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Tapas Alley is the name British visitors give to Calle Santo Domingo in Benidorm’s Old Town, and to the covered walkway that leads into it from Plaza de la Constitución. In a few dozen metres there are more tapas and pintxos bars than anywhere else in the resort. Many of them are Basque, which is why Spanish locals call it la calle de los vascos.
This is the walk we take, and the bars we pass on the way.
Updated October 2026
| Where | Calle Santo Domingo, Old Town |
| Find it | La Cava Aragonesa, Plaza de la Constitución |
| Best time | 1.30pm to 3pm, or after 8.30pm |
| How it works | A drink, a plate, move on |
Head for Plaza de la Constitución, a small square just off Passeig de la Carretera, the pedestrian shopping street that runs into the Old Town. Taxi drivers know the square better than the nickname, so ask for Plaza de la Constitución. Once you arrive, you’ll see Hotel Queens, Bar 69 and Oliver’s Bar around the square.
Plaza de la Constitución
Directly opposite them is La Cava Aragonesa, the most famous tapas bar in Benidorm, and the start of Tapas Alley. This is where it all began: Francisco del Castillo, from Zaragoza, opened La Cava in 1980, serving a glass of cava with a canapé, and the bars followed. Today it fills both sides of the covered walkway, with counters of pintxos, hams hanging overhead and benches out in the passage.
La Cava Aragonesa
La Cava also has a second bar directly opposite its main one. Next door to it, under a green sign, is La Tabernita del Sur, where old wine barrels serve as tables.
Tapas Together
And as you face the walkway from the square, El Rincón del Ribera is on your left: a small wine bar that British visitors have long made their own.
Inside the walkway itself is Pintxos Aurrera, with a counter full of pintxos. The Aurrera group runs five bars on Tapas Alley, including La Tabernita del Sur and three more further up the street.
The walkway brings you out on Calle Santo Domingo, with tables lining both sides. Along the street you’ll find La Tapería Aurrera and Gaztelutxo. The tiled frontage of Brasería Aurrera faces Bar Atxuri, and Saltoki Txiki has a picture board of its dishes out front. El Bodegón Aurrera sits on the corner of Calle Costera Hostal.
Calle Santo Domingo
Turn down Calle Costera Hostal at El Bodegón and you come out on Calle Martínez Oriola, which runs parallel to Santo Domingo. Here the Steak House sign of Taberna Saltoki faces Txapela Taberna, a bright, modern Basque tavern.
Heading back towards the plaza, you pass Alameda Gourmet, then Tasca y Basta and Aupa Taberna at the plaza end, both with terraces on the street. A few steps more and you’re back where you started.
Always a great atmosphere
Find a free stool, have a drink and a plate or two, then move on
The beauty of tapas is the shareability, tasting something for the first time that a friend had ordered.
Yet you are invariably drawn to the dish or dishes that made you originally fall in love with tapas.
Here are a few of our own:
Fresh prawns sizzling in garlic-infused olive oil and a touch of chilli, typically served in a traditional clay pot that keeps the oil bubbling hot.
Don’t forget the bread for that all important dipping!
These creamy béchamel fritters come with various fillings, but the jamón and wild mushroom versions seal the deal every time.
Small green peppers fried and sprinkled with sea salt. Approximately one in ten peppers is spicy, adding an element of chance to each serving!
Lunchtime in the Alley
Simply calling this dish spicy meatballs doesn’t come close to defining a particular favourite of ours.
An infusion of white wine, parsley, smoked paprika, garlic, cumin and black pepper elevates the humble meatball to an altogether different level.
A simple yet classic ‘omelette’ that only the Spanish can conjure from an egg, onion and potato. If you find the right place with the right tortilla, you’ll keep on returning for something that can taste sublime on a good day!
Anchovy fillets drenched in olive oil, vinegar and garlic. Bread and aioli on the side and a dry fine Manzanilla sherry to accompany a dish that shouts out Spain!
It took us a while to get a taste for jamón, but then we came across a quality cut and were hooked for good on this monumental slice of Spain. Now we’re happy to dig a little deeper and pay a little more for the best.
Northern Europeans, especially the Brits (we include ourselves here) just can’t seem to get the hang of enjoying the tapas experience Spanish-style.
Sharing stuff doesn’t really play a part in our culture (unless a wedding buffet counts!) and skipping from one bar to the next we associate with a bar crawl, not a tapas crawl.
But, to get you in the mood for your first or next visit to Tapas Alley, let’s appreciate how the locals Do Tapas:
Rather than settling in one location, visit multiple establishments, having one or two small plates at each. This approach allows you to sample different specialties and experience various atmospheres.
Spaniards eat late. The ideal time for tapas is between 1.30pm and 3pm for lunch, or after 8.30pm for dinner. Arrive earlier, and you’ll be dining among tourists or on your own; come at Spanish hours, and you’ll be surrounded by locals.
El Rincón del Ribera before the rush!
In traditional places, you’ll point to what looks good behind the glass counter. In more modern establishments, you’ll order from a menu. Don’t be shy to ask for recommendations – “¿Qué me recomiendas?” will usually prompt enthusiastic suggestions.
Tapas are meant to be shared. Order several plates for the table rather than individual portions. This communal approach enhances the social experience and allows everyone to taste more varieties. And yes, sometimes you might have to share your favourite!
In most places, you’ll pay before leaving even if you are ordering and eating at the bar. Some traditional establishments still use the charming system of marking your bill in chalk on the bar, tallying it up when you’re ready to move on!
Fresh prawns sizzling in garlic-infused olive oil and a touch of chilli
Tapas Alley is no tourist trap. It’s where Benidorm still eats like Spain.
Benidorm Old Town is an awesome place.
Made better by the creation and development of Tapas Alley.
If you’ve never been, it’s an absolute must-do.
If you’ve been before, time to go again.
Benidorm, like no other!
