Restaurants in Spain
-
A
Cafè Zurich
It doesn’t have the atmosphere of the cafe of the same name that once occupied this prime spot, but not even the hardest of hearts can deny the location is impeccable. Pull up an outdoor pew for the human circus that is Plaça de Catalunya, or huddle over a paper on the mezzanine on a winter’s day. In summer it stays open as late as 1am.
reviewed
-
B
El Grillo Azul
Vegetarian visitors to Salamanca have a treat that's rare in Castilian towns – a real-life vegetarian restaurant. It's a buzzy place with attractive blue-and-white decor and a creative menu that includes a plato degustación (€11.50): a veritable veggie feast for two with taster portions of dishes like grilled seitan or tofu, vegetable soufflé, wild mushrooms and inventive salads.
reviewed
-
C
Restaurant Txalaka
For sensational Basque cooking and pintxos (tapas) washed down with txakoli (the fizzy white wine from the Basque coast) poured from a great height, don’t miss this popular local spot. Just load up your plate with the likes of garlic prawns, fresh anchovy montaditos, marinated wild mushrooms and octopus dusted in paprika and pay according to the number of montadito sticks/dishes.
reviewed
-
D
Elisabets
This unassuming restaurant is popular for no-nonsense local fare. The walls are lined with old radio sets and the menú del día (set menu, €10.75) varies daily. If you prefer a la carta, try the ragú de jabalí (wild boar stew) and finish with mel i mató (a Catalan dessert made from cheese and honey). Those with a post-midnight hunger on Friday nights can probably get a meal here as late as 1am.
reviewed
-
E
Escribà
Antoni Escribà carries forward a family tradition (since 1906) of melting barcelonins’ hearts with remarkable pastries and criminal chocolate creations. Try the Easter bunyols de xocolata (little round pastry balls filled with chocolate cream). Escribà has another branch in a Modernista setting at La Rambla de Sant Josep 83.
reviewed
-
F
Inopia
Albert Adrià, brother of star chef Ferran, has his hands full with this constantly busy gourmet-tapas temple. Select a pintxo de cuixa de pollastre a l’ast (chunk of rotisserie chicken thigh) or the lightly fried, tempura-style vegetables. Wash down with house red or Moritz beer.
reviewed
-
G
Bodega Santa Cruz
Forever crowded and with a mountain of paper on the floor, this place is usually standing room only, with tapas and drinks enjoyed alfresco as you dodge the marching army of tourists squeezing through Santa Cruz’ narrow streets.
reviewed
-
H
Bar Celta
This bright, rambunctious tapas bar specialises in pulpo (octopus) and other sea critters like navajas (razor clams). It does a good job: even the most demanding of Galician natives give this spot the thumbs up. Sit at the zinc bar, order a bottle of Ribeiro and the traditional Galician tazas (little white cups) and tuck into your raciones (larger portions of tapas dishes).
reviewed
-
I
La Trattoria
The Alameda is lined with restaurants and cafes. First-class food and efficient service make La Trattoria one of the best and busiest Italian eateries in town.
reviewed
-
J
Café Futbol
This three-storey cafe with its butter-coloured walls and gaudy chandeliers dates from 1910 and is generally packed with coiffured señoras, foreign students and families. Elderly white-shirted waiters attend to the morning rush with hot chocolate, fat churros and delectable cakes like the chocolate and custard tarta san cecilio. Sit upstairs for views of the square. Savoury snacks also available.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
K
La Isla del Tesoro
Unlike some vegetarian restaurants that seem to work on the philosophy that basic decor signifies healthy food, the dining area here is like someone’s fantasy of a secret garden come to life. The cooking is assured and wide ranging in its influences; the jungle burger is typical in a menu that’s full of surprises. The weekday lunchtime menú del día (daily set menu; €11) is more varied than most in Madrid, taking a different national cuisine as its base every day.
reviewed
-
Es Bigotes
Offering bullit de peix (whatever fish was caught that morning simmered with herbs, mixed vegetables and potatoes in a huge vat), followed by arròs caldós (saffron rice cooked in the broth of the bullit de peix), this simple shack is known far and wide. Finish off with café de caleta (coffee prepared with lemon zest, cinnamon and flamed brandy). No phone, no reservations; in July and August, you need to turn up in person at least the day before to book a spot. During other months, arrival by 1pm should get you a table. To arrive by car, take the last turning left before Cala Mastella.
reviewed
-
L
Speakeasy
This clandestine restaurant lurks behind the Dry Martini bar. You will be shown a door through the open kitchen area to the ‘storeroom’, lined with hundreds of bottles of backlit, quality tipples. Dark decorative tones, a few works of art, low lighting, light jazz music and smooth service complete the setting. The menu has tempting options like the huge hunk of burrata cheese with white asparagus and strips of ravishing jamón (cured ham).
reviewed
-
M
Casa Amalia
This formal restaurant is popular for its hearty Catalan cooking that uses fresh produce, mainly sourced from the busy market next door. On Thursdays during winter it offers the Catalan mountain classic, escudella. Otherwise, you might try light variations on local cuisine, such as the bacallà al allioli de poma (cod in an apple-based aioli sauce). The four-course menú del día is exceptional lunchtime value at €12.
The orange and white decorated joint has split-level dining that makes the most of its space.
reviewed
-
N
Igueldo
White and maroon décor and smooth lines tempt patrons into this refined, contemporary Basque option. Sink into a white leather chair or perch at the back bar for chuletón a la parrilla (one kilo of grilled chop for two), or an intense cochinillo confitado con peras (suckling pig prepared with pears). Igueldo is a winner at lunch with a menú del día (€20) that include choices such as penne con txipirones (pasta with tiny cuttlefish).
reviewed
-
O
Los Coloniales
The quiet ones are always the best. It might not look like much from the outside, but take it on trust that Los Coloniales is something very special. The quality plates line up like models on a cat walk: chorizo a la Asturiana, a divine spicy sausage in an onion sauce served on a bed of lightly fried potato; eggplants in honey; and pork tenderloin al whiskey (a whiskey-flavoured sauce).
There is another inferior, more touristy branch, Taberna Los Coloniales, near the cathedral.
reviewed
-
P
Casa Mingo
Built in 1916 to feed workers building the Príncipe Pío train station, Casa Mingo is a well-known and vaguely cavernous Asturian cider house. It’s kept simple here, focusing primarily on the signature dish of pollo asado (roast chicken; €10.30) accompanied by a bottle of cider. Combine with a visit to the neighbouring Ermita de San Antonio de la Florida.
reviewed
-
Q
Sula
If you want to catch Salamanca’s happening vibe, head for Sula, a gourmet food store, super-stylish tapas bar and clean-lined restaurant where Quique Dacosta (voted Spain’s best chef in 2005) serves up a range of Mediterranean dishes that you won’t find anywhere else. Design touches added by Amaya Arzuaga help to make this one of Madrid’s coolest spaces. Rumour has it that David Beckham had one of his farewell parties here.
reviewed
-
R
Vinería San Telmo
San Telmo invented the rascocielo (skyscraper) tapa, an 'Empire State' of tomatoes, aubergine, goat's cheese and smoked salmon. If this and other creative nuggets such as foie gras with quails eggs and lychees, or exquisitely cooked bricks of tuna don’t make you drool with expectation then you’re probably dead.
reviewed
-
S
Parco
The Italian love affair with Barcelona manifests itself here with this branch of the stylish Milan sushi-restaurant-cum-cocktail-bar. With a little fusion music in the background, start the evening with a round of bulbous cocktails before ordering plates of sushi and sashimi. Lighting is low, while red and black dominate the décor. Those unlucky enough to miss out on a lounge may find themselves uncomfortably perched on backless chairs.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
T
Cerveseria Catalana
The ‘Catalan Brewery’ is good for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Come in for your morning coffee and croissant, or wait until lunch to enjoy choosing from the abundance of tapas and montaditos (canapés). You can sit at the bar, on the pavement terrace or in the restaurant at the back. The variety of hot tapas, salads and other snacks draws a well-dressed crowd of locals and outsiders.
reviewed
-
U
Cervecería 100 Montaditos
This bar with outlets all across the city serves up no fewer than 100 different varieties of mini-bocadillos that span the full range of Spanish staples, such as chorizo, jamón, tortilla, a variety of cheeses and seafood, in more combinations than you could imagine. Each one costs a princely €1 to €2 and four will satisfy most stomachs. You order at the counter and your name is called in no time. Menus are available in English.
reviewed
-
V
Restaurante Momo
Momo is a Chueca beacon of reasonably priced home cooking for a casual crowd. It has an artsy vibe and is ideal for those who want a hearty meal without too much elaboration. Unusually, the well-priced three-course set menus spill over into the evening and the famous chocolate moco (literally ‘snot’, but really homemade chocolate pudding) is the tastiest of dessert dishes despite the worrying name. It’s a mostly gay crowd, but everyone’s welcome.
reviewed
-
W
La Conveniente
This cavernous bodega has high stone walls, wooden pillars and beams, and more wine bottles than you may ever have seen in one place. Squeeze into the tramlike enclosure at the front or line up for a seat in the cave-like back room (or just snack at the bar). The food offerings are fairly straightforward – tablas (platters) of cheese, embutidos (sausages), ham, pâtés – and servings are generous.
reviewed
-
X
Bangkok Thai restaurant
Great Thai food, reasonable prices, good service and a Thai-style dining area make for a terrific meal in the heart of town. If you’re lucky, you’ll get one of the tables overlooking the busy pedestrian thoroughfare of Calle del Arenal. In addition to their à la carte choices, they offer a well-priced menú del día (daily set menu; €11.60) that’s available for lunch seven days a week, a menú de noche (evening set menu; €15) and a menú de degustación (€19.50). Their opening hours are particularly friendly to non-Spanish stomachs.
reviewed