The 10 Best Tapas In Santiago De Compostela, Spain

Santiago De Compostela Cathedral
Santiago De Compostela Cathedral | © Astro Oscar ||*||/Flickr
Ian Lynch

Santiago de Compostela, a historic municipality in Galicia, is better known as the terminus of the Catholic pilgrimage route, the Camino de Santiago. However, it is also home to many examples of yet another Spanish tradition – tapas. Set within the meandering streets of this medieval city are the tabernas and haunts that pride themselves on serving up these delicious and innovative cultural morsels. Here are 10 places that provide the best and most flavorful tapas in Santiago de Compostela.

Casa Marcelo, in the Cathedral Square

1. A Charca

Restaurant, Spanish, Seafood, Mediterranean

Having had a long history in Santiago’s restaurant scene, this family business eventually found a home on the Rúa do Franco in 1975 and quickly established itself as a local institution. With strong family values and a love for all things Galician, A Charca takes its food to heart and all who dine there can attest to the warmth of its inviting embrace. The homey stone-clad interior and exposed wooden beams recall the medieval architecture of the city and forms a fitting backdrop to A Charca’s culinary traditionalism. As one might expect, the tapas menu here reads like a textbook of Galician cuisine, offering a selection of ham and seafood racionsthat are a must for anybody wanting to experience authentic local food and hospitality.

2. A Taberno do Bispo

Restaurant, Tapas, Seafood, Mediterranean

Abastos 2.0, Santiago
© Dario Alvarez/Flickr
In 2003 Taberno do Bispo opened its doors on the Rúa do Franco with one goal in mind; to offer traditional tapas and the finest beer and wine to pilgrims and santiaguesalike. Over ten years later, Bispo continues to honor its vision, providing a dining experience that champions all that is great about tapas. The ever-lively atmosphere, contained within a cozy yet modern space, is a testament to this little restaurant’s passion and popularity. Once inside, patrons can choose from an informed menu that incorporates Galician cuisine with the staples of traditional tapas and is sure to satisfy all tastes and preferences.

3. Abastos 2.0

Bar, Restaurant, Market, Pub, Tapas, Spanish, Wine, Beer, Cocktails

Terra Nosa

The taberna at Abastos 2.0 represents a more conceptual contingent in food culture and does so under a veil of unassuming modesty. The restaurant consists of a single under-lit table that traverses the entire space; reinforcing the community aspect of the dining experience and returning a sense of ceremony to the act of eating. Offering a menu that changes daily, based on the freshest produce sourced at local markets allows each visit to Abastos to be profoundly unique. The ephemeral nature of the dining experience coupled with the perfect simplicity of the food makes Abastos 2.0 unmissable for those who seek wonder, adventure, and, most importantly, delicious tapas.

4. Café Lacobus

Cafe, Spanish

The team behind Café Lacobus had their first success in 1995 with a quaint coffee shop on the Rúa da Azabachería. After nine years they expanded with a new premise on the Rúa Santiago de Estero, thus establishing their first foray into the world of food. This new focus on food in no way diminishes their zeal and ingenuity, serving traditional tapas racionsand tortillawith a selection of Spanish craft beers and select wines while maintaining their pioneering attitude towards coffee.

5. La Tita

Bar, Beer, European, Spanish

Located in the historic center of Santiago, this charming bar grants all who visit an authentic and unapologetic slice of Spanish culture. The bustling Rúa Nova on which La Tita sits leads to the cathedral square and thus provides weary pilgrims a place to rest and share stories with the vivacious santiagues who flood the bar for lunch daily. Serving up generous pinchos of tortilla with every drink order and accommodating a colorful mix of clientele, La Tita presents the perfect opportunity to get in touch with the heart and soul of Santiago.

6. Artesana

Gastropub, European, Spanish, Healthy

Drawing from the concept of a gastropub, Artesana fuses quintessential passion with the affable informality of the gastropub. Despite the conceptual underpinnings, the food at Artesana is a cut above that of the average gastropub, offering a menu that maintains an international perspective, where conventional tapas are reinvented. Furthermore, diners can choose to enjoy their food in the Santiago sun by availing of Artesana’s delightful garden space.

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