Which is your favourite restaurant in Spain???

[Marina]

I thought that it may be useful for future visitors to Spain if you list YOUR favourite restaurant/s in Spain.

Don't forget the name and location of the restaurant or bar, and if you happen to have the address then add it as well.

I might add a few, but I want to start with a vegetarian one because I know vegetarians have a difficult time in Spain as there is not much offer on vegetarian food in normal restaurants, apart from the starters.


NAME: Granero de Lavapies
LOCATION: MADRID (Near Lavapies metro station or 5 minute walk from Reina Sofia museum)
ADDRESS: c/ Argumosa, 10

This is a very basic restaurant in Madrid, no luxuries but at the same time it has the charm of the old times. Lovely mosaic floors and beautiful high celings. It is great for "menu del día" (lunch time set menu) because it has some vegetarian version of really Spanish dishes: like "Migas" on saturdays (cooked bread crumbs) or "Paella" (possibly on thursdays but I'm not sure).

It is in Lavapies, which has been mentioned in other topic of the forum as a not recommended area in Madrid, but in fact a quite interesting one. Its buildings are around 100 years old and the distribution of the streets is in the old way of narrow streets to avoid the heat as much as possible. (Ben and me lived in the area for 3 years). It is also very conviniently placed near the "Reina Sofia museum" so it could be a lunch option after seeing the Gernika of Picasso.

[antonluque]

If you go to Seville and you want to enjoy our excellent "Tapas", here you have a list with a few places you can't miss...

BODEGUITA ROMERO
Location: Close to Plaza Nueva
Address: c/ Harinas

CASABLANCA
Location: Close to Plaza Nueva
Address: c/ Zaragoza

PEPE HILLO
Location: Next to Maestranza Bullring
Address: c/ Adriano

LAS GOLONDRINAS
Location: Triana
Address: c/ Antillano Campos

[Marina]

Thanks Antonluque,

I wonder if I've been to "Pepe Hillo". I was once in a Tapas bar at the back part of the Seville bullring where I had the most delicious "Salmorejo" I've ever tried. I liked it so much that went two days in a row.


If you happen to know other restaurants in other parts of Andalucia (Almeria for example) it would be great if you could list them at some point. ;)


Thanks again,

Marina

[antonluque]

Marina is right ;), I also know some places in Almería where you can also have very nice tapas, here is a little list...

CASA PUGA
Location: Next to Calle Real
Address: c/ Jovellanos

LAS BOTAS
Location: Close to Puerta Purchena
Address: c/ Fructuoso Pérez

EL QUINTO TORO
Location: Next to Plaza de Abastos
Address: c/ Juan Leal

TABERNA TORRELUZ
Location: Close to Puerta Purchena
Address: c/ Plaza Flores

[Marina]

Thanks for sharing very useful information with everyone.
I can't wait to go down to Andalucia to try some of your suggestionsl!!!


My suggestion today is an Asturian restaurant. It has just change location and I still haven't been in the new one, but I've heard that the food is still the same. Very large portions that come in a tray so they can be shared. For starters they have delicious Fabada, great Cabrales y Tortilla Asturiana.
For seconds try the delicious hake.

NAME: Casa Hortensia
LOCATION: MADRID
ADDRESS: Farmacia 2, Segunda Planta

[DUH CAR]

I'll add these to my list.

[Marina]

My friend Patricia goes on holiday to the "Costa Brava" every summer since she was a child. She has suggested the following restaurants in the area:

-CANDELARIA: Romantic atmosphere
Location: Peratallada
Tel no 972 634 181

-CAN BECH: In a typical catalan house called "Masia", they serve very nice fish.
Location: Fontanilles
Tel no 972 759 317

-RESTAURANRE EL ROSTEI: They have very delicious straberries with chocolate
Location: Begur
Tel no: 972 624 215

-CAN TORRADES: Good for the price they serve the typical "Pan con tomate" and "Embutido" (ham, chorizo...)
Location: Begur
Tel no: 972 622 881

-TRAGAMAR: Recommened for its sea view, perfect for a daytime meal.
Location: En Calella
Tel no: 972 615 189

-SA RASCASSA: In a small beach between Cap sa Sal and Sa Tuna, good food and good price.
Location: Aiguafreda beach
Tel no: 972 622 845.

[cascada]

Today I ate at A 2 Velas in Bilbao on Calle San Vicente Ferrer (in Madrid) or something like that. It is my new favorite.... great food .. and apparently they have a gimic where their menu is cheaper at the end fo the month - since I guess they think people are running out of money :-) Cute huh? I had the merluza and a spectacular Tarta de cebolla y manzana that I thought sounded really weird but was WONDERFUL

[Marina]

Thanks cascada we will defenitely try that one at some point...
I like the idea of the cake!!!

[simonb]

My favourite so far is called L'Olivé in Barcelona:

http://www.rte-olive.com/

Balmes, 47. Entre Consell de Cent y Aragó

Superb seafood. I had small squid, simply sautéd followed by a salt cod and chickpea stew.

My host ordered a bottle of red wine which was 15.5% so the details of the rest of the evening are a little blurred!:confused:

[ValenciaSon]

When I was a kid, I lived in Valencia for 1 year. There used to be a restaurant in downtown Valencia called Barrachina. It had outdoor cafe tables that spanned around the block! The chocolate and churros were excellent. Another restaurant we went for that same treat was Santa Catalina.

I guess I'm due for a trip back to Spain to expand my restaurant repertoir.:rolleyes:

[mark.n]

Hola the best place to eat for me is El Limonar de Soano C/.Rubio Santander. Great mix of new and classic spanish food. Good wine list. I have been eating there for 8 years every time i come to the area

[José Miguel]

The best restaurant to taste classical dishes of the traditional basque cuisine.
I love alubias de Tolosa (red beans stew), the delicious txangurro (seasoned spider crab cooked in the oven), merluza rebozada (hake coated in batter), bacalao con setas (cod with mushrooms)...
Dessert: queso de Idiazábal (smoked cured cheese).

[keithclove]

Any place in the old part of San Sebastian...

[Hernández Fiendish]

When I was a kid, I lived in Valencia for 1 year. There used to be a restaurant in downtown Valencia called Barrachina. It had outdoor cafe tables that spanned around the block! The chocolate and churros were excellent. Another restaurant we went for that same treat was Santa Catalina.

I guess I'm due for a trip back to Spain to expand my restaurant repertoir.:rolleyes:


Barrachina and Santa Catalina are cafes rather restaurants, or horchaterias in the latter's case. Barrachina as far as I know was a very famous cafe on a corner of the Plaza del Ayuntamiento near the Ayuntamiento itself. It closed years ago (I've only heard tell of it) and now sadly is a Pans & Co. Santa Catalina is still going strong, it's just off Pl de la Reina, beside Santa Catalina tower

[djS]

i remberd when i lived in Palma De Mallorca we go to the rubgy club on sunday for the matchs at Calvia , had i used to fill in and play ever now and then
but he food after then was unreal with all the mothers cooking and bring for the feed after

every spanish dish under the sun
jurdy

any one up for a game in madrid on the week nos meet

[sandy]

One of my most favorite restaurants in Spain is a hole in the wall called "Pechuga" in Torrejon de Ardoz (Madrid). I don't know what street it is on, I only know how to get there from CENDAR (Centro de Recaudación de la Securidad Social). From CENDAR, you take the road towards the center of town, and the restaurant is on the left before the railway tracks.

This is a family run restaurant. The food they serve are all "casera". The menu is handwritten, different everyday. Many years ago the abuela used to sit on a lounge chair closed to the door reading the telephone directory. The last time I went, she was no longer there. Also it looks like the secret was out--there were so many people waiting to eat there!

Actually I hesitated to post it here but I did anyway.

sandy
---------------
www.excelwines.com (http://www.excelwines.com)

[djS]

While in Magala across from the airport over the fly over behine the coke cola plant there is a chincken house on the left just flow the road around the coke plant un the rail line bridge and left and about 25 meters on the left all food is cook in open fire there lamb staeks prok and so on

Unreal

Tenerife Los Gigantes THE OUTSIDE INN CAFÉ BAR ask for jimmy
The Outside Inn Café Bar, Centro Commercial Santiago, Puerto de Santiago, 38683
and ask about the the place on the hill dose best staeks i very had
jurdy

[ValenciaSon]

Barrachina and Santa Catalina are cafes rather restaurants, or horchaterias in the latter's case. Barrachina as far as I know was a very famous cafe on a corner of the Plaza del Ayuntamiento near the Ayuntamiento itself. It closed years ago (I've only heard tell of it) and now sadly is a Pans & Co. Santa Catalina is still going strong, it's just off Pl de la Reina, beside Santa Catalina tower

I recall Barrachina had a full course menu so it seems inadequate to refer it to as a cafe.

Santa Catalina is a horchateria and a chocolateria (http://valencia.arounder.com/city_tour/ES000008874.html).

[TotallyKen]

I thought that it may be useful for future visitors to Spain if you list YOUR favourite restaurant/s in Spain.


This is a good question but a tough question. If it were broken into catagories it might help a little e.g. Tapas & Pinchos, Menu del Dia,
A-La-Carte Anytime, A-La-Carte Special Occasions


Some of my choices under these headings would be the following:

Tapas & Pinchos
Bar Aralar, Calle Puerto, San Sebastian
Amazing variety of pinchos and raciones in a buzzy, atmospheric street near the basilica.

Menu del Dia
Restaurante Sarabia, Escalante, Cantabria

For only 8 euros including wine and coffee their daily menu is delicious especially the "alubias con almejas". Always a good sign, the restaurant is packed with workmen and truck drivers.

Restaurante Marinela, off Plaza Indautxu, Bilbao

The menu costs 12 euros and is always tasty with a good selection of dishes. I especially like this place because the food is very well presented despite being a menu del dia, tables have crisp linen cloths and napkins - you feel you´re getting much more for your money.

A-La-Carte Anytime
Restaurante Matxete, Plaza del Machete, Vitoria

The location of this restaurant above the Plaza de la Virgin Blanca and overlooking the Plaza del Machete is very nice. You can eat either in the restaurant upstairs or at long wooden tables in the bar area. Grilled meats and fish are especially good. With wine you´ll spend around 35 euros for a 3 course meal.

A-La-Carte Special Occasions
Restaurante Arzak, San Sebastian

I had the good fortune to eat in this restaurant one evening when Juan Mari Arzak himself was there. It was a great experience - very unpretencious and relaxed for a restaurant of it´s calibre. The food, albeit nouveau Basque cuisine, was superb and the wine outstanding. I think it worked out around 150 euros a head but it was worth it for the occasion.


By the way, I would love to hear about favourite restaurants in Spain that serve non-Spanish cuisine. I love Indian food for example and have tried many awful Indian restaurants in Spain but have found the Indian restaurants in Lavapies in Madrid to be quite good.

[Ben]

A-La-Carte Special Occasions
Restaurante Arzak, San Sebastian

I had the good fortune to eat in this restaurant one evening when Juan Mari Arzak himself was there. It was a great experience - very unpretencious and relaxed for a restaurant of it´s calibre. The food, albeit nouveau Basque cuisine, was superb and the wine outstanding. I think it worked out around 150 euros a head but it was worth it for the occasion.
I was lucky enough to eat there as well, about 7 years ago, when it seemed somewhat cheaper. To be honest the whole experience was somewhat overwhelming for my two friends and I, something about the number of people swarming around the table at all times and the chairs looked like they cost more than all the furniture in our living room put together... but the food was amazing, and Arzak came round at the end to ask us how our meal was!

[Jules]

One of the most enjoyable meals ever in Spain was in the El Inti de Oro: a Peruvian restaurant recommended (by Faye) in Notes from Madrid here (http://www.notesfrommadrid.com/2007/09/28/el-inti-de-oro-peruvian-food/).

Not mentioned in the article is that they have two restaurants. The one in C/Ventura de la Vega 12 (near Sol) is smaller and (in my opinion) the more pleasant of the two.

We received an excellent welcome as soon as we walked in and in less than a minute after sitting down we were provided with a large glass of Piscu Sour - a really amazing tangy lemon drink (alcoholic of course) that immediately revitalised us from a tiring day's travel. At the same time we were served with several warm bread rolls and a rich, spicy dip.

We opted for the set 'menú degustación' (as described) and concurred with all that Faye describes. The first course was on its own an incredible meal in itself.

Incredible value as well. We finished with cafe con leche (which was not part of the set meal if you had the postre) and could hardly believe how little they added to the bill for it - 1.25 Euros.

Go there, ensure you have a good appetite, and enjoy a feast! I am sure you won't be disappointed.

[Juanjo]

I thought that it may be useful for future visitors to Spain if you list YOUR favourite restaurant/s in Spain.


Name: LA MORENA
Location: Fuengirola
Address: Almost opposite the entrance to Mijas golf club on the road to Alhaurín- good quality, cheap and cheerful.

Name: MESON CÁNDIDO
Location: Segovia
Address: Nestles in the corner of the Acueducto- excellent but pricey.

In Andalucia we usually we eat at ventas- cheap and good food- and an absence of tourists!

There is/was a good vegetarian restaurant in Málaga that I took my veggie son and his wife to a year or so back (and a crap one in Marbella that is best forgotten).

[tomc52]

Hey Jules, is that Besalu in your picture?
I have to admit that my favorite thing to eat is a bocadillo in a cafe. My favorite restaurant for excellent traditional Catalan food is Can Xifre in Cartella, just outside of Girona. They make their own sausages and embotits [Catalan meats], the salads are incredible and they serve wild boar that the owner hunts himself.

[Jules]

Hey Jules, is that Besalu in your picture?
I have to admit that my favorite thing to eat is a bocadillo in a cafe. My favorite restaurant for excellent traditional Catalan food is Can Xifre in Cartella, just outside of Girona. They make their own sausages and embotits [Catalan meats], the salads are incredible and they serve wild boar that the owner hunts himself.

Well spotted! We had a pleasant day trip there when we were having a short holiday in Gerona a couple of years ago. We had earlier spent a few days in Barcelona - we arrived during the worst day's rainfall for 100 years (according to the local press).

[Ozgur]

Hola todos,

In my lovely town of Calella, we shouldn`t pass without mentioning La Roda. 2 years ago, first time in Spain, they had taken me there to taste Sangria and chicken. I still am addicted to this restaurant.

Can Xena, on the other hand, is also a perfect place to do vermut and taste appetizers. Also a greate place to socialize with the old folks.

Restaurant La Roda
937694139
Creus, 8
Calella


Can Xena
937690687
Església, 314
Calella

[tomc52]

Well spotted! We had a pleasant day trip there when we were having a short holiday in Gerona a couple of years ago. We had earlier spent a few days in Barcelona - we arrived during the worst day's rainfall for 100 years (according to the local press).
My wife is from Banyoles, which is more or less between Girona and Besalu. We try to visit Besalu every time we visit my in-laws.
How did you like Girona?

[Berti]

A handy thread this for those with travel plans, during a tour of rural Galicia, I found by chance,a wonderful place to eat. It is a little difficult to locate but if you find yourself in this area and are looking for: lovely rural location, food and service you should enjoy it.
Casa Hermo
Lixó. Oleiros.Riveira.
tel: 981 767899
They have a nice web page web page complete with photos, menu and directions.I hope one day to return, but have a hunch that it was one of those "one off " wonderful lunches to be treasured in the memory.

[zuri]

Here`s my favorite`s

Iarritu, in Amurrio, Alava

Its a Basque cider Resturant, serves a set Basque menu or selection, you have access to the cider barrels set in the walls, you simply help yourselve, makin sure you pour the cider at a distance to create a froth.

El Florida, again in Amurrio, Alava.

Its a no frills small town, very good food resturant, the spit roast chicken is very popular.

Maese Pio in Torre Del Mar, Axaquia, serves Ternera con juego de higos secos, datiles y dos mostazas, and is scrummy beyond belief.

Meson Sara, in Puente Don Manuel, they do great Rabo de Toro and Cordero al horno.


The best meal I`ve ever had though I cannot remember the name of the place or even the address.

It was one of those weird visits you sometimes get in Spain, the resturant we`d planned was fully and we didn`t book.

That was on the outskirts of Llodio, Alava, we decided to walk into Llodio and find something, after about 30 minutes we were goin through an estate, when we passed a small bar, it looked nothing special from outside and inside the bar was very small with a tall blind separating the eating area.

There were only two other tables of people eating, we sat down, and noticed people goin back and forth the kitchen, talking etc etc, it was almost as if we`d arrived in there house.

An old, really old women came over and started telling use what they served etc, no menu`s, no prices, nada.

We ordered thinking well this is goin to be either very cheap and maybe regret it in the morning or very expensive.

The food came and I`m not kidding the food was out of this world, we`d order too much as the womens accent was horrendous, my OH couldn`t understand her, and she`s from the next town !!!!!!

We shared the best peppers stuffed with cod in sauce that was amazing.

The scene was us eating food that was incredible, surrounded by the family of the place watching Real Madrid on the TV and us not quite sure if were in a bar or their house.

After we`d finished the old women came over and asked us if we wanted a seconds of any of the dishes, as they`ve got plenty left !!!!!!!!!!!!

They offered us drinks after and got chatty, I think me being obvious Guiri material, in that part of Llodio they don`t meet many Brits

We got chatting after in the bar and it turns out the family own a farm, grow and slaughter everything we`ve eaten.

We paid very little and the next morning my OH stopped me goin back for Breakfast.

I regret not goin back, but I think it was one of those times best left in memory.

Very weird and wonderful night that you only find in Spain.

[Greboicus]

I found Seville excellent once away from the Barrio de Santa Cruz and even there I had some beautiful Salt Cod down near the murillo gardens and also nearby there was an old style tapas bar with a contemporary menu which I wish i could remember the name of, Cava de Europa ???? from memory it was near where Calle Santa Maria la Blanca met Menendez Pelayo (all spelt wrong i am sure)

One i can remember though is La Ilustre Victima near the Alameda de Hercules, fantastic!!