Packed with bars and restaurants and loaded with good atmosphere, some Spanish cities treasure streets that are in themselves authentic gastronomic destinations, nerve points to the delight of foodies. There are many years of tradition behind them, a symbol in each city, while others are still forging their fame, but in all the same spirit "enjoy" reigns around the pleasure of good food in the best of Companies
There is no point in Spanish geography that escapes this tradition, but we have compiled some of the best areas to go for tapas in our country. From north to south and from east to west, from Galician empanada to Salmorejo from Cordoba.
Madrid: La Latina
In the capital, any place is good for tapas. There are many places where you can enjoy Madrid's cuisine.
Ponzano street or Cava Baja is the best known.
It is one of the most emblematic streets for tapas in Madrid and is located in La Latina neighbourhood. Its gastronomic tradition comes from its proximity to the markets of Barley and San Miguel since the fifteenth century had great transfer of carters and vendors who came to place their products and find a place to eat and spend the night. The oldest food houses in Madrid still exist: that of the Villa (1642), that of the Segoviano (1720, today is the mythical restaurant Casa Lucio) or the Posada del Dragon (1868, now converted into a hotel.) An essential place to feel the atmosphere of the city.
Sundays are the days in which these places have the most influx, which is used to try the classic bravas or the potato tortilla skewers. Also, the battered squid, croquettes and ham are protagonists of these kitchens.
Santiago de Compostela: Rúa do Franco
In Santiago de Compostela, Rúa do Franco is not only one of the most mythical streets in the centre, where pilgrims and souvenir shops share a living space. It also hosts an unsuspected (and favourite) tapas route: Since the Middle Ages, this street had a good number of taverns and bars in which today the best of Galician cuisine, such as empanadas, sausages and octopus. This Paris-Dakar has nothing to do with the raids or the desert. Basically, it joins two bars with this name and consists of stopping at each establishment for a cup of ribeiro, A much more heroic feat, if possible, than to achieve La Compostela.
Logroño: Laurel Street
Mythical and genuine to the point of extending its name to encompass the surrounding streets and shelter them under the same umbrella, the Laurel is an indisputable mecca of tapas accompanied by, as it could not be otherwise, good wines from Rioja. Hence, it is also known as "the path of elephants" since whoever ventures into it usually ends "horn." Here, mostly classic skewers are offered; Even some bars are so specialized that they only serve a variety, as is the case with the famous Soriano, which only makes the skewer of grilled mushrooms with shrimp. Of course, absolutely masterful.
It is probably the best-known tapas street in Spain. Laurel, and neighbouring San Juan, host countless bars with bars full of attractive skewers and portions. Each house usually has its speciality so it is best to go from one to another trying as much as possible: Soriano mushrooms; the "Uncle Agus" of Lorenzo; the chorizo hulls of El Soldado de Tudelilla; Black and White marriages; the lamb farm of Sebas; Jubera's brave potatoes...
San Sebastián: 31 de Agosto Street
You cannot make a gastronomic list without mentioning Donosti, where there is no single point where the bars are concentrated, which allows tourists to enjoy a good pintxo in any area. But if we had to focus our attention, we would undoubtedly do it in the Casco Viejo and on Calle 31 de Agosto, where the bars whose pintxos sometimes do not even see the bar happen.
Bilbao: Licenciado Poza
In Bilbao, there is a good offer of skewers in the Casco Viejo, but our favourite is the Indautxu area, especially around the Liceado Poza street, which ends in San Mamés. On game days a red and white crowd floods the bars in the area. The rest of the days, quieter, you can enjoy bars like Mugi, our favourite, Okela, with its excellent gildas, or Gaztandegi, specializing in cheese skewers.
León: Barrio Húmedo
León has a long tradition of tapas in the so-called Barrio Húmedo, around the Plaza Mayor. Sites like El Rebote (with its famous croquettes), Entrepeñas, El Besugo, El Tizón, La Balconada, La Gitana or La Pintona are worth a visit to enjoy the good sausages that are made in the province or traditional products such as cecina, frog legs or gizzards, always accompanied with a glass of Bierzo wine.
Valladolid: La Antigua
In Valladolid, tapas are very careful. For something, it is the headquarters of the National Skewers and Tapas Championship, which this year will meet its fifteenth edition.
In the downtown area, and specifically La Antigua, next to the church of Santa María, the locals participate in an annual contest for the El Pincho de Oro prize.
A reference is Casa Jero, which has received numerous awards in recent years for the high level of its creative tapas. Good alternative Los Zagales. And also try the croquettes of El Corcho and the torreznos of Alarcón.
Undoubtedly, the city has experienced a large increase in visitors wanting to have a great time and enjoy good food.
Pamplona: Estafeta Street
In a few places in Spain, it is covered as well as in Pamplona. Skewers based on popular cuisine in which vegetables and elaborations rooted in Navarre culinary tradition are present. Estafeta street and its surroundings are the axis of the best bars. Our favourite is Gaucho, with his right balance between tradition and innovation and his skewer of Navarre duck liver. But don't forget to visit Fitero, Álex Múgica, Otano or Bodegón Sarriá.
Alicante: Castaños Street
From the Central Market to the square of Gabriel Miró, Castaños street and its branches concentrate a good offer for tapas in Alicante. There is one of the best bars in Spain, Nou Manolin. In its extensive counter, a tempting and spectacular assortment of the best products of the sea and the garden of Alicante is exhibited. Already at the end of the journey, on San Fernando Street, two other good options: La Taberna del Gourmet and Abarrote.
Córdoba: Plaza de las Tendillas
In Córdoba, taverns abound, originally establishments where only wine was served. Currently, Cordoba bars offer a wide assortment of traditional tapas and rations such as flamingos, oxtail, salmorejo, or fried eggplants. At the time of tapas, there are two very defined areas: the Jewish Quarter and the streets surrounding the central Plaza de Las Tendillas. In this second two directions, we especially like: San Miguel-Casa el Pisto and Los Berengueles.
Seville: Plaza Nueva
All of Seville is a tapas area. The tapas are part of the essence of the city. For the way of life of its people, for that point of informality that Sevillian likes so much. We especially like the streets surrounding the Plaza Nueva. There they are, for example, Barbiana or Casa La Viuda, in Albareda; La Bodeguita by Antonio Romero and Casa Moreno, in Gamazo; La Flor de Toranzo, in Jimios, or, a little further, Donald, in Canalejas.
Granada: Navas
At the foot of the Alhambra, it is not easy to choose a single street in Granada to surrender to the culture of tapas and also without risk to the pocket since as a rule, as in all Andalusia, they are included with the drinks that do not they usually exceed two euros or two and a half euros. Among the most acclaimed (and crowded) on this street are Los Diamantes Bar, with seventy-five years of experience and specialized in fried fish.
Malaga: Granada Street
The very long Granada street has traditional tapas for all tastes: more traditional in La Campana and Taberna del Piyayo, reinvented with a touch of the author in El Pimpi and Mariano. With one stop at each restaurant on this well-known street, you will be eaten and almost eaten!