CASA PIEDRA Having driven past Casa Piedra (stone house) a few times, I went in to investigate and was surprised to find a true gem of a restaurant. The outside does not reflect the delights of the inside, w ith a covered garden terrace offering views of lemon, orange, and olive trees. There are three tasting menus at €65, €90 and a vegetarian tasting menu at €65. Additionally, the children’s menu is €30, and a full à la carte menu is also available. The kitchen is a Japanese

RESTAURANTE SA SOCA On the way to Sant Agustí from Sant Antoni, you will find this traditional, rustic, charming restaurant. Although it does not look exceptional from the outside, it would be easy to drive past. The entrance has a small bar area, with simple wooden chairs and tables, and small dining rooms with a fireplace. Once inside, you will find its large, vine-covered inner terrace, overgrown with plants, and a quiet countryside landscape twinkling in the background. T

CHIRINGUITO PACO If you are looking for fresh seafood, including an expansive range of fresh fish, on the beach at Estepona, this v ery authentic Spanish beach bar, which has been here since 1997,  is a great place to start. Once settled in, we had some excellent espeto de sardinas (sardines skewered and cooked over hot coals). Conchas Finas (local Málaga smooth clams) . Coquinas al ajillo y vino blanco (small flat clams from Huelva, with garlic and white wine). There is insi

CHIRINGUITO EL MADERO If you are looking for fresh seafood and a wide range of fish and rice dishes on the beach in Estepona, this chiringuito in a beautiful location is a great place for a meal and a drink . It is a great spot to relax, sitting outside overlooking the beach and the sea. What you will find here is fish, fish, fish, seafood, all of it in extraordinary freshness and quality. We started with a few, Boquerones fritos (fried anchovies) and an excellent bottle of t

CASA ELADIO Michelin Plate IIO Casa Eladio was founded in 1965 by Eladio Cabello Serrano. It was managed by José Eladio Cabello Santaella (the founder’s son) for 38 years during Marbella’s golden age. It has a contemporary, maritime-inspired décor that has been given a new lease of life, with José’s son, Carlos Cabello Jimenez (the family’s third-generation), now working in the kitchen. Carlos worked in Northern Spain and Málaga before returning to the family restau

BODEGUITA 1999 This was our second visit to this restaurant, just off the seafront in Alicante City. They specialise in anchovies and different cuts of steak. Chuletón, entrecot, solomillo, and many more, so make your choice. Antxoas del Cantabrico (anchovies from Cantabria). Txuleton en la mesa with fries and piquillo peppers. Pimientos del piquillo confitados. Txuleton a la plancha on the second visit. With a tremendous fresh salad. Also available are staples like Croquetas

O SOLAR DOS LEITOES This is a hidden restaurant on the outskirts of Monsanto. It serves delicious traditional Portuguese cuisine and some of the best grilled fish in Lisbon. It has been a family business for three generations and is in a remote, run-down residential area in Buraca. It is not easy to find, and it is definitely off the tourist track. Even taxis with satnav still seem to have a problem finding it! Do not let this put you off. You will be dropped off at the bott

CONDUMÍO GASTROBARr We went to Villena, a town in inland Alicante, to a restaurant we had not been to before, with our friend Howard Goldsmith of Alicante Sunshine Villas. When you arrive at Condumio Gastrobar in Villena, you will find it hidden at the side of an industrial estate. You can quickly drive past and around it several times. Do not, under any circumstances, miss out on this excellent restaurant. It is aesthetically beautiful and comfortable, with a chef from La

SUCULENT Michelin Plate IIIO On our trip to Barcelona, we visited the restaurant Suculent. This is a great place with no pretensions in the somewhat dodgy area of Raval, and it lives up to its recent good reputation. It has a creative and relaxed interior with a good atmosphere, a little rough and ready rather than sophisticated, but the focus is on what comes on the plate. There are two tasting menus; we chose the classic, a seven-course menu plus two desserts. The Classic

BARRA BAJA RESTAURANTE This excellent restaurant in the centre of Sevilla has an open kitchen. The food is structured as if in a market, with ingredients coming from oyster stalls, fruit stalls, fish stalls, butcher stalls, etc. The freshness of the local 100% Andalusian product is most important here. Once settled in, we had, Carpaccio de cigalas (langoustine carpaccio). One of the standout dishes. I do not know how they could have carpaccioed (if that is a word!) a langoust