Understanding tapas culture

Eating tapas in Málaga is more about sharing and trying several dishes than ordering a starter and main like in other places.

Here’s how it usually works.

Order a few dishes at a time

Instead of ordering everything at once, locals usually start with two or three tapas and then add more as they go.

It’s a relaxed way of eating and lets you try more dishes.

Tapas are meant to be shared

Most dishes are placed in the middle of the table so everyone can try a bit of everything.

For two people, 3–5 dishes is usually a good starting point.

Order a “caña” like locals

When ordering beer in Málaga, locals often ask for a caña, which is a small draft beer. In the Andalusian heat this actually makes a lot of sense, because the beer stays colder and fresher.

Instead of ordering one large beer, locals will often order several cañas over the course of a meal while sharing tapas.

Standing at the bar is normal

Many traditional tapas bars are small and crowded. It’s very common to stand at the bar, order a drink and a couple of tapas, then move on to the next place.

Locals often do a small tapas crawl like this.