarahfalkiner]

In Granada (city and province) tapas are free with a drink (eg: beer, wine, coke) and you can sometimes choose them. This shouldn't be underestimated and means you don't actually need 'lunch' for example, as long as you enjoy a few drinks - and 'no' the drinks aren't more expensive to cover the tapas. Surprised this isn't mentioned in this video as it's one of the great things about visiting this part of Spain.

[miguela]

Get your tapas while you can: In the big cities, the humble family owned bar is approaching extinction these days replaced by tourist traps and expensive gourmet experiences (maybe good, but not really tapas). You will still find a few good things out there but most have been pushed outside of the city centre by mass tourism.
Some places with a long heritage may remain, and they will likely be good if they survived for so long, but their prices probably have adapted to the new environment. You have to approach these with the mind of someone going to a museum.
Other than my comment, good advice in the video.

[MYTravelBF]

Having lived in Spain for about 4 years on and off, these tips are all invaluable and are things I wished I'd have known when I first arrived. They would have saved me so much trouble! Another fantastic video, James!

[Roque-Cachamuiña-gswd]

I think that not everything is so complicated. When you are a tourist, whether in Madrid, Berlin or Beijing, you will always fall into some tourist trap. It is inevitable and it is part of the charm of travelling. My recommendation is to avoid restaurants close to monuments and tourist areas, avoid restaurants where there are photos of their menus, avoid places recommended by guidebooks, which were surely good a few years ago. My advice is to walk, walk, ask the locals and go into places where there are a majority of locals. A restaurant full of tourists is simply a restaurant for tourists.

[bobikdylan]

When I first went to Madrid in 1993 you got a little Tapa with every drink if you were just there to drink. It was usually a little piece of toast with an anchovy on it, or a few olives. But it was free.

[MrWalter]

Hi James, I am living in Spain since 1999 and I love your channel, where you always confirm in a great entertaining way all my experiences! I enjoy following you and will do so in the future as well! Thanks for your effort and your great work!

[mastertakeno]

Me encantan tus vídeos porque muestras nuestras rutinas y formas de actuar y nosotros ni siquiera nos damos cuenta. Me hace gracia porque todo lo que enseñas es verdad pero nosotros lo hacemos sin pensar. Como lo que buscar un sitio en la barra, si pones la mano, ya es tuyo jaja

[jacquesleroux]

Gracias! We arrive in Madrid on Tuesday morning!

[julianpeters]

Great tips! I'm in the Basque Country at the moment and what I find very useful to understand the menus and to help me decide which pintxos to order is the menu translator app. It works great while Google Translate often gets it wrong or can't recognize dishes from handwritten menus at all.