You’ve made it to Spain and probably worked up a mighty appetite in the process. Good thing this country is packed with absolutely amazing food. But where to get your best foodie fix? Here are some (just some!) of Spain’s top foodie destinations, and what you should get your stomach prepared for at each stop.
Galicia
Not sure you like to eat octopus? Try Galicia’s pulpo and you’ll be a fan.
To experience Galicia — its rugged coastal beauty and lush rain-saturated landscapes — is to appreciate its hearty cuisine. And there’s no better way to do that than by digging into one of its fresh-from-the-sea dishes such as berberechos (steamed cockles often served with nothing more than lemon) and, of course, pulpo a la gallega, perfectly tender slices of octopus flavored with paprika, salt, olive oil, and accompanied by slices of potato. The list of seafood dishes goes on, but other foods to try include empanadas, savory pies (not fried like the Argentine counterpart) which usually come with decadent fillings of tuna, cod or meat. Then there are the famous pimientos de padrón, tiny, green peppers lightly fried and salted and, occasionally, super spicy (usually one or two in a batch will make your lips smack!). Finally, no Galician meal would be complete without a grand finale of Tarta de Santiago, a surprisingly light-tasting, almond-based cake named after the region’s most beloved saint.
Granada
Granada is a foodie favorite thanks to its spectacular, free tapas.
Okay, let’s start by clarifying that Granada’s food itself isn’t what makes it an amazing foodie destination, but rather the experience of eating its food. That’s because Granada is famous for its super giant and free tapas. Free because when you order a drink (usually alcoholic), it will typically come with a fat plate of free food. Order another drink from the same establishment, and expect a different dish of grub. We’re talking everything from paella to pasta and patatas bravas. Get your fill, then move on to the next spot to see what your drink order brings. Is the food amazing? Most often, probably not. But the experience is, as you’ll get the chance to try popular tapas bars and sample surprise plates of food, all without spending much. If it’s quality eats you’re after, however, skip the surprise free dishes and opt for a Granada Tapas Walking Tour.
Seville
When in Seville, sampling salmorejo and gazpacho is a must.
Granada may have its giant tapas, but it’s probably Seville that wins in the tapas-hopping culture department. Indeed, Sevillanos know how to thoroughly enjoy the art of snacking on something tasty while sipping on a beer or glass of locally popular and produced Manzanilla wine. What to eat in Seville? Well, tapas, naturally — from traditional to modern takes on the form. And don’t leave town without sampling Seville classics such as jamón ibérico (cured, acorn-fed ham, and really a whole-country classic), gazpacho or salmorejo (chilled, tomato-based soups), and, of course, some of that aforementioned Manzanilla.
Madrid
A dish to try in the capital is tortilla, an omelette of egg, potato and onion which can be eaten at any time of day (or all day).
As the nation’s capital, Madrid sits at the crossroads of all things cultural and culinary. Whatever your foodie fantasy, you’re bound to find it here. Keen to have a legit tapas-hopping experience? Head to the La Latina neighborhood, famed for its abundance of tapas bars which line streets such as Cava Baja. For a more traditional sampling of the capital’s cuisine, dine on one of the city’s most famous dishes, cocido, a stew of garbanzo beans, veggies and meat. But maybe you wanted something a bit more modern? Madrid has that too, whether you want a high-end Michelin-starred meal, or something a little more wallet-friendly. If you want to take the guesswork out of your hunt for good eats, consider joining a Madrid Tapas Night Walking Tour, during which you’ll hit some of the city’s best spots for good tapas.
Barcelona
Nothing says Catalonia like butifarra on a tomato-rubbed baguette.
The Barcelona food scene is ripe for tasting, a delicious mix of traditional Catalan cuisine and avante-garde gastronomy. Expect to find tapas-hopping opportunities here, too — you can experience the best of the city’s tapas on a three-hour private tapas tour in Barcelona — but you’d be smart to focus your foodie efforts on sampling traditional Catalan cuisine such as butifarra (a local sausage) on tomato-rubbed toast or coca (a sweet or savory pastry) and, of course, cava, the regional sparkling wine.
San Sebastian
When it comes to tapas, San Sebastian no doubt wins in the taste and creativity categories.
Probably the ultimate of Spain’s foodie experiences is the one that goes down in San Sebastian. It is here that tapas-hopping is taken to its most delicious and an almost religious level — and that’s via pintxos (sometimes spelled pinchos). These tapas often consist of fancy-food-topped toasts, but can more broadly include any serving-sized gourmet creations. And more important is how they are served and consumed: a true pintxos experiences entails going from one pintxos bar to the next, each one usually displaying mountains of pintxos plates piled atop the bar counter. Your duty: to sample at least one (if you’ve done your research, you’ll know which one, or ones, the bar is famous for) along with a drink, and then head on to the next stop. Note that different bars may require a different approach. Sometimes you may be able to grab the pintxo yourself, keeping track of your orders, while other times you’ll need to order from the bartenders so they can heat it up for you. Or certain special pintxos may not even be on display — so there may be more than meets the eye. Check out what others are doing, or ask the bartender in order to get a better idea of how things work.
One would also be remiss not to mention that Basque Country is known for so much more than just pintxos. Indeed, the Spanish region, famed for its largely male-only culinary societies, claims the most Michelin stars in the country, which means that there are loads of proper sit-down restaurants serving incredible food.
– Contributed by Erin Ridley
