Stupid question #349!

We will be going to Madrid next summer and my question is how do you order Tapas and how do you know what to order? Do you order from a menu? a cart? just point? Also do you order from your table or order from the bar (like pubs in England)?

Thanks as always!

Ordering tapas will depend on where you are. Most tapas/wine bars have both their cold and hot tapas on display at the bar. Some will have a list of tapas on a chalkboard above or behind the bar. Still others will have a written menu you can choose from. Some tapas and wine bars have tables and waiters, some don't.

Most do not differentiate in the price at the bar or inside tables, but some use the three-tier pricing system. One price when standing at the bar, one at an inside table, and you'll always pay more if sitting outside.

It would be helpful to know a little Spanish under all circumstances, but especially when ordering from a menu.

To add to the confusion, some places give free tapas, in which case the server usually chooses for you.

Herself and I went into a place seeking a drink and a small snack, and ordered things from the tapas bar (by pointing). We were also given free tapas because we were buying drinks.

I second Robert2533's suggestion about how helpful it is to know a little Spanish when ordering from a menu. Unless things have changed a lot in the last few years, relatively few Madrid waiters know English.

I third the suggestion to know a little Spanish. In Madrid, most waiters and tapas bar tenders did not speak English, so we had no idea what to order and it was difficult unless we could point to things. Different story in Barcelona, where everyone spoke English.

The waiters do not speak English but this is no problem at all. You usually go to the bar and point to the tapas you wish. Use your fingers to indicate the number of portions. "Uno", "dos", "tres" might help.

If you want to study a written menu limited knowledge of Spanish won't help. You need a special gourmet dictionary and at least 30 minutes to translate everything. What we usually do: We make clear that we want mixed tapas of fish, vegetables and meat for the whole table. We had never been disappointed and the final check had always been a pleasant surprise.