Navarre has one of the best food cultures in Spain. The region grows outstanding vegetables — white asparagus, piquillo peppers, artichokes — alongside a strong tradition of lamb, trout, and cured meats. The wines from the Navarra DO are underrated and excellent value compared to neighbouring Rioja.
In Pamplona, the line between eating and drinking blurs pleasantly. The old quarter runs on pintxos — small plates perched on slices of bread, displayed in rows on bar counters. You take what you want, keep the sticks, and pay at the end. The streets around Plaza del Castillo and the Casco Antiguo are where most of the action is, and the custom is to move from bar to bar.