How does going out for tapas work in Spain?
You go out in the early evening with friends, before dinner, stand at the bar, order a drink (una caña is a small draught beer) and a tapa, a small plate such as ham, cheese, a slice of tortilla or squid, then move on: nobody stays long in one bar. The whole thing is called ir de tapeo, or tapear.
How a night of tapas works
- salir de tapas Go out Usually in the early evening, before dinner, with friends. In Spain this is a social custom, not a meal.
- la barra Stand at the bar People usually eat standing at the counter. Order a drink — una caña is a small draught beer — and a tapa.
- la tapa Eat one or two A tapa is a small plate that comes with a drink: ham, cheese, a slice of tortilla, squid.
- el bar siguiente Move on Nobody stays long in a single bar. After one or two tapas the group goes to the next one.
- tapear Repeat The whole thing is called ir de tapeo, or tapear, a verb made from the noun.
- Going out for tapas is a very social custom; people usually eat standing at the bar and do not stay long in one place.
- A tapa is a small plate taken with a drink. Where the word comes from is not known: one story says a piece of bread covered the glass against the flies (tapa also means lid), but nobody really knows.
- Before dinner, many people have something in a bar with friends: una caña y una tapa.
En España, salir de tapas es una costumbre muy social.In Spain, going out for tapas is a very social custom.
Una tapa es un plato pequeño que se toma con una bebida.A tapa is a small plate that is eaten with a drink.
Se toman una o dos tapas y se va al bar siguiente.You have one or two tapas and go on to the next bar.
Una caña y una tapa, por favor.A small beer and a tapa, please.