The Most Charming Restaurants and Tapas Bars in Seville

No article on the most charming eateries in Seville would be complete without an entry on El Rinconcillo. Seville’s oldest tavern dates back to 1670 and offers two spaces in which to enjoy the ornate decor and traditional cooking. Downstairs is for tapas, where you can prop up the old mahogany bar or gather around the whisky-barrel tables under hanging legs of jamon, while upstairs the restaurant is decorated in typical Andalusian style, with exposed brickwork and wrought iron lampshades. When you call for the bill, it’ll be chalked on the bar in front of you.

Al Aljibe enjoys a prime location on the Alameda de Hercules, a spacious plaza that is home to many of Seville’s trendiest nightspots. This is a great place to come for early evening cocktails or a romantic meal, as it has a secluded and intimate rooftop terrace with just a few tables overlooking the Alameda. The best dishes here are Andalusian classics such as the ox burger and fried cod, which can be ordered in raciones only (full portions, not tapas) on the upper terrace. Reservations recommended, especially at weekends.

Casa Morales is one of the city’s most famous tapas joints, popular with locals and tourists alike. Its Sevillano dishes can be enjoyed at the gorgeous wooden bar – replete with a till that looks as if it should be in a museum – or further inside, in a seating area surrouded by giant old wine vats (indeed, Morales was a winery when it first opened in 1850). Recommended dishes are the meatballs and the spinach and chickpeas; drink-wise, customers like the crisp, chilled on-tap-beer and the spectacular sangria.

Duo Tapas has one of the most attractive terraces in the Alameda area of Seville, offering a magical environment in which to enjoy some great food and wine. But its al fresco charm isn’t all Duo has going for it: this is the place to go if you want something a little different from croquetas and tortilla. Dishes such as the sticky chicken wings, the chicken curry or the Salmon Taco are not found in many of Seville’s tapas bars. Service is attentive and, although prices here are a little higher than more traditional eateries, the value-for-money is excellent.

Located on the northern edge of Seville’s old town, this warm and cosy tapas bar/restaurant is a huge favourite among locals. At the weekends, they crowd into its inviting interior and catch up at deafening volume, making for a wonderful atmosphere. The food at Dos de Mayo is some of the best traditional tapas in the city, with the fresh (fried) fish and seafood, flamenquines and the foi grois and goats’ cheese open-toastie winning consistent praise.

Mechela has just a few tables, so if you want to eat at this gem of a place be sure to book in advance. Clean, minimalist designs define the interior, in which you’ll be wowed by the sophisticated dishes coming out of the kitchen. Particularly good are the octopus, the homemade paté and the nectarine salmorejo – a quirky and refreshing take on the Córdoban classic. There is also a second branch of Mechela near the bullring on Calle Pastor y Landero. Both offer friendly service and an impressive wine list.

Located on the Triana side of the river straight opposite the majestic Torre de Oro (‘Gold Tower’) this ultra-chic eatery boasts some of the best views in Seville. Tables meticulously laid with pressed white tablecloths and glinting silverware are spread out around a dining room that would be at home in any of the world’s finest hotels, As you’d expect, a meal at Abades Triana costs a fair amount more than the other places on this list; but you’ll hardly mind as you gaze out over the Torre de Oro and the cathedral’s Giralda belltower, both of which glow a rich orange after dark.