10 UNSPOKEN RULES for Ordering in Tapas Bars in Spain

[@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.

[@spainrevealed]

Thank you for this!

[@bkm2797]

James is especially gifted at helping the tourist navigate your beautiful country better than anyone I’ve ever heard or watched. James should have his own show on television, he thinks about every detail, but never bores you. It is clear James is a true lover of Spain.

[@MsElita5]

😍😍😍😍😍😍🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰😋😋😋😋😋😋❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

[@Mediavlogofficial-t9f]

@@spainrevealed Are you looking for an expert video editor then knock me, please?

[@energizatuespanol]

As another Spaniard, I totally agree with this comment, excellent work :-)

[@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! 💕

[@ViewTalay]

Stop begging

[@asensiorodriguez8682]

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.

[@arrigune]

👏🏽👏🏽

[@alanbow6496]

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.

[@alejandroalonso8642]

You came to Spain to eat South American food? That's a bit odd ngl...

[@Emy53]

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.

[@spainrevealed]

Thank you for this kind message!

[@bobjong20]

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!

[@emilyserafamanschot800]

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.

[@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!

[@spainrevealed]

Thank you guys!

[@miguela7433]

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.

[@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.

[@jorgevazquez2170]

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

[@antoniohaem2413]

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

[@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

[@jacquesleroux5069]

Gracias! We arrive in Madrid on Tuesday morning!

[@jacquesleroux5069]

Just returned from our Spain vacation, it was brlliant!

[@MrWalter2202]

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!

[@kasiakarewicz1210]

Hmmm... I live 10 years in Spain, my husband is native Spanish, and sometimes we visit typical tapas bars. It is true, that all bars has tapas, but, tapas bars are focused on tapas and have bigger variety of them for low prices (1.5 euro, 2euro per one), and there are some quite fancy and in high quality. We are going there if we are not so hungry, just for snack. Of course, you can go to any bar and order a few meals to share, the experience will be similar, but not cheaper. In most of the places in Spain, you have 2 version of a dish, tapas and raciones/ rations. Racion is a plate. Spanish also order a full table of food, if they are in a bigger group, and want to share their meals. It often happens in weekends. Spanish, opposite to Italian, prefers to go outside with their friends, have some copas, drinks, than dinning at home.

[@spainrevealed]

Thanks for adding your experiences!

[@kasiakarewicz1210]

@@Xiroi87 Thank you for your rich comment. ❤I am not native, I can share only my experiences, and I see nothing bad in eating at home with friends and family, or outside, both have its pros and cons. I am Polish, and in my country it is normal to invite family and dine at home, restaurants are more for special occasions, but it is a bit different with GenZ, also because, as in Spain, we work more than we used to, and going out gives you a moment of breath and relax. I haven't been in 100 Montaditos, I only saw it. 😅 In Coruña, there was a nice bar with tapas, like a hipster bistro... but cheap and fantastic called Low Cost. Unfortunately is closed. I noticed one phenomenon in Spain, or at least in Galicia. Good restaurants are closed, they either have too little traffic, or are run by older people who are retiring and have no one to pass the place on to. Chains such as Reca, filled with crowds, are still in full swing, offering bad food for which it is a pity to pay, because you don't go to a bar to eat worse than at home (and most of the clients are locals).

[@kasiakarewicz1210]

@@Xiroi87 seriously? When last time have you been in Coruña or Vigo?

[@kasiakarewicz1210]

​@@Xiroi87 you know, I am not native is the first time I see this term, I needed to google it to understand what you mean... I have contact mostly with my generation, elder are only my parents in law. (And we rather support each other, even if we have some ideology differences, which I can not recall...) I haven't noticed any difference between my Polish, Spanish, German, British, Australian, or any friends I know, maybe here they talk more about work, Polish rather about their hobbies than we Poles, who prefer after work talk about ideas and hobbies... I have my rules meeting with people, for example to not touch sensitive topics, to avoid conflict, so maybe I am not good to judge. I heard from Galician, that they are less open than the rest of Spanish. Well we Polish also open slowly, step by step, we are not easy*(however very hospitable), but when we feel we can trust somebody, we get very social, and I can feel here is the same (since I live here in Galicia (Vigo) 11 years).

[@marianmarciniak8721]

​@@kasiakarewicz1210Wszystkiego dobrego Kasia pozdrawiam z Kuby 😊

[@juanramonurzanqui8220]

As a Spanish citizen I have to say this is perfect

[@GordonLF]

Your explanations are right on the dot, but overall you make it sounds like eating tapas is a more daunting experience than it really is.

[@HereBeBarr]

You gave me the best tapas tour ever, I had no doubt you'd nail this. When the Spanish Tapas Visa comes out, i'm signing up!

[@spainrevealed]

haha, I'll let you know when the king signs off on the law

[@julianpeters218]

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.

[@HanzHeHim]

Thank you for the tips. I am going to Madrid for eight days next week. I am super excited. My fiancé and I first time.

[@sarahfalkiner6753]

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.

[@mikeh2520]

That sounds good. Tuscany is like that with the wine bars and I really enjoyed that.

[@terry4801]

Thanks Sarah. I'm going to be in Granada on Monday for 3 nights before moving on to Cordoba, Seville, and Málaga. Your comment is very helpful to me.

[@SomePotato]

You'll find places like these in Madrid as well. Malaspina for example. Fantastic bar.

[@leierkreuz1529]

"free" but the drink cost the double as in other places where there no free tapas and at last you pay the same for the tapa and the drink.

[@sarahfalkiner6753]

@@leierkreuz1529 No!!! You obviously fall into the 'dumb, ripped-off tourist' in other places, perhaps other countries even. The drinks are NOT 'double the price' compared to places that do not offer a free tapas with a drink. Have you lived in Granada for 10+ years like I have? (guess, no). So maybe hear - and trust - what's been stated. Do the test then: have a glass of wine (c. 3€) and a beer (2.50€) with some tapas from a bar In Granada and see what you get (without tapas) for 1.50€ and 1.25€ in another place. Get it? (no)

[@AuroraBazanMemories]

This is real information with very practical value. Listen carefully!

[@frgv4060]

Very good! The only thing that ruins (sometimes) the tapas experience for me is… my wife. Which is a cook and well.. you can imagine the pickiness and criticism can be a downer 😂

[@philopapos]

Bravo! I've been to Spain a lot and speak Spanish and bars were always challenging 🙂. Great episode!

[@denisewhite1426]

This is many years ago, but I once made a faux pas in a tapas bar in Madrid. The tapas were on the counter with toothpicks in them, and you just grabbed what you wanted. I had picked up the habit of throwing things on the floor (loved the shrimp places where your shoes crunched on the shells!), so that's where my toothpicks went, but they were rather annoyed with me because it turned out that they counted up your toothpicks at the end to determine how much you owed! I've been trying to find any videos you've done that include the mesones next to the Plaza Mayor, but I haven't found any. I was dating a madrileño and he and his friends hung out at Mesón de la Guitarra, and I've been to most of the others. There was always an elderly man playing the organ in the back room at Mesón del Champiñón, but obviously he must be long gone now. I love your videos; it's been a long time since I've been there, so it brings back memories.

[@elainefigueiredo4234]

Muy bien explicado. ¡Gracias!

[@ranger2316]

Wow... I spent a couple of weeks in the south of Spain and love it. I sure would like to go back some day.

[@squeak805]

This video is an amazing breakdown of cultural differences. Especially with regards to efficiency and how you've managed to break down and verbalize all the slight quirks that add up and cause such a shock to someone who isn't from Spain!

[@spainrevealed]

Thank you!

[@cristipachano-fj2zr]

Thanks!

[@cnxexpat1862]

7:18 James says "be bold" and a Bolt car is passing in the background. Perfect timing.

[@jenniferjangula3807]

We love your videos! You've helped us so much with our move to Madrid. We've been here for six weeks now and are rewatching all the videos and taking notes haha...thank you!

[@cherkio9194]

Muy buenos vídeos siempre explicando de manera clara y sencilla para los extranjeros, es un placer tenerte por España y por cierto geniales los vídeos con Mark Wiens ❤

[@spainrevealed]

Gracias!

[@raula.3693]

Muy buen vídeo, me parece una guía muy completa de cómo manejarte cuando vas de tapeo. Yo añadiría un consejo más: Una vez en la barra, no agobies al camarero. Normalmente te atenderá cuando sea tu turno, piensa que tendrá pedidos anteriores al tuyo. Si ves que no te mira, o que está atendiendo a otro cliente que llegó más tarde que tú, entonces es el momento de llamar su atención, siempre con la debida cortesía. Un saludo, un hola buenos días y una sonrisa suelen obrar maravillas.

[@Databoa2610]

You are so good on what you do !!! Very informative, entertained and very, very well executed. Long live to you❤

[@spainrevealed]

Thank you so much!

[@javierjimenez9872]

Great job James, as ever, with this video. One of the things I'd add to how waiters in these traditional taverns won't come up to the customers to offer them a menu is the fact that many of these are independent establishments, often run by a very reduced number of staff (sometimes even just the owner behind the bar and a cook in the kitchen). It's hard enough for them to manage the whole place on their own, so they could hardly approach every customer who comes in. Something you've covered in other videos of this channel, but it'd be worth reminding is the lack of pleasantries involved in paying and getting one's change. This is particularly true for Madrid's tavern culture and some non-locals may be taken aback by this or even find it rude, if bringing different expectations about what's appropriate in such situation.

[@Roque-Cachamuiña-gs1wd]

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.

[@Robbedem]

I actually found google reviews surprisingly helpful. On our last trip we went on a restaurant that maybe didn't had the best rating, but we noticed all ratings from more than 2 years ago were well below the newer ratings. And some reviews mentioned new owners. We went there and it was great!

[@Roque-Cachamuiña-gs1wd]

@Robbedem There is no doubt that Google is a great help, but unless I want to eat something very special, I let myself be guided by my instinct. I believe that the inhabitants of Mediterranean countries have an ancestral knowledge, hahaha, that allows us to know what the food will be like just by looking at a restaurant, although we also have epic failures, but that's traveling. A good way to find a place to eat well and that is not a tourist trap is to ask the local which restaurant he usually goes to.

[@marcfg21]

It’s been years following your channel and the content is always excellent and it’s nice to see how the editing and the quality of the videos gets better and better. Eres un crack!

[@spainrevealed]

Much appreciated!

[@josepg.2479]

I want to give an additional advice, as a spanish: Be gentle and polite, and if you make just a little effort to be understood, you'll give a great help for almost all waiters to make your orders.

[@SomePotato]

That is good advice no matter where you are.

[@guyl9456]

Excellent video. I speak fluent Spanish but tapas are a mysteries to me indeed thanks for this great advice.

[@itsfunnybecauseitstrue3219]

We studied your videos and made sure to visit everything on our trip to Spain last week! We LOVE LOVE LOVE SPAIN!! Can I ask… why are the locals so RUDE? It’s like daggers being stared at you the entire time. Madrid was the most noticeable.

[@alejandroalonso8642]

I am from Madrid. If you are talking about people staring that is something that is apparently very comon here in Spain, but being a native I never noticed it until it was brought to my attention. Lots of tourists mention that. I assure you, nobody is trying to be rude, we just are that way for some reason. There must be some cultural reason why we do that, but I have no idea what it is. If someone looks at you for too long just wink at them, I bet you will get a smile in return.

[@evadebruijn]

Have you been to Finland? I heard they have a culture of lots of personal space and leave eachother in peace. As an introvert that really speaks to me. Being constantly stared at (like when in a part of the world I look very different than the locals) gives me anxiety. Speaking of rude: How about the average waiter in Paris, they win at the rude-olympics for sure lol

[@sermarr]

Canary Islands (we're not on your maps btw)... don't ask for tap water unless you're constipated. Like others have already said.. Great video for other Spaniards that aren't from around Madrid. Thanks!

[@oooodles3]

Tenerife has the best tap water - why not drink it? Your guys' elitism stinks.

[@sermarr]

@@oooodles3 ¿Eso es sarcasmo, o hablas en serio? En todo caso dependerá de la zona y procedencia de dicha agua. En Tenerife el agua no viene toda de la misma fuente.

[@bkm2797]

Excellent advice James, quick but important steps for all to acquire before hitting the bars. Also smart to have created a little booklet , the two go hand in hand. Thank you, and please say hello to Yoli and Lucia.👍💕

[@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.

[@nithreel99]

Eres un máquina. Genial lo que dices sobre las propinas, muy importante tenerlo en cuenta :)

[@santboiboi375]

Interesante ( no todos los españoles que nos gustan sus videos entendemos ingles )) gracias

[@Malecare]

This is the video I've waited years for. Gracias.

[@lezlier.6679]

Thank you so much!! We leave in 11 days and my has been watching these videos with my but he is very nervous about the language barrier and about being "brave and bold" so I think it will all fall on me 😅so I need to hear this stuff! Since we don't speak Spanish we have tried to familiarize ourselves with some phrases and travel terms but thank God for google translate!

[@stephengraham9940]

Excellent video, very informative. I will definitely be watching more.

[@noradevilh5224]

Hey there! This video is spot on, but I have a little clarification about the tipping: You can indeed tip by card by rounding up or adding as much of a tip as you want, BUT you should ask the waiter first if they get those tips. As a waitress, in every place I've worked (in and out Madrid) at, when we get a, for example, 3€ tip by card, we just take the cash out of the register and put it in the "bote" (tipping jar, but it can be a little safe, or a piggy bank or whatever). Some places take the money out at the end of the day, after tallying the register.

[@spainrevealed]

Good to know - thank you!

[@SomePotato]

Some places don't allow this, so yes, it's best to ask.

[@ContinentalDrifter]

Another fantastic and incredibly informative video, James. Thanks, and keep ‘em coming!

[@BridgetWeedon]

This is very helpful. I went to Madrid last year and was too intimidated to try any real tapas. I’m going to Barcelona in a few months and I will definitely use this video as a guide. Now if only I spoke Spanish!!! 😩😩

[@partituravid]

GREAT thumbnail! Got my attention, with a wry chuckle.

[@megapangolin1093]

Superbueno, James. Un video excelente.

[@spainrevealed]

Gracias!

[@ThrowBackZone]

So true about the over-ordering! As a tourist, I once ended up with enough food for an army. Lesson learned: tapas are about sharing, not hoarding! 😅

[@anthonymarceda6947]

Perfect video…every piece of advice is valuable! My Spanish is very limited but I do know Spanish food/ dishes in Spanish. When they hand me an English menu as a courtesy I sometimes don’t know what the dishes are in English. I know that sounds odd, but I prefer the Spanish menu. Am I the only one? 😂😂😁.

[@padders1068]

Thanks James! Great tips! ❤ to you and your family!

[@isabelvilleneuve7239]

Gracias ❤🎉😊

[@superfred2172]

Going to Madrid for the first time in October 🥳 I have been reading your travel guide and feel like I already know the place 😂 got a list of all the spots in each neighbourhood I want to try...I think I'm going to be eating a lot 😅 Thanks for your videos and guide, been very helpful.

[@spainrevealed]

I'm glad you're finding the guide helpful. Have a great trip!

[@SomePotato]

You were sooo close to Malaspina. I love that bar. You can get small tapas with your beer there, as it used to be the norm, and only pay for the beer. I was so surprised when I went for the first time, asked for some croquetas and papas with my first beer and for some of these little bread slices with tomato and anchovies with a later beer and only had to pay for the beer at the end.

[@MichelleSMV]

I'm always so incredibly nervous to make an order but these tips are great. I'll have to give it a try the next time I'm in a bar (maybe tomorrow lol)

[@brianbrotarlo4537]

This is a great explanation with a nice twist on a dining culture that would be offensive to cultures who are used to being "served" in restaurants.

[@mrn13]

There are plenty of restaurants, in fact most, and thus part of Spains dining culture, where you are suppose to be "served"

[@ericwarren4074]

Arriving in Madrid on Thursday - muchas gracias mi amigo.

[@lllivivien56]

2nd time in spain and both time i came i watched your videos as my homework prior to travel 😂

[@pckroezen]

7:17 "Be bold" then a car drives along in the background with the text "Bolt" 👍

[@ellieramseyer]

James, another great video! Greetings to your lovely family!

[@juanfran579]

I've been living in a small town in Valencia for 30 years now and I'm quite familiar with how things are done in Spain. Nevertheless, local habits can vary quite a bit so I've learnt a lot. When I go to other parts of the country either I visit friends that know the local places and act as hosts or me and my wife just go to the local restaurants and order something whether tapas or a dish. Bars are often more difficult to work out than restaurants. In la Comunidad Valenciana for example you will hardly find bars that serve you a free tapa with the drink. There is no tapeo tradition of going from bar to bar like in the north so it's always a kind of new experience when we go to those places where it's customary. Here you order tapas as a meal and even that is more and more replaced by the dish of the day, which works out cheaper. Tapas are sort of disappearing here. You showed an entirely different reality to mine.

[@roger5455]

Thanks !! always good information

[@EdTheL]

Be bold .. and the bolt car drives at the back of the video 🤣🤣🤣

[@TheReboundingHeart]

Always super helpful! Thanks James! :)

[@glennlewis8141]

Share your entrees and have your own main course … Americans watching getting confused. Love it.

[@barbara3977]

One of your best videos, thanks

[@HerrBrutal-bl2fk]

This channel helped make my first trip to Spain a great experience! (The places I visited were Barcelona, Zaragoza and San Sebastián.) Where ever you go, it's always a good idea to do some research in advance. Especially in the area of restaurants. One major problem around the world is tourist traps. If you don't do your homework and don't bother asking the locals for recommendations, you are likely to end up wasting a lot of money on disappointing experiences. I sometimes hear people say the food in this or that country they visited is really bad. They're wrong. Every country has great food, you just need to find out what dishes to eat and where to enjoy them. It's well worth the effort.

[@BGTuyau]

Muy bien hecho -y ya tengo mucha hambre ...

[@ryanmcnally7032]

Took your food tour back in February: amazing!

[@cantbendknee]

I'm currently reading España: A Brief History of Spain by Giles Tremlett. It's brilliant. Years ago I searched for a book that distilled the different historical periods into one and couldn't find it..

[@nigeldawson5960]

Dude, I’ll be in Spain in just a couple months. Looking forward to another great visit.

[@lluisg.8578]

Even for locals when we visit a new place we first need to learn their rules. Every food place has its own little differences. Also to learn what's the best kind of food there. We usually stick to a few known places and we move by recommendations when trying any new one.

[@ronhadfield2418]

Just came back from 3 weeks in Spain and Portugal. We were on a bus tour which was an awesome experience and we saw a lot of amazing things. The people on our tour were primarily from Australia, United states and Canada. After talking with a number of the people on our tour it seemed there was general agreement that the food sucked and the locals are not friendly. As for the free tapas, a couple times we got a few potato chip and once we were given olives. A lot of the places sell tapas starting at €3.00

[@Roque-Cachamuiña-gs1wd]

If you're travelling on a bus for three weeks, that means you're on an organised tour and you'll eat and shop wherever the guides take you. It's going from tourist trap to tourist trap. It's a good way to see sights and get to know cities, but it's a terrible way to enjoy the food and learn about the locals' lifestyle.

[@freelancelady]

The idea is also to go to a Tapas place early enough so it is not so crowded. Especially in Madrid I hace noticed that if you go by 12 noon time you have enough room but everything between 1 and 2 pm it gets very crowded. Because tapas are usually enjoyed before the formal meal from 2 pm to 4 pm. So the hour that you choose to go to these places is really important. In smaller towns it depends.

[@christinecleavest9099]

Another great video. I was at Casa Toni last night and I'm sure a few wish they had seen this beforehand 😊

[@iannorton2253]

I love visiting Spain and lived there for a couple of years. The food culture is one aspect that I find really quite complicated and exhausting. I'm not a confident or assertive person, so having to put in all this effort just to get something to eat becomes too much for me and I often give up, rather than go through all that stress.

[@lezlier.6679]

Even after living there a couple years you found it complicated? It didn't get better?

[@iannorton2253]

@@lezlier.6679 No, especially in busy places like tapas bars frequented by locals, which I avoided becauseof that. I was okay where I didn't have to vie for position at a bar while trying to work out what and how to order. I could cope when able to just sit at a table, peruse the menu in my own time and be served by waiting staff; I was then able to ask questions about the food, hear and understand what was being said by them and, also, make myself heard and understood.

[@Gonber55]

Well done James, great work

[@spainrevealed]

THank you!

[@sukunyahamrojananukun5339]

We watched your videos . They are very useful, we spent 2 weeks in Barcelona, Valencia and Madrid i February. We will be at Costa Daurada in April. Do you have any suggestions?

[@finman123]

In Finnish tapa tapa would mean kill kill.

[@USlake]

Inquiry: Hi! Planning to go in Madrid soon. Is Gran via good place to stay? Apartment maybe

[@RomeroGhurka]

I am a local and I can say that this man is 100% accurate. You better listen potential visitors!

[@spainrevealed]

Thank you!

[@mrhelzbygrad7485]

Its funny after you get over the slight awkwardness of the reading the room. I tend to see the staff speaking grumpily to one another abd think that they are closing but then when I order everything is fine.

[@honduraswalks]

This was legit Im definitely getting that guide, headed to Madrid and Bilbao in December! LFG!!

[@spainrevealed]

Awesome!!

[@josepdionisserentillchaube4367]

As a Spaniard i have an important addition to rule number 7. You have to be aware that Spain is a very diverse country. It's very important to check the local culture because tapas may be included in your drink order or not... yo may go to a city wich tapas is a mainstream thing and encounter a city without a tapas bar zone.

[@eltenda]

Excelente 😊

[@Edwinschuur]

I bet people with social anxiety end up really hungry in a tapasbar.

[@loneranger5928]

Nice one 👍

[@jonny_leach]

Love these videos

[@theSSHITT]

OMG, this is too funny! I just finished filming these tacky places because I am creating a video that attempt to answer the question, "is Madrid turning into a theme park?" My husband calls it "Daytonification" because tacky places that sell low quality food and cheap thrills popped up all over Daytona, which is close to where we live in the U.S.

[@spainrevealed]

haha love that concept. can't wait to see the video

[@diegopozas1694]

The hunting down the waiter is a real one. I'm very used to it so in other countries, when I have the waiter constantly checking on my table, I get kind of upset because I feel the they just want to push me out of the bar! In a Spanish bar, if the waiter does that it's usually kind of rude. After they've served your first meal/round, they won't come unless you call them.

[@lynnestewart7060]

Great video. More please!

[@TUANLULU]

Hello...I'll give you another tip from a Spaniard who was born in the best city in the world to live in (according to Forbes November 2023) which is Malaga. Spanish, when we see a bull's head as an ornament, it means they're eating well 😉. It doesn't usually fail

[@Answersonapostcard]

Spot on advice

[@dbpike]

In your list of establishments, you missed “tasca” despite your visiting some in your previous videos. It is probably lumped in under “taberna”. However as it was explained to me, taberna is a little more focused on drinks than food and tasca is the opposite, rustic food with drinks. ChatGPT provided the following explanation which seems to capture my experiences with both. What do you think: The terms *tasca* and *taberna* are often used interchangeably in Spain and Portugal, but there are subtle distinctions in their connotations and cultural contexts: ### **Tasca** - **Origin**: Primarily used in Spain and Portugal, with a stronger association in Portugal. - **Atmosphere**: Typically a small, informal, and often rustic establishment, usually family-run. - **Offerings**: Emphasis on simple, traditional, and affordable dishes or *petiscos* (small plates). Often focuses on hearty, local fare with a home-cooked feel. - **Ambiance**: Casual, with a laid-back, neighborhood vibe. Often a place where locals gather for drinks and simple meals. - **Location**: Common in both cities and smaller towns. ### **Taberna** - **Origin**: A broader term that exists in both Spain and Portugal but is more widely recognized in Spain. - **Atmosphere**: Slightly more formal than a *tasca*, though still casual. Traditionally, a *taberna* was a place to serve drinks, particularly wine, often paired with food. - **Offerings**: While a *taberna* can also serve small plates like tapas, they may offer a more extensive menu compared to a *tasca*. Historically, *tabernas* were associated with wine, though today they serve a wide variety of drinks and food. - **Ambiance**: A bit more structured or traditional in design than a *tasca*. While both are social, *tabernas* might have a slightly more formal edge. - **Location**: More commonly found in larger cities, particularly in Spain, like Madrid or Seville, though they're also present in smaller towns. In short, both terms refer to casual establishments where you can enjoy food and drink, but a *tasca* leans toward a smaller, humbler, and perhaps more local feel, while a *taberna* might offer a slightly broader or more formal experience.