The Barrio Húmedo — the "wet quarter" — is the old city's tapas and bar district, centred on Calle Ancha, Calle de la Rúa, and the streets around the Plaza Mayor. It earns its name from the quantity of wine consumed here.
León has a strong tapas tradition: most bars serve a free pincho with every drink. The quality varies, but the better establishments serve proper food — croquetas, morcilla (blood sausage) with pine nuts, cecina (cured beef from the region). The ritual is to move between bars rather than stay in one. The crowds start building around 9pm and the streets are genuinely lively by 10pm, even on weeknights.