What is a canapé?

Updated on 20/10/2026

A small bite, usually cold, on a base of bread, toast, cracker or puff pastry, eaten in a single mouthful.

A canapé is a small bite, usually cold, built on a base of bread, toast, cracker or puff pastry, topped with something (cheese, smoked fish, pâté, vegetables) and eaten in a single mouthful. It is the classic drinks reception bite and, with the rest of finger food, the one most associated with standing events.

What it is used for at a corporate event

It appears at welcome drinks, receptions, openings and presentations. Served from a tray or a board, it is picked up by hand with no plate or cutlery, so it does not interrupt the conversation. It is easy to eat standing up, lends itself to many combinations and can include vegetarian options or leave out certain ingredients with enough notice, which is worth raising when you request a quote (see the 14 allergens).

How much of a drinks reception it makes up

The canapé is not counted on its own: it shares the tray with the other savoury pieces. In the calculator in our price guide, a drinks reception that replaces lunch counts 5 cold pieces per person (canapés and mini sandwiches) out of an approximate total of 12 savoury pieces; if it is just the aperitif before a seated meal, the total drops to 6-8. These are industry benchmarks, not a set menu.

Finger food is the general category; the canapé is one type of it, the one on a bread base.
Compared with a mini sandwich or a small filled roll, a canapé is usually open, with no top.
You see it above all at a welcome cocktail, at the vino español reception that closes an event and at a standing lunch.

Canapés are a staple of nibbles and sharing plates and of an afterwork.