Valencia, Spain · European Travel
Real travel. Real expat life. No filters, no fluff — just the things nobody tells you before you go. New videos every other Friday.
60 seconds of Europe — the moments too good not to share.
Summer 2026
Madrid, España
Everything you need to plan the perfect Madrid trip — handpicked by someone who just spent 4 days eating, exploring, and living it.
✦ Personally visited by Alex on his last trip to Madrid · Price guide: € budget · €€ moderate · €€€ splurge · €€€€+ special occasion
Things to Do
Hand-picked tours and experiences from my Madrid trip — booking through these links supports the channel at no extra cost to you.
Learn Spanish
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🎓 Get 70% Off Your First Lesson →My curated list of where to eat, drink, and splurge in Madrid — from century-old institutions to Michelin-starred kitchens. Places marked with ✦ are ones I personally ate at on my last visit.
Madrid's Iconic Sandwich
✦ Bar Postas ALEX ATE HERE
The classic. Next to Plaza Mayor — €4.50. The most traditional bocadillo de calamares in Madrid. Non-negotiable first stop.
La Campana
Frenético. €4.50. Another Plaza Mayor institution — always busy, always worth it.
Madrid's Soul Food
✦ La Gran Tasca ALEX ATE HERE
Raciones enormes. Plaza Mayor. The real deal — three courses of cocido the traditional way. €€
La Bola (est. 1870)
Cooked in clay pots over charcoal. Old Madrid at its finest. If you finish it, it's free. €€€
Malacatín (est. 1895)
The challenge: finish your cocido and it's on the house. €€€
La Daniela (est. 1894)
The classic three vuelcos — soup, then chickpeas, then meat. Salones históricos. €€
Open for Over 100 Years
✦ Sobrino de Botín (est. 1725) ALEX ATE HERE
The oldest restaurant in the world (Guinness World Records). Cochinillo asado and rabo de toro. A bucket list meal. €€€
Lhardy (est. 1839)
Luxury of the 19th century. Famous consommé and vermouth de grifo. €€€
Casa Alberto (est. 1827)
Rabo de toro and vermouth. A Madrid institution. €€
Casa Ciriaco (est. 1887)
Gallina en pepitoria y mito. Classic Madrid comfort food. €€€
Casa Lucio (est. 1974) ✦ ALEX ATE HERE
Legendary huevos rotos and cochinillo. A celebrity haunt beloved by royalty and politicians. Book ahead. €€€
The Madrid Ritual
El Tigre
Caña + Tapa GIGANTE for €3. The best value tapa in Madrid — legendary among locals. €
Takos al Pastor
Epic tacos for €1.50 each. Street food done right. €
La Ardosa (est. 1892)
Tortilla épica and vermouth (€2.50). One of Madrid's most beloved tabernas. €
Ángel Sierra (est. 1917)
Vermouth (€2.50). Classic Chueca corner bar — old Madrid atmosphere. €
La Casa del Abuelo
Gambas al ajillo. A Madrid classic since 1906. €€
For Special Occasions
DiverXO ⭐⭐⭐
Chef Dabiz Muñoz. The oneiric world of Madrid's most daring kitchen. Reserve well in advance — notoriously difficult to book. €€€€€
Coque ⭐⭐
Sensory experience. Cochinillo lacado. Stunning. €€€€
Paco Roncero Restaurante ⭐⭐
Vanguardia en el Casino Madrid. Luxury and innovation. €€€€
DSTAGE ⭐⭐
Diego Guerrero. Industrial and informal luxury. One of Madrid's most exciting kitchens. €€€€
Corral de la Morería ⭐
Unique — Michelin star + Tablao Flamenco. Dinner and a show, elevated. €€€€
Lunch Like a Local
Spain's best kept secret — a full multi-course lunch at a fraction of the dinner price.
Taberna Maruca
Menú y Cocido. €25. Solid and satisfying.
El Escarpín
Sidra y menú asturiano contundente. €16.
Casa Macareno
Castizo y renovado. €17. Honest Madrid cooking.
Taberna Real
Frente al Palacio Real. Comida casera y honesta. €20.
Gloria Bendita
Calle Santiago. Menú bueno y variado. €16.
Spain Comes to Madrid
La Barraca (est. 1935)
Valencian
Authentic paella. A Madrid institution for Valencian rice dishes. €€€
El Neru
Asturian
Templo asturiano de la sidra. Fabada, cachopo, cider. €€€
Dantxari
Basque
High level Basque cuisine. Cocina vasca de alto nivel. €€€
La Mi Venta
Castilian
Asador castellano. Generous menú del día. €€€
El Caldero
Murcian
Arroz murciano al caldero. Rice done the Murcia way. €€
Bocaíto
Andalusian
Sabor de Andalucía. Fritura and southern flavors. €€
I'm Alex — an American expat living full-time in Valencia. There are two of us + Kiko the Boxer — we traded Kentucky for Spain in 2025, and I've been documenting every restaurant, neighborhood, and bureaucratic adventure ever since.
QuickTourGuy is for the mature traveler who wants honest, high-quality insight — not budget hostel guides. Think carefully researched itineraries, real restaurant picks, and the unfiltered truth about expat life.
A few of my favorite sights from the city I now call home.
On the Horizon
Everything I Ate in Madrid
4 days, zero bad meals — the full foodie breakdown
My Favorite 10 Restaurants in Valencia
A local's definitive list — after a year of eating my way through the city
Getting Around Valencia Like a Local
Bus, metro, how to buy passes, and why the Moovit app is your best friend
Southern France & The Pyrénées
Mountain villages, slow travel, and the French side of the Basque country
Asturias & the Northern Spanish Coast
Oviedo, green mountains, killer cider, and Spain's most underrated coastline
Don't miss a single one.
New videos every other Friday — subscribe so YouTube actually tells you when they drop.
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June
Live Event
Visas · Housing · Cost of Living · Healthcare · Getting Around — ask me anything, live from Valencia.
Collaboration inquiries, travel tips, questions about moving to Spain, or just want to say hi — drop a line and I'll get back to you.
