SPAIN EATS: Tapas Etiquette
Dear Foodie Fam,
Learn about Spain’s notorious alcohol side dish!
Before headed to Spain, I heard somewhere that tapas are free in all Spanish bars. Dutch heard somewhere that tapas are not free... Who’s right? …Well, both of us.
IN THIS POST:
Tapas Basics
Free Tapas
Cheap Tapas
Tapas in Madrid
Tapas Basics
Traditionally smaller in size than a regular meal. They can be sort of the size of a side or appetizer dish.
Tapas are usually the most economical way to taste the different flavors of Spain. Most traditional tapas are easy to prepare and serve.
The closer you are to the coast, the fishier and cooler the tapas. The further into the country you travel, the warmer the tapas.
Their size makes it fun and easy for chefs to experiment with each portion. For this reason, while there are classic, traditional tapas all over Spain, trendy spots also have very experimental bites!
Most locals take tapas between meals, at a midday or right before dinner.
Most locals like having lighter drinks with their tapas like a cider, a chilled white wine, a small beer or a vermouth. Stronger drinks can overwhelm your palate.
SIDE NOTE: Day drinking is normal and common in Spain.
ANOTHER SIDE NOTE: Meals are taken later in Spain than in America. A drink at “breakfast” may not seem as early as you are imagining, right now!
KINDS OF TAPAS
Tapas: Small dishes to be shared.
Raciones: Priced separately from tapas, these are bigger portioned tapas.
Pinchos/Pintxos: Mouth-sized tapas served on top of sliced breads.
Platos Combinados: Larger plates holding an array of tapas.
Traditionally, tapas were a complimentary little side dish given to those who drank at bars and restaurants to help with the safe consumption of alcohol.
There are different stories suggesting the origins of tapas. It’s said that King Alfonso X “The Wise” of Castile recovered from illness through wine and tapas. Following this recovery, he ordered it be mandatory that food always accompany drinks. He was also known to order his wine on a beach with a slice of ham on top. This was to shield it from the sand (“tapar” means cover). Later, Felipe III decreed all drinks be served covered with food. This was to keep his drunken sailors in top shape.
At a Barcelona tapas bar. Photo by Deets On Eats.
Eating at a Tapas Bar
Confidently approach the counter (if there is one) and assert your presence much the same way you would when ordering a drink at a very busy American bar.
It’s good to tell waiters/bartenders if you are at the bar specifically to eat tapas (not just to drink) so you can be seated where they can place your dishes.
At Basque style pincho bars, glass counters display the day’s tapas. Order by pointing at what you’d like. If necessary, you will be served the warmer dishes from the kitchen.
A lot of tapas bars indicate prices by different colored picks stuck in the tapas dishes. When you order these tapas, do not trash your picks. This is how you will be charged.
If you aren’t sure what things are priced, let your waiter know your budget and ask for help.
Wait until you are all done eating to request "la cuenta" (the bill) .
If you are eating quick, you may want to eat standing at the bar. You may be charge a little extra for sitting. If you do have to sit, though… it’s worth the little extra charge to be able to keep those lovely tapas dishes coming!
Tapas at a Barcelona tapas bar. Photo by Deets On Eats.
At a Spanish bar. Photo by Deets On Eats.
Free Tapas
Places where tapas are almost always free: West Andalusia and parts of Granada, Almeria and Jaen.
In Madrid, traditionally tapas are served as a volunteered form of gratitude alongside an ordered drink. Working-class neighborhoods with lots of free tapas include Carabanchel, Tetuán and La Latina.
Free tapas are more easily found at tascas (Spanish taverns) further from tourist destinations and off the beaten path.
If asked for tapas, a waiter serving free tapas will automatically give you a dish. A waiter serving priced tapas will give you a menu or selection.
If you are going to drink, it’s probably a good plan to order the drink first. If you get tapas, immediately… obviously, it’s free. It’s usually up to the server or kitchen as to what your tapas will be, exactly.
All over Spain (for example, in Barcelona), modern restaurants and bars may not honor the “free tapas with a drink tradition”, anymore.
In our experience, little dive bars that are off the more busy/toured streets are more likely to offer free tapas than other bars in the area.
Below: A more traditional, less frequented bar which served us torta as tapas.
Torta tapas at a Spanish bar by Deets On Eats.
Cheap Tapas
In Malaga or Seville, tapas are often charged separately from drinks. However, drinks are usually cheaper here than they are in other parts of Spain.
There are places that offer their own menu sections specifically for tapas. There are also places that only offer tapas!
There’s entire markets full of stalls specializing in tapas! A great example of this is La Mercado de San Miguel in Madrid.
When ordering tapas by themselves as little sampler-sized dishes, they are priced anywhere between 2€ to 10€.
Tapas hopping is a thing. It’s become a part of Spanish culture.
There’s tapas streets lined with tapas bars where you can tapas hop! A couple examples of these streets are Cava Baja in Madrid or Carrer de Blai in Barcelona. These places are crawling with buzzed and happily full locals. They are the trendiest places to show up and have a great time!
A quick online search of the more modern bars will give a good idea as to if one should expect to pay for or not pay for tapas. In our experience, the more ingredients or artistry going into a tapas dish… the more likely it is to be priced. Free tapas seem to usually be easier to serve (ie: nuts, olives, torta). This seems economically fair to us.
Toast tapas at a Spanish Market in Madrid. Photo by Deets On Eats.
Tapas in Madrid
Spain Revealed was a killer resource for me when I was researching Spain. James Blick is very detailed and respectful to local culture. Blick has loads of experience through living in Spain with his native Spanish wife and touring with Devour Tours. These videos made me SO excited to get to Spain and did not disappoint when I got there. I visited some places suggested and was over the moon! Their culture and language videos were beyond helpful to me, too. His Madrid videos are especially helpful because Madrid is where he lives.
Video Below- Source: Spain Revealed with James Blick
GRAPHIC BELOW: By Devour Tours
GRAPHIC BELOW: Matthew Coles
GRAPHIC BELOW: SeasonedTravelr
