Children/Tapas bars in Spain

Lucy, so glad you asked that. I was wondering the same thing myself! I'd love to take a Tapas stroll, but I also will have a 7 & 11 year in tow.

My friends just recently travelled throughout Spain with their 7 year old and they did go to tapas bars with the kid in tow and encountered no problems.

We took our 2 year old with us to tapas bars when we were in Spain a few months ago and we did not have any problems. I found the people to be very friendly towards kids. Be prepared for them to not have a high chair and it may be smokey.

I've done the 'tapa hopping' at places other than the major cities. Surprisingly in the evening, the locals go out with their kids in tow going to their favorite tapa bar, even at 10-11 in the evening! In fact that's probably your only choice if you want to get something to eat from 5 to 9. The restaurants don't open until 9:00 PM. I love Spain!

This is a cultural difference. Here is the USA if you were to take your child "bar hopping" late in the evening, you'd likely have your children taken away from you!

The first time I took my daughter to a tapas bar she was four or five months old. Apart from the obligatory cooing and "spoiling" on the part of the staff, it didn't provoke any comments at all. I had chosen a time of day when the bar was mostly empty (in order to avoid second hand smoke) but at another time it would not have been strange for her to have similar aged company. Bars here are places where people gather -- not just places where adults gather.

On the other hand, babysitters are an almost unknown phenomenon in Spain, and it is usual for families to go out together. You will have no problem taking your children to bars, the staff will be welcoming and you can take advantage of the opportunity to demonstrate responsible drinking and socializing.

It will also be an opportunity for you and your children to explore some of the "weird" stuff from a different culture. See who can swallow the "strangest" tapa. "Higaditos de pollo" (chicken giblets in a sherry sauce) is usually the trump card, but sangre encebollada (congealed blood with onions) or menudo (tripe) might also be winners. Whatever you choose, it'll be delicious, so enjoy!

I’m curious to know if there are bars in Madrid where teenage kids are not necessarily welcome. Specifically, I would like to stop into Torre del Oro Andalu on Plaza Mayor to have a look at the bullfighting décor and want to ensure that kids are okay. Sounds like we’ll be good to go at any of the tapas bars but thought I would ask anyone who may have been to this particular locale to weigh in. Not sure if it's just a bar or a tapas bar or if it matters. Thanks.

Michael,

I've never seen a bar that had a specific "teenagers not allowed" sort of sign. Usually, that sort of thing is done by manipulating the prices, the music, etc. (And assuming that teenagers would want to be in a bar full of "old people" anyway.)

Usually, Spanish teens will hang out in teen-oriented bars, and older folks will go to their own haunts. (Whoops, I'm dating myself, I forgot that they've raised the legal age for the sale of alcohol to 18. So, kids no longer drink in bars, under the characteristic stern gaze of the owner, they have to do their drinking in parks, annoying the neighbors.)

In any event, there is a huge, huge difference between a pack of unaccompanied teens, and an American tourist with his teenage sons. Assuming that your kids behave reasonably well (just like the rest of the patrons) you will have no trouble at all.

Thanks. I’ve found that, aside from fairly significant cultural differences between the U.S. and Europe related to drinking age, kids in bars, etc., establishments anywhere can vary to the extent that some are a lot more like plain old bars in the U.S. while others are more like public meeting places with good food, drinking, and a lot of neighborhood socializing, with families making up most of the customer base. You might not want to take your kids into a plain old bar (I thought the Hofbrauhaus in Munich was a bit much for kids), but I would think that something like tapas bars would be fine. In age, my kids are actually closer to being adults than kids, and we’ve never had a problem in pubs, beer gardens, or other similar places we’ve visited. I do recall a time in central London, however, when we were asked to visit the restaurant/pub upstairs, as the pub (only a bar) downstairs was off limits to minors. Apparently, there are different levels of licensing in the UK, and this place didn’t have one that allowed minors in the bar. Another time in small village Austria, however, we shot pool in a local tavern…I had beer, and the kids had Cokes. Kids were okay in this place. So, I think it varies. Thanks again for the dialogue.

If anyone else has been to Torre del Oro Andalu in Madrid, perhaps you could provide your review/recommendation.

Lucy,

They are welcome. No different than other places where you can drink beer (e.g., McDonald, etc.)

Edwin