UPDATED - APRIL 2025 - CLOSED In October 2021, we visited a Vilarnau cava-tasting evening with tapas at Ibérica Canary Wharf, London. A brief history of Vilarnau Cava. Members of the Spanish nobility, the Vilarnau family, settled in Penedés, Catalonia, in the 12th century. Vilarnau is a contraction of the Latin “Vila Arnau,” i.e., the Arnau family’s “country house” or “domus.” Formerly, it stood within the estate of the Castillo de Subirats, where vines had been grown since t

ES BARET This is a lively, casual, small tapas restaurant in a bustling area of Palma de Mallorca, a must for anyone wishing to try authentic, traditional Mallorcan food. They offer a wide variety of tapas, rice and other typical dishes, at very reasonable prices. Various paellas and rice dishes are available including mixed paella (seafood, boneless pork, chicken and vegetables), vegetable paella (seasonal vegetables, artichokes, mushrooms, carrots, red and green peppers, gr

An evening tapas tour in the stunning, sunny city of Sevilla with Shawn Hennessey of Sevilla Tapas. After meeting Shawn in the Plaza Nueva by the Hotel Inglaterra, we headed to our first stop at Bodeguita Romero. BODEGUITA ROMERO Calle Harinas, 10, 41001 Sevilla +34 954 229 556 www.bodeguitaromero.es This is the place to go if you want the best pringá montaditos (a small toasted bun filled with pork, chorizo, and blood sausage) in town. Their famous papas aliñadas (marinated

LOBITO DE MAR Michelin Plate IIO This beachless chiringuito on the N-340, on the outskirts of Marbella, is less expensive than Dani García’s other ventures; nevertheless, it still offers superb quality. It’s a very hip, modern and inviting restaurant with a vibrant atmosphere. On arrival, the fish in the display cabinet looked very fresh. I liked that they have made space for a tapas chillout section. We had a few tapas to start. Tapa de gazpacho. Tapa gambas blanco (w

Hotel Alfonso XIII Hotel Alfonso XIII After leaving our fabulous hotel, the Alfonso XIII, we crossed the Canal de Alfonso XIII via the Puente de San Telmo to the Triana district, where we visited several traditional tapas bars. The first bar we came across was, BAR SALOMÓN REY DE LOS PINCHITOS López de Gomara 11, 41010 Sevilla +34 954 33 35 21 If you are one of the few people who have never tried a pincho Moreno (spiced pork skewers) or papas bravas And if you happen to be in

EMBER YARD During a visit in September 2021, the food was not as good as in previous visits, and in a couple of cases, it was even poor, which was disappointing. In 2025, Chef Ricardo Sapimental updated the menu, and we believe it is now back to its best, although we haven’t been there again yet. This review is from 2019 Located in the ever-busy Soho, Ember Yard serves up excellent Spanish / Italian tapas cooked over Basque charcoal grill (embers, get it?) from the people beh

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

BARRAFINA One Michelin Star Barrafina moved to a new address in Soho, from Frith Street to 26-27 Dean Street. We thought we would try the new venue on this midweek evening in March. As usual, it was busy, so we had to wait 45 minutes to be seated. Once at the bar, we tried these dishes. Pimientos de Padrón y jamón croquetas. Paletila Ibérica Lenguado en salsa de almendra (sole in almond sauce) Solomillo Rubia Gallega (sirloin steak from Galicia) The food is still delicio

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