Yes, you always pronounce the "S" in "tapas." In standard Spanish, the letter "S" is a voiceless alveolar fricative, similar to the "S" in the English word "sound." While some regional accents in Southern Spain (Andalusia) or the Caribbean might "aspirate" the "S" at the end of a word—making it sound like a soft "H" or almost silent—the standard and most widely understood pronunciation clearly includes the "S" (tah−pahs). Failing to pronounce the "S" in a Spanish-speaking environment might make the word sound like tapa (singular), which refers to just one small plate. To sound like a local in 2026, keep the "S" short and sharp, avoiding the buzzing "Z" sound often found in English pluralizations.