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

We often visit the Parque Natural del Cabo de Gata-Níjar in the province of Almería (Andalucía's most significant protected coastal area, with a wild, isolated landscape and a hot desert climate). This time, we went to Agua Amarga, which borders spectacular, barren spaghetti western territory. This low-key village packs in cool bars, restaurants, locals, and fishermen. Beside a headland of troglodyte caves at the southern end of the beach. Most of the tourists here are Spanis

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

SAN CARLOS BAR RESTAURANTE During our mid-March trip to Ibiza, we ventured up to the northeast of the Island and popped into Bar Ca n'Anneta, where I purchased a bottle of their famous homemade Herbes de Ca n'Anneta. The bar was pretty full for March. We then had a short drive to our first visit to San Carlos Bar Restaurante. This Uruguayan-style meat Restaurant has a relaxed atmosphere, ideal for groups and couples. It serves the finest cuts of grilled Uruguayan Angus meat,

Discovering Authentic Ibicencan Cuisine CAFETERÍA CA'N JORDI - LAS PUERTAS DE CIELO If you plan to visit, you'll need a car or a bicycle. From Sant Antoni de Portmany (San Antonio), drive towards Santa Agnés de Corona. At the T-junction near Cafeteria Ca'n Cosmi, famous for its tortilla (Spanish omelette), turn left. Once you leave the village, there are no signs, but the drive is straightforward. The views of the almond blossoms in February are breathtaking! Continue for abo

CHIRINGUITO SA FERRADURA (EL PIRATA) To find this great little Kiosk and beach, turn left at the sign for the Hacienda Na Xamena Hotel and Spa on the way down to Port de Sant Miquel Road (before you reach the port). At around halfway, you must take the right-hand fork turn and drive for approximately 2 km along a quite testing, bumpy Camino (un-tarmacked road) to arrive at the bay. The Kiosk with the pirate flag is situated on the beach and serves good-value meat dishes, fish

RESTAURANT CAMI DE BALÀFIA If you fancy something big and meaty in the evening (sorry, vegetarians, but this is probably not for you!), drive up restaurant Road, officially known as Carretera San Joan de Labritja (it's the second to last restaurant on the left, on the stretch of road going to the village of San Joan de Labritja from Eivissa (Ibiza Town). If you count down the kilometres of roadside posts, it is 15.4km. Here, you will find Camí de Balàfia, which is set back o

ES PINS When heading north of the Island on the famous Restaurant Road towards Sant Joan de Labritja, you will find this old-school, traditional roadside Restaurant, Es Pins. There is plenty of parking outside the Restaurant, which serves mainly Ibicencan staples such as roast lamb, pork chops, rabbit, pan-fried halibut, paella, and arroz de Matanzas (a traditional Ibicencan dish usually made in winter after the pig slaughter using pork, chorizo sausages, rice, and spices su

CASA JULIAN In March 2025, we returned to this remarkable, easy-to-miss little Restaurant, now famous on TV, in the Basque countryside town of Tolosa, 28 km inland from San Sebastián. Tolosa is a town and municipality in the Basque province of Gipuzkoa in northern Spain . It is located in the valley of the Oria River , and Casa Julian is directly across from the river. Once you find the Restaurant and walk in, you might think you are in the wrong place. You will see an are

RESTAURANTE CA'S PAGES This is one of the most historic restaurants in the north of Ibiza. It is run by two sisters, Carmen and Lucia, whose family started offering their traditional Ibiçencan cooking in 1972. It is located in the family home's basement and in the shaded, planted back garden. The outdoor, partly covered seating is beautiful, full of green plants and subtle lighting. If you come early, you have a great choice of seating. You will find big, long tables for fam