© Edward Mack
Madrid is rumored to have more bars than any other city on the planet, many of which serve free food with tiny beers, called cañas. It’s easy to get around Madrid without spending a cent on food.
Easily located by the fresco of a fat naked woman painted on its blue façade, Taberna La Pompeyana is just south of the city center. €2.20 buys a double beer, a stream of tapas and free Spanish lessons from the waiters.
Stop into Casa Parrondo for a cider from Asturias. A glass costs €2.50 but for €6 you can buy the bottle. Be careful paying as the mustachioed owner may raise prices for foreigners. He may also, however, double the tapa portions when serving women.
© Edward Mack
Bar La Petisqueira
Bar La Petisqueira is just outside the bohemian district of Malasaña,It is a favorite of locals, and after work it is impossible to find a seat. A small beer costs €1.75 and is served with a large plate of various tapas.
The ubiquitous El Museo de Jamón can be befuddling at first. It earns its name from the hundreds of legs of Iberian ham hung from the ceiling. Stand at the bar and get a caña for €0.70, accompanied by a small ham sandwich. For a few euro more, you can get a pint and try a range of hams and cheeses.
© Edward Mack
El Tigre del Norte
Indisputably the king of huge tapas, El Tigre del Norte is a must for all tapas hunters. A drink costs €2.50 and will leave you stunned by the accompanying food. The first drink may come with croquetas, paella, two or three types of ham, patatas bravas and fried peppers. Rotating tapas ensure the next drink will always bring something new, if you make it that far.
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