CASA BOLSA 43 Excellent 19th-century, bohemian, shabby chic, five-bedroom, five-bathroom townhouse in a good spot. A bullfighting family owns it, so lots of memorabilia adorn the walls of this stylish house. Stylish bedrooms Ground floor Communal area First lounge The proprietor, Pilar, has an attitude of “mi casa, tu casa” (my house is your house), so you will get the run of the place, including the kitchen and the little terraces, during your stay. You can cook here and e

A FUEGO NEGRO NOW CLOSED NOW CLOSED At the back of the Parte Vieja (old town), the red-and-black scheme is as elegant as the food, which is miniature cuisine at its most exquisite. Grab a stool at the bar and try the delicacies on the counter or anything exciting-looking that is emerging from the small kitchen. Try: Olives with a splash of vermouth inside A shot of shrimp soup Ham coffee with gizzard cookies followed by icy blobs of spider crab. Mini Burgers T-bone popco

RESTAURANTE S. GIÁO Another trip across the Portuguese border. This time to Moreira de Cónegos, between Braga and Porto, and in the countryside near Guimaraes. Not the easiest place to find, even with a sat nav. When you do, you will see no name on the outside of a building which could be mistaken for a workshop. After walking around the building, we find the unnamed entrance door and walk into the delightful surprise of a stunning traditional Portuguese setting. The large w

CHIRINGUITO EL LIRIO (PERMANELY CLOSED, NOW A BURGER BAR!) There are many great things about Málaga. The big blue skies, 300 days of sunshine a year, the beaches and the food. Málaga has some of Andalucía’s best Chiringuitos. These are beachfront bars and restaurants that specialise in tapas, salads and above all else, lots of fish. You will find skewers of freshly caught and salted Mediterranean sardines, dorada (gilthead bream), lubina (sea bass), salmonete (red mullet) a

CAMBIO DE TERCIO Under Abel Lusa’s long-term, excellent hospitality and guidance, and chef Alberto Criado’s (Twitter @Alberto_Criado) creative dishes, Cambio de Tercio has become a standard-bearer for Iberian food in London. Most Hispanophiles consider it the best in town. You can choose from the traditional tapas menu, an inventive á la carte menu, or the reasonably priced tasting menu. On a recent visit, we had this tasting menu. Andalusian gazpacho, steamed king prawns

RESTAURANTE TXIKOTE (Permanently closed 2022) This excellent restaurant, set up near the old town of Conil de la Frontera, is Basque in origin and has a wine bar restaurant appeal with solid wood tables and chairs. There is a bar in the centre of the room, serving excellent wines by the glass, in a charming, rustic yet modern, light and lively setting. They are also outside tables where you can enjoy the nearly always present sunshine. The menu is extensive, with many t

EL RINCON DE JUAN PERMENENTLY CLOSED 2024 By Howard Goldsmith El Rincon De Juan is on Calle Episodios Nacional, one of the side streets off Calle Ronda and Avenida Alfonso XIII. Plenty of parking is available nearby. I recently met Alexis and his father, Juan, at the gym (Paidesport). Alexis speaks fluent English, and we had a Spanglish conversation about Spanish food when he told me that his parents own El Rincon De Juan in Elda and that I should take my wife, Gail, one da

IBÉRICA CANARY WHARF UPDATED APRIL 2025 - CLOSED Chef Nacho Manzano is the chef of the three-star restaurant Casa Marcial in Arriondas and the one-star restaurant La Salgar in Gijón. Both are in the northern Spanish region of Asturias. He has created the hot and cold tapa menus. The open kitchen lets you see all the action as it happens, and the bar offers a good selection of classic and signature cocktails, gin tonics, sherry, sidra, jugs of sangria, and a few beers. There

Vigo is the biggest city in Galicia and is in a stunning location. On the three miles of coastline that border the city, there are 14 golden beaches, eight of which have blue flag status. You can also visit Las Islas Cies (The Cíes Islands), a beautiful archipelago off the coast, easily reached by ferry. When arriving in Vigo, do what the locals do and head for Rúa de la Pescadería, one of many lanes in the old town, where granite tables are piled high with fantastic local oy