Every Thursday night in the historic old town of Vegueta the Las Palmas streets fill with people, and endless tapas are served. This weekly event has taken many names over the years such as Ruta del Pincho, Route of the Tapas, Tapas Thursday, and many more. On this night, countless bars and restaurants open their doors to offer drinks and quick tapas for just a few euros. The Thursday tapas night in Las Palmas is one not to miss on your next visit to Gran Canaria!
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History of Vegueta Old Town
Not only are you going to be eating your way through the city on the route of the tapas, but you’ll be doing so in the oldest neighborhood on the island!
Vegueta was the original city of Las Palmas, and has long been an important part of Gran Canaria. The old town was actually built around a Spanish fort after conquistadors took over in 1478.
Christopher Columbus was among its famous visitors in the beginning stages. Also, it was the first Spanish city founded on the way to the New World. Vegueta would go on to be an important hub for hundreds of years as ships would stop here on their way to the Americas.
Thursday Night Tapa Info
When: Every Thursday
Where: Vegueta Neighborhood of Las Palmas
Tapa Time: 7pm till Late
Best Street: Calle Mendizábal
Parking: Parking Mercado de Vegueta
Some of Our Favorite Spots: La Mas Bonita, Bistro La Champiñoneria, Te Lo Dije Perez, Las 6 Calabazas, and La Barbería
Ordering Your First Tapas in Gran Canaria
Now that you know the history of Vegueta it’s time to taste some of the best tapas in Las Palmas! The route of the tapas takes place every Thursday in the capital city, and attracts large crowds of both locals and tourists. Each restaurant along the route serves it’s own special snacks and drinks for you to enjoy.
You’ll notice some are traditional Spanish tapas while others have a new age modern twist to them. As self-proclaimed tapa connoisseurs, we would highly advise you to navigate your way through the hungry spectators and try as many as possible! Here’s some more quick tips for Thursday tapas night in Las Palmas.
Don’t hesitate to push your way to the front. People tend to hang out right in front of the displays and bar areas so don’t be shy.
Only stay for one tapa at each place. There’s way too many restaurants to get stuck in one!
Come very hungry. You’re going to have an endless amount of food to eat on the route of the tapas in Vegueta old town.
Don’t rush. This is an all night event so you might as well slow down and enjoy yourself!
Our Night Out On the Route of the Tapas
We’d actually been to Thursday tapas night in Las Palmas a few years prior, and it was exactly how we remembered it.
A busy party street slammed with tapas, drinks, music, and people! We did our best to retrace our steps from memory, hoping our taste buds would lead us in the right direction.
Starting at La Mas Bonita we got some delicious Spanish tortillas and local Tropical beers. The Tropical lemon flavor or a glass of white wine is a good way to keep it light and save room for more of the best tapas in Las Palmas!
We then made our way to Bistro La Champiñoneria which was our favorite, stopped into Te Lo Dije Perez, and ended at La Barbería restaurant. By this time we were so full that we took a walk up to see Christopher Columbus’s house, and headed home happily.
Late Night Gran Canaria Bar Crawl
Once the food dies down and restaurants are sold out of tapas in Gran Canaria the fun isn’t over! In fact, the party is just getting started for some.
Spain has the reputation of being a late night party country, and that most definitely spreads to the Canary Islands.
The bars stay open in Vegueta old town late with people even spilling out into the streets with their drinks. After you indulge in the best tapas in Las Palmas there’s no harm in sticking around for a couple more beverages. Don’t be surprised to find out that the on the island the party can often continue till 5 or 6 in the morning!
Have any questions about tapas in Gran Canaria, or want to share your favorite Vegueta restaurant? Leave us a comment below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
Where in the world are we? Follow our daily adventures on Instagram @nothingfamiliar!
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Where To Stay on Gran Canaria
Ultra Luxury (High End) – VEINTIUNO Emblematic Hotels – Adults Only – Modern upscale design seen throughout the hotel property and rooms. Daily breakfast and beautiful tropical rooftop with an outdoor swimming pool.
Fun Vacation (Mid Range) – Maresía Canteras Urban Hotel – Tropical island style hotel just steps from Las Canteras beach. Bright rooms with comfy Balinese bed. Hotel also has a beautiful terrace to relax and enjoy a drink at night after exploring.
Hostel Life (Budget) – Avocado Surf Hostel – As one of the more upscale hostels in town the Avocado Surf Hostel is located near the beach and center of Las Palmas. Gorgeous international decor fills the rooms and even features a large terrace.
For more places to stay on Gran Canaria you can explore the latest prices here!
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Explore Spain
Best of Spain: Planning a Trip – 40 Foods & Drinks – Visiting in Winter – Costa Del Sol – 13 Best Drinks – 22 Fun Facts – Plate of the Day – 11 Cities in Southern Spain – Vueling Airlines Tips
Granada: Best Tapas – 15 Fun Things to Do – Alhambra de Granada
Nerja: 15 Things to do – Best Tapas – 7 Beautiful Beaches – Playa Burriana – Nerja Caves
Small Towns: Mijas – Frigiliana – Rupit – Cadiz – Ronda
Fuerteventura: Travel Guide – Aguas Verdes Natural Pool – Krabbenfelsen Natural Pool – Popcorn Beach
Tenerife: 7 Best Beaches – Playa Amarilla – Mount Teide Volcano Drive – Boat Tour
Spain Travel Planning
Flights: We always find the best flights using Skyscanner. Sometimes it’s cheaper to fly between cities in Spain than driving or taking the train!
Accommodation: Compare multiple sites to get to the best deal such as Booking.com and Agoda! Also, Hostelworld should be your go-to source if you’re traveling on a budget.
Rental Car: We use Discover Cars to explore when traveling. Consider renting a car in one city and dropping it off in another for an epic Spain road trip!
Tours: Check out Get Your Guide for thousands of activities around Spain. You can book a tour of the Madrid Royal Palace, skip the line and explore the Alhambra de Granada, or even jump on a Tenerife Dolphin cruise!
Travel Insurance: Never travel abroad without protection! We’ve been using SafetyWing for the last few years on the road and they are there when we need them.
Packing Lists: Find all the inspiration you need with our Amazon packing lists. Including our electronics and camera gear, must-have medical items, and long flight essentials!
We’re Brigitte and Jake! American travel bloggers currently based in Spain. If you can believe it, we started Nothing Familiar way back in 2015 on an Ipad in the Ecuadorian jungle. Ever since, we haven’t stopped traveling! We’ve now been to over 60 countries around the world, with our expertise being Europe and Southeast Asia. We love outdoor adventures, tasting local specialties, and island hopping through tropical destinations. Hopefully, our guides and authentic experiences will inspire you on your own travels!
Tx for your tips on tapas in Las Palmas on Thursdays. Do you know if the tapas bars are open Sunday and Monday nights
Author
You can google the specific restaurants hours but it won’t be an event like on Thursday. Hope that helps!
Author
Yes it’s such a good time!! Glad you enjoyed it too and thanks for sharing Krisitin!
I’ve done Thursday night tapas in Las Palmas! It was so good, and so cheap! Thanks for writing about this. I’m going to share it with some of my kiteboarding-oriented readers!