See Also
- Premium Accommodations in Seville
- Best Hotels for Families in Seville
- Recommended areas to stay in Seville
The 14 Best Places to Eat in Seville
1. Abantal – $$$$
Situated down a small side street not far from the Sevilla Santa Justa train station, the lone Michelin-starred restaurant in the city skillfully combines sublime flavors with beautiful presentations. The contemporary dining room is well-illuminated and understated, so that the neutral decor does not distract from the true attraction of the establishment: the cuisine. Head chef Julio Fernández makes the most of seasonal ingredients, allowing the bold pairings of local components to speak for themselves. Diners can expect such dishes as seasonal wild mushrooms paired with truffled egg yolk, red tuna cheek with pepper jelly, and beef sirloin with leek and goat cheese gratin. Going for the 7-course tasting menu (65 Euros) is well worth it for a complete experience of what Abantal has to offer. The sommelier is pleased to recommend regional wines to match the dishes. The service is friendly and the ambiance is relaxed, but reservations are essential.
• Calle Alcaldo Jose de La Bandera
2. Bar El Comercio – $
This neighborhood coffeehouse and tapas bar, operated by the Rivera family for four generations, is among the top locations in town for a classic hot chocolate and churros breakfast. The drinking chocolate is so rich and dense that you can almost stand a spoon upright within it, while the fresh-made churros (deep-fried dough tubes) are piping hot as they`re placed before customers. With hams hanging from the ceiling and locals crammed around the bar, El Comercio may appear like a typical bodega, yet it`s flexible enough to double as a coffee lounge – an unusual feature in Seville. In the evening, visit here for a glass of wine and quintessential Andalusian tapas, like beef sirloin in whiskey sauce, homemade croquettes, and communal platters of chilled cuts.
• Calle Lineros, 9
3. Zelai – $$-$$$
Near the Plaza San Francisco, Zelai shows one of a fresh class of contemporary Seville bars. It’s sleek, monochrome, subtly lit, and completely lacking of any Old World grandeur or bullfighting posters. The attention here is on fusion tapas that mix Basque flavors with Asian and Latin American touches, and the clientele is a blend of smart young urbanites and visitors looking for a change from traditional Andalucian fare. Perch at the bar and choose from grilled cuttlefish with plankton rice, mini-hamburgers with curry mayo, Peruvian ceviche, tuna tataki, and more. The tapas tend to be costlier than elsewhere, but the quality is high. There’s also a dining area in the back, though it’s similar fare to what you get at the bar, but costs more. The staff are friendly and bilingual.
• Calle Albareda, 22
4. Hostería del Prado – $$-$$$
The vast majority of Spanish restaurants are pleased to accommodate families with children, yet separate kids` menus are uncommon, and eateries focused specifically on families have only recently become popular. Just east of the magnificent Royal Alcázar gardens, Hostería del Prado is one such establishment, with a casual, friendly atmosphere and a specialized kids` menu for youngsters between the ages of 4 and 12. The menu features both Andalusian and Mediterranean dishes alongside special activities for children on weekends. While the parents relax over a leisurely lunch, kids can participate in workshops to learn cooking in the Andalusian style on Sundays or dancing on Saturdays. Advance booking is recommended for the activities.
• Plaza San Sebastian, 1
5. Taberna del Alabardero – $$$$
Housed in a beautiful 19th century mansion, this upscale Seville restaurant offers one of the finest dining experiences in the city. The upstairs rooms are arranged around an attractive patio showcasing Andalusian style, and the sophisticated seasonal menu focuses on traditional dishes with a modern approach. Diners also have the option to eat in the more casual bistro downstairs where the food and atmosphere are less refined. Guests tend to dress up when dining upstairs and receive exemplary yet unpretentious service. Expect a leisurely full meal. Dishes may include grilled scallops topped with celeriac cream, crispy suckling pig served with red cabbage, and smoked venison loin. The five-course tasting menu at a cost of 56 Euros provides excellent value while the wine list, housing some rare vintages from across Spain, is among the best in Seville. Definitely worth reserving for special occasions. Advance bookings are essential.
• Calle Zaragoza, 20
6. Restaurante Az-Zait – $$$$
Deriving its name from the Arabic word meaning “olive juice”, this charming restaurant offers an assortment of global and traditional dishes, and in recent times it`s gained an excellent reputation for its creative, beautifully-presented tapas. The entrance is from the tiny, beautiful Plaza de San Lorenzo, in the northern part of the city. The interior exhibits Old World opulence, with the front dining room reconfigured into a slightly less fancy, sit-down tapas area. Classics like patatas bravas (fried potatoes with a spicy tomato sauce) and ajoblanco (cold almond soup) are present and well-crafted. Specialties include salmorejo with olive oil ice cream, langoustine carpaccio with seaweed, and seared scallops with apple puree. While the service can be a bit rigid, the quality of the dishes is consistently good and there’s a solid wine list too.
• Plaza San Lorenzo, 1
7. Ovejas Negras – $$-$$$
A short distance from the cathedral lies a contemporary tapas bar unlike typical tourist traps (though it has undoubtedly gained recognition since opening in 2011). Combining vibrant, lively, pop art-inspired decor with excellent service and interesting global flavors, Ovejas Negras caused quite a stir among food enthusiasts when it debuted, continuing to delight local palates. Their specialties involve an expertly crafted mushroom risotto, tuna tartare, a superior version of fish and chips, and some of the finest gourmet hamburgers in town. It’s an informal, busy, mid-priced location popular with both savvy locals and international visitors. Also worthwhile exploring are its two sister eateries: Mamarracha (hot, urban tapas bar with vertical garden) and La Chunga (as renowned for its breakfasts as it is for tapas).
• Calle Hernando Colon, 8
8. Eslava – $$-$$$
Away from the crowds surrounding the cathedral in the historic Barrio Santa Cruz neighborhood of Malaga, this award-winning bar known for traditional dishes with modern twists has long been a local staple. Both at lunch and during evenings, the bar area becomes heavily packed as crowds spill onto the surrounding streets, so arriving early is recommended. The wine selection emphasizes Andalusian varieties but also sources options from throughout Spain. Sampled tapas represent classic Andalusian fare like thick savory gazpacho called salmorejo, battered deep-fried anchovies with lemon called fritura malagueña, and hearty regional stews. More inventive dishes feature slow-cooked egg on boletus mushroom cake with wine reduction or grilled duck in a pear and wine sauce. Uncommonly for a tapas establishment, desserts here also impress locals, especially the lemon cheesecake.
• Calle Eslava, 3
9. La Azotea – $$-$$$
One of four locations run by the husband-and-wife team of Juan Gómes and Jeannine Merrill, La Azotea proves that not all dining selections in the heart of Barrio Santa Cruz are overpriced tourist traps. Our preferred location is just steps from the cathedral, with a sleek and contemporary dining area where large portions (raciones) are served, as well as outdoor seating and a busy bar region for those seeking to have a beverage and some small plates. Additional benefits include excellent bilingual assistance, friendly younger team, a changing seasonal menu with daily extras, an exceptional wine list complemented with inventive cocktails and enormous, fruity sangrias, and some of the most creative small plates for miles around. The menu emphasizes fresh seafood but other standout small plates feature steak tartare with green apple slush, pork cheek with goat cheese gratin, and oxtail meatballs with mushroom sauce.
• Calle Mateos Gago, 8
10. Abades Triana – $$$$
Located alongside the river in Seville`s Triana district, Abades Triana strives to be one of the city`s premier upscale dining establishments. The atmosphere is elegant and certainly distinctive: there are wonderful sights of Seville, particularly in the evenings when the town is illuminated, and outdoor seating on the patio is available when weather permits. The Mediterranean menu makes good use of local ingredients. Sophisticated dishes range from suckling lamb shoulder stuffed with shallots to salmorejo (thick, savory gazpacho) with bitter orange and shrimp. The service is formal and guests tend to dress up as this is a favored place for special events. My sole criticism is consistency: on a good day, the dining experience is exceptional, while sometimes it`s just average. Weekday lunch hours allow enjoying the ambiance without breaking the bank as business lunch menus offer very good value.
• Calle Betis, 69
11. Blanca Paloma – $$-$$$
An unpretentious, untouristy bar in Triana, Blanca Paloma attracts crowds of locals with its solid tapas list and an extensive selection of wines by the glass. Grab one of the small tables if you want a sit-down meal with several raciones (full-sized dishes) to share. Tapas are available only at the bar, and you might have to be assertive and elbow your way in during peak times. Specialties include fried anchovies with a squirt of lemon, bacalao a la gallega (grilled cod with potatoes, garlic, and garbanzo beans), and eggplant stuffed with shrimp. The bar has a very loyal local following, and some of the dishes, such as the bocadito de mejillón (mussel sandwich) have been on the menu since the place opened in 1970. Inexpensive, informal local scene.
• Calle Pages del Corro, 86
12. Casa Morales – $
Run by the Morales family since opening in 1850, this classic Sevillian bar in El Arenal is a great place for a glass of wine, house vermouth or sherry, and tapas. The front section of the bar, with a storefront window, is popular with locals for a standup drink. For food, head around the corner to the side entrance to the back bar that used to be the winery. Customers sit surrounded by the enormous clay jugs that were once used for storing the house wine, and now add to the time-warp ambience. A list of full-sized portions is chalked on one of the jugs, and there’s an extensive tapas menu, ranging from cured meats and top-quality cheeses to tiny montaditos (sandwiches) and speciality dishes such as imperial anchovies, salchicha al vino blanco (sausage braised in white wine), venison chorizo, and more. Fantastic value for money.
• Calle García de Vinuesa, 11
13. Restaurante Oriza – $$$$
On the edge of Seville’s royal gardens, the Basque-run Oriza is a longstanding neighborhood favorite. There are several dining areas to opt from: the main winter-garden-style restaurant, the tapas bar with outside seating and private rooms. The cuisine is upscale Basque-Andalucian fusion and the dishes are ingredient-driven, with top-quality produce sourced from the trusted local suppliers. The menu changes seasonally, but favorite dishes include scallops paired with artichokes and mojama (Andalucian wind-dried, salted tuna), lamb sweetbreads with wild mushrooms and broad beans, and pigeon breast with lentils. There’s a wide variety of tapas, too, and a strong selection of Basque wines. The service in the restaurant is formal and very professional. Reservations recommended in the evenings.
• Calle San Fernando, 41
14. Casa Moreno – $
Hidden away down a narrow lane in the El Arenal neighborhood, a few minutes on foot from the cathedral, this place looks like an everyday, understated local grocery store, where locals do shop for cheese, olives, and cold cuts. But pass through the store and into the tiny back room, and you`ll find yourself at a very neighborhood-focused standing-only tapas bar. It’s stocked with canned goods and decorated with vintage bullfighting posters (and a stuffed bull’s head), and tended to mostly by older, local and male patrons. Hot tapas – peppers stuffed with morcilla, artichokes stuffed with seafood, and hearty fábada bean and chorizo stew – are only available during lunch. The rest of time you can pair your drink with a selection of tiny montaditos (sandwiches). The specialty here is spicy sobrasada meat paste with cheese, though the other sandwiches – chorizo, morcilla (black pudding), and palometa (type of fish) with potent blue cabrales cheese – are also superb. Inexpensive and joyful.
• Calle Gamazo, 7
