ZARAGOZA THROUGH TAPAS

In Zaragoza we enjoy a rich and varied local pantry, notably vegetables such as borage and other garden produce, cod, ternasco de Aragón (lamb), Teruel ham, oil, mushrooms and truffles, wines from four DO (designations of origin) and six wine-growing areas in the region, which have accrued many international awards, as well as craft beer. All these products, in the hands of great professionals, make Zaragoza one of the capitals of tapas, medium plates and individual portions.

Tapeo culture is not reserved for the weekends: on Thursdays, the locals also pay tribute to this gastronomic delicacy with initiatives such as Juepincho, in the Magdalena-Heroísmo area, or Torero Thursdays, in the area around the Misericordia Bullring.

In Zaragoza, one goes out for tapas, so take the opportunity to discover the most delightful spots in Zaragoza and its neighbourhoods. There are bars throughout the city!

Our trail begins in El Tubo, the best-known area of Zaragoza. Numerous specialized or single-theme establishments (anchovies in brine, pickled foodstuffs, mushrooms, fried breadcrumbs, etc.) will allow you to sample the varied cuisine without a second helping of any bar or tapa. On this route through the heart of the historic town centre, you will come across Renaissance palaces and museums—such as the Goya Museum Ibercaja Collection Camón Aznar—the Caesaraugusta Trail, and Mudejar churches such as San Gil.

Following the Mudejar legacy, an architectural style that has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, the tower of Magdalena Church will guide you like a beacon towards Calle Mayor and the neighbourhood of La Magdalena, another paradise for lovers of mini cuisine, an authentic area where local artists and artisans have set up their shops and workshops. Dozens of bars, taverns, eating houses, restaurants and bars will lead you to San Miguel Church, another example of Mudejar.

The route continues to San Pablo Church, known in the neighbourhood as El Gancho (The Hook), with its 66-metre bell tower and one of the viewpoints overlooking the city, where hospitality entrepreneurs have brought back such Aragonese customs as vinagrillos (pickled vegetables).

In recent years, people have resumed the tradition of going out for a vermouth, meeting friends at midday to share an aperitif, accompanied by the best tapas: pickled and brined foodstuffs, Russian salad, patatas bravas (potatoes with spicy tomato sauce) and traditional fried foods such as croquettes or mini pasties. A good example of this is the area around Plaza de los Sitios, where you can visit the Museum of Zaragoza; Plaza de Santa Engracia, home to the city’s other basilica; the Paraninfo Building; Gran Vía Boulevard, along which you can stroll until you reach the district around the university campus and Plaza San Francisco, where there is no shortage of pubs, bars and restaurants well worth a visit.

Although Zaragoza’s tapeo culture is more concentrated in the centre and the historic quarter, you will also find famed temples of the tapa: to the north, along the left bank of the Ebro; to the south, in Torrero; to the east, in San José—which is also home to a Michelin star—and in Las Fuentes; to the west, in the districts of Delicias and the Almozara.

Zaragoza is sure to captivate you with its miniature cuisine: tapas. Let yourself be seduced by their different flavours and textures!