Spain: Tapas Bars
Top 10 in Seville

In Spain, tapas are a symbol of our gastronomy. A tapa is an appetizer or snack (even though some times its size makes you wonder if it's not a dish instead) either cold or warm, often served with drinks.

In Spain tapas' prices are usually very cheap! In Seville you might pay 2-3 euros for a typical tapa, yet they can cost up to 5-6 euros.

The barman will usually run a tab and you pay once you are done. Some bars, where food and drink is taken outside, charge you as soon as they serve you each round. Be aware that some bars also charge an extra if you seat outside.

To make things easier I have included for each bar my favorite tapa's name in Spanish and its translation. So if you want to try them, just repeat its name to the waiter. Don't worry about pronunciation, absolutely all waiters are used to dealing with foreigners... ;-)

Las Golondrinas II -- €€

c/ Pages del Corro, 76 (map location)
954-338-235

Surroundings: Triana bridge, Capilla de la Estrella (Chapel of the Virgin Estrella)
Best tapas: Champiñones (mushrooms with a garlic sauce), puntita de solomillo (pork tenderloin), aliños (marinated vegetables, depending on the day it can be carrots, radishes, red peppers or artichokes)
Hints: You can make a reservation. Plus, I know the owners pretty well! When you get there, ask for Carlos and tell him how you discovered his bar... ;-)

For many reasons, this is my favorite bar in Spain... Tapas here are just spectacular and the waiters are very nice. The bar deco is quite modern unlike Las Golondrinas I, a classic in Triana and typically Sevillian. If you are looking for a quieter spot (although Seville bars are extremely noisy), look for a table in the mezzanine.

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LaBulla -- €€€

c/ Dos de Mayo, 26 (map location)
955-262-660

Surroundings: The Cathedral and the Giralda tower, Reales Atarazanas, El Postigo, the Hospital de la Caridad
Best tapas: Piruletas de chorizo (chorizo lollipops), arroz meloso con setas (risotto with mushrooms), gazpacho de picotas (cherry gazpacho).
Hints: It opens every day of the year. Tha waiter will ask you your name to treat you personally, follow his suggestions!

The premises used to be an old restaurant. After some restoration, the owner decided to transform it into "a wine bar of the 1920s with a cuisine of the 2020s". That's what he claims, and he has fully succeeded.

It's one of the most original places you will eat not only in Seville, but in Spain. The kitchen is located in a huge open space so you can see it from almost everywhere. The tapas list if always written in a blackboard. It's easier to erase and rewrite as it changes quite often, depending on the availability of the ingredients and the season.

In two words: a must.

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Bodega 2 de Mayo -- €€

Plaza de la Gavidia, 2 (map location)
954-908-647

Surroundings: Museo de Bellas Artes, Palacio de Lebrija, Jesus del Gran Poder church
Best tapas: Tortilla de camarones (fried baby schrimps), berenjenas fritas con miel (eggplant battered and fried in olive oil, covered with a honey sauce), jamon iberico de Bellota (the best jamon -ham- in the world, no translation needed!).
Hints: Get there early if you want to get a table, otherwise you'll have to eat as the locals do, standing up by the counter. The bar is self-service so the first time you order the waiter will ask you your name and when your food is ready they'll shout it out loud... Don't get distracted!

Probably the fastest barmen in Spain! Tapas are only served at the counter but it's a great opportunity to chat with the barmen, they are so nice you'll want to come back again. My best pick after shopping.

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Las Columnas -- €€

c/ Rodrigo Caro, 1 (map location)
954-213-246

Surroundings: The Cathedral and the Giralda tower, the Alcazar, barrio de Santa Cruz (old Jewish quarter)
Best tapas: Montadito de pringa (mixture of pork, morcilla and pork fat), salmorejo (thick, creamy gazpacho served with chopped serrano ham & hard-boiled eggs), montadito de carne mechada (pot roast).
Hints: The bar is very small so your chances of eating standing up are quite high. However, there are some tables so you might be lucky and get a seat.

The bar is located a couple of minutes walking distance from the most important sights of the city (and of Spain). Tapas here are mainly montaditos, although you can try some other specialties too (ask the waiter for advice).

The service is friendly and super fast and I just love how they remember your order by noting it down on the counter with chalk. Obviously, the place has lots of tourists most of the time but it is still a good place to practice your Spanish as locals love to drink a quick cervecita (small beer), there particularly if the temperature soars...

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Bodeguita Antonio Romero I -- €

c/ Antonia Diez, 19 (map location)
954-223-939

Surroundings: La Maestranza, the Hospital de la Caridad, Reales Atarazanas, Torre del Oro
Best tapas: Piripi (pork tenderloin, bacon, tomato, cheese and mayonnaise on hot bum), anchovies, mantecaito (beef sirloin with ham and onions).
Hints: If you don't know what to order, follow the barman's advice... Oh, and try the wines!

Great stop after visiting La Maestranza or the Charity Hospital. This is one of the most famous bars in Seville and Spain. Tapas here are awesome for its quality and variety. Generally not visited by tourists, you'll find a great atmosphere as this bar is one of the meeting points after the bullfights, especially during the Feria de Abril.

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Bar Yebra -- €€€

c/ Medalla Milagrosa, 3 (map location)
954-351-007

Surroundings: City walls, the Andalucia Parliament, Iglesia de la Macarena (Macarena church)
Best tapas: Huevos rotos con chanquetes (fried eggs with baby eels), faisan relleno de boletus y pate (pheasant stuffed with boletus mushrooms and pâté), atun rojo con salmorejo y jamon iberico (red tuna with salmorejo and ham).
Hints: This bar is completely out of the regular tourist circuits, you'll only find Sevillanos here. There are no menus, you'll have to ask the waiter about the tapas of the day. Don't worry if you don't speak Spanish well, look at your neighbors' plates and order accordingly! Additionally, the raciones (plates) are written on blackboards.

The bar has been run by the Yebra family since 1951 and I just love that they are always inventing new tapas. They generally have a list of around 80 tapas, that varies according to the season. I always have a very hard time picking a bunch since all of them are truly gourmet! The bar has been a secret among Sevillanos for a long time although it is quite usual to see Madrileños (people from Madrid) stopping by for a tapa after getting off the AVE...

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Eslava -- €€

c/ Eslava, 5 (map location)
954-906-568

Surroundings: Museo de Bellas Artes, Alameda de Hércules, Jesus del Gran Poder church
Best tapas: Costillas a la miel (pork ribs wrapped with honey), carrillera iberica en salsa (pig's chicks with vegetable sauce) and pimiento relleno de merluza (red pepper filled with hake).
Hints: The bar is very small and has just a few tables so try to avoid peak hours if you want to have a chance to get a seat. If you don't, it's fine -Sevillanos like tapas restaurants with a counter so eat there. Don't miss this great place just because there are no seats.

The Eslava is one of the most famous bars in the San Lorenzo neighborhood. The highlights of this cozy bar that is decorated in blue are the quality of its tapas and particularly its service (the bar tenders are without a doubt one of the greatest you'll encounter in Seville, if not the best). I recommend trying the medias raciones (half plate) if you are a group of 3-4 people and you would like to try different specialties.

It also has a restaurant -with a different menu though- next door. It's more expensive than the bar but truly worth it. And don't forget to book in advance!

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La Azotea -- €€€€

c/ Jesus del Gran Poder, 33-35 (map location)
955-116-748

Surroundings: Alameda de Hercules, Jesus del Gran Poder church, Palacio de Lebrija, Museo de Bellas Artes
Best tapas: Ensaladilla de ahumados (smoked salad), saquitos brick con queso, puerro y langostinos (fried pastry filled with cheese, leeks and prawns) and solomillo a la mostaza de piñones y albahaca (pork tenderloin with mustard, basil sauce and pinenuts).
Hints: You can go as often as you like because you'll always find something new to try.

La Azotea is a cosy and intimate modern bar with two menus -one that changes seasonally and the other one weekly, depending on the best picks at the local food markets-. Both the decor and the food are cutting-edge, and the owners are for sure the most innovative of all the tapas restaurants I know. The atmosphere is lively and the staff is just great!

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Becerrita -- €€€

c/ Recaredo, 9 (map location)
954-412-057

Surroundings: 10 minutes walking distance from the Barrio de Santa Cruz, Casa de Pilatos
Best tapas: San jacobito casero (fried rolled pork loin and cheese), higado fresco de pato al Pedro Ximenez (fresh duck liver with Pedro Ximenez wine), calamares fritos (fried calamari).
Hints: Apart from the regular tapas, the Becerrita has a daily special tapas list that changes constantly so that you won't get tired of coming back over and over again. You'll always find some tapas that you haven't tried before.

Whenever I go to Becerrita I always eat at the bar. I like to stand by the counter and chit chat with the bartenders if I go there alone. Tapas restaurants usually have really nice people working there.

You can also try the restaurant. It's pretty classy and fancy which somehow justifies the relatively high prices. Nevertheless if you intend to have a relaxed meal properly seated, go for it, it's definitely worth it.

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Restaurante Zelai -- €€€

c/ Albareda, 22 (map location)
954-229-992

Surroundings: City hall
Best tapas: Hamburgesa de buey kobe (kobe ox beef burger), tataki de atun rojo (red tuna tataki), risotto de Idiazabal (rice with a strong and tasty cheese from the north of Spain). Tapas are very elaborate, almost nouvelle cuisine...
Hints: Get there early, there are just a couple of tables and getting one is almost mission impossible.

This bar is all design and experimenting. It is clearly not a traditional Sevillian bar. The tapas are very original with ingredients from different parts of the world. Expect some of the prices to be a bit higher than usual... but definitely worth it.

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You may be interested in reading more about our tapas culture and its history...

... There are still plenty of tapas bars to be discovered...

... Or you might want to try it at home looking at some delicious tapas recipes?

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