Las Palmas: Tapas and Drinks in the Beauty of the Old City

Come hungry, leave with local tips. This two-hour food walk takes you from San Telmo to the old district near the cathedral, where you sample tapas in small, traditional bars rather than polished tourist restaurants. I especially like the very small group size and the way the route can change with the evening, your interests, and what is happening in town.

I also like that you get more than a plate of food. Your guide explains dishes, points out buildings and local history, and recommends two more places for later. The main drawback is that the included food is fairly limited: you receive two tapas and two drinks, while anything extra costs more. Dietary needs also deserve attention before you arrive, since one visitor was served ham after saying she was vegetarian.

The best parts of this food walk

• San Telmo starting point: Meet beneath the only wooden balcony at San Telmo Church, close to the tourist office and the main island bus station.
• Two local stops: You receive one tapa and one drink at each of at least two traditional venues.
• A flexible route: The evening can change according to local activity, your preferences, and the atmosphere in the old quarter.
• Personal guiding: Small groups make it easy to ask about food, buildings, customs, and places to visit afterward.
• A useful nightcap plan: Your guide recommends two additional spots if you want to keep eating or drinking after the tour.
• A mix of food and city stories: You walk through the historic center while learning about Las Palmas and Gran Canaria.

Starting at San Telmo Church

The meeting point is practical rather than scenic. You meet at San Telmo Church, under its only wooden balcony, a two-minute walk from the Global San Telmo Island Bus Station. The tourist information office is nearby, so this is one of the easier starting points if you are arriving by public bus from Maspalomas or another part of Gran Canaria.

That location also makes the tour useful at the beginning of your stay. You can get help with local transport in your own language, meet the guide, and finish the evening with a short list of places worth trying on your own.

The walk heads toward the old city near the cathedral. The exact path is not fixed, which is part of the appeal. You are not being marched through a rigid sequence of restaurants. Instead, the guide may adjust the route to suit the night, the group, and the available local spots.

This flexibility also means you should arrive ready for a relaxed evening rather than a tightly timed restaurant crawl. The tour lasts two hours, but the feel is more like a guided introduction to the city’s eating habits.

Following Artemis through the old district

Artemis is the guide most often named in the feedback, and he clearly makes a strong impression. I would expect him to be a particularly good fit if you like asking questions about local life, buildings, and the island’s past. He has led the walk for many guests, and his style is described as warm, proud of Las Palmas, and easy to talk with.

Several people found that speaking with Artemis felt like spending time with a local friend. That matters on a food tour. You are more likely to ask what a dish is, why a bar serves it that way, or where to go the next night when the conversation feels natural.

He also speaks several languages, although the official tour language is English. At the bars, staff may speak only Spanish. That is not a flaw, but it is worth knowing. Your guide can help bridge the gap, while the direct contact with Spanish-speaking bar staff gives the evening a more local feel than ordering from an English-language tourist menu.

One small practical point came up in the feedback: Artemis sometimes continued walking while explaining something, making it harder for people behind him to hear. If you are in a larger small group or have difficulty hearing while walking, stay close and ask him to pause. In a nearly private tour, that should be easy.

Other guides may lead the experience. Minerva received praise for being friendly and well informed, while Alfredo and Artemis guided one New Year’s Eve group. The exact personality of the evening can therefore depend on who is assigned.

What you eat at the first two bars

The included food is simple in structure but local in spirit. At a minimum, you visit two places, receive a tapa at each, and have one drink at each location. Your drink can be local wine, beer, a soft drink, water, or coffee.

The tour does not promise a fixed menu. That is important. You may find a typical dish at one place, a local wine at another, or a bar chosen for its atmosphere rather than its design. The guide looks for something distinctive at each stop, so the food should feel like a series of introductions rather than two identical tasting plates.

I like this format because it lets you compare places. One bar may be more focused on food, while another may be better for conversation or atmosphere. You are also free to order extra food or drinks if something catches your attention. Those additions are not included in the $65 price, so ask about costs before ordering if you want to keep spending controlled.

The dishes are described as traditional and unlike the food in tourist-oriented fast-food outlets or generic pizza shops. That does not mean every bite will suit every palate. Local cooking can be unfamiliar, and a tapa is not always a full meal. If you arrive very hungry, consider eating a small snack beforehand or budgeting for extra orders.

The serving style also matters. This is not a formal dinner with a long list of courses. You enjoy a drink, taste the included food, talk with the guide, and move on once you have had enough time at the venue. The pace is social and informal.

Why the route can feel different each night

A fixed restaurant route makes planning easy, but it can also make a tour feel packaged. This experience takes the opposite approach. The guide can choose different places depending on the evening, what is open, the mood in the old district, and what you want from the night.

That may bring you to quieter streets, small bars, or a lively local setting. One group finished at a bar several floors up with a fine view over the old city. That kind of stop is not promised, but it shows what the flexible format can offer.

The route can also respond to your preferences. If you are more interested in wine, local dishes, conversation, or simply seeing the old quarter after dark, tell your guide early. The experience is described as private or almost private, so your wishes have more weight than they would on a large coach excursion.

There is a trade-off. You cannot know the exact bars or dishes in advance. If you need a guaranteed menu, a specific restaurant, or a carefully planned dining progression, this may feel too loose. If you prefer surprise and local guidance, the uncertainty is part of the value.

More than food: buildings, stories, and practical advice

The walking between bars is not empty time. The guide shares stories about Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, and the old buildings along the way. This gives you a sense of the district instead of treating it as a collection of eating stops.

I like food walks that help me understand why a place eats the way it does. Here, the guide explains the origins of dishes and adds anecdotes about the city. You can also ask about areas to visit, restaurants, dessert, drinks, and what to do after the tour.

That last part is unusually useful. The guide recommends two additional places for you to try on your own, and one person received a particularly good dessert recommendation. If you are only in Las Palmas for a short stay, this can save you from spending the next evening guessing which places are worth your time.

The tour also works well for cruise visitors. One group used the guide’s recommendation before returning to its ship. Since the meeting point is beside the main bus station, the start is convenient for people moving around the island, though you should still allow plenty of time for your own return plans.

Is $65 good value?

At $65 per person, this is not a cheap way to buy two tapas. The included food is two tapas and two drinks, so the price is best understood as payment for a private-style introduction to the old city, a guide, local context, and access to places you might not find alone.

The value improves when your group is small. A private or nearly private walk gives you more time to ask questions and more chance to influence the route. If Artemis or another guide spends the evening talking with you about the city, explaining dishes, and giving useful recommendations, the experience becomes part meal and part orientation.

The value is weaker if you mainly want a large dinner. Two tapas may not fill you, and extra food and drinks are not covered. You also pay for the guide’s time, so compare this with the cost of ordering several dishes on your own in the old quarter.

For a first night in Las Palmas, I think the price can make sense. You get a practical introduction to local bars, a short walk through the historic center, and a plan for continuing the evening. For repeat visitors who already know the old city well, the food and changing route will need to be the main attraction.

Small groups, private occasions, and special requests

The experience is designed for a very small group, and it may operate as a private tour. That makes it suitable for couples, families, friends, and people who do not enjoy large food groups.

It can also be adapted for a birthday, company gathering, or family dinner. After making a small reservation, you can contact the provider to discuss changing the group size, menu, or other conditions. Those arrangements should be made ahead of time rather than assumed on the night.

Food restrictions need the same advance planning. The booking information does not say that dietary requirements are collected automatically, and one vegetarian guest was served ham despite explaining the restriction. There were suitable vegetarian and vegan choices at the second bar, but I would contact the provider before arrival and repeat the request to the guide at the start.

The tour is suitable for all ages and is wheelchair accessible. Venue entry fees are included. Hotel pickup is not included, but a guide or taxi pickup service may be arranged in Las Palmas for €15 cash per three or fewer people.

Who will enjoy this Las Palmas tapas walk?

I would choose this experience if you want:

• A small, conversational tour rather than a large group outing
• Local tapas in ordinary bars instead of polished tourist venues
• A guide who can explain both food and city history
• Suggestions for places to continue after the official two hours
• A useful first-night introduction to Las Palmas
• A flexible evening where the exact route is not fixed

I would think twice if you need a full dinner, a guaranteed menu, or a strict schedule. The food is limited unless you pay for extras, and the route can change. You should also be comfortable with casual bars, walking between venues, and possible Spanish-only conversations with staff.

The strongest part of the experience is the personal contact. The people who enjoyed it most had time to chat with the guide, ask questions, and let the evening unfold. Artemis in particular is praised for his warmth, local pride, and ability to connect food with the city around it.

Practical details before you book

The tour lasts two hours, with starting times based on availability. You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option keeps your plans flexible.

Meet at San Telmo Church, under the only wooden balcony. The spot is close to the tourist office and the San Telmo bus station, but hotel pickup is not part of the standard tour.

Wear comfortable shoes and arrive ready to walk between venues. Bring an appetite, but not the expectation of a complete dinner. If you want more food, beer, wine, dessert, or a longer night, keep extra money available and ask the guide for recommendations.

Should you book it?

Book this tapas walk if you want a friendly, local introduction to Las Palmas with food, stories, and personal recommendations in one package. The small group format and changing route are its biggest strengths, especially when Artemis leads and you enjoy asking questions.

Skip it if two tapas are not enough for you, or if you prefer a fixed menu in a single restaurant. For most first-time visitors who want to avoid generic tourist dining, $65 is reasonable for the guiding and local access, provided you see it as an introduction rather than a full evening meal.

FAQ

Where does the Las Palmas tapas tour meet?

It meets at San Telmo Church, under the only wooden balcony. The church is near the Tourist Information Office and about a two-minute walk from the Global San Telmo Island Bus Station.

How long does the tapas and drinks tour last?

The tour lasts two hours. Starting times depend on availability.

What food and drinks are included?

The price includes a food tour, two tapas, and two drinks. Drinks can include local wine, beer, a soft drink, water, or coffee.

Are extra food and drinks included?

No. Extra food and drinks are not included, but you can order more at the venues if you want to.

Is the tour private or suitable for small groups?

It is described as a very small group or almost private tour. Private birthday, company, or family arrangements may also be organized by contacting the provider after making a reservation.

Is hotel pickup available?

Hotel pickup is not included as standard. On request, a guide or taxi pickup service may be arranged in Las Palmas for a €15 cash payment per three or fewer people.