City Guides
The best tapas restaurants Manchester has to offer
Who you taking to try some of these, then?
Petite Spanish dishes – or Tapas, to the rest of you – have boomed in popularity these last few years, and it isn’t difficult to see why.
Long gone are the days of painstakingly ordering one dish (or maybe two at a push) from a tantalisingly good menu – with tapas, you can load up on pretty much everything the menu has to offer, and you won’t get judged for it at all.
So, here’s a list of Manchester’s most highly regarded tapas joints – you’re welcome.
@barsanjuan / Instagram
Bar San Juan
To start the proceedings, we have Bar San Juan, a fantastic Chorlton gem that serves up arguably the best tapas dishes in the whole country.
The owners recently forked out to have an extension added, so there’s plenty of space to sit and enjoy some authentically Spanish tapas – oh, and they have a cracking wine list, too.
Bar San Juan, 56 Beech Rd, Manchester M21 9EG
www.barsanjuan.info
La Bandera
Located smack in the middle of town, this King Street icon has some seriously good tapas on offer, alongside some more unheard of Mediterranean dishes – the lamb skewers and scallops and chorizo dishes are undeniable stand-outs.
La Bandera, 2 Ridgefield, Manchester M2 6EQ
labandera.co.uk
@elgatonegromanc / Instagram
El Gato Negro
Every Manc will recognise this award-winning King Street haunt – owner Simon Shaw has spent years perfecting the menu at El Gato, which serves a delicious variety of meat, cheese, fish and vegetarian dishes.
The restaurant has won an abundance of awards over the years and, once you’ve sampled their menu, it isn’t difficult to see why.
El Gato Negro, 52 King St, Manchester M2 4LY
www.elgatonegrotapas.com
Abeja Tapas Bar
Abjea actually stands for ‘bee’ in Spanish – a subtle representation of the connection the owners of Abeja Tapas Bar wanted to create with the people of Manchester.
The Oxford Road gem is a space where people can enjoy art exhibitions and cultural activities while also indulging in a food sharing experience from Andalucía cuisine.
Abeja Tapas Bar, Hatch, Oxford Rd, Manchester M1 7ED
abejatapasbar.com
@porta_salford / Instagram
Porta Tapas Bar
We’re well and truly spoilt for choice with two Porta Tapas Bars to choose from – one in Altrincham and one in Salford.
The restaurants take heavy inspiration from small independent bars in Madrid and Barcelona, with their menus bursting with delicious fresh meats and fish.
Porta Tapas Bar, 50 Greenwood St, Altrincham WA14 1RZ
216 Chapel St, Salford, M3 6BY
www.portatapas.co.uk
Nueve Tapas
Described as a little taste of Barcelona in Didsbury, Nueve Tapas can be found – quite unexpectedly – nestled between a tanning salon and a butchers.
Their menu boasts an impressive selection of tapas, as it does with wine and that all-important sangria. They’re also offering a brunch menu, a must-have for those hungover weekends.
Nueve Tapas Bar, 9 Barlow Moor Rd, Didsbury, Manchester M20 6TN
www.nuevetapasbar.com