THE FISH SHACK @ TALAMANCA Also known as Chiringuito Sa Punta, a tiny shack on the rocks perched delicately at the sea’s edge at the very end of Talamanca beach, this is hard to find, as there are no signposts or a roof. This is one spot you don’t often read about, making it all the more special. Head for the restaurant Sa Punta in Talamanca, and when you reach it, keep going past the rocks. Soon, you will see the tangle of umbrella canopies, wooden tables and plastic chairs.

CHOCOLATERIA SAN GINÉS The San Ginés Chocolatería & Churreria has been in business since 1894. It is the most famous and centrally located Chocolatería in Madrid. It is open all night, so when the late-night crowds exit the bars and dance clubs, they all head to San Ginés to fill their hungry stomachs with something tasty and sweet. The chocolatera is in an attractive location, with two floors of plush green velvet seating, marble tables, and many mirrors. There is also an um

ES REBOST DE CAN PRATS In September 2024, we returned to one of our favourite restaurants, serving traditional Ibicencan cuisine in Sant Antoni de Portmany (San Antonio). Located in a house built in the early years of the 20th century, it was one of the first shops in Sant Antoni. It sold food like chickens, eggs, cheeses, pebrassos, rabbits, vegetables, potatoes, and other products necessary for everyday life. When they opened in 1994, in the home of the current owners’ gran

ANTIGUA CASA DE GUARDIA After a visit to the Mercado Central de Atarazanas (Málaga’s local food market, which also has excellent tapas bars), a short walk will take you to the oldest bar in Málaga, founded in 1840. Here, they mainly sell Málaga sweet wine directly from the barrel. It is a typical spit-and-sawdust, old-fashioned drinking bar, and it is great fun. It’s like stepping back in time to one of the few places in Málaga that still maintains its atmosphere. Try the p

LA CEPA DE CÁDIZ This is a great local bar where you can drink beer, wine, or Manzanilla, accompanied by chicharrones, cheeses, and other products from the Sierra de Cádiz, cold cuts from Extremadura, and a large assortment of tinned preserves. It is a place with a lot of charm, a little piece of Cádiz in Málaga for gaditanos. We settled in and had, Anchoa y leche condensada (tinned anchovy and condensed milk). Chicharrones (Pork belly with spices such as paprika, oregano, an

I RESTAURANTE KAIA-KAIPE Michelin Plate IIO We returned to the fishing port of Getaria on the Basque Coast and revisited an old favourite, the excellent Restaurante Kaia-Kaipe. Getaria is the picture-postcard image of a Basque Country fishing village. Walking up from the car park, we approached the village. When you reach the restaurant, you can see the famous outdoor grill, where the fish is cooked over hot coals on open wire-mesh grills. The restaurant is divided into

CASA LABRA It is said history was made at this bar on the 2nd of May 1879 with the formation of the PSOE (Spanish socialist party), and on walking in, it appears you could still be back in 1879 as nothing seems to have changed since then! It is an excellent traditional bar. It is famous for its croquetas de bacalao. Some of the best in Madrid. The tajadas de bacalao are pieces of cod deep-fried in batter until crispy. They are served with wooden cocktail sticks or eaten with

KIOSKU CALA MASTELLA This beach bar on the island’s northeast is a local insider tip among Ibiza’s chiringuito lovers. It is sometimes unfavourably compared to the legendary fish restaurant El Bigotes, which sits to the left in the same bay. This is entirely unjustified, although it works on a different concept. Pepe Bonet and Angel Pins have created a true oasis of calm here and created honest, perfectly prepared food. They have six dishes (fresh fish, of course, hamburgers,

Vitoria-Gasteiz is the capital of the Basque Autonomous Community in northern Spain. The Gothic-style Santa María Inmaculada Cathedral features a sculpted facade and towering columns in the medieval quarter. The 17th-century Plaza de la Virgen Blanca features a monument to the 1813 Battle of Vitoria. The Church of San Miguel has a sizeable baroque altarpiece and a statue of the White Virgin, the city's patron saint. Beethoven dedicated his Opus 91, often called the " Battle

RESTAURANTE ES CUCÓ This restaurant is on the outskirts of Cala de Bou, moving inland. It is a great place to stop for a drink or for some affordable food. It is famous for its spit-roast chicken (with black pepper sauce) . Served with chips and salad. We started with a warm goat's cheese salad. It is a great, cheap meal. The chicken costs €11.50 without sauce and €14 with sauce. Along with the chicken, you will find boquerones (anchovies in oil, garlic, and vinegar), calama