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

Las Palmas reveals its best food in plain-looking bars, not polished restaurants aimed at passing visitors. This two-hour walk leads you from San Telmo toward the cathedral and the old district, stopping at at least two local venues for tapas, drinks, and a look at everyday city life. Guide Artemis is often the host, and his proud, personal approach adds plenty of local context.

I like the small size, which can mean individual attention and an easy conversation about what you enjoy eating. I also like the loose route: each evening can change with the neighborhood mood, local events, and your preferences.

The main thing to consider is the limited food allowance. Your $65 covers two tapas and two drinks, but anything extra costs more. You should also state dietary needs clearly before setting out, since one vegetarian guest was served ham after the preference was not requested during booking.

Key points at a glance

• San Telmo starting point: Meet at San Telmo Church, under the only wooden balcony, about two minutes from the main Global bus station.
• Two local stops: Expect at least two traditional bars, with one tapa and one drink at each included venue.
• Guide-led city stories: Artemis is frequently praised for his English, island knowledge, warmth, and useful restaurant advice.
• A very small group: The tour may be almost private, which suits visitors who prefer conversation over a large food crawl.
• Flexible evening feel: The route can change according to local activity and your interests, rather than following the same rigid path every night.
• More food after the tour: Your guide recommends two additional places if you want to continue eating and drinking on your own.

Starting at San Telmo Church

The meeting point is practical rather than picturesque: San Telmo Church, beneath the only wooden balcony. It is close to the Tourist Information Office and just a two-minute walk from the Global San Telmo Island Bus Station, where the blue buses connect Las Palmas with Maspalomas and other parts of Gran Canaria.

That location works well if you are staying elsewhere on the island or arriving by bus. It also makes this a useful first-night activity, since you can finish with several nearby recommendations for the rest of your visit.

There is no standard hotel pickup or drop-off. A guide and taxi pickup can be arranged in the Las Palmas city area for €15 cash per group of three or fewer, with the tour beginning at pickup. Ask about this after making a reservation if getting to San Telmo is difficult.

From the church, you should expect a walking route toward the old district near the cathedral. The activity information describes a different itinerary each night, so the exact streets and venues are not fixed. That is a strength if you want a less packaged evening, though it also means you should not book expecting a precise restaurant list.

Following the route toward the cathedral

The walk is not only a series of food stops. Your guide explains the origins of the dishes and points out buildings and streets connected with Las Palmas. Artemis, who leads many departures, is especially good at folding island history into the walk without turning the evening into a formal lecture.

That mix matters. A food tour can otherwise feel like a meal with a few facts added at the edges. Here, the old city gives the tapas some setting, and the tapas give the historic district a more ordinary, lived-in feel.

You may also pass through less showy parts of the old neighborhood. The aim is not a grand dining room or a staged performance. It is a look at the bars where local food and conversation matter more than decoration.

One practical point: keep close to the guide while walking. A guest found that Artemis sometimes continued moving while explaining things, making it harder to hear from behind. This is easy to avoid in a small group, but it is worth remembering if you walk slowly or have hearing difficulties.

First bar: simple food, local conversation

At the first venue, your included serving is one tapa and one drink. The drink can be local wine, beer, a soft drink, water, or coffee. The food changes, and the guide chooses something suited to the place rather than presenting a standard menu printed for every departure.

This is where the tour’s character becomes clear. The bars are described as unpretentious local places, not copies of international fast-food outlets or restaurants designed around foreign tastes. You might find a typical Canarian dish, a local wine, or a small bar with an atmosphere that makes the stop worthwhile.

Your guide can explain where the dish comes from and how it fits into local eating habits. You can also order extra food or drinks if something catches your attention, but those purchases are not part of the $65 price.

The guide may speak with the bar staff, and you could meet an owner. Staff communication is in Spanish, so you should not expect a full English conversation at every stop. That language gap is part of the setting, but your English-speaking guide helps you understand what you are ordering and why it matters.

Second bar: a different taste and setting

The second venue includes another tapa and another drink. The value here is variety: the two places are intended to show different food, drinks, or moods rather than repeat the same plate in a new room.

The route may bring you to a particularly atmospheric part of the old district. One reported itinerary ended at a bar several floors up with a view over the old city. That kind of final stop gives the evening a change of pace, but it should be treated as a possibility, not a promised feature on every departure.

You have time to sit, eat, and talk rather than rush through a long list of venues. Since the tour lasts two hours and includes only two official food servings, the pace is more like a guided introduction than a full dinner.

If you have a large appetite, budget for extra orders. The included food may be enough for a light meal, but the experience is not advertised as an unlimited tapas crawl. I would schedule it before dinner if you want a full evening meal afterward, or use the guide’s recommendations to continue eating.

Why the small group changes the experience

The tour is advertised as very small or private, and several departures have consisted of only two people. That can be a real advantage. You can ask about local dishes, change the conversation, and tell the guide if you prefer wine, beer, coffee, or soft drinks.

It also gives the walk a relaxed, social feel. One guest compared the time with the guide to an afternoon with an old friend, while another valued the easy mix of food and culture. Those comments point to the main strength of the format: you are not simply following a flag through the streets.

The trade-off is that the quality of the evening depends heavily on the guide assigned. Artemis receives the strongest praise and is described as warm, proud of his city, and able to discuss both Las Palmas and the wider island. Alfredo has also led a well-received New Year’s Eve outing, and Minerva handled another departure with friendly local knowledge after a booking mix-up.

A small group also makes timing problems more noticeable. One guest waited about an hour after the operator did not realize the tour had been booked, leaving the guide to arrive at the last minute. This appears to be an exception rather than the normal pattern, but I would confirm the meeting details if your schedule is tight, especially before a cruise departure.

What $65 really buys you

At $65 per person, the price is not simply paying for two tapas and two drinks. If you bought only those items, the value would be modest. You are also paying for a private-style walking route, a guide, local explanations, help with ordering, and recommendations for places to visit after the official tour.

That can be worthwhile in Las Palmas, where a good bar may look ordinary from outside and menus may not explain what makes a dish local. The guide saves you from guessing and gives you a starting point for the rest of your stay.

The price works best for visitors who treat the tour as an introduction to the city’s food culture. It is less attractive if you want a large dinner, a long list of tastings, or a formal cooking lesson.

Two additional venue recommendations are included for your own follow-up. You pay for those later meals and drinks, but this advice can help turn a two-hour activity into a full evening without committing to a larger organized crawl.

Food choices, allergies, and dietary needs

Food preferences deserve special attention. The booking information does not ask for dietary requirements, and one vegetarian guest received ham despite explaining the preference. Another stop had plenty of vegetarian and vegan choices, so the issue may be manageable, but you should contact the provider directly before the tour rather than assume every venue can adapt.

The included drink selection is broad. You can choose local wine, beer, a soft drink, water, or coffee at each included stop. That makes the tour suitable for people who do not drink alcohol, though extra drinks remain at your own cost.

The exact dishes are not fixed. This is good for discovery and local character, but less useful if you need guaranteed ingredients or want to plan around a particular specialty. Ask what is available when you meet the guide, and do not hesitate to skip an item that does not suit you.

Who will enjoy this Las Palmas tapas walk

I would recommend it most strongly to first-time visitors who want to get their bearings through food. It is also a good fit for couples, solo visitors, families, and small groups who prefer talking with a guide instead of joining a large crowd.

History fans get more than a meal, since the route includes stories about Las Palmas, its buildings, and the island. Food-focused visitors get a chance to try dishes they might not spot on their own. Cruise passengers can use the San Telmo meeting point and the guide’s later suggestions to make the most of limited time in the city.

The tour suits all ages and is wheelchair accessible. The activity information also lists venue entrance fees as included, though you should still confirm any mobility needs when booking because the route moves between different old-city bars.

I would be more cautious if you need a guaranteed menu, dislike walking while listening, or expect a substantial dinner included in the fee. It is also not the right pick if you want polished restaurants. The appeal is precisely the plain, local setting.

Booking, timing, and a better plan for your night

The tour lasts two hours, with starting times depending on availability. I would book it near the beginning of your Las Palmas stay, not on your last evening. That way, the recommendations for two more places can guide later meals, desserts, or drinks.

After the tour, you can continue on your own if you still have energy. One guide recommended a dessert stop, while other outings ended with advice on where to go next. Treat these suggestions as part of the tour’s practical value, especially if you want to eat like a local for several days rather than only during one scheduled activity.

The activity offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start and a reserve-now, pay-later option. Those terms help if your island plans may change, but you should still check the available start time before arranging transport.

Should you book this tapas tour?

Book it if you want a small, personal introduction to Las Palmas food and old-city streets, especially on your first day. Artemis is a particularly strong guide when available, and the combination of local bars, two drinks, two tapas, city stories, and follow-up advice gives the evening a useful shape.

Skip it if you want a full dinner for $65, a fixed restaurant itinerary, or detailed dietary planning handled automatically. For everyone else, this is a relaxed way to find the city’s less obvious eating places, learn how to order, and leave with enough local advice to keep the night going.

FAQ

Where does the Las Palmas tapas tour meet?

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

How long does the activity last?

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

How many tapas and drinks are included?

The price includes two tapas and two drinks, one at each of at least two venues. Drinks can be local wine, beer, a soft drink, water, or coffee.

Are extra food and drinks included?

No. Extra food and drinks are not included, so you pay separately if you order more at either venue or continue to another place afterward.

Which guides may lead the tour?

Artemis frequently leads the experience. Alfredo and Minerva have also led departures, and an English-speaking guide is provided.

Is the tour suitable for people who do not drink alcohol?

Yes. The included drink options include soft drinks, water, and coffee as well as wine and beer.

Can I cancel or pay later?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. The reserve-now, pay-later option lets you book without paying immediately.