Santiago de Compostela Food Tours: Pulpo, Tapas & Galician Wine
Santiago de Compostela food tours: pulpo a la gallega, pimientos de Padron, empanada and tarta de Santiago with Albarino, and how to book.
The short version: Santiago de Compostela, the end of the Camino, is also the capital of Galician food. A food tour hops between the old town’s bars on Rua do Franco and around the Mercado de Abastos, tasting pulpo a la gallega (octopus with paprika and olive oil), pimientos de Padron, empanada, tetilla cheese and tarta de Santiago, with Albarino or Ribeiro wine. Here is what to taste and how to book.
At a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What | A bar and tapas tour of the old town, a drink and tapa at each stop |
| Must-taste | Pulpo a la gallega, pimientos de Padron, empanada, tetilla cheese |
| Sweet | Tarta de Santiago (almond cake with the cross of Saint James) |
| Wine | Albarino, Ribeiro, Godello |
| Where | Rua do Franco, Rua da Raina, Mercado de Abastos |
What you taste
Galicia’s food is about the Atlantic and the farm. The icon is pulpo a la gallega, tender octopus sliced onto a wooden plate with olive oil, coarse salt and paprika. Order pimientos de Padron (some are hot, most are not), a slice of empanada (savoury pie), creamy tetilla cheese and Galician beef, and finish with tarta de Santiago, an almond cake dusted with the cross of Saint James. Galician whites, especially Albarino, are made for seafood.
How a Santiago food tour works
A guide walks you to three or more traditional bars in the stone streets around the cathedral, with a drink and tapa at each, sometimes with live music. Morning tours often include the Mercado de Abastos, one of Spain’s great food markets.
Our pick: the Santiago Guided Foodie Tour with Drinks, Tapas & Live Music visits three traditional bars with a drink and a Galician tapa at each.
Frequently asked questions
What food is Santiago de Compostela known for?
Pulpo a la gallega, pimientos de Padron, empanada, tetilla cheese, Galician seafood and beef, and tarta de Santiago, with Albarino wine.
What is tarta de Santiago?
A traditional almond cake from Galicia, dusted with icing sugar around the shape of the cross of Saint James.
How long is a Santiago food tour?
Most bar and tapas tours run about 2.5 hours; combined history and food tours can last four.
Book a Santiago food tour
Compare Santiago de Compostela food tours, or see more Spain food and wine experiences, including San Sebastian pintxos.
