3 Mouthwatering Tapas Bars in Seville, Spain

Where to Eat in Seville, Spain

One of the things I was really looked forward to in Spain was having tapas.

I love trying lots of dishes and the small-plate, family style setup of tapas is right up my alley.

It turns out Seville is the heart of classic Spanish tapas, with a huge list of famous tapas bars.

Before I went, I only knew 3 traditional Spanish foods:

jambon iberico
manchego cheese
and rioja wine

I soon discovered a whole world of delicious tapas, raciones and pinchos!

Below were some of my favorite tapas restaurants in Seville!

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Seville Tapas

Seville had the best tapas scene of any city in Southern Spain.

So I highly recommend trying the local food when in town and even splurging on a fancier tapas dinner.

A great option is a food walking tour.

I love taking food tours whenever I'm somewhere new, because they're always led by a local who knows the absolute best spots in town.

And, when there's a language barrier, they often know the hosts and restaurant staff, so they help curate the experience.

You get to try all the best dishes, even if you don't quite know how to chat up the locals.

And well.. Spanish tapas staff can be a little grumpy and ignore you if you can't speak Spanish..

Plus, food tour guides have so much knowledge about the cultural and historical aspects of various dishes. It gives you a much more complete understanding of the dish.

We took a couple food tours throughout our time in Spain but this Seville one was a highlight.

The Best Food Tours in Spain

Seville: Gourmet Wine & Tapas Tour, Flamenco Show
Barcelona: Evening Tapas Walk and Tasting, Spanish Cooking Class

Tapas in Seville vs Barcelona

Out of everywhere we visited and ate, I loved tapas in Seville and Barcelona the most.

Each city is slightly different though.

I'd say Seville has a more traditional Spanish culinary tradition…

while Barcelona feels a bit more fresh modern and innovative.

Both are definitely worth exploring and your stomach will thank you!

And now my travel bucket list has expanded. I want to go back and try out all the food in San Sebastian, the northwest region above Barcellona.

Read more: A Quick Guide to Seville

Quick Guide to Spain

Accommodation: Hotels fill up fast. I recommend Eurostars Palace in Cordoba, Casa 1800 in Seville and the Anacapri in Granada. Book far in advance!

For Madrid and Barcelona, we booked comfortable apartments on Airbnb.

Getting In: We flew into Madrid and and out of Barcelona on an open jaw itinerary. Set a fare alert here and get travel insurance to cover you in case of delays or lost baggage.

Getting Around: Spain's train system is great, just difficult to book as a foreigner. I used Omio to see train schedules and book, as they're English friendly and accept international credit cards. Make sure you have an esim to stay connected.

Best Spain Experiences:

Granada's Alhambra: tickets are capped per day, so book early
Tapas Tour: this one takes you to all the best spots
Hammam Baths: my favorite experience of our trip
Montserrat: one of my favorite day trips we took
Girona: another incredible day trip (+ home to the world's most famous ice cream shop)

The Best Tapas in Seville

The best part about tapas in Seville is that upscale tapas restaurants are very fairly priced

Expect to spend roughly 30-60 euros for dinner for two at fancier spots.

Don't even get me started on what tapas for 2 in NYC costs these days…

1. Bodega Santa Cruz

Calle Gerona 40

Must Try Tapas: pringá, flamenquín, lomo al pedro jimenez, gazpacho (comes in a glass), sangria

This classic spot is a local favorite.

It's a great place to grab a quick bite for lunch and it has a prime location in Barrio Santa Cruz.

The district is about a 5 minute walk north from Seville's Cathedral.

One quick step inside and you'll immediately know it's a historic taberna.

There's a big dark wood counter (where they chalk up your bill), pretty tiled walls and stiff staff.

We only saw a menu in Spanish written on the wall, so feel free to point and gesture based on what others are eating.

There's the option to either stand at the counter (classic) or to sit and and drink outside.

Bodega Santa Cruz is a crowdpleaser – you'll see plenty of locals and tourists here.

2. La Azotea

Calle Jesús del Gran Poder 31

Must Try Tapas: razor clams, foie gras with toast and jam, ‘fair style' octopus (polbo á feira)

We lined up 15 minutes before opening time to make sure we got a seat at La Azotea.

It's a small, seafood-focused tapas bar.

The menu is different for the bar vs. table seating.

So make sure you take a look before you head over and choose whichever seating has the menu that you prefer.

While we waited, we struck up a conversation with another friendly American tourist

(who we identified via her Rick Steves Spain book!)

I think every American tourist carries this book, ha.

She'd been to Seville 5+ times and always made a point to stop by Azotea for dinner on every trip.

That's how good this place is.

We ended up eating together and continuing to chat about our travels throughout Spain!

La Azotea is a classier, more upscale spot that's perfect for dinner.

The tapas were good, the wines are local and the dessert was heavenly.

You pretty much can't go wrong with anything on the menu here!

I guess my only gripe is I wish you could order from the same menu ordered regardless of where you sit…

Oh well, just means I need to go back!

3. La Brunilda

Calle Medalla Milagrosa 3

Must-try tapas: squid with egg, grilled octopus, duck confit, fillet of beef with roast potatos

La Brunilda is spoken of in hushed tones by local foodies.

This place is truly special.

From the outside, the restaurant is located on a small, secluded street.

But inside, La Brunilda serves up an amazing tapas dinner with reasonable prices.

I'd recommend going in a a group of 4 and ordering half dishes to try if you can.

Pretty much everything on the menu is superb and the sangria is delicious as well.

Be aware that this spot is incredibly popular.

Even arriving at opening time at 8pm might mean a wait.

Try to go early to stake a claim!

How to Order at a Tapas Bar

Tapas bars can definitely be a little intimidating for a first timer.

You need to jostle your way to the bar and catch the attention of the bartender/server.

Try to know what you want before you make your way to the bar and fake some confidence about your Spanish language skills.

My personal tapas favorites (that I ordered everywhere) include patatas bravas (essentially french fries) and anything octopus.

I also really loved the local spanish wine from the rioja region (pronounced rio-ha), sangria (of course) and gazpacho (really a food but in Spain served in a glass).

Spanish food is very heavy on salt and fried dishes, so make sure to hydrate!

Can You Speak Spanish?

In general, I found Spain to be relatively English unfriendly.

It really helps to know basic Spanish phrases.

Of course it always helps to make an effort to learn local culture and language before you go, but I naively assumed that my college level French would be “close enough”.

Unfortunately, I pretty much butchered the pronunciation of lots of Spanish words on my first attempts and got a lot of scoffs and snorts from Spanish bartenders!

Oops.

They're not super kind to tourists, and honestly there were a couple experiences that felt slightly racist.

Since most restaurants in Spain do not have English menus (except the touristy ones you want to avoid), I'm including a list below.

I've listed some of the most common Spanish tapas and their English translations.

Common tapas on the Spanish Menu:

Gambas al Ajillo: garlic shrimp served in sizzling oil

Cazón en Adobo: fried marinated dogfish

Bacalao: salt cod, breaded and fried or stewed in tomato sauce

Calamares: fried squid rings

Chipirones: small squid, usually “a la plancha” on the griddle

Chocos: cuttlefish, usually breaded and deep fried

Tortilla: Spanish potato omelette

Revuelto: scrambled eggs with various fillings

Arroz del Día: rice of the day, the spanish term for paella

Patatas bravas: fried potato wedges with a spicy alioli sauce

Ensaladilla: potato salad with mayonnaise and tuna or prawns

Calamares del Campo: breaded and fried onions and peppers

Gazpacho: cold tomato soup with cucumber and garlic

Salmorejo: a thicker version of gazpacho, usually a sauce

Montaditos: small toasted buns with jamon or various fillings

Espinacas con garbanzos: spinach and chick peas with olive oil and garlic

Cafe Bombon: my favorite, espresso with condensed milk

What's your favorite Spanish tapas?

After Seville, we flew to Lisbon to eat some more!

Spain Travel Checklist

Flights | To make the most of our time, we booked open jaw flights, flying from NY to Madrid and departing from Lisbon. Check for flight deals here.

Trains | Train travel is Spain is fast and easy, but difficult to read or book if you're not Spanish. I used Omio to see schedules and book with an international credit card. It's much more convenient for English speakers. Check train schedules for your dates here.

Accommodation | We did a mix of Airbnbs and hotels on our trip. Browse last minute hotel deals for Spain here.

E-Sim | Get service to stay connected, translate menus and navigate Google Maps on the go. Jetpac offers affordable esim packages for as low as $1/ day.

Insurance | Whether you get injured and need to be hospitalized or your phone gets stolen, travel insurance will help when you need it most. Travel insurance has also been the fastest to reimburse me for lost bags. Get a quote for your trip here.

More Spain Travel Guides

Planning a Trip to Spain

Spain and Portugal: A Classic Itinerary to Explore Both Countries!

Headed to Andalusia? Here's the Perfect 1 Week Southern Spain Itinerary

Granada

How We Spent 3 Incredible Days in Granada

Insider Tips for Visiting the Alhambra Palace

Seville

The Best Things to Do in Seville

All the Best Tapas Bars in Seville

Cordoba

Spain's Hidden Gem: The Quaint Town of Cordoba

Don't Miss Cordoba's Patio Festival! Here's Why

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