5 Favorite Tapas Bars in Pamplona
All around the world now, it is fashionable to eat at tapas bars. Guess what—it all started here in the Basque Country and Navarra. And here, we call them pintxos (PEEN-chos).
WHAT IS A TAPA?
A tapa in the rest of the world is a small bite. Here in Pamplona, those bites are culinary delights. Normally served over a piece of bread, you can find toppings of crab salad, cod fish, sirloin, blood sausage, mushrooms, you name it. Unless you have a dietary restriction, I recommend trying whatever appeals to you. Don´t ask what is in the tapa. Just give it a try and think that if you don’t like it, you’re only out 3 or 4 Euros.
But tapas are much more than just amazing food. It is also about the experience that goes with it. First, you will have to find the courage to talk to the waiter and use those four Spanish words you thought you would never use. Then you will have to decide what tapa and wine you want. Once you have your food and drink, you will fight for a spot on the counter or on a stand-up table. Now that you are settled, you can enjoy your tapa, while chatting with people you have never met before. It might sound a little bit overwhelming, but once you get a hold of it, you will love it!
Here is a selection of my favorite tapas bars in my hometown Pamplona.
GAUCHO | Espoz y Mina St. 7
This is a classic in town. It is located right behind Plaza del Castillo. The “truffle egg” (huevo trufado) is their best-known tapa. If you like grilled foie (liver), theirs is incredible. French people cross the border just to eat their foie. I also love their tuna lasagna or the spinach and shrimp roll. To tell you the truth, everything on their counter is good.
ZANPA | Estafeta St. 48
Although it’s just a couple of years old, and Zanpa is a local favorite. It’s halfway down Estafeta Street. The specialty is the tortilla de patatas. This omelet with potatoes and onion is really the best one in town. I also love their crab salad tapa. If they have a professional Spanish ham cutter on duty, you must try the jamón serrano or jamón ibérico (learn more about that from this video with my friend Trish Feaster, The Travelphile).
At the back of the bar, they have a small restaurant with great local food. If you are here in summer time, their tomato salad is simple but exquisite.
IRUÑAZARRA | Mercaderes St. 15
This bar is located in Mercaderes Street, right at the famous spot where the bulls crush against a wall during the running of the bulls. You might have heard about this place as “Dead Man’s Corner.” In fact, nobody has died here, but The New York Times baptized it like this.
They have one of the largest counters, and everything is good. One of the things I like is that the tapas they serve are what you see. What I mean is that if you see ham, it will taste like ham, if you see artichoke, it will taste like artichoke. They are great quality without pretense.
BASERRIBERRI | San Nicolas St. 32
Showbusiness! Baerriberri pintxos are the most modern ones in town—3D printer, liquid nitrogen, they have it all. Beyond the gastronomic technology, what really makes this place great is that the food is truly delectable. I love their bombeja,a brioche bread filled with sheep’s milk and with sheep meat on top. If you ask for the bombeja, you’d better have your camera ready on video mode. It is amazing!
MANDARRA DE LA RAMOS | San Nicolas St. 9
They are right across from Baserriberri in San Nicolas St. It is easy to spot—they have many hams hanging from the ceiling. So, as you can imagine, most of the tapas have Spanish ham. So vegans, please don’t come in—you will faint (LOL). They are well known thanks to their toasts. To me it is hard to choose just one, because all of them are incredible. Maybe the toast with fried eggplant would be my favorite. When you eat two toasts, it is all you will need for a light dinner.
As I normally say, there are 10000 different tapas bars in Pamplona. So, if you like one bar that I haven't posted, please let me know. I have probably tried it, and if not, I will go for sure.
