LA COSMO Michelin Bib Gourmand La Cosma is the younger sibling of Dani Carnero ’ s La Cosmopolita. It has a more modern vibe and setting, but still serves big-flavoured Andalucian cooking without any gimmicks. We enjoyed an excellent early dinner, sitting at the long bar looking into the open kitchen.  We started with some excellent bread. Ostras (oysters) La Gilda atún, tomate, piparra y anchoa (a new take on the Gilda, the iconic pintxo inspired by actress Rita Hayworth,

CAMBIO DE TERCIO Under Abel Lusa’s excellent hospitality and guidance, this restaurant has been a long-standing favourite in South Kensington for many years. It has become a standard-bearer for Iberian food in London. Most Hispanophiles consider it the best in town. On this occasion, we sat down, wrapped up on a reasonably chilly lunchtime, starting with a glass of Amontillado or Cava. Followed by, Pan cristal y Cinco Jotas Jamón Ibérico de Bellota 100% (Jabugo) Five Jotas Ib

RESTAURANT SALVADÓ This is an old-school, typical Ibicencan fish restaurant north of the island in Sant Carles de Peralta (San Carlos). Featuring fresh fish and rice dishes with a solid wine list and stunning sea views overlooking the little coves of Canal d’en Marti and Pou des Lleó Any lunch or evening meal at restaurant Salvadó is quintessentially Ibicencan and worth the trip. You start with an appetiser of high-quality bread, aioli, and olives. Mejillones picantes (spicy

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

ASADOR LA CASTILLERÍA To reach this meat mecca, just outside the pretty Andalusian hill-top village of Vejer de la Frontera, you must go up an extremely small road, but it is well worth the effort. You will find it is an idyllic setting amongst the trees, which ensures it is coolish on warm nights. Juan Valdés and Ani Melero run the restaurant. The restaurant is a selector, ager, ripener and steakhouse all in one. There are only a few of these around, and here they have their

TABERNA LA NIÑA DEL PISTO This is one of our favourite bars/restaurants in the old town of Marbella. You will find it hidden, down a small, narrow pasaje (passageway), but you won’t if you don’t pay attention to where you are going. This authentic Andalusian tapas bar is always busy with locals and tourists alike and is reputedly the oldest tapas bar in the Marbella area. The bar area inside is very traditional, beautifully decorated, with many photos of bullfighting scenes

LA SCROLLER We returned to this atmospheric beach restaurant mid-March on a sunny Monday lunchtime. We sat outside on the lovely terrace overlooking Playa Es Cavallet, as the weather was good.  In winter, seaweed is left on the beach to protect the sand; it is usually removed for the summer. If the weather is inclement, you can sit in the large dining room, which has a lovely open fire, for chillier low-season or winter dining. We started with a few aperitifs. Alioli con pan

VENTA EL TORO This is a small, discreet, countryside Venta without any pretensions. There are a few tables with a bar inside, and two terraces where most of the action takes place. Inside tables are used in more inclement weather. The terrace across the road runs over the stream that runs through Santa Lucía. Some of these tables were already reserved, so I suggest arriving early or making a reservation. The traditional inside area is wall-to-wall with their bullfighting phot

CAPOTE Y TOROS HAM & SHERRY BAR We returned to the little offspring of Cambio de Tercio, where you will find this lively little tapas bar specialising in sherry and Jamón and serving other delicious tapas. From the small menu, you can try: The wonderful 5J Cinco Jotas Jabugo Jamón Ibérico de Bellota. The patatas bravas here are served in all three of their restaurants and tapas bars. Tiny new potatoes are topped with a smooth tomato bravas sauce and a luscious dollop of sp

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