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

A three-day trip across the border into France took us to the southeastern region, with stays in Lyon and Vienne (35 kilometres south of Lyon, on the Rhône). Our third and final restaurant on the trip was a short walk from our hotel, next to the central train station in Lyon, along the sparkling banks of the river Rhône to, BOUCHON COMPTOIR ABEL BAR BOUCHON COMPTOIR ABEL BAR Neither a café nor a comptoir but a 400-year-old bouchon with an excess atmosphere. The restaurant h

A three-day trip across the border into France took us to the southeastern region, with stays in Lyon and Vienne (35 kilometres south of Lyon, on the Rhône). Our second restaurant on the trip was to RESTAURANT MOUTON-BENOIT Michelin Plate IIO The restaurant is 9km from Vienne. To leave town, cross Pont routier de Lattre de Tassigny and head towards the village of Givors. A few kilometres before Givors, you will see the restaurant on the right-hand side. This roadside est

A three-day trip across the border into France took us to southeastern France, where we stayed in Lyon and Vienne (35 kilometres south of Lyon, on the Rhône). Our first restaurant on the trip was LES SAVEURS DU MARCHÉ Michelin Plate IIO An attractive, well-run restaurant where the immaculate tables and chairs back onto stone walls. This contemporary decor is the ideal backdrop for chef Sebastien Désestet’s market-fresh products, which are full of flavour, as you would e

PERMANENTLY CLOSED IN 2023? As of July 2024, the site has been replaced by a new venue named CHIRINGUITO GITANA. KIOSKO LA FRANJA Jonathon Lipsin writes: This is my favourite swimming spot on the Island, situated on Platja de Migjorn, where I used to live behind the Piratabus. I enjoyed visiting La Franja, this little chiringuito, after my swim. A chiringuito is basically a wooden shack on the beach that sells basic sandwiches, tapas, cold beer, and wine. The people are frien

FINCA LISTONERO MAYBE CLOSED 2025 Reborn after the terrible raging wildfire that swept across the Sierra Cabrera and into the valley at Cortijo Grande and destroyed the previous fabulous incarnation in 2009. Finca Listonero is back and just as fabulous, now run by Ian and Sandra. They are very welcoming hosts and serve up excellent food. It is a boutique guest house and restaurant, hidden away amongst the mountains surrounding the beautiful valley of Cortijo Grande, near

RESTAURANTE TRIBECA Michelin Plate IIO This excellent restaurant is located in the residential barrio of La Buheria, an eight-minute drive from the historic centre of Seville (or a twenty-minute walk). It is modern and well-fitted, and the tables are not too close together. At least three waiters looked after us. The charming chef Pedro Giménez came out to explain the menu to us. He then took us downstairs into the preparation area to choose our fish and shellfish. We

LA CARBONÁ This spacious and elegant dining room is in what was once an Antiguo Casco de bodega (sherry winery/cellar). It was transformed into a fabulous restaurant showcasing the local food of Jerez de la Frontera and the rest of Spain, as well as local sherry wines. In this old bodega, light enters the room through the Spartan windows, bringing in the Jerezana breeze, especially on warm days, maintaining the optimum temperature for their wines. The room is on the origi