Bar Los Pinchitos

Bar Los Pinchitos on Calle General Polavieja is a Melilla institution, operating exclusively in the evening and specialising in the single product that gives it its name: pinchitos morunos, the small spiced meat skewers of Moorish origin that have become one of the most characteristically Melillense street foods. The skewers — alternating pieces of pork or chicken marinated in ras el hanout and cumin — are grilled over charcoal directly at the entrance counter, where the smoke and aroma draw passers-by from the surrounding streets. Pinchitos de carne and pinchitos de pollo are ordered by the unit or by the portion, with most diners consuming between four and eight skewers alongside a cold bebida fría — typically beer or a soft drink. There is no table service in the conventional sense; the format is counter ordering and standing consumption, or takeaway in paper. The bar opens at 18:00 and operates until 01:00, with peak demand from 20:00 to 23:00. No reservations are possible or necessary. The charcoal smoke visible from the street at dusk is the most reliable navigation aid for first-time visitors to the neighbourhood.