Julia Chernicky is a student at the University of Pittsburgh and an ISA Featured Blogger. Julia is currently studying abroad with ISA in Granada, Spain.
Like many things in life, tapas are about quantity and quality. But in Granada there is one guarantee either way: they are FREE.
Hungry after a long day of hiking? Pay for a beer at Bella & Bestia, and on the side you will get a turkey and cheese bagel sandwich or mini hamburger, with pasta salad, and yummy french fries with aioli and ketchup. Take that, McDonald’s Dollar Menu!
Craving something exotic and savory? Head to Poe’s, where they serve exotic tapas like curry chicken or pork skewers, and even a vegetarian option! They get very crowded on weekends, so do not expect a seat!
When traveling outside of Granada, I forget that free food with drinks is not the norm. It would be a lovely thing if the whole world worked this way. More than simply free food, “tapas gratiz” promote social time and exploration of this beautiful city. The anxious excitement you feel when ordering a “tinto” and not knowing what delicious snack the “camarero” (waiter) will return with is half the fun of going out. Restaurants change their menus, or you can walk down small streets lined with tables and heated lamps and sample each cafe’s specialty. Anything from seafood to Mexican tapas can be found in Granada! Which is why, of all the cities in Spain, Granada is truly ¨tapa¨the food chain. My apologies for the bad pun.
“To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art.”
― François de La Rochefoucauld
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