tapas
Barcelona bar bites
Tapas are small dishes of Spanish origin, served as appetizers or combined to make a meal.
The style emphasizes variety and sharing—a table might hold plates of olives, cured ham, fried potatoes, and grilled shrimp.
We ordered a dozen tapas and split everything.
The concept has spread globally, influencing how restaurants serve small plates meant for grazing.
Spanish spiced potato dish
- jamón ibéricoSpanish dry-cured pork leg
- manchegoSpanish sheep cheese
- croquetasBreaded fried béchamel bites
- albondigasSpanish-style meat spheres
calamares · chorizo · gazpacho · bacalao · escabeche · queso · empanadas
Small enough for one mouthful
- appetizerLight dish preceding main
- snackLight between-meal fare
- morselSmall piece of food
- nibbleSmall, tentative bite
portion · sampler · tasting · starter · small · miniature · platter · assortment
Dividing among others
- communalShared by a community
- convivialityWarm, sociable good cheer
- gatheringCollection of people meeting
- friendsVoluntary close relations
conversation · socializing · hospitality · togetherness · camaraderie · leisurely · evening · aperitivo
patatas bravas
Spanish spiced potato dish
- jamón ibéricoSpanish dry-cured pork leg
- manchegoSpanish sheep cheese
- croquetasBreaded fried béchamel bites
albondigas · calamares · chorizo · gazpacho · bacalao · escabeche · queso · empanadas
bite-sized
Small enough for one mouthful
nibble · portion · sampler · tasting · starter · small · miniature · platter · assortment · selection
sharing
Dividing among others
- communalShared by a community
- convivialityWarm, sociable good cheer
- gatheringCollection of people meeting
friends · conversation · socializing · hospitality · togetherness · camaraderie · leisurely · evening · aperitivo · casual
Spain
Iberian Peninsula country
- MadridSpain's governmental seat
- BarcelonaCatalan capital city
- AndalusiaSpain's southernmost autonomous community
Seville · Basque · Iberian · bodega · fiesta · siesta · flamenco · sangria · cava
- SpainMadrid, Barcelona, Sevilla, Valencia, Granada
- Spanish Cultureflamenco, paella, Goya, bullfighting, fiesta
- ethnic foodssushi, tacos, pad thai, curry, hummus
- Spanish HeritageAlhambra, Castilian, Alcazar, Andalusian, Toledo
- Spanish nightlifeflamenco, bars, nightclubs, nightlife, clubs
- Spanish tapaspatatas bravas, gambas, croquettes, jamon, albondigas
tapasentrée
Principal dinner course
main course · full portion · feast · banquet · platter
tapastasting menu
Curated sequence of small courses
formal dining · sit-down dinner · prix fixe · set menu · plated dinner
- tapas barsSpanish snack restaurants
- spanish tapas
- tapas nightSocial meal of small Spanish dishes
- tapas cultureSocial eating of shared appetizers