RESTAURANT CAN RAFALET Tonight, my birthday dinner was mixed paella, finished with a hierbas liquor from the Balearic Islands, and served “en la casa” by the friendly restaurant staff. The place I chose for this orgy was Can Rafalet in Es Caló de Sant Agustí, which boasts the prettiest views on the Island. The sea is at its turquoise best here, and I like the paella. Other places serve rice with “some things in it,” but this place serves a paella worth its salt, studded with

HURRICANE HOTEL The palm-fronted Hurricane Hotel sits above the beach where the Mediterranean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean, with Morocco just 15 km away across the straits of Gibraltar. It is on the coastal highway outside the town of Tarifa. The laid-back Andalusian theme is set in lush gardens with a romantic dinner terrace with views across Africa. The wind and kite-surfing school helps you make the most of Tarifa's famous waves. With the quiet patio and garden, this place

LA FRAGATA I walked into La Fragata (founded by Mari y Juan in 1979), the restaurant just down the beach from me, and the waiters immediately grabbed my hand and hailed me, remembering me from last year. The owner came out and declared, “Jon Listen “, the man from California ......... It was close enough, and I felt like frigging Ernest Hemingway……… I have been craving fish, especially dorada (gilthead sea bream), and they have it. Some fish are priced by the kg, so be caref

DEESSA Two Michelin Stars Quique Dacosta has made his three-Michelin-star restaurant in Dénia a destination venue. He has now opened a restaurant at the Mandarin Oriental Ritz in Madrid so that guests can experience his talents in the Spanish capital. The restaurant is in the beautiful and opulent Alfonso XIII room, which overlooks the Ritz Garden. Diners are invited to taste one of two tasting menus designed by longtime Dacosta collaborator Chef Ricard Tobella. Clásicos de

RESTAURANTE SALTXIPI Chef Jon Ortega is at the stove grilling sensational-looking gambas, hake, monkfish, turbot and T-bone steaks. Famous for its spider crabs, which it keeps in the basement, this has become a place for trendy thirty-somethings. Look out for the Ibiza-style chill-out to be added soon. The food is traditional, so if you order turbot or red sea bream, you get that —no extras, expertly cooked. The menu is quite spider crab-based, so it should be with such a g

BAR RESTAURANT TOKI-ALAI Heading east along the coast road from Mundaka, you will find this lovely restaurant, which is situated on a beautiful little surfers’ beach. It is a reasonably large stone restaurant/bar. One glass wall provides a fantastic view of the beach. It is an excellent spot for a nice, relaxing lunch, trying a few delicious pintxos at the bar, or having a more leisurely meal in the evening. There is a very good menu del dia for €25 (weekdays) and €30 (weeke

CERVECERIA CATALANA Michelin Plate IIO A return to this restaurant in April 2022 for a few tapas when Covid-19 restrictions were still in place. All tables were spaced out, and the bar area had plastic shields. A nchoas escalivar. V ieira y gambas . The restaurant was not as busy as on previous visits, which is understandable given the COVID-19 restrictions. A previous visit in more convivial times. This is an excellent spot for tapas at the bar or a full-blown meal in th

SHUNKA After arriving 15 minutes late, after some difficulty finding the restaurant, we were told there would not be enough time for the tasting menu. After a few pleading, encouraging words, they relented and served us the Shunka menu. It is a charming restaurant with good furnishings. Menu Shunka €75 per person. Raw oyster with ponzu sauce. Red Mullet with ponzu sauce. Deep-fried hake cheeks. Sushi of smoked sardine. Steamed cockles, with sake. Sashimi. Tuna belly, sea urc

ROSARIO VARELA During our visit to Granada for the Premios Andalucía de Gastronomía 2022 (The Festival of Andalusian Gastronomy 2022), we had a couple of free nights and spent our second one here. Due to the still-in-play Covid-19 restrictions, there was no standing/eating at the bar, and everyone had to be seated. This is a little Local pearl in Granada. We went on a relatively quiet Sunday evening, when many other bars were closed, but still had to wait 10 minutes for a tab

TABERNA LA TANA During our visit to Granada for the Premios Andalucía de Gastronomía 2022 (The Festival of Andalusian Gastronomy 2022), we had a couple of free nights and spent our first one here. Due to the still-played Covid-19 restrictions, there was still no standing/eating at the bar, and everyone had to be seated. We waited 20 minutes for a table outside. The restaurant is a very cosy, tiny, crowded, and noisy taberna on a side street. There are three tables inside the