You may not realise it, but Sydney is perhaps Australia’s premier city for Spanish delicacies of all stripes. That means there’s plenty of scope for every area of Spanish cuisine, however you like to enjoy it.
Although it’s a certified hit now, Spanish cuisine was a bit late to the party in Australia compared to its European neighbours. While it benefited from waves of Italian and Greek Italian immigration throughout the 20th century, the relatively small Spanish immigrant community in Australia has meant that Spanish food has only really taken off here in the post-internet age, where there’s a greater awareness of what the world has to offer these shores.
Fortunately, in the last two decades there’s been an absolute explosion of Spanish cuisine in Australia, partly resulting from our burgeoning love affair with Spanish culture. And Sydney’s probably the epicentre of this welcome movement, with a crazily diverse selection of restaurants that would make any Iberian aficionado jump for joy.
Spanish food spans a huge range, from casual tapas to elaborate meals, and we’ve got every angle covered. We’ll guide you through the crooked streets and alleys of this city’s abundant Spanish charms.
Right in the centre of Sydney’s premier dining precinct is this sumptuous dining haven, boasting a dark marble and mahogany aesthetic that’s sure to please. Executive Chef Emilio Erazo has a unique depth of experience, having worked in many celebrated kitchens throughout Spain, South America, and Australia. His restaurant celebrates regional Spanish cuisine, supplied by a close network of small farmers. More for couples than kids, this classy restaurant will richly reward your time spent there.
There are several set menus to choose from – or if you’re a fan of selecting dishes, you can delve into their famous ‘market menu’, with a wealth of market-fresh produce beckoning. They really practice what they preach, with innovations including in-house meat curing.
There are too many highlights to choose from, but perhaps the stuffed piquillo peppers with barcala, guindillas & piquillo sauce would be a great place to start. This restaurant’s all about freshness of the highest level, so don’t forget to ask them about their star dishes – the Hampshire suckling pig with spiced blood orange sauce being a standout.
If you’d prefer to be guided through the highlights by the master, the set menu’s the way to go. With entrees including baked scallops, a fermented pumpkin ravioli among the mains, and house-made chocolate mousse to round things off, you’re getting a real taste of Iberia.
Website: https://mercadorestaurant.com.au/
This restaurant prides itself on its ‘authentic specialities made using recipes that have
been passed down through the generations, and it shows. This is an expansive restaurant, perfect for functions, and with space for over 200 people spread across two levels (think vibrant and buzzing, rather than quiet and secluded).
The menu, populated with dishes cooked with specialty grade ingredients, is memorable and unique. Seafood sits front and centre of the tapas menu, including chilli king prawns and grilled sardines. For a vegetarian twist on these compelling dishes, why not try the sweet roasted capsicum or stuffed spanish omelette with Spanish cured ham and manchego cheese?
A profusion of carefully curated meat dishes dominates the mains, with an authentic highlight being Fabada Asturiana (Bean Stew), a hearty Asturian bean stew with white beans, pork and chorizo. Another main dish which will light up your tastebuds is the Mejilonnes a la Asturiana (mussels), cooked in red wine, tomato, and garlic.
For that splash of Spanish authenticity, wash all this down with something different from the amazing wine list – like hte Sidra asturiana natural (cider nourished in chestnut barrels). Then move on to the dessert menu, where you won’t be able to beat the traditional Spanish Flan, a type of creme caramel coated with caramelised sugar. Delectable!
Website: http://casaasturiana.com.au/
Billed as ‘a celebration of sherry, wine, tapas, and friends’, this warm and welcoming slice of rustic Spain in Sydney’s heart will comfort you as well as offering you a vision of Spain’s cobblestone alleyways. Come along for a memorable meal with a lucky group of compadres.
The main thing that comes across is the attention to detail infusing Tapavino’s dishes. For example, the tapas menu includes stuffed piquillo pepper with goat’s cheese and black olives, a perfect palate-cleanser for what’s to come.
Getting to the mains is an experience in itself, with ultra-distinctive dishes such as warm cow’s milk cheese, roasted walnuts and lavender honey; or Andalusian hummus with piquillo pepper and pine nuts. Even the cheese selection has been chosen with the utmost care, with the choice of Manchego 18 month aged sheep’s cheese or Roncari soft blue cow cheese.
For the ultimate experience, why not try the Deluxe banquet menu, with everything from sardines de Compostela to Braised beef cheeks – all with delectable sides such as Cabbage ensalada and Sardines de Compostela? And just in case you have an iota of room left, the dessert menu includes a Dulce de Leche tart that’s the richest, creamiest treat imaginable.
Website: https://www.tapavino.com.au/
Fancy some Spanish–Mexican fusion? The Butler is the place for you! You’ll be stepping into the world of Head Chef Amber Doig, whose passion for Iberian and Mexican cuisine is legendary. There are several menus available at The Butler, but the traditional one hits the mark while bringing this slice of Spain into Sydney’s heart. It’s a place for couples and functions, with several group feasting options.
First things first – what about the simple classic of a dozen rock oysters to kick everything off? For something more elaborate, the Kingfish aguachile with coconut, watermelon, avocado and smoked caviar may be more your style.
The mains present a delicious array, with the confit pork carnitas a particularly flavoursome option, seasoned with white onion, radish chicharrons, and salsa verde, all served on a warm tortilla. If you’re more of a carnivore, why not dig into what just might be the restaurant’s centrepiece – Lamb Barbacoa, a 1200g shoulder of Mirrool Creek lamb, slow-cooked in banana leaf? The dish is graced with mint verde, chile pasilla, salsa and greek yoghurt, an unforgettable flavour combination.
And don’t imagine you’ll be left out if you’re a vegetarian. From grilled broccolini with peanut salsa macha to charred sweet corn with chipotle emulsion, you’ll find everything you’ll need to enjoy the region’s vegetarian delights. The cocktails will expand your repertoire – so to end the night (or begin, if that’s more your style), why not try a Passionfruit Batida, drenched with delectable Chinola passionfruit liqueur? You won’t regret it.
Website: https://butlersydney.com.au/
$$
The colour and movement of Spain is fully in evidence in this gorgeous bar. Rather than adventurous fusion cooking, this menu is stacked with comfort food old faves that’ll deeply hit that spot when washed down with a beer. It’s the perfect place for an after-work catch-up.
The tapas menu’s full of classics, from the Queso Frito, with the crisp exterior and soft interior, or the queso a la plancha, strips of grilled haloumi with lemon. For something perhaps a little more substantial, the Albondiga al Ajillo (slow roasted garlic meatballs cooked in tomato puree) is a real treat.
Website: http://www.mojostapasbar.com.au/
This bustling restaurant is known for its authentic approach to Spanish cuisine. Specialising in the varied art of tapas, it’s packed with surprising and unusual Iberian treats. This sophisticated place is suitable for couples, with an emphasis on wine. (Although the restaurant’s signature alcoholic beverage is called The Bull … so make sure you’re sitting down before quaffing!
The cured meat selection is the first element setting Despano apart – with a highlight being the Jamon Iberico, meat from an acorn-fed pig which has been aged for 17 months.
But it’s the tapas selection where Despana really comes into its own, with the long list of classics here including the tangy beetroot borani, spicy prawn and chorizo skewer, and the downright delicious artichokes and asparagus in manchego cheese. One further gem among so many others is the braised beef cheek, which is simply tender and flavoursome beyond belief. Scaling things up a bit, you’ll find the Raciones (sharing plates), with the Clams in a fino sherry broth being one of those genuinely unmissable dishes.
At the end of the night, those deeply comforting traditional tastes are perhaps the best. Try the Milk and Rice Pudding with cinnamon and lemon, a particular grace note to finish up on.
Website: https://www.despana.com.au/
Nestled in the trendy inner-west suburb of Rozelle is this master of the subtle art of Tapas, offering the chance to get to the cuisine’s essence. Made in-house, these traditional Spanish tapas deliver the authentic flavours of Spain. You’ll also be impressed with the authentic wine list, featuring a fantastic representation of imported Spanish wines.
The vibe shifts between romantic midweek (think candlelight) and raucous on weekends (think flamenco and classical guitar). So, what’s the best place to start with this compelling vision of Spain’s culinary highlights? Why not try the Pisto manchego con espárragos trigueros (traditional Spanish vegetable stew with grilled asparagus) or Chorizo a la sidra (Chorizo cooked in cider)? To accompany the latter, one of the many highlights from the wine list is the Juve & camps gran reserva, a gorgeously refreshing Spanish sparkling wine.
The mains menu’s divided into ‘Paellas’ and ‘Carnes’ sections, with pehaps the highlight of the former being the Paella de arroz negro (seafood paella with Spanish squid ink), for a minimum of two. On the other side, the Jarrete (slow-cooked veal shank) is sure to warm away those winter blues.
There are a selection of intriguing chef’s specials too, including the Saquitos de camaron (Prawn pockets with prawn and Philadelphia sauce). Or, if you’d like to go the simple and ultra-fresh approach, try the fish of the day or pulpo a la gallega (Galician-style octopus).
Still hungry? There are more desserts than seems possible, but we recommend the seriously delicious Tarta de queso (Basque cheesecake with berry marmalade).
Website: https://alegrias.com.au/
Spanish is harder to come by in Sydney’s west than in other parts of the city, so let’s kick things off with Parramatta’s finest. With a menu spanning tapas to the Spanish staple, paella, you’ll find a superb selection of Spanish standards and delicacies here. It’s great for functions as well, with special packages available.
Offering an ‘intimate and relaxed’ dining experience, the entertainment will set the mood from the get-go, with a live Flamenco show to get you ready for the superb food to follow. (If you’re bringing the kids along, there’s a menu for them, too.)
The rich selection of authentic starters include delicacies such as fresh figs stuffed with goat’s cheese and roasted almonds with smoked paprika. Move on to a sumptuous charcuterie board or straight on to the Tapas? Decisions, decisions! The Tapas menu caters for all tastes, with a specialised meat menu (try the meatballs stuffed with manchego cheese), seafood (try the slow cooked tender octopus), or vegetarian (the empanadillas de vegetales are sure to please).
Getting into the mains, paella’s the star here. This is usually seen as a meat-lover’s paradise – but wait until you try the vegetarian option, boasting everything from zucchini to green peas. Or that inimitable classic, seafood paella, with a bounty of mussels, prawns, and octopus – all set among the richest imaginable rice? There’s also a great selection of Spanish pasta – try the Linguini Sevilliana in red brava sauce – or a heroically proportioned beef eye fillet.
Don’t forget the cornucopia of Spanish-themed drinks to tempt your palate. Has there been a dish created that doesn’t go with a Dry Madrid Martini? We don’t think so! And if your tastes run towards the traditional, the wine list abounds in authentic Spanish selections. If you’re bringing the kids along, they’ll love the beef meatballs stuffed with cheese from their very own menu. Round the night off with the almond and orange cake with burnt orange caramel sauce, and go home ecstatic. (You only live once, after all.)
Just a heads-up – this one’s the furthest out from the city centre, so you’ll need to plan your transport.
Website: https://alegrias.com.au/
We hope you’ve been inspired by our summary of some of Sydney’s true Spanish highlights, where everything’s on offer from the most hearty, rustic fare to palate-ravishing modern Spanish fusion dishes.
