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

RESTAURANTE ES CUCÓ This restaurant is located on the outskirts of Cala de Bou, heading inland. It is an excellent place to stop for a drink or some reasonably priced food. Es Cucó Ibiza began as a family business in the 1960s, founded by Vicent Marí and Pepa de Can Garxò des Pou. Originally a traditional local shop with a small bar attached, it became a popular meeting place for locals and workers from the area’s developing hotels. In 1977, the shop and bar were separated, a

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! The picture below shows old prices. Current prices (2026) Cod croqueta: €1.70 each Tuna pickled banderilla: €2.25 Tortilla: €6.90 Tajadas de bacalao: €2.30 It is a fantastic traditional bar. It is famous for its croquetas d

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

ASADOR CAN PILOT We returned to Restaurante Asador Can Pilot Ibiza, which has been part of Sant Rafel since 1949, when Joan Ramon Boned built the original Taberna Can Pilot himself. One of the village’s first bars, it became a popular meeting place for locals and, in 1961, even acquired what is remembered as Sant Rafel’s first television. The original bar closed in 1970, and Boned’s son, Joan Ramon Serra, reopened it with his wife, Carmen Ribas, in 1989. What began again as a

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

Pamplona/Iruña is the historical capital of Navarre/Navarra and was the capital of the medieval Kingdom of Navarre. In the early 16th century, Castile conquered the southern part of the kingdom and later incorporated it into the Crown of Castile. The city is famous worldwide for the running of the bulls during the San Fermín festival, which is held annually from July 6 to 14. This festival gained literary renown with the 1926 publication of Ernest Hemingway’s novel, The Sun A

LA RIOJA - LOGROÑO PINCHO BAR CRAWL On our recent trip to La Rioja, we decided to go on a pincho bar crawl down the famous Calle Laurel. These were our favourite bars and bites on this hectic but pleasant November evening. Our Logroño pinchos crawl took us through some of the city’s best-known traditional pinchos bars. BAR CID Travesía de Laurel, 1, 26001 Logroño, La Rioja It’s truly a hole-in-the-wall spot and easy to overlook. Traditional Bar Cid features vines and grapes h

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