CAL PEP This place has been here since September 1989 and is as much a tapas bar as it is a restaurant. In fact, it is said to be "the best tapas bar in the world" and certainly one of the first of its type. The London restaurant Barrafina is supposedly based on the concept of Cal Pep. There are only twenty of the coveted seats at the bar, so to grab one, you need to queue on most days around twenty minutes before each service, which starts at 1 pm or 7.30 pm. There is also a

BAR SAN JUAN After a few local recommendations, we have been meaning to come to this restaurant in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, on the outskirts of Manchester, for some time. On this cold Monday evening in November, we finally made it. This restaurant is a traditional bar, serving authentic tapas. The atmosphere indoors is cosy and full of character, with bullfighting posters. This is a nice place to go to eat in Manchester. We picked quite a few of the tapas: Jamo croquetas (ham croq

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

VIVÉ BEACH CHIRINGUITO Open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in Winter. From 10 am until 6 pm. A favourite with locals, Chiringuito Vivé Beach is situated on the sand of the Platgeta de sa Punta (Platja es Vivé), an urban beach located between Ses Figueretes and Platja d'en Bossa. An area where you can take advantage of many aquatic activities, since it is well laid out and marked. It is a large sandy area that is a paradise for families. Additionally, the waters are shallow, mak

CAN RAMONET UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2025: We believe the restaurant is now owned by Pikes Hotel (just down the road), so prices, opening times, and conditions may have changed. This is a typical roadside café/bar/restaurant you will find when driving inland in Ibiza. It's a great place to disconnect from the island's hustle and bustle. Just past Pikes, on the way from Sant Antoni de Portmany (San Antonio), we stopped one day for a quick cold drink. A very happy waitress was singin

LA VENENCIA The fabulous La Venencia is like stepping back into an Andalusian sherry bar from the 1920s/'30s. The bar has a great history (it is believed anti-General Franco supporters would meet up here during the Spanish Civil War). It is doubtful the place has changed much over the years, with the unassuming sign above the door, the dusty old sherry bottles behind the bar and the vintage posters on the walls, which give the place great character. This refreshingly non-mode

EL FARO This hidden treasure, tucked away in the old fishing quarter of Cádiz, offers authentic Spanish dining. A locally popular family-run Restaurant. Nicely set-up tables and unpretentious cuisine, featuring outstanding fish and seafood dishes. In the past, we have eaten in the Restaurant and the bar area. It's a different place post-COVID. The bar has been revamped with three new rooms, each the size of the original. I miss the hustle and bustle of people and the theatre.

LA CASA DEL ABUELO We returned to one of our favourite bars on our recent trip to Madrid. A traditional Madrileño shrimp tapas bar founded in 1906 in the heart of the city. Nobody would think that over 100 years have passed since then, significantly since nothing has changed. It has passed through four generations of the same family, who have kept its traditions and authenticity. They serve all types of gambas and Langostinos. Gambas ajillo Garlic and chilli prawns Gambas a

TAST CATALANA Michelin Bib Gourmand With Chef Paco Perez at the helm, Tast Catalana opened in King Street, Manchester in 2018.  Although we are in Manchester quite often to watch football, this evening, Manchester United vs Olympique Lyonnais, this was our first visit here, on this chilly Mancunian spring day. They offer two different dining areas, both stylishly modern: a bar and terrace on the ground floor, and a casual Restaurant on the first floor. After settling in and

LA JOSEFITA IBIZA La Josefita is a lovely little restaurant in the backstreets of Sant Antoni de Portmany (San Antonio), near the infamous West End, which is currently undergoing a massive transformation. This new tapas restaurant, opened in August, pays tribute to Grandma Pepita - Josefa Pepita. The Josefita offers a concise menu of reimagined, familiar tapas. We started with; Sabrasada con calamares bebés (a stunning sabrasada with deep-fried baby squid) Albóndigas (incredi