Castilla y León
El Aljibe varies a little from the Medinaceli norm with a bright, contemporary dining area and occasional subtle twists on traditional dishes – we…
Must-see restaurants in Spain
Palma de Mallorca
This appropriately named restaurant offers a tranquil respite from pavement pounding. Head for the 'secret garden' out back with its sprawling wisteria,…
La Ribera
Hang out in El Born for a few days and you'll inevitably end up at this pint-sized, always-busy, unadorned spot devoted to great-value 'Asian tapas'…
La Palma
This sharp-looking restaurant right by the roadside has picture windows and a terrace overhanging stunning sea views with a dining room that has had the…
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
The superb pastries are what keep customers flocking back to this utilitarian-looking orange-themed place with a big reputation. The mini-bocadillos …
Bilbao
Occupying a former salt warehouse, this low-lit space with exposed stone walls and elegantly set tables makes an atmospheric backdrop for high-end cooking…
Barcelona
Launched by neighbourhood chef Fran Manduley, this smartly updated Sant Antoni bodega with oversized mirrors, wine-barrel tables and bottle-lined walls…
Catalonia
Original tiling and stonework adorn Boira's elegant multi-room interior, where tables are sprinkled across an atmospheric old-town house. It's the perfect…
La Rambla & Barri Gòtic
Black-and-white marble floors, a smattering of old wooden tables and ramshackle displays of musical instruments lend a bohemian charm to this warm…
El Raval
Regularly lauded as one of the best veggie restaurants in the city, fun and cosy Sésamo transforms fresh, local ingredients into artful tapas: goat's…
Bilbao
Seafood stars at this backstreet bar-restaurant near Plaza Nueva, appearing in dishes such as cider-marinated sardines, chargrilled octopus, mussels…
San Sebastián
At the foot of Monte Igueldo in the San Sebastián Royal Tennis Club, this restaurant has a white-dressed dining room and al fresco terrace overlooking the…
La Rambla & Barri Gòtic
Mirilla is a great place to stumble upon, with excellent wines by the glass and well-executed cocktails, along with a range of smartly presented seasonal…
Los Caños de Meca
Now a stylishly contemporary space looking out on southern El Palmar's beach, long-established Casa Juan specialises in elegant renditions of Atlantic…
La Ribera
A locally popular stop inside the Mercat de Santa Caterina, old-school Bar Joan is known especially for its arròs negre (cuttlefish-ink rice) on Tuesdays…
La Latina & Lavapiés
The stunning restoration work that brought to life the Posada del León de Oro also bequeathed to La Latina a fine bar-restaurant. The emphasis is on…
L'Eixample & Southern Valencia
Occupying a classic centenarian Valencian delicatessen-turned-wine-shop, this place offers tables among the bottle shelves and an air of benign clutter…
Zaragoza
A tightly squeezed hubbub of a bar where you place your order then wait for the barman's bellow to tell you it's ready. The papapico (minced pork and…
Costa Brava
Seasonal, local ingredients fuel fun, imaginative, elegantly prepared degustation menus at this intimate, stone-walled, bodega-like eatery. Over five or…
La Ribera
Influenced by culinary flavours from all over the globe, rustic-modern El Atril delivers on both classic tapas (patates braves, Iberian ham boards, goat's…
Cádiz
Cádiz' neoclassical 1838 Mercado de Abastos is the setting for this ultra-buzzy globe-roaming gastromarket. Sample gloriously simple local specialities…
Santander
A welcoming, good-value seafood spot convenient to all transport terminals and the city centre. Go for a plate of the Santander speciality rabas de…
Nerja
On a sunny day – ie almost any day in Nerja – head straight for this sprawling terrace overlooking pristine Playa Carabello. The menu abounds in…
Playa Blanca
Hidden away in a charmingly homey 1st-floor dining room overlooking the seafront promenade is this busy meat-and-seafood specialist where a welcoming team…
Puerto del Carmen
Tempting pintxos (Basque tapas) are piled up on the bar northern-Spain-style at this easy-going old-timer with a roomy terrace overlooking the fishing…
Aragón
A recently opened new venture by a top Teruel tapas bar of the same name, Barrica takes a refreshingly adventurous approach to classic ingredients, with…
Salamanca
Fresh Mediterranean tastes, switched-on waiters and an attractive stone-walled dining room make this a terrific choice a block from the Plaza Mayor. It's…
Parte Vieja
The red-brick interior walls and white tablecloths lend an air of class to this restaurant, whose modern takes on Basque classics continue to make waves…
Aragón
Trasiego and its adjoining gastrobar Trastienda offer delicious dishes in a setting – the Somontano DO's modern headquarters – that's as contemporary as…
Barcelona
Run by friendly English-speaking staff, this delightful independent cafe has earned a following for its delicious home-baked treats, including ricotta-and…
Lanzarote
The perfect down-to-earth spot for a bite near Timanfaya, Las Malvas serves cracking tapas of paella, papas arrugadas, fried-egg-and-chorizo croquettes…
Valencia's Beaches
Pretty in turquoise and white, this idyllically situated beachfront place has comfy outdoor seating, a hipster vibe and a big interior and patio. It's a…
Aragón
This place wins plaudits for its roast ternasco (suckling lamb), barbecued beef tenderloin and pochas viudas, a local beans-and-veggies stew. It's set…
Arcos de la Frontera
With its spectacular cliff-side terrace and countryside views, this classically smart parador restaurant is Arcos' most elegant. The local-inspired menu…
Galicia
The crowd regularly spills on to the street from this tiny, old-fashioned place with blue-and-white tiling, small blackboard menu and, for some reason, a…
Costa da Morte
Top-notch fish and shellfish a la brasa (char-grilled) and Galician steaks are favourites at this popular port-facing restaurant. Modern black-and-white…
Barcelona
Occupying the 1913 Casa Roviralta, a striking Modernista creation by Joan Rubió i Bellver, with stained-glass windows, Moorish-style brick arches and…
South Ibiza
Perched on white sands towards the southern end of Es Cavallet, Chiringay is a lively gay-scene chiringuito with stylish white-and-turquoise decor and DJ…
Andalucía
Look for this wonderful local restaurant in a whitewashed building on the main road just west of town. Since 2000, Señor Curro has been delighting…
Granada
Granadina chef Lola Marín, who trained at some of Spain's top restaurants, unveils her gourmet, market-based cuisine in a tucked-away, white-tablecloth…
