Papa's Tapas: A Spanish Family Recipe Book From Alicante to Pineapple Grove

Papa's Tapas has served Spanish small plates in Delray Beach's Pineapple Grove district since 2010, founded by Cristobal, known to regulars simply as "Papa." Born in Alicante, Spain, Papa learned the trade from his mother Emilia, one of Spain's pioneering female chefs, before eventually building a career in restaurant kitchens in Connecticut and New York.

Traditional Spanish Recipes Alongside Signature Paella

The kitchen blends traditional Spanish recipes passed down through generations with contemporary technique, serving hot and cold tapas alongside Papa's Paellas, made with Spanish saffron rice and given a full hour to cook properly. Homemade desserts and a signature red and white sangria round out a menu built around small plates meant for sharing across a full table rather than a single-entree meal.

A Family-Owned Spot in the Heart of Pineapple Grove

The restaurant remains a family-owned operation, with Papa's guiding philosophy, inherited from his mother, to never put off for tomorrow what can be done today. That approach has carried the restaurant through more than a decade in Delray Beach's arts-district neighborhood, and the business has since grown into a franchising concept that extends the Papa's Tapas name beyond its original Pineapple Grove home.

Good to Know

Papa's Tapas is located at 259 NE 2nd Ave, Delray Beach, FL 33444. For Spanish tapas built on family recipes and old-world technique, it remains a Pineapple Grove staple.