In Logroño, Rioja’s provincial capital that feels more like a town than a city, Calle Laurel has become a tapas destination. Walking down the street, and those adjacent to it, you get a feel for the energy of the city. Elderly couples enjoy a glass of wine on a summer evening, while young families introduce the newest member to croquetas de jamón Iberico. Young party-goers spend the first half of the night around the neighbourhood, eating, drinking and catching up before midnight, when the more sensible Spaniards are fast asleep.
In modern Spain, tapas is a way of life. More often than not, meeting with friends at a bar involves these small portions of food, which are, in some parts of the country, complimentary with drinks. Tapas culture has now been turned into its own style of dining across the world, but in Spain it has far more humble origins. The verb ‘tapar’ means to cover something, and it’s believed that in the south of Spain small pieces of bread, sometimes with a topping, were given out with drinks to cover them and stop flies from bathing in the wine. Where better than in the heart of Rioja to indulge in a dining tradition that has its roots in wine drinking?
From juicy mushrooms dripping with herbs and butter at Bar Soriano to tender, delicious tortilla de patatas at El Canalla, there’s a very good reason to keep moving and tasting
In Logroño, as in other parts of the country, it’s common to move around and enjoy drinks and tapas in multiple bars and restaurants within one sitting, which has led to establishments specialising in a specific sort of tapas to differentiate themselves. From juicy mushrooms dripping with herbs and butter at Bar Soriano to tender, delicious tortilla de patatas at El Canalla, there’s a very good reason to keep moving and tasting.
It’s also a fantastic place to enjoy some of the local wines by the glass, with some of Rioja’s most interesting wine bars springing up in the area. It´s hard to go too far wrong, but our round up includes tapas bars in Logroño that are absolutely worth visiting, each with their own USP.
Top tapas bars in Logroño
Wine Fandango
Wine Fandango is a collaborative project between four individuals: two from the world of gastronomy and two from the world of wine. Located in the Paseo del Espolón, in the former legendary Gran Hotel, Wine Fandango is more of a restaurant than a bar, with a complete culinary offering that includes small bites on the go with a glass of wine or three. Keep an eye out for their creamy croquetas stuffed with jamón ibérico. Come on Saturday afternoons for a weekly party with live DJs.
1 Gral. Vara de Rey, 5, 26003 Logroño,
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Roots
Everybody on the tapas trail in Logroño seems to eventually find themselves at Roots, regardless of their original plans. It’s one of the newest wine bars in the city and it’s certainly the most varied, serving an unusually large number of wines by the glass, both from Rioja and internationally. As a result, it’s not unusual to see many local winemakers catching up and comparing their wines with peers from all over the world. Don’t sleep on the excellent tapas range, though, with local meats and cheeses on the menu, plus the likes of gildas and anchoas.
1 Marqués de Vallejo, 14, 26001 Logroño
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Bueno Bueno
A little off the beaten path and all the better for it, Bueno Bueno is a traditional tapas bar in Logroño that’s already laying a claim to fame for its lacon; a salty, smoky meat taken from the shoulders or the front legs of Iberian pigs. Sliced into thin pieces and served with a little olive oil, paprika and crusty bread, this works wonderfully with a glass of juicy, sappy Tempranillo.
Calle san Juan 33, Logroño
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Cafeteria Tizona
Some bars are famous for their history or reputation, while others are famous for their command of a certain tapas or pincho. Cafeteria Tizona can claim both feats, as the winner of one of Spain’s most prestigious culinary awards: the best Tortilla de Patatas 2022. With a soft, gooey centre, this is not an item to eat on the go, but to savour with some soft, slightly crunchy bread before moving on into the night.
1 Ciriaco Garrido, 14, 26003, La Rioja
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Bar Soriano
Known affectionately as the ‘campeones de champiñones’ (or ‘mushroom champions’), Bar Soriano specialises in one thing only: a towering mushroom-based pincho gently scented with garlic and local herbs. Needless to say, there’s plenty of excellent wine to wash it down with. This is one of the most famous stops for tapas in the Logroño neighbourhood; a must-visit.
Tr.ª de Laurel, 2, 26001 Logroño
El Canalla
Another institution of the tapas scene is El Canalla, which specialises in an exemplary tortilla de patatas. Made with baked Alava potatoes, caramelised onions and eggs, it’s so soft it’s almost unnecessary to use a knife when divvying up. Given the small, cosy nature of El Canalla, expect a warm and atmospheric welcome to accompany the comfort food – or perch at one of its outdoor tables on warmer evenings.
1 Albornoz, 1, 26001 Logroño
Pata Negra
One of the most popular stops on Calle Laurel is Pata Negra, and with good reason; there’s a huge selection of freshly made, assorted pinchos (like a tapas, but served on a skewer on top of a piece of bread) to choose from, as well as one of the best wine-by-the-glass selections in the city. This is a wonderful all-rounder that is constantly busy and takes no reservations. Arrive early, grab a stool and drink in the atmosphere.
Calle san Juan 33, Logroño
Bar Jubera
Founded in 1980, Bar Jubera has become one of the most popular destinations on Calle Laurel for its speciality: patatas bravas. In theory, patatas bravas are meant to be spicy but it’s rarely the reality – thankfully, Bar Jubera delivers the heat. Bravas sauce is normally made using a healthy dose of smoked paprika to give the tomato a slight kick, but at Bar Jubera they use a local chilli to give it extra oomph. This classic dish done well makes for the perfect start to an evening exploring the area – an excellent way to line the stomach for what’s to come.
Calle del Laurel, 18 Logroño
Torrecilla
Another icon of Calle Laurel, Torecilla has a varied selection of tapas and pinchos, which changes on a regular basis, all based on local ingredients. Going in to get a glass of wine or a beer, you’ll be overwhelmed with a choice of bites that typically cost around €3, such as foie toast, mini hamburgers, Moorish skewers, omelettes and strips of sirloin, known as ‘calzoncillos’. The main difficulty here is trying to stick to a single choice.
Calle del Laurel, 15, 26001 Logroño
