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

Las Palmas hides its best food in plain sight. This two-hour walk leads you away from the postcard restaurants and into unassuming local bars near the cathedral, where the focus is on traditional food, a drink, and a good chat. The route changes with the night, the neighborhood, and your preferences, so it feels less like a fixed script and more like an evening with a local friend.

I like two things here. First, the very small groups make it easy to ask questions and shape the pace. Second, the guide adds useful city history as you walk, then points you toward places to visit after the tour. The main caution is that you receive two tapas and two drinks, so you may need to order extras if you arrive hungry. Dietary needs should also be stated clearly before you begin.

Key points to know

• At least two local stops: Enjoy one tapa and one drink at each of two different venues.
• A route that changes: The guide may adjust the evening according to local activity, your interests, and what is happening in the Old City.
• Personal guiding: Artemis is frequently the guide, with Alfredo, Minerva, and other guides also possible.
• Useful after-tour advice: You receive recommendations for two more places if you want to keep eating or drinking.
• Easy meeting point: Meet beneath the only wooden balcony at San Telmo Church, two minutes from the San Telmo bus station.
• Good value for small groups: At $65 per person, the price covers food, drinks, guiding, and a more personal outing than a large group food walk.

Starting beneath San Telmo Church

The meeting point is at San Telmo Church, beneath its only wooden balcony. It is close to the Tourist Information Office and about a two-minute walk from the Global San Telmo Island Bus Station, the blue-bus station serving Las Palmas and connections toward Maspalomas and other parts of Gran Canaria.

That location works well if you are arriving by public transport or fitting the food walk into a larger day out. It also gives the guide a clear place to meet you before heading toward the Old City. If you are staying elsewhere in Las Palmas, hotel pickup is not included, but a guide and taxi pickup may be arranged in the city for €15 cash per three people or fewer.

The tour lasts about two hours. Starting times vary, so check the available slot when booking. You can cancel up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option helps if your plans are still moving around.

Walking from San Telmo toward the Old City

The food is only part of the appeal. As you walk, your guide talks about Las Palmas, its buildings, and the island’s past. The city commentary is woven into the route rather than delivered as a long lecture, which suits the relaxed nature of the outing.

Artemis is often the guide, and his style comes through clearly in the experience: personal, proud of his city, and happy to discuss subjects beyond food. Other guides may lead the walk, including Alfredo and Minerva. The guide speaks English, while the staff at some of the bars speak Spanish only. That is not a major problem because your guide helps you communicate, but it is worth knowing if you prefer extensive direct conversation with bar staff.

Expect some walking between stops. One useful improvement would be for the guide to stop fully when explaining a building or story. If the guide keeps walking while talking, it can be harder to hear, especially if you are a few steps behind. Do not be shy about asking for a pause.

The first bar: a taste of everyday Las Palmas

The first stop is selected for its food, atmosphere, or sense of place. You are not being taken to a polished chain restaurant or a venue designed mainly for passing sightseers. The aim is a traditional bar where local eating habits feel natural and the food is part of ordinary life.

At each included venue, you receive a tapa and one drink. Your choices may include local wine, beer, a soft drink, water, or coffee. The exact dish and drink depend on the place and the evening, which is part of the point. You are not given a prepackaged tasting menu that looks the same every night.

The guide explains what you are eating and may share the background of the dish. This is especially useful if you are new to Canarian food or are unsure what to order later. The included portions are meant to introduce you to local flavors, not replace a full dinner.

If something catches your eye, you can order more food or another drink at your own cost. Ask about the price before adding extras if you are keeping to a budget. At the end of the evening, your total included allowance is two tapas and two drinks, not unlimited sampling.

The second venue and a different side of the neighborhood

The second stop gives the evening some contrast. The guide looks for another local place, perhaps one with a different dish, a different drink, or a different mood. Because the itinerary changes from night to night, you should not book this expecting a named list of restaurants.

That flexibility is useful in Las Palmas. A bar may be less appealing on a quiet night, a particular dish may not be available, or a local event may make another area more enjoyable. A fixed route can be tidy, but a flexible one often produces a more natural evening.

Some tours finish at a venue several floors up with a good view over the Old City. That type of stop adds a visual reward after the food, though it is not presented as a guaranteed feature of every outing. You might instead find a small bar with a stronger food focus or a livelier local scene.

This is also where the small-group format matters most. With only a few people, the guide can explain a dish, answer questions, or change the pace without having to manage a large crowd. Several bookings have been private or close to private, which makes the walk feel more like an informal introduction than a standard group excursion.

What your $65 includes, and what it does not

The $65 price covers the food walk, an English-speaking guide, two tapas, and two drinks. That is a fair price if you value local guidance and a small group, especially because the guide also helps you understand the neighborhood and recommends places for the rest of your evening.

It is less compelling if you are mainly looking for a large meal. Two tapas can be enough for a light dinner or a useful first taste, but many people will want additional food later. Extra dishes and drinks are not included, and neither are hotel transfers unless you arrange the separate €15 pickup service.

I would compare the price with what you would spend on two drinks, several small dishes, and a private guide. The food itself is only one part of the cost. You are also paying for access to local places that can be hard to identify from a distance, plus practical advice about where to go next.

The activity is suitable for all ages and is wheelchair accessible. Still, the route includes walking through the Old City and moving between venues, so it is sensible to tell the operator about any mobility needs when arranging the booking.

Why the local focus matters

Las Palmas has plenty of easy food choices, but convenience is not the same as character. This outing deliberately avoids the familiar international options and the tourist-focused places that could be found in almost any city.

You get a better sense of local eating habits by sitting in ordinary bars, ordering a drink, and trying dishes selected for that setting. The guide can explain why a food matters, how it is usually served, or what else to try later. That context turns a small snack into a useful lesson in how to eat around Las Palmas.

The experience also gives you a chance to take photos of the streets, buildings, food, and evening scenes. Just keep the camera secondary. The best part of a small bar is often the conversation and atmosphere, not a perfect photograph.

The bars are described as authentic rather than fancy. If you want spotless design, formal service, and a carefully arranged tasting course, this may not be your ideal food activity. If you like places with ordinary local character, the rougher edges are part of the appeal.

The guide makes or breaks the evening

The guide is central to this experience. Artemis receives particularly strong praise for his warmth, city knowledge, language ability, and willingness to make the outing personal. He has led couples, families, solo visitors, and private groups, and his style is described as closer to walking around town with a friend than following a formal script.

His strongest contribution is the blend of food and place. You do not simply move from bar to bar. You hear about Las Palmas and Gran Canaria along the way, then get recommendations matched to your plans. If you are visiting on a cruise stop, this can be a good way to use a short window in the city and find somewhere to return before heading back to your ship.

Other guides may lead the tour, and the tone can vary. Minerva, for example, is friendly and well informed, though one outing was affected by a last-minute scheduling mix-up and a long wait at the meeting point. That was an exception rather than the usual pattern, but it shows why you should arrive at the correct meeting point and keep your phone available.

Food requirements deserve direct attention. Dietary details are not collected during booking, and one vegetarian participant was served ham at the first venue before better options appeared at the second. Tell the company and guide clearly about allergies, vegetarian choices, or other restrictions before the tour starts, then confirm each dish before eating.

Who will enjoy this tapas walk most

I would choose this tour for a first evening in Las Palmas. You get a quick introduction to the Old City, a few local foods, and a list of places to explore on your own. The advice is most useful when you still have several nights left on the island.

It also suits people who prefer conversation to a large organized group. Couples and solo visitors should find the small size comfortable, and families can join because the activity is open to all ages. The private or almost private format allows you to ask simple questions without feeling you are holding up a busload of people.

Food-focused visitors should enjoy the variety, but anyone expecting a full restaurant meal should plan another stop. Likewise, guests who want exact restaurant names in advance may find the changing route less predictable than a fixed tasting menu.

I would skip it if you strongly dislike walking, informal bars, Spanish-only service at some venues, or paying extra for food beyond the included portions. I would also think twice if you need carefully managed dietary catering and do not want to arrange that before arrival.

Practical advice before you book

Arrive at San Telmo Church with enough time to find the wooden balcony. The meeting point is near the bus station and Tourist Information Office, but the Old City can be confusing if you are rushing.

Eat lightly beforehand. Two tapas may be enough for a modest evening, but arriving with a completely empty stomach can leave you wanting more before the tour ends. Bring a little extra money for optional dishes and drinks.

Use the tour early in your stay if possible. The guide’s recommendations can help shape the rest of your visit, and you can return to a favorite area later without needing another organized activity.

Ask questions as you walk. The experience is designed for interaction, and the guide’s local advice is one of the better reasons to book. If you cannot hear while moving, simply ask the guide to stop.

Should you book this Las Palmas food tour?

Book it if you want local bars, small-group attention, and city stories in one easy evening. The best value comes from the personal guidance and the recommendations for continuing afterward, not from the quantity of food alone.

At $65, it works well as an introduction to Las Palmas Old City, especially for a first visit or a short stay. Go in expecting two tapas and two drinks, not a full dinner. State dietary needs before the tour, allow for a little walking, and stay open to an evening that changes with the neighborhood.

If that sounds like your kind of night, this is a friendly and practical way to start eating your way through Las Palmas.

FAQ

Where does the Las Palmas tapas tour meet?

Meet at San Telmo Church, beneath 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 experience last?

The tour lasts two hours. Starting times vary, so check availability for the date you want.

What food and drinks are included?

The price includes two tapas and two drinks. Drinks can be local wine, beer, a soft drink, water, or coffee. Extra food and drinks cost more.

Is the tour private or part of a large group?

It is designed as a very small group or almost private tour. Private arrangements for birthdays, company gatherings, family dinners, or larger groups may be available by contacting the provider after making a reservation.

Is hotel pickup included?

Hotel pickup is not included. A guide and taxi pickup may be arranged on request in Las Palmas City for €15 cash for up to three people.

Can I cancel or pay later?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also available.