MADRID TAPAS BARS IN THE CALLE DE JESÚS AREA Just a short walk from the Prado Museum, Calle de Jesús and the surrounding streets are home to some of Madrid’s most traditional tapas bars. From lively neighbourhood taverns to historic establishments serving excellent wines, croquetas, seafood, and conservas, this area is a wonderful place to explore Madrid’s authentic tapas culture. CERVANTES Plaza de Jesús 7, 28012 Madrid +34 914 29 60 93 We did not eat here this time, but it

CASA TONI Casa Toni is a traditional Madrid tapas bar situated at Calle de la Cruz 14, between Puerta del Sol and Plaza de Santa Ana. Established in the 1960s, this family-style tavern has retained the character of an old-fashioned Madrid bar, serving generous portions of traditional Spanish food without unnecessary frills. At first glance, it doesn’t look like much. However, give it a try. The food is excellent for the price, and there are always plenty of locals, which is u

LA TERRETA TAPAS Y MÁS La Terreta is a true hidden gem in San Antonio, Ibiza, and we arrived with very few expectations. This spot is a relatively recent addition to Sant Antoni’s traditional tapas scene. The small neighbourhood bar was already established by 2023 and is run by Lorena and her husband Marco, who does the cooking. Rather than following the increasingly fashionable style of many Ibiza restaurants, they have kept things simple, concentrating on traditional Spanis

CASA LABRA Casa Labra Madrid dates back to 1860. History was made at this bar on 2 May 1879, when the PSOE (Spanish Socialist Party) was formed. When you walk in, it feels as though you’ve stepped back to 1879, as not much seems to have changed since then! It is a fantastic traditional bar. It is famous for its croquetas de bacalao. Some of the best in Madrid. The tajadas de bacalao are pieces of cod deep-fried in batter until crispy. They serve around 2,100 tajadas de bacala

LA CASA DEL ABUELO We returned to one of our favourite bars on our recent trip to Madrid. The original tavern opened on Calle Victoria in 1906 as La Alicantina. During the 1920s and ’30s it became famous for its sandwiches, at one point selling more than 1,500 a day. Following the Civil War, when bread became scarce and was remarkably more expensive than prawns, the family began serving prawns instead. They proved so popular that they became the speciality of the house, a tra

LA VENENCIA The fabulous La Venencia Madrid is like stepping back into an Andalusian sherry bar from the 1920s or ’30s. The bar has a fascinating history; many believe anti-Franco supporters met here during the Spanish Civil War. It is doubtful the place has changed much over the years, with its unassuming sign above the door, dusty old sherry bottles behind the bar, and vintage posters on the walls, all giving it great character. This refreshingly unmodernised, quirky old ba

ANYWAY WINE BAR Mark Walsh visited Anyway Wine Bar in Málaga City, founded in 2018 by local entrepreneur David Camino after returning from working abroad to pursue his idea for a wine-centric concept in Málaga. It is a wonderfully cool place for serious wine drinkers, quite near the paseo marítimo. It’s the perfect spot for an early evening drink after work, popular with the city’s creative crowd. With over 200 wines, all served by the glass, the list is quite extraordinary

We wanted to explore the charming traditional tapas bars in Estepona’s old town and discover the great prices for a beer and a tapa! These bars play a vital role in preserving the authentic character of the old town, and it’s important that we cherish and support them for future generations Our first stop was at BAR LA ESQUINITA Calle de Pozo Pila, 30, 29680 Estepona, Málaga A tiny bar with a warm welcome from Paco, the owner; this is one of the few remaining authentic tapas

LA JOSEFITA IBIZA La Josefita is a charming little restaurant located in the backstreets of Sant Antoni de Portmany (San Antonio), close to the famous West End, which is currently undergoing a significant transformation from its previous, wilder incarnation. This tapas restaurant, opened in August 2023, pays tribute to Grandma Pepita - Josefa Pepita. The Josefita offers a concise menu of reimagined, familiar tapas. We started with; Berenjena frita (deep-fried aubergine). Tost

SEGOVIA During our visit to Madrid, we stayed one night in Segovia (it is also an easy day trip from Madrid; it’s a short 25-minute ride by high-speed train, but it feels like a world away the minute you arrive). The mountain range seen from the train station is known as La Mujer Muerta (The Dead Woman). From the plains around Segovia, the peaks form the outline of a woman lying down. Her head, torso and feet are clearly visible. The effect is strongest at sunrise or sunset,