I’ve been living in Madrid for about half a year now, and as a foodie, what I want most is to try all the culinary delights this city has to offer. But eating alone always felt like something was missing. Later, I discovered that Madrid has quite a few food review groups, and joining them really opened up a whole new world. Today, I’ll share some of the more active food organizations I’ve learned about.
Foodies Madrid
This is probably one of the largest food review groups in Madrid, with nearly 8,000 members on social media. They organize 2 to 3 group tasting events each month, usually choosing newly opened restaurants or specialty shops. After attending a few times, I found that the group’s members have very diverse backgrounds, including both locals and foreigners, with a wide age range.
Each event has about 20-30 people, and restaurants typically provide a special tasting menu. The prices are quite reasonable, usually between 25-40 euros, including 3-4 dishes plus drinks. After the event, everyone shares reviews and photos in the group, and the atmosphere is very relaxed. If you want to join, you can search for their official account on Facebook or Instagram and submit an application.
Madrid Gastro Club
This group is relatively more professional, with many members being restaurant industry professionals or food bloggers. Their events aren’t as frequent, about once a month, but the quality is always excellent. It’s especially suitable for those who want to deeply understand the stories behind restaurants.
Attending their events, you’ll usually have the head chef come out to explain the creative concepts behind the dishes and the sources of ingredients, and sometimes you can even tour the kitchen. The most memorable experience for me was visiting a restaurant specializing in Iberian ham, where the chef explained in detail the differences between various grades of ham. I learned so much that time. The membership fee is 50 euros per year, but considering the quality of the events, I think it’s quite worth it.
Group Comparison
Based on my actual experience, I’ve compiled a simple comparison table for your reference:
| Group Name | Event Frequency | Average Cost | Suitable For | Language Environment |
|---|
| Foodies Madrid | 2-3 times/month | 25-40 euros | Food enthusiasts | Spanish/English |
| Madrid Gastro Club | 1 time/month | 40-60 euros | Deep food explorers | Mainly Spanish |
| Tapas Lovers | 1-2 times/week | 15-25 euros | Casual gatherings | Multilingual |
Tapas Lovers
If you prefer a more relaxed and casual gathering style, Tapas Lovers might be more suitable for you. This group mainly focuses on exploring tapas bars in various neighborhoods of Madrid, organizing 1-2 small-scale gatherings each week, usually with 5-10 people.
Their activity format is simple: choose a neighborhood, then go from one bar to another drinking and eating tapas, staying at each place for 30-40 minutes. The advantage of this approach is that you can try multiple places in one go, and the cost is relatively low, averaging 15-25 euros per person for the whole evening. The only downside is you need to be able to walk, as you might cover several kilometers in one night.
Participation Tips
Based on my experience over these past few months, I have a few suggestions to share with everyone. First, it’s best to attend a few free or low-cost events first to see if the group’s style suits you. Second, don’t be afraid to communicate - the members of these groups are all very friendly, and everyone is there because they love food. Finally, if you’re particularly interested in a certain restaurant, you can proactively suggest it as the target for the next event; organizers usually welcome suggestions from members.
Honestly, after joining these food groups, I’ve not only eaten a lot of great food but also met many like-minded friends. Now I have activities to attend every weekend, and life has become much more fulfilling. If you’re also in Madrid, I highly recommend giving it a try - you definitely won’t be disappointed.
