Lonely PlanetSep 19, 2026
Spain's Classic One Dish Wonders
From ham, cheese and soup to tortilla, paella and fresh seafood, these classic Spanish flavors are unforgettable. Here are the best places to try them.
25 things in this story
- Paella ValencianaFast foodTraditional dish from Valencia, made in a large flat pan.
- Casa CarmelaRestaurantTop spot for paella valenciana near the beach.
- Elsewhere
- Galician-style octopusRestaurantGalicia, SpainServed on wooden plates as a tapa or ración.
- Festa do Pulpo de O CarballiñoFestivalOurense, SpainHeld each August near Ourense, prepares 30,000kg of octopus.
- O Gato NegroPubSantiago de Compostela, SpainCentury-old tavern serving Rías Baixas octopus.
- Pulpeira de MelideRestaurantA Coruña, SpainTaberna en clave de siglo XXI en la que se combina la tradicional pulpeira familiar con una cocina gallega actualizada…
- PercebesRestaurantCosta da Morte, SpainPrized crustaceans harvested by hand among cliffs.
- Potato omeletRestaurantMadrid, SpainDeliciously gooey tortilla de patatas, often with onion.
- Bodega de la ArdosaBarMadrid, SpainClassic 1892-opened Madrid tavern known for prize-winning tortilla.
- Pez TortillaPubMadrid, SpainSeveral branches wow diners with traditional and creative tortilla.
- Tortilla de BetanzosRestaurantBetanzos, SpainOnion-free variation known for being extra-runny.
- Jamón ibéricoRestaurantExtremadura, SpainProduced from ibérico-breed pigs in the southwest.
- La CarboneríaRestaurantMérida, SpainSmart Mérida restaurant for local jamón ibérico.
- AtrioHotelCáceres, SpainTriple-Michelin-star restaurant with ibérico-pork tasting menus.
- Langostinos de SanlúcarRestaurantSanlúcar de Barrameda, SpainSpecialty of Sanlúcar de Barrameda, pairs with manzanilla sherry.
- Gamba blanca de HuelvaRestaurantHuelva, SpainA favorite in Cádiz and neighboring Huelva.
- Gambas rojas de la Costa BravaRestaurantCosta Brava, SpainPrized type from Palamós has its own certification label.
- Gambas al ajilloRestaurantAndalucía, SpainTraditional dish of coastal Andalucía in sizzling olive oil.
- Casa BigoteRestaurantSanlúcar de Barrameda, SpainRenowned for fresh langostinos and gambas blancas.
- Bar MutRestaurantBarcelona, SpainBistro-vibe bar for gambas de Palamós.
- Bon AireRestaurantLa Albufera, SpainPrize-winning paella valenciana made with own-produced rice.
- Anchoas de SantoñaRestaurantSantoña, SpainSalt-cured delicacies from the Bay of Biscay.
- Bodega del RiojanoRestaurantSantander, SpainServes anchoas de Santoña or matrimonio topped with peppers.
- El PolloBarBarcelona, Spain
- Mantequerias PirenaicasRestaurantBarcelona, Spain
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