‘The star was the teriyaki oxtail doughnut’: readers’ favourite restaurants and tapas bars in Spain

11.09.2023 - 09:28 / theguardian.com / Star

If I had to recommend one place to eat tapas in Spain, it’s Bar Poë in Granada, not only for the food, but for the atmosphere. It’s always bustling (come early to guarantee a seat) with a local and international crowd. Run by a friendly husband-and-wife duo, every drink comes with a free dish, and, unusually, you can choose your tapa. International and big on flavour, the menu includes Portuguese piri piri dishes, salt cod, curries and more.
Jason Rich

Tucked away in a busy square in Seville, we stumbled across Sal Gorda Halo while paying for some overpriced snacks from a tourist trap. This gem had only been open two months and is the third eatery in the Familia Sal Gorda. All the food was utterly delicious and presented in playful way. Croquettes were served on a standing pig, ceviche in a bulbous blowfish bowl, and the crème caramel in a giant golden egg. The star was the teriyaki oxtail doughnut. Seven dishes, two desserts and wine – €130 for two.
Alexandra De Maria

La Posada de Lalola is a little family-run hotel and a restaurant in a small village of Buera, near Alquézar in the mountains of Aragon. The restaurant is run by Bruno, a young man with amazing cooking skills, and he made our two-day stay unforgettable. There isn’t a menu as such; he just serves you dishes based on what he has in stock, like a tasting menu, and all dishes were served with a matching local wine. The restaurant is in an old stone building, the room was candle-lit, and it was a perfect place to celebrate the news of my wife being pregnant.
Tymon Kalebasiak

Guardian Travel readers' tips

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Renowned for cured meats and seafood, Spain might seem daunting for vegans, but fear not. Its vibrant cities offer a plant-based paradise with an abundance of locally grown vegetables. Málaga shines with restaurants serving huge platters of tomatoes and avocados, and the wonderful Andalusian dish of berenjenas con miel, lightly battered aubergine with a molasses (not honey) drizzle. Head to La Vegana (€10-€20 per person, an unassuming bar on a side street in the old town to sample Spanish classics with a vegan twist. Try the tortilla española or gambas pil pil for a vegan tapas odyssey.
Adrienne

In a hamlet 13 miles south-east of Santiago de Compostela, Marta and Roberto at O Balado lovingly serve up an unforgettable Galician menu. Having navigated your way through a farmyard, you are welcomed into what feels more like a living room than a restaurant. You’ll munch on freshly baked bread with home-churned truffle butter as Marta guides you