VIVÉ BEACH CHIRINGUITO Open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in Winter. From 10 am until 6 pm. A favourite with locals, Chiringuito Vivé Beach is situated on the sand of the Platgeta de sa Punta (Platja es Vivé), an urban beach located between Ses Figueretes and Platja d'en Bossa. An area where you can take advantage of many aquatic activities, since it is well laid out and marked. It is a large sandy area that is a paradise for families. Additionally, the waters are shallow, mak

CAN RAMONET UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2025: We believe the restaurant is now owned by Pikes Hotel (just down the road), so prices, opening times, and conditions may have changed. This is a typical roadside café/bar/restaurant you will find when driving inland in Ibiza. It's a great place to disconnect from the island's hustle and bustle. Just past Pikes, on the way from Sant Antoni de Portmany (San Antonio), we stopped one day for a quick cold drink. A very happy waitress was singin

We often visit the Parque Natural del Cabo de Gata-Níjar in the province of Almería (Andalucía's most significant protected coastal area, with a wild, isolated landscape and a hot desert climate). This time, we went to Agua Amarga, which borders spectacular, barren spaghetti western territory. This low-key village packs in cool bars, restaurants, locals, and fishermen. Beside a headland of troglodyte caves at the southern end of the beach. Most of the tourists here are Spanis

LA VENENCIA The fabulous La Venencia is like stepping back into an Andalusian sherry bar from the 1920s/'30s. The bar has a great history (it is believed anti-General Franco supporters would meet up here during the Spanish Civil War). It is doubtful the place has changed much over the years, with the unassuming sign above the door, the dusty old sherry bottles behind the bar and the vintage posters on the walls, which give the place great character. This refreshingly non-mode

IBAI LONDON As we had previously been to the famous Ibai (click here to view) restaurant in San Sebastián (the original, run by Alicio Garro and his wife , not the current one Michelin-starred run by  Paulo Airaudo ). We thought it was time to try the much-talked-about ibai in London. This is a place to worship steak in Basque-style indulgence in London. It is an authentic taste of the Basque Country, right in the heart of London, set in an old industrial warehouse, where t

BAR SPORT We returned to Bar Sport, which remains somewhat of an insider tip. True to its name, it is particularly popular during sports events, but it offers some beautifully assembled pintxos throughout the week. This authentic bar serves traditional pintxos in a vibrant atmosphere and impresses further with its more than reasonable prices. Popular with locals, it offers a rustic interior and represents a traditional Basque dining experience, perfected by its good selection

GANDARIAS JATETXEA We returned to Casa Gandarias for our regular fill of pintxo de solomillo and red wine! We had a bottle of El Lagar de Isilla Paraje Peñalobos Tinta del Pais 2018 DOC Ribera del Duero . This was a good match with the solomillo. The famous Basque Gildas. Guindilla pepper, green olive and fresh anchovy - named after Rita Haywood (hot, tall and spicy). During this visit, we also had a sit-down lunch with a group at the restaurant. Something not done before a

EL FARO This hidden treasure, tucked away in the old fishing quarter of Cádiz, offers authentic Spanish dining. A locally popular family-run Restaurant. Nicely set-up tables and unpretentious cuisine, featuring outstanding fish and seafood dishes. In the past, we have eaten in the Restaurant and the bar area. It's a different place post-COVID. The bar has been revamped with three new rooms, each the size of the original. I miss the hustle and bustle of people and the theatre.

LA CASA DEL ABUELO We returned to one of our favourite bars on our recent trip to Madrid. A traditional Madrileño shrimp tapas bar founded in 1906 in the heart of the city. Nobody would think that over 100 years have passed since then, significantly since nothing has changed. It has passed through four generations of the same family, who have kept its traditions and authenticity. They serve all types of gambas and Langostinos. Gambas ajillo Garlic and chilli prawns Gambas a

CASA BIGOTE      Michelin Bib Gourmand It was in 1951 when a local sailor, Fernando Hermoso, opened a despacho de Vinos selling manzanilla to fishermen. Fernando grew an Errol Flynn-style moustache, and his friends started calling him "El Bigote".   Manzanilla, a salty, extremely dry sherry (the salt comes from the local bodegas' proximity to the sea air), originates from Sanlúcar de Barrameda, and you will still find it on almost every table. In 1970, Fernando Jr. took over