14th Tapas Route in Denia

Follow the tapas trail for cheap eats and drinks in Denia this month

A MONTH’S worth of cheap snacks with a drink thrown in means if you’re near Dénia, you won’t have to go hungry between meals – and if you indulge often enough, you’ll be entered into a free prize draw.

The Marina Alta district capital’s 14th Tapas Route offers you a chance to try the house special in miniature at up to 40 restaurants, accompanied by a glass of wine, halfpint of beer or a shot of vermouth – depending upon availability – for just €3 each from today (Friday, February 15) to Thursday, March 14 inclusive.

From your first tapas experience, you’ll be given a ‘passport’ which each restaurant you stop and snack in will stamp for you; once you have at least 15 stamps, you can hand it in at any participating eatery or at the Marina Alta Hotel and Catering Traders’ Association (AEHTMA) office at number 58 of the Paseo Saladar.

Vegetarians will not be able to join the draw, sadly, since only two restaurants offer tapas without meat or fish, but pescatarians – people who eat fish but not meat – have up to 19 locales to choose from, and carnivores have a minimum of 21.

Prizes include tapas-based meals for two in up to four restaurants, a night’s bed, breakfast and evening meal at the hotel Los Ángeles, and a gourmet hamper.

Those who get stamps from all 40 restaurants will also be entered into a draw to win €500 worth of vouchers to spend at Ondara’s El Portal de la Marina shopping centre.

Diners can vote for their favourites, since restaurants on the tapas trail will be hoping for their commemorative plaques and other prizes – and if you win the draw, the two eateries with the most votes will be where your free meals are offered, so by choosing your best snacking experience, you’ll influence what the raffle prize will look like.

Meat dishes are served at El Convent, El Cantó, Di Vino, El Jamonal de Ramonet, El Mosset, Havannah, La Cuarentena, La Cuina de Pepa, La Mar de Chula, La Sabrosa Taquería, Lizarrán, Més Que Tapes, Tapes del Port, Pointer, Tasca Les Monges, Tasca Ramonet, Taverna Els Cosins, Tempura Bar-Grill, Terra de Sabor, Toma Jamón, and Txoko Bar.

Fish and seafood are served at Bar Bonanza, Bocafí, Bodegas Galiana, Bonanotte, Casa Benjamín, El Comercio, El Port, El Redolí, Entrearomas, La Cova Tallà, La Glorieta, La Latería, La Llauradora de Loreto, La Traviesa, Smile, Tasca Eulàlia, and La Carme.

Vegetarian dishes, which include cheese, are served at Amazonas and Bavaria Bräu, although unfortunately, none of the tapas are suitable for vegans.