CANTO We came to Canto, a recent creation of Simon Shaw, of El Gato Negro Tapas fame, on an unusually sunny Sunday Lunchtime In Manchester, for a meal before going to the football at Old Trafford later that day. You will find this younger sibling of Simon’s in the heart of Manchester’s latest to be redeveloped neighbourhood, Ancoats, on Cutting Room Square. It is quite a stunning, ample space with blue Portuguese tiles that reminded me of a recent visit to Braga. They use th

APONIENTE Three Michelin Stars We returned to Angel León’s restaurant, renowned for its seafood cuisine sourced exclusively from the ocean. Our previous visit was to its former location in the centre of El Puerto de Santa María, which has since transformed into a more upscale tapas bar and restaurant. The new, far more glamorous place is just outside town, in what was an old flour mill, built in 1815. A small river/stream flows under the current building, and the energy gen

TAST- LLER PERMANENTLY CLOSED 2026? CLOSED 2026 ? Chef Mikel Peinador’s small restaurant is in a back alley loft off La Rambla. It serves excellent, innovative food in a wonderful environment. The restaurant is like a quirky host’s home and feels like a house dinner party. You think you are in his home, and he is cooking just for you. The loft is decorated with many interesting artefacts and close personal attention to detail. The only menu is the tasting menu, and ever

CASA MACA (HOTEL RURAL ES TRULL DE CAN PALAU) UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2023 Hotel Rural Es Trull de Can Palau was taken over by the Mambo Group around 2019 and renamed Casa Maca, so I don’t know if the information is correct. I believe they now have a minimum spend policy of €150 per person (to be paid in advance) and limit the table to a maximum of 2.5 hours. Many have complained that it is significantly overpriced. It is still a great venue, but you should be aware of the chang

RESTAURANTE LA SAL Las Negras is a Spanish seaside town in the province of Almería, belonging to the municipality of Níjar. It is located...

PERMANENTLY CLOSED IN 2023? S’ABEURADA DE CAN SIMONET Revisiting one of my favourite restaurants on the Island. Early coffee at the 17th Century Plaza opposite the village church here in Sant Francesc Xavier (San Francisco Javier) Then some shopping for souvenirs, a cup and a shirt and then lunch at my favourite place on the Island, Can Simonet For sangria Gazpacho Melt-in-your-mouth gnocchi with salmon in a cream sauce Duck and then a salad with cheese, grapes, peppers, and

TAPEO & WINE PERMANENTLY CLOSED 2021 This was our first visit to Tapeo & Wine in Deansgate, Manchester, as a precursor to the football at Old Trafford. The restaurant was opened in 2016 in the buzzing heart of Manchester by the Mata family (The owner’s Son, Juan Mata, is currently a Manchester United football player). There is a bright, modern bar and restaurant on the ground floor, looking out onto busy Deansgate. It also has another large restaurant bar downstairs, which

CASA MONTAÑA Michelin Plate IIO A delightful old tapas bar and bodega in the El Canyamelar fishing neighbourhood of València, down by the port area, which has been serving locals since 1836. They have left the interior and structure of that period intact, keeping original barrels behind the bar. Aside from the bar area, there is a restaurant behind it, accessible by ducking under the bar counter. This must be booked in advance, and the menu is slightly more elaborate. F

A three-day trip across the border into France took us to the southeastern region, with stays in Lyon and Vienne (35 kilometres south of Lyon, on the Rhône). Our third and final restaurant on the trip was a short walk from our hotel, next to the central train station in Lyon, along the sparkling banks of the river Rhône to, BOUCHON COMPTOIR ABEL BAR BOUCHON COMPTOIR ABEL BAR Neither a café nor a comptoir but a 400-year-old bouchon with an excess atmosphere. The restaurant h

A three-day trip across the border into France took us to the southeastern region, with stays in Lyon and Vienne (35 kilometres south of Lyon, on the Rhône). Our second restaurant on the trip was to RESTAURANT MOUTON-BENOIT Michelin Plate IIO The restaurant is 9km from Vienne. To leave town, cross Pont routier de Lattre de Tassigny and head towards the village of Givors. A few kilometres before Givors, you will see the restaurant on the right-hand side. This roadside est