Bars are areas of socialization. The warmer, more hospitable, and more upbeat they are, the more memorable your guests’ experiences will be and the more revenue you’ll generate.
One proven way to inject cheer and a sense of community into your bar area is to introduce quick, delicious snacks that pair well with different drinks and can be shared among friends. Most bar and restaurant owners prefer tapas for this purpose.
What are tapas, and why are they popular? Here’s everything you need to know about tapas and their value to modern establishments. We’ve also included several bar tapas menu ideas to help you curate a unique menu for your bar and become the go-to joint.
What Are Tapas?
Tapas are delicious and festive snacks in Spanish cuisine. They range from bite-sized servings to small plates of various delicacies designed to be enjoyed with drinks and shared among individuals in an informal setting. The essence of tapas is to promote a social dining experience.
There are three main types of tapas including:
- Cosas de picar or finger foods
- Pinchos or pintxos – dishes or snacks offered in skewers or toothpicks
- Cazuelas – small dishes served in sauces
Nearly all types of tapas are associated with late afternoon and dinner mealtimes in Spain. But in other parts of the world, bar owners serve these meals hot or cold at any mealtime, depending on the region’s cultural dining habits. For example, in the U.S., some establishments offer brunch or lunch bar tapas menus, including mixed olives and cheese (cold tapas) or Patatas bravas (hot tapas).
The Origin of Tapas
Tapas originated in Spain before the 19th century. The term “tapas” is the plural form of the Spanish verb “tapar” which means “to cover.” It’s a nod to the Spanish custom of using small snacks to cover a drink between sips, preventing insects from getting in.
Traditionally, the first tapas were thin slices of meat or bread. Sherry drinkers in Andalusian taverns (locals in Spain’s southern region) used them to cover their glasses and keep fruit flies away from their drinks.
The meat used, mostly chorizo or ham, was salty. It stimulated thirst and, as a result, increased alcohol sales as customers ordered more drinks to quench the thirst. With time, tapas became as essential as the sherry drink itself.
Today, tapas has evolved into a sophisticated cuisine. You can combine different small dishes to make a large meal. Still, they’re a solid reflection of Spain’s culinary diversity and customs.
Why Tapas Are Popular
Tapas are a popular offering in many establishments across the world for a few reasons:
- They encourage a communal dining experience. Tapas are great conversation starters about various culinary topics, such as the benefits or sources of various ingredients used. Guests can nibble multiple food items while interacting with each other. The more sociable your bar section is, the more it attracts the right audiences.
- They offer a great mix of flavors and tastes that can transform guests’ culinary journeys and earn customers’ loyalty. When customers sample different types of tasty snacks in a tapas setting and find something they like, you’ll likely become their go-to joint.
- They help increase sales. Tapas are often served with complimentary wines and other drinks. Having them on your menu can increase the sales of various drinks or beverages. You’ll also make more from selling smaller plates of food as an aggregate meal instead of large portions of one meal.
- They’re Instagrammable. Instagram is a popular marketing tool for bars and restaurants worldwide. Having several tapas dishes on a table creates Instagrammable cuisines with various colors and textures. Guests feel compelled to take photos and share them with their friends or families on social platforms. This promotes your establishment through user-generated content – one of the most affordable and influential marketing techniques for businesses.
- They’re easy to prepare. This saves time and increases customer satisfaction as guests don’t have to wait too long once they place an order. It’s also helpful if you host different types of events on your premises because you can comfortably meet the culinary demands of several clients. Consider using platforms like Perfect Venue to allow clients to pick their tapas meal choices while booking your space for various events to simplify your hosting duties.
A-Z of Tapas Ideas
Even though Tapas include a range of food items that can vary by region, there are some staples you’re likely to find at most joints around the world. Here’s an A-Z list of timeless bar tapas ideas to consider in your menu items:
Albondigas
Also known as Spanish meatballs, Albondigas are a must-have in any tapas bar. They’re popular among guests who relish hearty, meaty dishes. You can serve them in rich tomato sauces or soup form if you prefer a more comforting and filling option. This dish is also one of the most popular items for home delivery because of its rich flavors and satisfying nature.
Banderillas
Commonly called piparras, gildas, or pinchos de encurtidos, Banderillas are cold bar tapas made from different ingredients pickled in vinegar and skewered. These food items may be olives, baby cucumbers, baby onions, and chiles (guindilla) with small pieces of pepper, among other vegetables.
Bacalao
Bacalao is thinly-sliced salted cod loin. It goes well with several ingredients, especially tomatoes, onions, garlic, saffron, olives, pimenton, dried red peppers, and fresh peppers. It’s extremely versatile. You can serve it as a main dish or use it to make soups, stews, and other main meals.
Chorizo al Vino
Chorizo al Vino loosely translates into chorizo cooked in wine. It’s a spicy tapas dish popular for its robust flavors. You can pair this dish with different dishes and serve it in several ways, say as a side with flatbreads for dipping or with roast chicken. Most restaurateurs offer Chorizo al Vino as a main dish when paired with beans and rice, or as a topping on crunchy tostadas. It’s also a good choice for home delivery because the flavors continue developing and fusing during transit.
Croquetas
Croquetas are breaded fritters made from an assortment of ingredients. They’re a great bar tapas offering because they allow you to meet the dietary preferences of different audiences. For example, you can work with vegan-friendly croquetas recipes to serve vegans and fresh seafood croquetas recipes to serve seafood lovers, among others.
Calamares Fritos
Most people consider calamari – fried squid – an Italian appetizer, but these are common in Spain too, where they’re called Calamares Fritos. To make them more tasty and unique, serve with aioli or lemon wedges instead of the usual marinara sauce.
Empanadillas Gallegas
Empanadillas Gallegas is a well-known savory pie in Galicia, Spain. It’s stuffed with chopped olives, hard-boiled eggs, and tuna. The filling is held together by Jammy sofrito – a well-known aromatic vegetable base made from long-cooked onions, garlic, and tomatoes.
Gambas al Ajillo
Gambas al Ajillo is shrimp well-cooked in garlic oil. It’s a staple bar tapas menu item, especially for restaurants targeting the seafood market. Seafood lovers find its combination of flavors irresistible and often enjoy it with white wine. You can offer this dish in a few variations, including Pollo al Ajillo, i.e., chicken in garlic sauce, or Pulpo al Ajillo, i.e., octopus in garlic sauce.
Patatas Bravas
Known as “spicy potatoes” in some regions, Patatas Bravas are two-centimeter-wide white potato cubes with a crispy exterior and a tender, creamy center. You can serve them warm with a spicy, tomato-based dipping sauce or creamy garlic aioli on the side. You can also offer variations such as Chorizo con Papas - patatas mixed with spicy Chorizo sausage.
Pimientos de Padrón
Originally from Padron, a municipality in A Coruna, Spain, Pimientos de Padron are small green peppers that can be served raw or fried in olive oil. A serving usually has a mixture of spicy and mild peppers to make them flavorful. It pairs well with other meals, mostly seafood, such as Camarones a la Diabla (spicy shrimps) or Camarons al Ajillo (garlic shrimps).
Pulpo a la Gallega
This traditional Galician dish is made from tender, boiled octopus pieces seasoned with rock salt, olive oil, and large amounts of paprika to give it its recognizable red color. Restaurateurs love this tapas menu item for its flavor and simplicity. It also pairs well with several wine options, such as Chablis and Retsina.
Setas al Ajillo
Setas al Ajillo consists of fresh mushrooms, often Champignons, sautéed with garlic and olive oil. You can enrich it by adding splashes of white wine and chopped parsley garnishes before serving. It’s recommended to serve it with bread as many diners prefer using pieces of bread to soak up the flavorful juices after eating the mushrooms.
Tortilla Espanola
Tortilla Espanola is one of the national dishes of Spain and a popular tapas choice for many. It’s a satisfying, dense filling of potatoes, spices, and onions bound by an Egg crust. You can complement this dish with snacks such as tostadas, tortas, and quesadillas.
Zamburinas
Renowned Galician scallops – mollusks with ribbed, fan-shaped shells – often served in marinara sauce. Instead of using the usual tomatoes, herbs, garlic, and onions to make the sauce, you can switch things up and use variations. Olives, spices, capers, and a dash of red wine are great alternatives.
Conclusion
The tapas trend is more than just food. It’s a meal-sharing tradition that enhances social cohesion. The more variety of dishes you include in your tapas menu, the more adventurous and memorable your guests’ culinary journeys will be.
Our list of timeless bar tapas ideas should help you curate an assortment of unique dishes to satisfy the palate preferences of various audiences. Remember, almost all tapas options pair well with drinks such as tinto de verano, sangria, and rebujito. Include popular drink pairing suggestions alongside your tapas offerings on your menu to make the most from them.
Also, consider checking out the Perfect Venue platform if event hosting is part of your business model. The platform lets you send tapas menu proposals with an option for clients to include their food preferences as add-ons to help you increase sales and thrive. Book a free demo to see how it works.
