TAPAS ROUTE
Tapas is miniature cuisine that encourages people to mingle and chat since it’s eaten standing at the bar of a bar or restaurant. It’s very fashionable in Zaragoza and the dishes are of high quality. On this route, you’ll be able to visit parts of the historic centre and take the chance to see museums, monuments and other places of interest for tourists.
Besides “jamón con chorreras”, a traditional dish from Zaragoza, and “La mar de pincho” (chosen the best tapa in Spain at the 2018 national competition in Valladolid)there’s a whole range of ways to taste Zaragoza in little bites. For example, each November, more than 110 establishments put themselves to the test in the oldest local tapas competition in Spain. In fact, tapas is so important here that several parts of the city are dedicated to it on Thursdays, with “Juepincho” in the Magdalena- Heroísmo area or “Los jueves toreros” (Bullfighter Thursdays) near the Coso de la Misericordia.
There are several factors that have made Zaragoza into one of the Spanish capitals for tapas, ‘raciones’ and casseroles. Firstly, there’s the way that the people of Zaragoza love their tapas, moving from bar to bar, eating casually, socialising and sharing.Secondly, we have a fantastic range of local ingredients (vegetables, meats, extra virgin olive oil, cheeses, pickles, wine and beers) and some great chefs who know how to use them to create amazing dishes with love and attention.
Spending a day out sampling tapas is also the perfect way to discover some of the most charming corners of Zaragoza. Unlike other cities, there are tapas bars all over the Aragonese capital.
Between the Plaza del Pilar and the Plaza de España, you’ll find “El Tubo”, a labyrinth of streets full of tapas bars, Renaissance mansions, museums (such as the Museo Goya) and Mudéjar churches, such as San Gil. With so many bars specialised ordedicated to one thing in particular (such as anchovies, marinades, mushrooms or ‘migas’), “El Tubo” is a great way to follow a long route without repeating a single bar or dish.
Without leaving the Mudéjar architecture, we then move onto the Calle Mayor and the surrounding neighbourhood with the magnificent tower of the Church of Magdalena.This is another paradise for tapas lovers and the area has been revitalised in recent years by local artists and artisans opening small businesses and eateries.
Following Calle Heroísmo from Magdalena, you reach Calle San Miguel and its church,another example of Mudéjar architecture. On the way, you’ll pass by dozens of bars,taverns, eateries and restaurants, offering simple to more select dishes, with a widerange of dishes and prices. And since we’re being guided by our mixed-culture architecture, let’s finish our tour of the oldest part of the city in San Pablo, a church located in the multicultural neighbourhood of “El Gancho”. This is another area that has been rejuvenated by catering entrepreneurs who have recovered skilled traditions, such as “vinagrillos” (the making of marinades and pickles).
Another tradition alongside tapas is to go out for vermouth. It’s a re-emerging pastime in Spain, but here in Zaragoza, it was never lost. This “tuned wine” goes perfectly with pickles, marinades and traditional fried foods like croquetas, Orly prawns, or turnovers.You’ll find it in one of the many side streets off the busy Paseo de la Independencia, in between visiting the Basilica Santa Engracia and heading towards the Paraninfo building. Then, crossing the Gran Vía towards the south, you’ll reach another very lively part of the city, the Plaza de San Francisco and the university campus. Here,there’s no shortage of breweries, bars and restaurants for you to try out.
Although the highest concentration of tapas establishments is in the areas we’ve described in the historical and commercial centre, you can easily find tapas in all parts of the city. You’ll find well-known tapas houses scattered to the north, on the left bank of the Ebro; to the south in Torrero, Casablanca and the new neighbourhood of Valdespartera; to the east, in Las Fuentes and San José (which has a Michelin-starred restaurant); and to the west in Delícias and La Almozara.
