Guided Tours

Famous tapas districts in Spain

Spain is well known around the globe for their most famous of eating styles: tapas. But where are the best places in Spain to enjoy some good tapas? Every city, town, and village has a central dining district, and many claims to be the finest in the land. Our expert local guides have created the ultimate list of the most famous tapas districts in Spain. So look no further and get ready to discover the best places to enjoy tapas in Spain.

The Old Part of Donostia – San Sebastián

First thing you need to know is that in San Sebastián tapas are called pintxos. The second thing you need to know San Sebastian is a gastronomic Mecca and features the highest concentration of Michelin-star restaurants in the world. The cities old section “Casco Viejo” of the city and walk through streets such as Pescadería, 31 de Agosto or Fermín Calbeltón is the place to go.

Try as many pintxos as you can, from the classic gilda (olive, chilli and anchovy) to the more creative offerings you encounter. You will not be disappointed.

As you stroll around this area, you will find many bars and restaurants that serve delightfully delicious pintxos.

The Old Quarter of Bilbao

The Basque country is the land of the pintxo. Although you can try them all over Bilbao, the tradition is to go to the Old Quarter and walk through streets such as Somerda, del Perro or Plaza Nueva, where pintxos of squid, mussels, mushrooms, cod or omelet, are served. There’s no limit to the imaginations of Basque chefs and the options here are practically endless. Be brave and try something new.

The neighborhood of La Latina in Madrid

If you want to experience one of the most traditional neighborhoods of the city, this is a good place to start. Its streets, such as Cava Baja, Cava Alta or Humilladeros, near the famous Plaza Mayor, are home to some of the most historic taverns in Madrid and, especially on weekends, they are abuzz with people enjoying tapas.

The most typical being:patatas bravas, potato omelet, croquettes, olives, cured cheeses and offal. These are commonly received as a free companion to a drink. You may be interested to know that when you walk through this neighborhood you will be treading through the first urban area of Madrid during the Middle Ages.

The passeig de Sant Joan in Barcelona

This has become a very trendy street in the city. In the past, gastronomic offerings of tapas in Barcelona were always more common in Poble Sec or, more recently, in Sant Antoni.

Now Passeig de Sant Joan is where hip folks in the know flock to enjoy tapas. Tapas range from the most traditional (often modernized for today’s pallet) such as salads, bombs (breaded potatoes stuffed with meat) or small sandwiches to haute cuisine tapas influenced by the culinary genius and innovations of world-famous chef, Ferran Adrià.

Valladolid, a tapas route in its center

The historic center of the city is a comfortable route to do on foot to savor the delicious tapas of Valladolid. Most of the restaurants are located around the Cathedral, between the squares of Portugalete, Universidad, San Martín and Martí and Monsó. The importance of tapas in the city is such that every November it hosts the National Tapas Contest in which various chefs with Michelin Stars choose the best tapas in Spain. Here you can try some of the tastiest entries recognised by this award, such as the “Lechazo Taj Mahal” (in Don Bacalao, Plaza de las Brigidas), the “Bocata de calamari wrapped in obulato” and the “Tigretostón” (in Los Zagales, Pasión street ).

The historic center of Seville

Tapas are one of the hallmarks of the capital of Andalusia and you can find them during your breaks en route through its main monuments.

Among the essentials: gazpacho and “aliñás potatoes” (recommended especially in summer), flamenco eggs (so called for their color and for being very typical of Seville), “rabo de toro” a savory oxtail stew,”Carrillada Ibérica” Iberian pork cheek), “pringá” a spectacular braised meat concoction that is eaten with the fingers using bread in lieu of cutlery, and marinated fish.

Granada, a city of tapas

The city of the Alhambra is, for many, one of the best places in Spain to go for tapas. They are commonly served free with your drink. Fried fish, Moorish skewers “pinchitos morunos” , sausage montaditos and patatas bravas or aioli are typical.

You can enjoy tapas all over Granada but, because it draws so many tourists, some of the best tapas are found around the Cathedral. Look along streets such as Navas, San Mateo or Elvira and the Nueva and Campillo squares.

The Húmedo neighborhood of León

Did you know that the beautiful city of León is the city in Spain with the most bars per inhabitant? This is probably due to the fame of its tapas and the Húmedo neighborhood, the main area in which to enjoy them. As in other places in Spain, they mostly serve them free with a drink.

Húmedo is very close to essential tourist spots such as the Cathedral of León or Casa Botines (designed by Gaudí). So a great idea is to make small stops between tourist visits to taste the most classic tapas offered.

The Ruzafa neighborhood in Valencia

This is one of the trendiest areas of the city and one of the most frequented to go for tapas hopping! Locals abound between Burriana, Ciscar and Cádiz streets. In Valencia, seafood tapas are typical, such as grilled cuttlefish, pickled anchovies, cod croquettes, clams and mussels, or different types of salted fish, of course.

Small portions of rice dishes such as the traditional paella are popular. In the area you will also find several signature cuisine restaurants.

El Tubo of Zaragoza

They are small narrow streets full of bars known for serving delicious tapas of croquettes, anchovies, migas (bread crumbs with chorizo), mushrooms, and dumplings. Glance at the plates displayed in each establishment and decide what you’d like to try. This area of Estébanes and Libertad streets and its surroundings is very popular during lunch hours, but is especially busy at night. The Spanish custom is to make a route through various places to taste a varied selection of tapas.

There is always a festive atmosphere in the neighborhood. In Zaragoza, there is another very popular area to go for tapas: La Magdalena (around Estudios Street). On Thursdays the bars run promotions to taste tapas. Take advantage of this offer if you can.

Laurel street in Logroño

A street with more than 60 bars or restaurants where you can savor the gastronomic delights of La Rioja. On Calle Laurel you will find a bar every two meters and you can taste typical products such as asparagus, borage or peppers and rich preparations such as potatoes a la Riojana or chops al sarmiento. Of course, you should have a glass or two of world famous Rioja wine to complement your tapas. In addition to this street in Logroño you will find bars with tapas on Albornoz, San Agustín and Travesía de Laurel.

Salamanca’s Plaza Mayor and its surroundings

A university city filled with must-see monuments. It’s almost impossible to think that going out for tapas is not a tradition in this bustling city. There are plenty of places where the tapa accompanies a drink for free or with a set price. You should check out the taverns of the Plaza Mayor and its surroundings with streets such as Prior, Consuelo, Concejo or Plaza del Peso. You will be able to savor all kinds of tapas, but among the most characteristic you will find the hornazo (a bun usually stuffed with ham, chorizo and pork loin), black pudding and chorizo, Moorish skewers, tripe casseroles, battered pork snout, chanfaina (meat stew and lamb offal), and pigeons (salad on a crunchy wheat base).

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Madrid is one of the few cities in the world, if not the only one, that can claim to enjoy so many Unesco heritage sites at less than 1 hour drive from the Capital.

Fascinating medieval villages where local gastronomy remains unspoilt, top palaces and gardens (El Escorial, Aranjuez, La Granja) or one of the world´s most impressive medieval walls in Avila. Add the famous hanging houses of Cuenca, the wines of Ribera del Duero, the windmills of Don Quixote, or the elegance and beauty of Salamanca and you will start to consider Madrid as a perfect base from where to enjoy day after day amazing destinations.

We have left to the end of this list Segovia and Toledo, 2 of the World´s bes preserved medieval cities and, in both cases, ancient capitals of Spain.

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Famous tapas districts in Spain

Famous tapas districts in Spain