Savour flavourful Spanish fare at these Vancouver spots
Looking for a taste of Barcelona without leaving the 604? You don’t need your passport to enjoy fine sherry, juicy chorizo, manchego cheese and many more Iberian pleasures. In fact, tasty tapas dishes, paella plates and cold glasses of cerveza are much closer than you think thanks to these Spanish restaurants and tapas bars in Vancouver. [Photo courtesy of España]
Bodega on Main
1014 Main St, Vancouver BC V6A 2W1Take your taste buds on a culinary adventure at this modern Spanish bodega situated on the outskirts of Chinatown. In-the-know foodies pack inside the 75-seat dining room on a nightly basis to feast on a creative selection of tapas-style plates. Eat your way through the menu of bar snacks, artisanal cheeses and cured meats, hot and cold seafood tapas, meaty entrees, and two different types of paella: try the traditional paella mixta with saffron rice, seafood, chicken, chorizo and pork or opt for the paella negra made with squid ink rice, prawns, calamari, baby squid, mussels, clams and cuttlefish.
Salt Tasting Room Ltd
248 Georgia St E, Vancouver BC V6A 1Z7Discovering Salt’s hidden entrance – tucked away down Blood Alley in Gastown – is half the fun. The trendy hotspot specializes in the holy trinity of Iberian delights: artisanal cheese, cured meats, and wine. Navigate the ever-changing chalkboard menu to mix and match your own customized tasting boards (assembled with cheese, meat and condiments) and wine pairings or, better yet, leave it up to the servers to put together a spread to suit your palate. Wine flights, daily plates and three-course menu options are also available for those who want to sample a little bit of everything.
Espana Restaurant
1118 Denman St, Vancouver BC V6G 2M8The colourful and elegantly plated dishes at this West End tapas lounge beg to be photographed – if you can stop yourself from digging in right away of course. Ideal for a romantic date night or intimate dinner among friends, España delivers an unforgettable dining experience with a focus on authentic Spanish small plates, wines and cocktails. Start with traditional Basque skewers (a savoury spear with olives, white anchovies and pickled chillis) and move on to rustic boards topped with cured meats and regional cheeses, charred octopus and chorizo, and smoked ham croquettes. Finish with sinfully sweet churros – exquisito!
Cabrito
2270 Commercial Dr, Vancouver BC V5N 4B5A relative newcomer to The Drive, this contemporary tapas bar has warm vibe and attentive service. Cabrito might mean “baby goat” en Español, but it’s the majestic bull depicted in a beautiful wall mural (courtesy of Vancouver artist Yared Nigussu) that’ll grab your attention inside the cozy 36-seat dining room. Start with a glass of Spanish wine or a flight of sherry and take some time to mull over the menu, which features a nice variety of small plates that are best shared amongst friends; think marinated olives, spicy smoked almonds, cured meats (Serrano ham, bresaola, chorizo), seafood and cheeses.
Café Medina
780 Richards St, Vancouver BC V6B 3A4Paella for breakfast? Why not! This European inspired daytime eatery attracts line-ups all week long thanks to its creative roster of flavourful, Instagram-worthy breakfast plates. Medina’s paella is a modern re-imagination of the classic Valencian rice dish; served in a skillet, the dish features a melange of orzo pasta, spicy chorizo, fresh avocado, and seasonal vegetables. The savoury meal is topped with grana padano cheese, charred tomato salsa and a fried egg. For an additional Spanish flavour, pair your paella with a side of sweet sherry-roasted mushrooms.
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