EL GATO NEGRO TAPAS Michelin Bib Gourmand Simon Shaw opened El Gato Negro Tapas in an empty former pub in Ripponden in 2005. With a view to good luck and a nod to a favourite old shop in Madrid, he named it El Gato Negro (Spanish for the black cat). Strangely, it later transpired the pub had been called the Black Cat many years before. El Gato Negro’s move from the Pennine village of Ripponden to Manchester has proved a great success story. Simon, whose love of Spanish fo

CASA PUGA There is no more classic bar in all of Almería than this one. It is an old-style bar known for traditional Andalusian tapas steeped in history. It dates back to 1870, undoubtedly one of the oldest in Almería. Overloaded with ancient wine bottles on dusty shelves, tiled walls, a marble bar, an exposed iron grill, and hanging Jamónes, these are key parts of the decoration, as are the several non-stop waiters. All the tapas are excellent but straightforward. Try, Ques

CAFÉ BAR FLOTANTE The mythical Bar Flotante (floating bar) is set on the shore of the stunning Platja de Talamanca, just outside Eivissa (Ibiza Town).  Along with its neighbour, Hostal Talamanca, it has been here since the 1960s. Serving locals and tourists alike. You will find nothing fancy here, nor do you need it. The service isn't great or fast, but if you're on vacation and not in a rush, you can enjoy the ambience for as long as you like. The food is basic but decent, w

We spent a few days in Alicante City in October. Arriving late on Saturday night, we checked into our hotel and then headed to  GASTROBAR DISTRIKT 41 Michelin Plate IIO Calle de Navas, 41, 03001 Alacant, Alicante +34 965 181 426 www.distrikt41.es This is an extraordinarily buzzy and busy bar/restaurant with modern décor and a great ambi e nce. It is run by two chefs originally from the Netherlands. They have a contemporary à la carte menu with a few Central European influen

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

RESTAURANTE ES VENTA LL Michelin Plate IIO We returned to one of our favourite places in Sant Antoni de Portmany (San Antonio): Es Ventall. The restaurant has been open for over 35 years. Since 2005, when the younger José Miguel Bonet took over, the traditional dishes have been given a much more inventive twist. However, they still include many of the Island's favourites. These include rice dishes, such as paella, fideuá, arroz a banda, bullit de peix, and fish and seafood

ANTONIO BAR If you sometimes need a change of pintxo bars from the Parte Vieja (old town) or the Gros area across the bridge, head to the central location and Antonio Bar. It’s an unassuming, tiny place that’s always busy, with primarily local customers. You will find a few seats inside by the bar and more outside, where the jovial waiter will serve you. Finding a space may take a minute, but the turnover is pretty quick. It is a great spot to enjoy, Txistorra (spicy sausage

MANERO ALICANTE - MANERO MOLLÁ On our few-day trip to Alicante, we ate on a Monday evening at Bar Manero Alicante—Manero Mollá —which was quite busy for a Monday. This is an elegant and lively tapa bar in the middle of town, not just in style but also in food quality. The deli counter has carefully prepped plates of food above the beautiful mosaic floor. The tapas menu sticks to the standards but is thriving with every one of them. After sitting down, we had an appetiser.

TITAS GASTROBAR This is the second restaurant our friend Howard Goldsmith, who lives in the area, took us to. It was a completely different experience from the first one, which was very traditional, but both were very good in their own way. Titas gastrobar is in the old historic centre of Villena and serves tasty, well-presented food, whether you are vegan, vegetarian or carnivorous. There’s a real buzz about the place, with many locals sharing tapas at the bar. This gastrob

TABERNA MANOLO CATECA Tucked away in a corner alleyway, this hidden gem gives you the feel of being a local. The bar has been on this side street since 1920, when it was a wine despacho. In 1952, it became Taberna La Goleta. The current owner, Manuel Navarro, who goes by Cateca (hence the new name), took over around 12 years ago. Although small inside, it always seems popular, day and night, as it is packed with people standing outside drinking and enjoying Sevilla’s nightli