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Published: November 24th 2010
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When anyone asks if you want to meet up for beers or something in Spain, that usually implies going to a bar or someplace for cañas and tapas. Cañas are small beers from the tap and tapas are like small plates of food (usually things like olives, chips, potatoes, peanuts, tortilla, or a lot of other possibilities) that comes with ordering a drink. You can also go to places and order more elaborate and filling tapas or pinchos instead of what you just get for free. It is common to go for cañas during lunch break or a late breakfast break, right after work before dinner and of course after dinner when meeting for the night with friends. Cañas are usually cheap (1 to 3 euros) and the tapas are meant to supplement the alcohol you are consuming. (Being overly drunk is really looked down upon in Spain and you usually never see it... its always the foreigners).
Of course after having been here for awhile, you find you favorite places and bars for cañas y tapas. Some of my favorite are below.
El Tigre - a popular place with locals and students, it is always packed! here are
Typical Bar
The bar usually has lots of tapas on the counter to either order or that are given to you when you order a drink. 2 euro cañas or 6 euro huge sangrias or mojitos. But the best part is the huge amount of free and delicious tapas they give you! It is also in a really fun area called Chueca, which is actually the gay district, but has lots of great nightlife and bars.
El Museo del Jamon - This is a chain with a couple in Madrid and the best place for cheap 80 cent cañas and cheap 1 euro bocadillos (sandwiches). I go there for lunch every once in a while or for a quick beer with friends while waiting for others.
100 Montaditos - This is another chain famous for their Wednesday specials - euro cañas with a bocadillo! Really good chips too!
Lateral - this is a little higher end place really close to my house that has incredible pinchos (another form of tapas). It is a great place for lunch where you can get the sampler plate and be filled with salmon, ham, and other delicious pinchos for 8 euros.
La Latina - This is a neighborhood just south of the city center. It is generally an older crowd there, but it has a couple
El Tigre
This is a favorite amongst both locals and visitors to the city. Either 2 euro Cañas or 6 euro sangria or mojitos which are huge! And they come with two plates full of tapas. Great atmosphere, but the only downside is the overwhelming amount of smoke in there! My eyes always hurt when I leave... streets filled with bar after bar with really good and inexpensive drinks and food. And the atmosphere is great as well. We like to go there for a chill night as it usually closes down around 1 or 2 (really early for Spain time).
La Casa del Abuela - Found in the heart of Sol (the center of the city) they have my favorite tapas! Shrimp cooked in a really tasty garlic sauce served with bread. Paired with the sparkling wine... you can't beat it! But it is a little pricey and therefore is only a treat every once in a while.
Plaza Santa Ana - Another great place for a drink to start a night or meet up with people. Tons of bars surrounding a beautiful plaza and a fancy hotel that is always lit very nicely. It is where you can find the famous Hawaiian bar that always has a long line. This plaza is a little more ritzy though, so we don't frequent it that often.
The bar etiquette and customs take a little getting used to, but are fun once you get the hang of it. The main thing is you have to
be aggressive and up front in order to get a drink. In a loud, busy bar you simply have to throw your hand up in the air and shout your order at the bartenders who then shout it again to make sure. In a less crowded place, you still have to grab their attention (they won't look for you and say "how can I help you"... their is no politeness). They will say "dime" or "tell me" and you say "me pone..." or "bring me" and whatever you want. The other thing I like, is generally you always pay when you are done. You just order what you want, they bring it to you, and stand around eating, and once you're done you ask how much. Lastly, another thing that takes a little getting used to, is, especially in bars, you usually always stand and never sit. The Spanish can just stand and talk for hours and not get tired or anything (I guess it is all the walking they do).
The only downside to going to any bar or club in Spain is the amount of smoke everywhere. It is still legal to smoke indoors and it is
Gambas tapas at El Casa del Abuelo
My favorite 'spulge' tapas. Together with sparkling wine these shrimp cooked in a garlic based sauce are incredible! Just a little expensive. hard not to go anywhere without coming back stinking of smoke. I have gotten used to it now, but am looking forward to the smokeless establishments back in the U.S. Spain actually just pasted a law (after 11 years of trying) banning indoor smoking that is to take effect in January. That will be a incredible relief... too bad I won't be here to enjoy it.
INTERESTING FACT: Tapas are pretty much found everywhere in Spain. But there are also pinchos. Pinchos are from the Basque Country in the north of Spain. Pinchos are usually more ornate and bigger and usually must pay for them (you won't get them free with a drink). But, the pinchos are really good and you can get full from just a few.
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Bob Armstrong
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Asi es
Sigue para adelante, amigo