BILBAO - PLAZA NUEVA PINTXO BAR CRAWL On a recent trip to Bilbao, we had a little pintxo bar crawl around the Plaza Nueva. The arcaded Plaza Nueva is bustling with locals from early evening onward. Take note of the local tradition of pacing yourself when enjoying a txikito, a small glass of wine or beer. In pintxos bars, it is common for patrons to throw paper napkins on the floor, while only shy tourists tend to leave them on tables or other surfaces. On weekends, the area

AIRE GASTROBAR Michelin Guide A return to Aire Gastrobar. This longstanding favourite in Málaga City is ideally located in the heart of town, just a short walk from the Bullring (Plaza de Toros). After settling in, we began with Jamón ibérico de castaña-bellota from the Genal Valley in Ronda (this luxurious, melt-in-your-mouth Iberian ham comes from pigs fed on chestnuts and acorns). Croquetas de gambas al pil-pil con emulsión de sus cabezas (prawn croquettes in pil-pil sau

BODEGA BAR EL PIMPI We were with Mark Walsh of @walshjewellery in Malaga and popped into this lively bar, located in the historical city centre next to the Alcazaba, which is among Málaga’s most renowned establishments. El Pimpi is featured in virtually every tourist guide imaginable. Even with its popularity as a tourist destination, El Pimpi has preserved the high-quality food that made it renowned. It is reasonably priced. Bodegas Bar El Pimpi is an interesting maze-like

ALQUERÍA EL BROSQUIL This restaurant is a bit out of the way. You will have to go down an old farm road off the highway, then turn onto a gravel road that leads to a car park inside a beautiful orange grove. It is a bit like a farmhouse in the middle of a town and only 15 minutes from the city centre. You can have drinks outside on the terrace and take in a bit of the sun before taking your seats inside the restaurant. There is also a fun board in the terrace, where you can p

JOSÉ TAPAS & SHERRY BAR Situated on a corner of the now-trendy Bermondsey Street, this cosy little tapas bar serves excellent, authentic tapas. Opened by José Pizarro with his eponymous restaurant, Pizarro, further up Bermondsey Street on the same side of the road. José is a buzzing spot for an atmospheric lunch or dinner. This is not a sit-down restaurant but a Spanish bar where you go to have a drink and some tapas, standing or sitting on stools around a barrel for a tabl

O SOLAR DOS LEITOES This hidden restaurant is located on the outskirts of Monsanto and serves delicious traditional Portuguese cuisine, including some of the best grilled fish in Lisbon. This family business has been operating for three generations and is located in a remote, run-down residential area in Buraca. It’s not easy to find and is definitely off the tourist track. Even taxis with GPS often struggle to locate it! Don't let this discourage you. You'll be dropped off a

BAR PACO BUENO This is a traditional Pintxo bar with a social-club atmosphere, reminiscent of old-school style. It attracts a diverse crowd, including many local families and tourists of all ages. The bar prominently features themes of boxing, rugby, and Basque rowing, with its walls adorned with vintage memorabilia. It is run by owner Paco Bueno (who was a boxer in his younger days ) and his sons. It’s lively, entertaining and has a friendly atmosphere. The specialities incl

LA RIOJA - LOGROÑO PINCHO BAR CRAWL On our recent trip to La Rioja, we decided to take a pinchos bar crawl down the famous Calle Laurel in Logroño. These were our favourite bars and bites on this hectic but pleasant November evening. BAR CID Travesía de Laurel, 1, 26001 Logroño, La Rioja It is quite literally a hole in the wall and easy to walk past. The traditional Bar Cid has vines and grapes dangling from the wooden beam ceiling above the same pair of men hanging out at th

EL CELLER DE CAN ROCA Three Michelin Stars The second part of the 2009 trip to Catalunya was to the Roca brothers ' restaurant in Girona, which has been ranked number one in the world on a few occasions. El Celler de Can Roca is a restaurant in Girona, Catalonia, Spain, which was opened in 1986 by the Roca brothers, Joan, Josep, and Jordi. It was first located next to their parents' restaurant Can Roca, but moved to its current purpose-built building in 2007. It has been

LA AZOTEA Michelin Plate IIO UPDATED DECEMBER 2024 The branch in this review is now closed , but they do have two similar, excellent branches here. LA AZOTEA Calle Conde de Barajas 13, 41002 Sevilla +34 955 11 67 48 www.laazoteasevilla.com/es LA AZOTEA VINOS & TAPAS Calle Mateos Gago, 8, 41004 Sevilla, Spain +34 955 69 78 88 www.laazoteasevilla.es @AzoteaSevilla This is a review of the previous venue. A cosy and intimate tapas bar and restaurant just a five-minute walk