If it’s your first time in Granada, something will throw you (in the best way): you order a beer and, without asking for it, a tapa arrives. It’s not a mistake or a one-off promotion — it’s the city’s best-loved custom, and understanding it means understanding how people socialise here.
How the caña con tapa works
The mechanism is simple: you order a drink and the bar serves you a tapa. With the next round, another tapa — and in many places, a different one. Two or three stops later, you’ve had your beers, tried several little dishes and practically had dinner, all for the price of the drinks.
It’s not just beer either: it works the same with a tinto de verano, a soft drink or wine. The tapa comes with the drink, not the other way round.
The unwritten rules
- You don’t order the tapa — it arrives. And it usually changes with each round: being surprised is part of the game.
- Every bar has its style: hearty in some, simpler in others. Locals are often loyal to a bar because of its tapa.
- Standing at the bar is perfectly normal. The table is optional; the atmosphere is not.
- The round sets the pace: nobody rushes tapas in Granada.
Where to do the tapas crawl (and where to finish it)
We covered the classic tapas areas in our guide to a Granada night out: the centre around Plaza Nueva, the Realejo… and Pedro Antonio itself, famous for drinks but hiding some seriously good tapas.
And here comes the second half of the tradition, the one we know best: after the tapa, the drink. With dinner sorted, the night calls for a change of gear — an ice-cold beer or a properly poured drink.
The after-tapas drink, done right
At Margot we’re clear about it: good drinks at a good price. Top brands, properly served, no tricks. Cold beers, mojitos with real fresh mint and our house deals until 9 pm. If you’re coming from a tapas crawl, we’re the natural next stop: right on Pedro Antonio, with a terrace to stretch the afternoon and a bar to stretch the night.
So now you know Granada’s full plan: tapa, tapa, and finish at number 85 on Pedro Antonio. If you nail it, tell us about it on Google.
FAQ
Is the tapa really free in Granada?
Yes. In most bars in Granada, when you order a drink you get a tapa at no extra cost. It's a city tradition and one of its hallmarks.
Can I choose the tapa?
It depends on the bar: in many, the tapa is 'house choice' and changes with every round; in others you pick from a list. Asking is perfectly fine — encouraged, even.
And after the tapas, where do I go?
The classic move is going from tapas to drinks. Calle Pedro Antonio de Alarcón concentrates Granada's bar scene — we're at number 85.
After the tapas, the proper drink is at number 85 on Pedro Antonio. And if you like it, say so on Google.
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