HOTEL CASA DE LAS CUATRO TORRES Cádiz is a city and port in south-west Spain. It is the capital of the province of Cádiz, one of eight that make up the autonomous community of Andalusia. The city is the oldest continuously inhabited city in Spain and one of the oldest in western Europe. Despite its unique site, on a narrow slice of land surrounded by the sea‚ Cádiz is, in most respects, a typically Andalusian city with a wealth of attractive vistas and well-preserved historic

UPDATED - APRIL 2025 - CLOSED In October 2021, we visited a Vilarnau cava-tasting evening with tapas at Ibérica Canary Wharf, London. A brief history of Vilarnau Cava. Members of the Spanish nobility, the Vilarnau family, settled in Penedés, Catalonia, in the 12th century. Vilarnau is a contraction of the Latin “Vila Arnau,” i.e., the Arnau family’s “country house” or “domus.” Formerly, it stood within the estate of the Castillo de Subirats, where vines had been grown since t

EL INVERNADERO RODRIGO DE LA CALLE One Michelin Star We had an enjoyable and excellent vegetarian meal at this newly awarded one Michelin star restaurant run by chef Rodrigo de la Calle, who has worked at various Michelin-starred restaurants over the years, especially with Martín Berasategui at his eponymous restaurant in Lasarte. We chos e the #VegetaliaPowe r menu at €135 (there are other menus at €95 and €65), including water, bread, cheeses, and pairing with their dr

VENETIIS RESTAURANT This restaurant is undoubtedly a great discovery for us in Benalmádena Pueblo. Chef Matteo Manzato mixes Italian and Malagueña cuisine to stunning effect in a carefully designed, atmospheric environment. It has its own style, mixing great service, excellent food, and fine cuisine. The presentation of every dish is an ultimate picture that everyone would love to share on Instagram. We had the extremely reasonable tasting menu, un paseo por Ventiis menú degu

CASA JULIAN This is an unremarkable, easy-to-miss little restaurant in the little-known Tolosa, 28 km inland from San Sebastián. Once you find it and walk in, you will think you are in the wrong place. You will see an area containing several fridges and a load of crates, and you are likely to turn around and walk out again until you are greeted warmly and seated in the old-fashioned dining room, which doesn’t look like it’s changed much in a century. The steaks are cooked to

HOTEL MiM IBIZA ES VIVÉ́ Fresh from a reasonably recent overhaul, in quiet Figueretes, about a mile from Eivissa (Ibiza town), This uber-chic Miami-style art deco hotel is an excellent destination for Balearic chilling. All rooms and suites had an upgrade. With a series of pool parties and fashion events in a high season packed with sexy bikini-clad dance divas recovering on white sun lounges from the previous day/night excesses, please be aware this hotel is an over-18s-only

RESTAURANTE ES VENTALL Michelin Plate IIO A visit to Sant Antoni de Portmany (San Antonio) during the Covid - hit summer of 2021 saw us return to one of our favourite restaurants. Since 2005, when the younger José Miguel Bonet took over, the traditional dishes have been given a slightly more inventive twist, while still including many of the Island’s favourites. There are various rice dishes, like paella, fideuá, arroz a banda, bullit de peix, and fish and seafood. The

RESTAURANTE TAST AVENIDAS After a long, gruelling day of shopping/exploring the old town of Palma de Mallorca, we popped into Tast Avenidas (one of the few Tast venues around town). This one is in a great location in the city centre next to La Rambla. After being seated, we chose from the mainly pincho menu (a pincho or pintxo is a small snack, typically eaten in bars, traditionally, in northern Spain and especially popular in the Basque Country, Navarre, La Rioja, Cantabria,

ES BARET This is a lively, casual, small tapas restaurant in a bustling area of Palma de Mallorca, a must for anyone wishing to try authentic, traditional Mallorcan food. They offer a wide variety of tapas, rice and other typical dishes, at very reasonable prices. Various paellas and rice dishes are available including mixed paella (seafood, boneless pork, chicken and vegetables), vegetable paella (seasonal vegetables, artichokes, mushrooms, carrots, red and green peppers, gr

MIRADOR DE LA VICTORIA This is a really great restaurant for anyone who enjoys a great view. The way to the restaurant is difficult, and you can only get there in your own car, but it is worth the trek up the winding hairpin road to the level of the Hermitage. Once you are there, just a few steps lead you up to a beautiful outdoor sheltered veranda, with tables laid out covid socially distanced but yet sociable. Most tables offer a beautiful view of the stunning bay of Pollen