Spain Money Saving Tips and Offers

Those who have spent time in Jaen, Almeria and Granada provinces will be used to getting free tapas every time they order a drink.  Outside of these 3 provinces, it is very unusual to get free tapas.  At best you might get a few olives or toasted almonds.

I was recently in Madrid and managed to unexpectedly bag free tapas in 3 different bars.  The first bar was in a town called Pinto, south of Madrid.  I ordered a jarra (pint) of beer and was given a couple of croquetas and a small hotdog sandwich.  Not the best tapas I've ever had, but I can't complain because they were unexpectedly free.

Then in Madrid city itself, not far from the Gran Via area, we ended up in a bar and ordered a bottle of beer and received some slices of sachichon and bread. 

Then the following day we eneded up in another bar in the Bilbao area (I think anyway!) and got a free montadito (small roll) with a jarra.

I don't know if this is a response to Spain's economic crisis, or if it has always been like this in certain bars in the capital.  I've certainly never had free tapas in Madrid before in my previous visits.