Spain food & drink
Spain's eating and drinking culture is one of its greatest attractions, and a very communal one, with people rubbing shoulders in tapas bars and cafés, and a whole range of eateries from simple workers' lunch cafés to some of the world's finest and most innovative gourmet restaurants.
Tapas (pintxos in the Basque Country) are small snacks served with drinks in local bars right across the country. They can range from gourmet canapés to simple plates of olives or cheese, and may be charged or given free. It's an excellent way to sample different facets of Spanish cuisine. It's customary to move from bar to bar, having a drink and a tapa in each.
• Seafood: Ubiquitous, fresh, and excellent. Look out for bacalao al pil-pil (a Basque cod dish), pulpo (octopus), pescaito frito (mixed fried fish), navajas (razor shells), arroz con bogavante (rice with lobster), and boquerones (fresh marinated anchovies).
• Paella and other rice dishes, especially along the eastern seaboard.
• Cocido, fabada, butifarra amb mongetes (delicious hearty regional stews of beans or chickpeas and meat).
• Tortilla (a staple throughout the country, is a rich, chunky potato and egg omelette).
• Gazpacho (a delicious cold tomato-based soup from Andalucía).
• Jamón (ham), chorizo, longaniza, lomo and salchichón are just a few of the wonderful cured pork products available all over Spain.
Most restaurants serve a menú del día at lunchtime; this is a three-course meal including drinks that generally costs from €10 to €20 and can be very good value
Staff don't expect tips except in touristed areas, where a service charge may be added to the bill. Spaniards tend to leave small change; 5% is considered generous in a restaurant.
NewsLetter Sign Up !
Please enter your Email and Name to join.
To unsubsribe please click here ».