one of the many perks of living in spain are the endless options for eating out and enjoying the spanish food. fresh seafood, tasty wines, delicious cured meats and of course the world famous tapas are among the options one has when opting for a taste of the real spanish food. this time we will give you some tips to find the nicest tapas bars in sevilla and to discover its best food markets.
the city of seville
first of all, one should know that people from sevilla love to be outside on the streets and meet their friends, family or just walk around town watching people and enjoy some sun. even at night the streets are very lively and for many people being out of the house means socializing over dinner or enjoying a nice wine out on the many terraces in town. all streets are buzzing with a mix of young people ready to go out, families having dinner together or tourist trying to find the best place to enjoy some real spanish food. the latter is the perfect reason to inform you on all the great food places that sevilla has to offer.
locals enjoying tapas in seville
the real way to enjoy a tapas “meal” is to get a glass of wine or beer and to have a small tapa with it, after finishing you head on to the next bar and start the session again. in spain this kind of bar-hopping is called “ir de tapas”, so here we go:
- los coloniales – this place serve big portions at a very low price. all tapas dishes they offer are huge and of a very good quality. make sure to come early and expect to wait a little since this place is very popular. most dishes (raciones) and tapas cost around 2,50€. address: plaza cristo de burgos, 19 and calle fernández y garcía, 36 y 38. the restaurant is open for lunch and dinner daily.
- bar alfalfa – this nice and charming place is situated in a building between two streets. it offers simple yet delicious tapas dishes and is a very popular spot among both locals and tourists. the bar is located on a lively plaza which truly reflects the ambiance of the bar. address: calle candilejo, 1. open all day.
- duo tapas – is a place missed by many people and less touristy than many other bars. this restaurant is located on the charming alameda de hércules square and offers ‘new school’ kind of tapas, an inventive alternative to el rinconcillo’s ‘old school’ ones. most tapas have an asian twist which makes this venue a good options for those looking for something different. we recommended to order the green chicken with rice and spicy noodles. address: calle calatrava 10. open all day.
the beautiful facade of bar alfalfa
if you are more into food markets sevilla has a lot of options too. below some of our recommendations and tips to get the best and most fresh food in town:
- mercado lonja del barranco – is a venue that opened recently and has yet proven to be a successful formula appealing to many foodies from sevilla. this market is housed in an old building that served as a fish market 40 years ago, now it looks more like an open loft space with loads of glass and light coming from outside. the market features many stands that all offer goodies that come from the surrounding region, meaning a stand that sells acorn-fed ham, one specialized in salmorejo or one that focuses on the creation of the perfect spanish omelette. of course all of these delicious foods can be washed down with a cocktail or a glass of wine or beer as there are some bars available as well. address: calle arjona s/n. open from 10am all day.
- mercado de la calle feria – is one of sevilla´s oldest markets which is specialized in fresh fish. you can find some small bars around the market where you can enjoy a beer and a small tapa. one of the nicest ones is la cantina, which is popular among locals. address: calle feria. open monday – saturday from 8am to 2:30pm.
- mercado de la encarnación – this market can easily be found as it is located right under the famous metropol parasol. this market is also quite new (it opened in 2012) and offer plenty of options for grocery shopping and basis tapas. moreover, the place serves as a cultural centre which makes a trip here a nice options for those willing to combine good food with some spanish culture. this area offers nice bars and restaurants so after visiting the market foodies can continue the food trail in the close neighbourhood! plaza de la encarnación, s/n. open all day.
the lofty interior of mercado lonja del barranco
the following delicacies come from the andalucian region and one can taste them all over town in the many bars, restaurants and on the food markets:
- serrano ham. serrano ham is regional delicacy. the andalusian highlands have low humidity and cold winters ideal for curing this famous spanish meat. you can eat this ham as it is or combined with tapas, cheese or melon.
- manzanilla olives. seville is famous for its manzanilla olives. this greenish-brown olive grows in the region’s fertile soil and warm climate. locals enjoy these olives with tapas or in salads and numerous other dishes.
- gazpacho. this is one of the best-known foods in andalusia. gazpacho is a cold tomato soup with bread crumbs, garlic, olive oil, raw cucumbers and peppers. the people of andalusia often serve this refreshing dish in the spring and summer as a lunch starter before the main entree.
tapas andalusian style
as many know, andalusia embodies the classic image of spain, from the flamenco dancing and bullfighting to the intense nightlife and ancient architecture. but as shown above, andalusia also boasts many delicious foods, offering travellers a chance to try out all the best this region has to offer.
when you are staying in seville we would recommend you to visit one of the places above and enjoy some good food spanish style! we think that a stay in andalucía is not complete without a tapas and food market tour. for more recommendations or places to visit please contact us, we would be happy to give you more advice.
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