Tapas is not just about food - it's a lifestyle in Seville. Small portions shared at the bar, with friends or over a glass of sherry, allow you to try many flavours in one visit. Here's eight classic tapas, which are worth ordering to get a feel for the real Andalusia on a plate.
1. salmorejo - denser cousin of gazpacho
A creamy cooler made from tomatoes, garlic, olive oil and breadcrumbs. Thicker and more filling than gazpacho, it is served cold with a hard-boiled egg and serrano ham.
🍅 Must-eat on hot days - like eating a tomato with a spoon!
📍 Try w: Bodeguita Romero, El Rinconcillo, Bar Alfalfa
2. Espinacas con garbanzos - spinach with chickpeas
Traditional tapa from Arab times - lightly spiced, stewed with olive oil and garlic. Simple, but extremely aromatic.
🟢 For vegetarians - a classic of home cooking.
📍 Try w: La Bodeguita Reyes Antonio Romero
3. pescaito frito - fried fish
Golden, crispy pieces of small fish (e.g. boquerones, chocos) fried in oil - preferably straight from the pan.
🐟 Served on paper, no unnecessary extras.
📍 Try w: Freiduría La Isla, Freiduría Puerta de la Carne, Bar Blanco Cerrillo
4. Carrillada de cerdo - braised pork cheeks
Meat so tender it melts in the mouth. Braised in red wine, with vegetables, sometimes served with puree.
🍷 A filling and warming tapa - perfect for the evening.
📍 Try w: La Taberna del Alabardero, En La Espero Te Esquina
5. Montadito de pringá - long braised meat sandwich
This is the essence of Andalusian comfort food: meat from a broth (beef, pork, sausage) shredded and encased in a crispy bun.
🥖 Inconspicuous but delicious.
📍 Try w: Bodeguita Romero or Las Columnas
6. Caracoles en salsa - snails in a spicy sauce
Typically seasonal tapa, served in spring and early summer. Small snails stewed in a thick, slightly spicy tomato and pepper sauce with herbs.
🐌 Loved by locals - a taste of childhood for many Sevillanos.
📍 Try w: Bar Manolo Cateca, Casa Diego or La Fresquita
7. Ensaladilla rusa - Andalusian-style potato salad
While the name may be misleading, the real tapas bar classics. Potatoes, mayonnaise, peas, carrots and tuna - inconspicuous but addictively delicious.
🥄 Each bar has its own version - with a side of egg, olives or prawns.
📍 Try w: Casa Ricardo, Restaurante Donald, La Isla, Becerrita
8. Tortilla de patatas - Spanish potato omelette
A golden omelette made from eggs, potatoes and onions. It can be eaten at any time of day - for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
🍳 Warm, moist inside and smelling of olive oil.
📍 Try w: El Pintón, Bar Santa Marta
9. Gambas al ajillo - prawns in garlic sauce
One of the most aromatic tapas! Prawns sautéed in olive oil with garlic, parsley and hot peppers. Often served in a small, hot clay bowl.
🧄 Dip a piece of bread in the sauce - you won't regret it!
📍 Try w: Casa Morales, Bar Catalina, La Taberna de Panduro
10. Tostada with ham and olive oil - a classic breakfast in Seville
Served in the morning in every bar. A toasted Andalusian baguette (tostada) with olive oil and ripe tomato (pan tumaca), often topped with serrano ham. And topped with cannonball coffee.
🥪 Breakfast Sevillanos - simple, healthy, delicious.
👉 How to order?
- Una tostada entera - whole toast
- Una media tostada - half (smaller portion)
📍 Try w: Bar El Comercio, La Cacharrería, Bar El Pilar
Remember, palecan bars are just suguestions. You can order practically all tapas in any Seville bar.
🍷 And for tapas?
Best fit:
- glass sherry (fino, manzanilla),
- Cruzcampo beer,
- or tinto de verano - red wine with lemonade and ice.
🗺️ Tapas-tour of Seville
The best way to enjoy tapas? Get lost in the streets of the old town and try one dish at a time in different bars. Tapas is about savouring, not overeating - perfect for long, lazy evenings.
