

IBIZA - SANTA GERTRUDIS - BAR COSTA
BAR CAN COSTA For the cheaper pocket, head to Bar Costa in Santa Gertrudis de Fruitera, a pretty, and well loved little village in the centre of the island. There are many restaurants set around the village church in this lovely spot with a vibrant hippy feel. It's a great place to live, a few hours away from the interesting little shops, nooks, and crannies. Most Sundays, there is a church procession, with locals and tourists attending the Sunday service. There are many inte


LONDON - BERMONDSEY - JOSÉ - TAPAS & SHERRY BAR
JOSÉ TAPAS & SHERRY BAR Situated on a corner of the now-trendy Bermondsey Street, this cosy little tapas bar serves excellent, authentic tapas. Opened by José Pizarro with his eponymous restaurant, Pizarro, further up Bermondsey Street on the same side of the road. José is a buzzing spot for an atmospheric lunch or dinner. This is not a sit-down restaurant but a Spanish bar where you go to have a drink and some tapas, standing or sitting on stools around a barrel for a tabl


IBIZA - SANT CARLES DE PERALTA - BAR ANITA / CA N’ANNETA
BAR ANITA - CA N'ANNETA Located in Sant Carles (San Carlos), a tiny village (near Santa Eulària des Riu), next to the Sant Carles de Peralta church, this old bar and restaurant is one of the most famous and beloved in Ibiza. It became a must for bohemians and intellectuals in rural Ibiza. For many, it is one of the few remnants of the bygone hippy era, probably even the last. This place still invites you to spend a relaxing afternoon over coffee or a glass of Hierbas Ibicenca


IBIZA - SANT RAFEL DE SA CRUE - ASADOR CAN PILOT
ASADOR CAN PILOT We returned to Restaurante Asador Can Pilot, an old favourite in the small inland village of Sant Rafel de sa Creu (San Rafael). Since 1989, it has been an excellent place for traditional Spanish food, especially BBQ meat. The traditional, rustic Restaurant is always busy, and sometimes you may have to wait in the vibrant bar. There is a large BBQ grill in one corner of the room. The room is furnished with traditional Ibicencan wooden tables and chairs. We ha


ANDALUCÍA - SEVILLA - MARABUNDA FOOD
MARABUNDA FOOD This is an excellent bar on a quiet street in the San Lorenzo area of Sevilla. It has tall stalls at the bar or tables and chairs opposite. The open kitchen allows you to see the food being prepared. The tapas menu is short but well-executed. We have been here three times now. Gilda acostada, anchoa, boquerón, piparra y aceituna kalamata (gilda lying down, salted anchovy, pickled anchovy, piparra and kalamata olives). A must-try is croquetas de pato. Duck croq


ANDALUCÍA - A DAY TRIP FROM SEVILLA TO CARMONA
A day trip from Sevilla to Carmona Carmona is built on a ridge overlooking the central plain of Andalucía. To the north is the Sierra Morena, and to the south is the peak of San Cristobal. The city is known for its thriving trade in wine, olive oil, grain, and cattle, and it holds an annual fair in April. Carmona is among the most historic towns in southern Europe. It is walkable and is a living museum of the civilisations that have conquered it, from the Carthaginians to the


IBIZA - SANT ANTONI DE PORTMANY - HOSTAL LA TORRE
HOSTAL LA TORRE If you are looking for a great, chilled place to stay outside the hustle and bustle of Sant Antoni, head to Hostal La Torre. It is set high on a cliff called Cap Nde eget, about 4 km outside Sant Antoni de Portmany (San Antonio), looking out towards the luscious blue Mediterranean. Luscious gardens The terrace provides a stunning panoramic view of the beautiful surrounding area. It has a nice courtyard garden area to the rear and a lovely Restaurant with a won


IBIZA - SANT ANTONI DE PORTMANY - LA RELIGIOSA VERMUTERÍA
LA RELIGIOSA VERMUTERÍA Permanently closed 1/8/2024? This is the first vermuteria in Sant Antoni, the only other one in Ibiza is in Eivissa (Ibiza Town). They have around 20 different brands of vermut (vermouth), as well as wines, beers, etc. When we went in late September 2023, they had been open for around two months. Once settled in, we studied the menu. And started with two Spanish conservas (tinned seafood). They were on the other page! Berberechos Espinale (tin


ANDALUCÍA - SEVILLA - TAPAS TOUR 2 - 2023
We returned to Sevilla for the first time since 2019 after many false alarms over the past couple of years due to covid, cancelled flights, etc. This was our second tapas tour with our friend, Shawn Hennessey of Sevilla Tapas. You can see our 2019 tapas tour HERE ; all the bars are still valid. This time, we headed for the down-to-earth Tirana district of Sevilla, which is anchored by the Mercado de Triana, a lively market hall near the arched Puente de Isabel II bridge. M


LONDON - KINGS CROSS - BAR RIOJA
We visited the newly opened Bar Rioja in the Regent Quarter in Kings Cross, London. It is part of the Camino group, which has a significant presence in this area. This bar is dedicated to some of our favourite Spanish wines from the Rioja region of northern Spain. La Rioja, Spain's largest and most popular wine region, was the first to become internationally famous. It is also one of the 17 provinces of Spain, and the smallest. It lies in the country's north, approximately 12







