I’ve walked past S-Mari Cocina Bar countless times, thinking it was just another hostal with a bar. I even had breakfast there once, ages ago. But a friend recommended it for dinner, and I decided to give it another shot. To my surprise, it turned out to be a classy and welcoming local restaurant. It’s a delightful escape from the hustle and bustle of central San Antonio. Breakfast Bliss Every morning, they offer a fantastic breakfast selection. If you’re craving a traditiona

RESTAURANTE ASADOR TXAKOLI SIMÓN After a 15/20 minute walk from the Funicular de Artxanda (funicular railway), you arrive high above Bilbao at Restaurante Asador Txakolli Simón. The Friesian breed of cow is the favourite of Óscar García, the grill master at this restaurant, which stands out for its value for money. On busy days here, eight strips (rib strips) can be dispatched in a single service. When the sun is shining in Bilbao, you go to Artxanda, the viewpoint of Bilbao

For this visit to San Sebastian in June 2025, we concentrated on pintxos rather than sit-down meals. We started our pintxo tour in Parte Vieja (the old town). We always prefer hot pintxos, as they are made to order. The pintxos on the bar are not a problem, but you may eat too much bread! We tend to have no more than two pintxos and a glass of wine or beer per bar, so we don’t get too full too early. The best time to visit pintxo bars is 8.30 — 10.30 pm. Several pintxo bars a

RESTAURANTE ELKANO One Michelin Star Getaria is the picture-postcard Basque Country fishing village that produced designer Cristóbal Balenciaga, Plácido Domingo’s mother, and Juan Sebastián Elcano (the first mariner to circumnavigate the globe). You can wander down the old streets to the harbour, where you will see the fishing fleet, walking past various shops selling their wares. There are stunning little beaches here. Set on a crossroads above the harbour of Getaria, Res

CASA BALBINO Sanlúcar de Barrameda (or simply Sanlúcar) is a city in the north-west of Cádiz province, part of the autonomous community of Andalucía in southern Spain. Sanlúcar is situated on the left bank of the Guadalquivir River, at its mouth, opposite the Doñana National Park. Sanlúcar de Barrameda is one of Spain’s three best-known sherry-producing towns. (The other two are Jerez de la Frontera, for which sherry is named, and El Puerto de Santa María.) Although a seaside

RESTAURANTE SONÁMBULO A second review from our friend Bill Benham, on his brief visit to Cádiz. This restaurant is in a hidden spot with a beautiful interior. You will fall for the interior’s simplicity, with attractive retro and rustic details and plants and flowers adorning the walls. Their modern fusion cuisine combines traditional and exotic ingredients to create innovative dishes. We had a fabulous night in this fantastic restaurant with excellent service and incredi

RESTAURANTE CA’S MILÁ Michelin Plate IIO We revisited the stunning restaurant, which is high up and overlooks the great beach of Cala Tarida, in September 2025. It features a fabulous terrace area overlooking the sea, bathed in sunshine. The restaurant opened in 1987, and today, it is run by the second generation of the Milà family. The view of the stunning beach at Cala Tarida from the restaurant. As it was pretty windy, we chose to sit inside on this occasion and starte

CHIRINGUITO UTOPIA Updated August 2023 Unfortunately, since our last visit, the San Juan city council has decided to declare the Beach where Chiringuito Utopia was a virgin Beach, so for the moment, it will not be able to return. It is still a great spot to swim and sunbathe, but there are no facilities now. The new pictures show the beach as it was in August 2023. The bay is still a good place to swim and snorkel. CHIRINGUITO UTOPIA (August 2019) To find Chiringuito Utopi

If you're dreaming of sun-soaked beaches, crystal-clear waters, and a plate piled high with mouth-watering local dishes, the Balearic Islands should be at the top of your list. This archipelago off Spain's eastern coast is more than just stunning views and vibrant nightlife. It's a treasure trove of culinary delights that will have your taste buds dancing. Ready to dive into a world where tradition meets flavour? Let's explore the Balearic Islands' food guide together. Your U

RESTAURANTE CAN PUJOL We returned to Can Pujol in September 2025, after previously visiting during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when all the restrictions were in place. It was great to see everything seemed to be back to normal. Can Pujol started as a small snack bar over thirty years ago and is now a no-frills restaurant serving superb seafood. Pan con alioli We had a few dishes we had not had in previous visits, and started with some zambariñas (scallops) Al