LA CASA DEL ABUELO We returned to one of our favourite bars on our recent trip to Madrid. The original tavern opened on Calle Victoria in 1906 as La Alicantina. During the 1920s and ’30s it became famous for its sandwiches, at one point selling more than 1,500 a day. Following the Civil War, when bread became scarce and was remarkably more expensive than prawns, the family began serving prawns instead. They proved so popular that they became the speciality of the house, a tra

MESÓN TXISTU Mesón Txistu is a little off the beaten track in Madrid. Pedro Abrego Velasco, a Navarrese restaurateur who grew up in San Sebastián, founded it in 1972. After spending ten years in Venezuela, Abrego returned to Spain and eventually settled in Madrid. Following the success of his first restaurant, El Caserío, he opened Mesón Txistu, bringing traditional Basque cooking to the capital. More than 50 years later, it remains resolutely traditional, specialising in exc

LA VENENCIA The fabulous La Venencia Madrid is like stepping back into an Andalusian sherry bar from the 1920s or ’30s. The bar has a fascinating history; many believe anti-Franco supporters met here during the Spanish Civil War. It is doubtful the place has changed much over the years, with its unassuming sign above the door, dusty old sherry bottles behind the bar, and vintage posters on the walls, all giving it great character. This refreshingly unmodernised, quirky old ba

EL BIGOTES The Fish Shack at Cala Mastella is also known as El Bigotes Ibiza, which translates to “The Moustache”, a nod to the proprietor’s distinctive whiskers. El Bigotes will be remembered for sitting at his table every lunchtime while enjoying a flagon of his favourite red wine with his fish and rice. Sadly, he passed away in 2025 at nearly 100. His funeral was massive on the island, with everyone paying their respects. Rest in peace, El Bigotes, and thank you for your i

ASADOR CAN PILOT We returned to Restaurante Asador Can Pilot Ibiza, which has been part of Sant Rafel since 1949, when Joan Ramon Boned built the original Taberna Can Pilot himself. One of the village’s first bars, it became a popular meeting place for locals and, in 1961, even acquired what is remembered as Sant Rafel’s first television. The original bar closed in 1970, and Boned’s son, Joan Ramon Serra, reopened it with his wife, Carmen Ribas, in 1989. What began again as a

RESTAURANT BALNEARI We paid a long-overdue visit to restaurant Balneari in Cala Carbó. The restaurant has been part of this small Ibiza cove since 1974, when it began life as a simple beach kiosk. Founded by Pepe Benet, the restaurant became one of the best-known traditional fish establishments in the southern part of the island. After Pepe retired, the business was transferred in 2005 to Antonio “Toni” Torres, one of his trusted employees. Toni now manages the restaurant. Mo

RESTAURANTE NIU BLAU We returned to Restaurante Niu Blau, which is one of Ibiza’s long-established traditional beach restaurants. Located directly on Es Niu Blau beach, between Santa Eulària and Es Canar, it has served customers for more than 40 years. Unlike many of Ibiza’s newer beach clubs, Niu Blau has retained the feel of a traditional Mediterranean seaside restaurant, specialising in rice dishes, fresh fish and seafood. Es Niu Blau is a small sandy bay surrounded by pin

LA CUCHARA DE SAN TELMO We visited La Cuchara de San Telmo, San Sebastián, one of our favourite pintxo bars in the old town, tucked away in a side alley off 31 de Agosto Kalea, at the back of the historic city. It’s definitely worth seeking out, so don’t hesitate to go in, even if it’s busy. La Cuchara de San Telmo is known for its traditional Basque spoon dishes, which differ from pintxos — small portions of food often served on a slice of bread and sometimes held together w

CHOCOLATERÍA SAN GINÉS The San Ginés Chocolatería & Churrería Madrid has been in business since 1894. It is one of Madrid’s most famous chocolaterías and is centrally located, just a short walk from Puerta del Sol. Open 24 hours a day, it has long been a favourite with Madrid’s late-night crowds, who head to San Ginés for something tasty and sweet after a night out. The chocolatería retains the atmosphere of a traditional late-19th-century café, with two floors, white marble

SA TRENKA RESTAURANT We decided to take a trip up north of the Island from Sant Antoni (San Antonio) to a beach and restaurant we had not been to before. We found Sa Trenka Cala Martina Ibiza on a stunning beach: a charming, unpretentious chiringuito with a great vibe, specialising in rice dishes and seafood. The perfect ‘alternative’ Ibiza to some of the trendy, expensive places in the south of the island. We booked a table for 2 pm and then walked along the beach. Current m