Restaurants in Spain
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Arzak
With three shining Michelin stars, acclaimed chef Juan Mari Arzak takes some beating when it comes to nueva cocina vasca and his restaurant is, not surprisingly, considered one of the best places to eat in Spain. Arzak is now assisted by his daughter Elena and they never cease to innovate. Reservations, well in advance, are obligatory.
reviewed
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La Negra Tomasa
Bar, restaurant and magnet for all things Cuban, La Negra Tomasa is a boisterous meeting place for the Havana set with waitresses dressed in traditional Cuban outfits (definitely pre-Castro), decent food such as cojimar (shrimps in a tomato sauce with rice and slices of banana fritter) and typical drinks of the Caribbean. There’s often live Cuban music in the evening.
reviewed
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Nagoya
Madrid has its fair share of Japanese restaurants, but you won’t find any better than this one. The service is friendly and fast, and the food is outstanding – from the tempura and sushi to the kami yaki soba (duck with noodles and teriyaki sauce). Ask for your maki with sesamo por fuera (sesame on the outside) and you’ll be in heaven.
reviewed
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Martín Berasategui Restaurant
This superlative restaurant, about 9km southwest of San Sebastián, is considered by foodies to be one of the best restaurants in the world. The chef, Martín Berasategui, doesn't approach cooking in the same way as the rest of us. He approaches it as a science and the results are tastes you never knew existed. Reserve well ahead.
reviewed
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Casa Manteca
The hub of La Viña’s Carnaval fun, and with almost every inch of wall covered in colourful flamenco, bullfighting and Carnaval memorabilia, Casa Manteca is inevitably one of the barrio’s liveliest and best tapas bars.
Ask the amiable bar staff for a tapa of chicharrones – pressed pork dressed with a squeeze of lemon, served on a paper napkin and amazingly delicious.
reviewed
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Caelum
Centuries of heavenly gastronomic tradition from across Spain are concentrated in this exquisite medieval space in the heart of the city. Sweets (such as the irresistible marzipan from Toledo) made by nuns in convents across the country make their way to this den of delicacies. There's a shop adjoining the pretty cafe where you can buy goodies to take home; there's also an atmospheric underground chamber where you can secret yourself for tea and pastries from 3.30pm to closing time.
reviewed
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Maceiras
Galician tapas (think octopus, green peppers etc) never tasted so good as in this agreeably rustic bar down the bottom of the Huertas hill, especially when washed down with a crisp white Ribeiro. The simple wooden tables, loyal customers and handy location make this a fine place to rest after (or en route to) the museums along the Paseo del Prado. Galician music plays in the background and the kitchen stays open until 12.45am on Fridays and Saturdays. There’s another branch around the corner.
reviewed
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Monty Café
This laid-back Italian-run cafe has a terracotta floor, art on the walls, classic marble-top tables and a series of varied, secondhand lounges down one side and a bar at the back. Great for coffee, a long list of teas and cocktails, it also offers food from pasta to bruschetta. It’s a great place to lounge around over your laptop.
reviewed
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El Arandia de Julen
An exemplar of modern Basque cuisine, Arandia has retained the best traditions in its creative dishes. There's a special Wednesday menú of traditional red beans with a lip-smacking mix of pork chorizo (red sausage), morcilla (black pudding) and more, plus a delicious hake course. Excellent Riojas add lustre.
reviewed
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Taberna de Antonio Sánchez
Behind one of the best-preserved old taberna façades in Madrid hides this gem of a traditional tapas bar famous for its Madrid specialities – tortilla de san isidro, callos (tripe), morcilla (blood sausage), huevos estrellados (fried eggs) and a host of other excellent local favourites.
reviewed
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Rio-Oja
An institution that shouldn’t be missed. It specialises in light Basque seafood and heavy inland fare, but to most foreigners the snails, sheep brains or squid floating in pools of its own ink are the makings of a culinary adventure story they’ll be recounting for years. Don’t worry, though: it really does taste much better than it sounds.
reviewed
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El Aljibe
Refined restaurant upstairs and supercool tapas bar downstairs, El Aljibe on its own is almost reason enough to come to Cádiz. The cuisine developed by gaditano chef Pablo Grosso is a delicious combination of the traditional and the adventurous – goat's cheese on nut bread with blueberry sauce, courgette and prawn lasagna…you get the drift?
reviewed
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La Casa del Abuelo
The ‘House of the Grandfather’ is an ageless, popular place, which recently passed its centenary. The traditional order here is a chato (small glass) of the heavy, sweet El Abuelo red wine (made in Toledo province) and the heavenly gambas a la plancha (grilled prawns) or gambas al ajillo (prawns sizzling in garlic on little ceramic plates). They cook more than 200kg of prawns here on a good day.
reviewed
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Café Iruña
Moorish style and a century of gossip are the defining characteristics of this grande old dame. It's the perfect place to indulge in a bit of people watching.
reviewed
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Organic
As you wander into this sprawling vegetarian spot, to the left is the open kitchen, where you choose from a limited range of options that change from day to day. Servings are generous and imaginative. The salad buffet is copious and desserts are good. The set lunch costs €9.50 plus drinks.
reviewed
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La Mejíllonera
If you thought mussels only came with garlic sauce, come here to discover mussels (from €3) by the thousand in all their glorious forms. Mussels not for you? Opt for the calamari and patatas bravas (fried potatoes with a spicy tomato and mayo sauce). We promise you won't regret it.
reviewed
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Txakolina
It calls its abundant Basque pintxos (tapas) ‘high cuisine in miniature’ – the first part is true, but these are some of the biggest pintxos you’ll find and some are a meal in themselves. It does wonderful things with seafood and potatoes too.
reviewed
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Restaurante San Marco
Once a place with a cult following for its pasta and pizza, nowadays San Marco's produces average Italian food. The setting of this particular branch is wonderful though, in a large refurbished Arabic bath. Try a plate of penne all'Arrabbiata and a glass of frosty white wine.
reviewed
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Sarasate
This bright, uncluttered vegetarian restaurant on the 1st floor offers excellent veggie dishes and gluten-free options. The quality is undoubted. It’s well worth getting stuck into one of its €14 menús del día.
reviewed
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Al Natural
Tucked away behind the Spanish parliament, Al Natural has an intimate ambience and terrific vegetarian food. There are the usual suspects such as salads and pastas, but some welcome creative touches, including grilled provolone cheeses, make this a terrific choice.
reviewed
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Zazu Bistro
Expect smooth sounds on the stereo, and Italian-inspired dishes including exceedingly moreish risottos (with wild mushrooms and similar). There are some culinary surprises as well, like that delectable British standard, sticky toffee pudding, for dessert.
reviewed
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Clandestino
A trendy warehouse-style restaurant with an exciting menu that fuses northern European and Latin cuisines. A good selection of vegetarian dishes is headed by silky felafel patties on a salad dressed with alfalfa sprouts and a dill yoghurt vinaigrette.
reviewed
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Casa Marcelo
Eating is an occasion at this mod-rustic gourmet dining den just down the hill from Praza do Obradoiro. A different five-course creative feast is prepared daily, with specialties like cockles with mango and pepper, and with the kitchen in full view.
reviewed
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La Tetería
Emulating many of Granada’s teterías, this inviting establishment near the Picasso museum complements a full menu of exotic teas with some heavenly homemade cakes and one of the best bowls of breakfast granola you’re ever likely to taste.
reviewed
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A Dos Velas
We’re fans of this place where the food is creative with Mediterranean cooking fused with occasional Indian or even Argentine flavours, a lovely dining area with soft lighting and exposed brick, and service that’s attentive without being intrusive.
reviewed