The exception is the Basque Country, which has a different approach to tapas - there, for a start, they're called pintxos' and rather than being served for free with every drink, you pick them up off the bar and pay for them at the end; the number of cocktail sticks you have on your plate tells the barman how much to charge. Read about Pintxos in the Basque Country or read on for the best places to get good, free tapas in the rest of Spain.
Got a tip of your own? Share your favorite bars that serve free tapas.
Free Tapas in Spain
- Free Tapas in Granada
It's not hard to get free tapas in Granada - it's more difficult not to get it! Just about every bar that doesn't say 'restaurant' outside will give you a portion of something to go with your beer. It is most competitive (and most touristy) along c/Elvira, so the portions are biggest there. It is more 'classy' (and more expensive) along c/Navas.
- Typical Tapas in Granada Anything you could image. Paella, fried fish, even burger and fries!
- Best Tapas Bar in Granada: Bodega Castañeda
- Free Tapas in Leon
Well, they say that Tapas in Leon is special, but my experience of it wasn't great. When I started to wonder 'is that it?', a local told me that Saturday is not the best day to go. The bars are to be found in the Barrio Humedo area, in particular in Plaza de San Martin.
- Typical Tapas in Leon Morcilla (black pudding) or cecina, which is like Spanish jamón but using beef rather than ham - rather like a beef jerky.
- Best Tapas Bar in Leon: An average looking bar on c/Rebolledo, near Plaza de San Martin, which I can't quite remember the name of - for 80c I got a glass of wine and some mussels in a spicy sauce.
- Free Tapas in Salamanca
Bars that serve you tapas can be found dotted around much of the city, though the highest concentration is on c/Van Dyck, to the north of the main part of the city. Excellent tapas can be found throughout the city during the Fiesta de la Virgen de la Vega in September (read more on Festivals in September. Note that in Salamanca some bars call tapas 'pinchos'.
- Typical Tapas in Salamanca: Lomo (pork loin) or moruno (kebab on a stick) - invariably served on a slice of bread.
- Best Tapas Bar in Salamanca: Cochinillo Asado on c/Van Dick (on the western end). This may or may not be the name of the bar but that's what it says on the sign outside - although this might be because they offer cochinillo asado, or suckling pig with your drinks, and at a much better price than in Segovia (it's free here).
- Free Tapas in Madrid
You can get everything in Madrid - and that includes free tapas, but it is by no means widespread. There are a couple of bars offering free tapas around the Santo Domingo area near Gran Via and a great one on c/Infantas on the other side of Gran Via (near c/Hortaleza). There are no doubt countless more - that's the beauty of Madrid.
- Typical Tapas in Madrid: As tapas isn't typical in Madrid, you could get anything.
- Best Tapas Bar in Madrid: El Tigre on c/Infantas (Metro: Gran Via or Chueca). The bar is tiny and you have to practically wade through tissues, toothpicks and cigarette butts on the floor to get to the bar - but it's worth it. Very cheap, especially for Madrid. A little more civilized is Magister on c/Principe, where they brew their own beer!
Where You WON'T Get Free Tapas
As stated above, you can get tapas throughout Spain and there will be the odd bar in every city or town where some free tapas will be on offer. Speaking from personal experience, though, I have never received any free food in Barcelona or Seville.Even in the cities mentioned above, it is very rare for an establishment labelled as a 'restaurant' to serve free tapas.
Got a tip of your own? Share your favorite bars that serve free tapas.
