There are many things to look forward to when visiting Spain, from the warm sunshine to the soft sandy beaches to the gorgeous lush forest hiking trails, the historic architecture and the colourful festivals. However, one of the best things that visitors to Spain look forward to before their trip is the food. Spanish cuisine is bursting with flavour and a holiday here will give you the opportunity to try many fresh and delicious dishes.
“Tapas” is a traditional style of dining in Spain and it is when a large group dines together and instead of each ordering a main dish everyone shares an array of small appetisers. These little dishes can be anything from cold olives and cheese or battered friend squid or other hot treats. The great thing about eating tapas is that it encourages people to engage in conversation together rather than staring at their own plate without talking. It is customary for diners to pass dishes around, share food and even stand up and move around while enjoying a feast of tapas.
If you will be eating tapas for the first time during your next trip to Spain, here are some important etiquette tips that you should keep in mind:
Start Later in the Evening
Although you might be used to eating your evening meal at around 6 or 7pm, while you are in Spain you better have a snack to tide yourself over because dinner doesn’t start here until 9 at the earliest. Sometimes dinner can be served as late as 11pm or midnight. This leaves a lot of time between the end of the workday and dinner, so you will find many locals “bar hopping” and snacking on a few tapas to curb their hunger until they eat later.
If you don’t want to stay up too late to try some tapas, it is also customary to enjoy lunch between two and four pm and often on weekend days the local Spaniards will enjoy tapas around noon as a way of socialising before they go and eat a proper lunch at home.
How to Find the Right Tapas Bar
In order to get the best and most authentic tapas experience, you and your travelling companions should look for the right type of bar. The bar in question should be full of locals, rather than an overpriced tourist trap. There will likely be at least one television, screening a football game or the news, usually at full volume. You will also see a lot of paper napkins and food waste on the floor, as it is customary to simply throw your prawn heads and other waste on the floor as you eat.
Tapas Etiquette Tips
When it comes to the etiquette of eating tapas, there isn’t too much to know. The truth is that this fun, casual and social way of eating mostly requires you to simply dig in and enjoy. Of course, there are a few things that you should know for your first experience.
First of all, when you enter the bar you can tell the waiter that you intend to order food as well as drinks. This will allow them to find you a small table or area of the bar where you can put your food. If you are feeling overwhelmed and don’t know what to order it is perfectly acceptable to ask the waiter or waitress for suggestions. Just tell them what you like and what your budget is as they will know what the best and freshest dishes are.
Last but not least, don’t try to pay for your tapas or your drink while ordering. You will be amazed by the ability of the bar staff to remember the food orders of everyone in the crowd of people and all you have to do is settle the bill when you leave.
Of course, the most important tapas tip of all is to be friendly and strike up a conversation with someone! Eating in this way was designed to encourage an open and social atmosphere, so eat, drink and be merry.
Steven Capocci is a writer who believes that everyone should enjoy the local cuisine when on holiday. After booking into your room at La Manga Club or your chosen accommodation, then you should head out to try as many tapas dishes as you can.
