Every Thursday evening, ostensibly between 8:00pm and 10:00pm, you can pick up a beer or wine plus snack for two Euros in the majority of Vegueta's bars. Bear in mind that not all bars cooperate, some charge a little extra for example. Also, some are better stocked than others and might even continue selling after 10:00pm rather than running out beforehand.
Every Thursday evening I play football nearby. So I talked one of my teammates into accompanying me for a post-game tour of Vegueta's bars. This is the route we took.
1.) Bienmesabe Tapas
This weekly event's also known as Tapas Thursday. So, this tapas bar, which takes its name from the Canarian dessert of the same name, seemed a good place to start as any. The owner was on hand to talk us through the selection, proudly pointing out that he had been asked to join the world of culinary's elite at the upcoming Madrid Fusion.
As a vegetarian, I opted for what looked like tortilla paisana (peasant omelette). The owner corrected me, saying it was a tortilla vegetal (vegetable omelette), whose recipe had been given by his mother who also worked in the kitchen. She'd been given the recipe by her mother who...you get the picture. And just like the celebrated Canarian pudding, it tasted good to me.
Address: Calle Armas 13, 35001, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Email: bienmesabetapas@hotmail.com
Opening hours: Monday-Sunday 8:00pm-2:30am
Phone number: 928 332 874
Website: Facebook page
2.) Cerveceria Rolls
Our next stop didn't take us very long to reach. Seeing it at was at the top of the same street. Here the available options to accompany our beers were rather more limited than at Bienmesabe.
To the extent that there weren't any vegetarian alternatives alternative at all. It was at Cerveceria Rolls that my companion received a phone call from his girlfriend. Enquiring where he was as she was just about to serve the evening meal. So he looked lovingly at the mini hamburgers pictured rather than ordering them.
Address: Calle Armas 11, 35001, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Email: Undisclosed
Opening hours: Undisclosed
Phone number: 928 331 408
Website: Facebook page
3.) Pinchobar La Pelotita
As my erstwhile companion heads home on his bike, I travel just around the corner to my next destination. At La Pelotita, every day they open is Tapas Thursday. As you're able to pick up a drink and a snack for two Euros whenever you go.
And my luck in's on the veggie-friendly option front. As there's hummus smeared on bread alongside miel de caña (treacle). This unlikely-sounding combo surprisingly works like a charm, with the two main flavours marrying with each other sublimely.
Address: Calle Pelota 14, 35001, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Email: Undisclosed
Opening hours: Wednesday-Saturday 7:30pm-2:00am
Phone number: 928 314 397
Website: Facebook page
4.) La Recova Vieja
My next stop takes me to the very edge of Vegueta, where I can see the bright lights of Triana opposite the old main road to the centre of the island. La Recova Vieja takes its name from the fact it's located close to the site of the original Mercado de Vegueta, established back in 1784. This side of the new millennium, my good fortune continues to hold as the two pinchos on the menu are both suitable for vegetarians.
I plump for the creppe de verduras (imagine a soggier version of the spring rolls served in Chinese restaurants). It's warm enough to eat outside and I watch two drag queens gearing up for Carnaval by having their photos taking with tourists outside the Teatro Guiniguada. They keep on having to remind the tourists to look towards the camera rather than continue to gawk at them.
Address: Calle Mesa de León 10, 35001, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Email: Undisclosed
Opening hours: Undisclosed
Phone number: 928 333 951
Website: Facebook page
5.) Cervecería y Picoteo Te lo dije Pérez
In a past life, Cervecería y Pico Te lo Dije Pérez was an aphrodisiac restaurant in Arenales. These days, it's reinvented itself as a tapas beer with more than 100 different types of beer to savour in the shadow of the cathedral. Whilst munching on budget tapas like tortilla española con alioli (Spanish omelette with alioli) as I did.
Address: Calle Obispo Codina 6, 35001, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Email: info@telodijeperez.com
Opening hours: Monday-Thursday 8:00am-12:00am, Fridays 8:00am-2:00am, and Saturdays 10:00am-2:00am
Phone number: 928 249 087
Website: Homepage
6.) Tasca 7 Viejas
To complete my tour, I end up going almost full circle. To my dismay, the barman's crossing off the last item on the board. However, he takes pity on me and brings out some Canarian tomatoes dressed in a punchy Genoese pesto sauce.
Address: Calle Pelota 6, 35001, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Email: sansanvie@gmail.com
Opening hours: Sunday-Wednesday 8:00pm-12:00am and Thursday-Saturday 8:00pm-2:00am
Phone number: 692 054 505
Website: Facebook page