What to Eat in Seville

It can be a bit of a minefield trying to organise where to eat in Seville, particularly if you aren’t in the city for too long and want to maximise all of your dining opportunities. The following dishes (and the establishments they can be found at) were some of the highlights of a recent trip to Seville and can hopefully provide you with some inspiration for mouthwatering meals!

Boquerones en Vinagre – La Antigua Abaceria

Boquerones en vinagre is anchovies in vinegar and even if you somehow detest tinned anchovies, I implore you to try this fresh version. They are tangy, fatty, drizzled with olive oil and herbs and melt in your mouth unlike anything else I have tried. The portions at Antigua Abaceria are larger than some tapas places in Seville (and therefore more expensive), but this version of the anchovy on crispy bread was more than worth it.

Patatas Bravas, Beet Salmorejo, Salt Cod Fritters and Grilled Squid – La Brunilda

This is just the selection of four dishes that I tried at La Brunilda, but each was as delicious as the last and so I felt I should mention them all. The menu isn’t huge at this modern tapas restaurant, but each dish is beautifully presented and perfectly balanced – and best of all, the prices are ridiculously cheap in comparison with the UK! FYI beet salmorejo is a beetroot version of a cold Andalusian tomato soup that you will find in many eateries around the city. It is divinely refreshing and you should definitely try at least one as an appetiser on a hot day!

Choco Frito – Bar Bistec

Sevillanos love anything fried (vegetables, fish, seafood, meat) and although Seville isn’t by the sea, choco frito (fried cuttlefish) can be found at many establishments around the city. It is a speciality of the local seaside Huelva province and is very similar to fried squid, except the batter here was as light-as-air.

Espinacas con Garbanzos (Spinach and Chickpeas) – Taberna Peregil

I developed my love for spinach with chickpeas at our local neighbourhood tapas bar when we lived in Manchester, but it was great to try the original and best in its birthplace. This historic little bar is a great place to try it, along with another local speciality, orange wine. Unlike the natural orange wines we think of in the UK, the orange wines here are sweet and dark but, despite that, are drunk as an aperitif.

Pan con Tomate / Jamon – Antigua Casa Diego

The Spanish are not big on breakfast. You could probably count on one hand the amount of dishes that Spanish people are likely to consume throughout the morning, with most people instead preferring to have lunch be their big, important meal of the day. So jamon (ham, usually Iberico ham) or tomate (tomato paste) are two of the only toppings for bread-based breakfasts. Bread will usually just be plain and white (no sourdough here, folks), but if you seek out a place serving the best quality ham, it will melt in your mouth while the olive oil you drizzled over the top lovingly drips down your chin.

Churros with Chocolate – Chocolateria Virgen de Lujan

Okay, so when I said that there are only a couple of breakfast options in Seville, churros with chocolate is one of the others (and, let’s face it, the most deliciously indulgent). You can order either a half plate or a full plate (photo above shows a half portion, which was enough for a fairly light breakfast for two people), along with either chocolate or coffee in which to dunk your fried sticks of dough. Unlike the churros in Madrid, these ones were thicker and not piped into a star shape, but equally as delicious.