Although Spain may be about as far from Melbourne as a country can get, there is no shortage of fantastic Spanish restaurants in Melbourne! Are you hankering for some croquettes, some jamon, some chorizo, or some sangria? Well, check out our list below of some of the best Spanish restaurants in town.
Vamos Melbourne
That's us, and I hope you'll excuse me for putting us first on the list!
Apart from our delicious Spanish tapas and wines, what really makes Vamos totally different from any other Spanish restaurant Melbourne has to offer is our live music! From Wednesday to Sunday we have a range of amazing live Spanish bands, playing everything from jazz to gypsy flamenco, that will make you really feel like you are back in Spain.
Standout dishes: Gambas (grilled prawns) and Croquetas. And of course, our amazing sangria! Check out our menu above and make a booking today. If you'd like to explore more of what Melbourne's tapas scene has to offer, our guide to the best tapas bars in Melbourne is a great place to start.
Movida and Movida Next Door
When it comes to Spanish tapas in Melbourne, the name that everyone knows is Movida. Movida now has a range of different venues across Melbourne, including one right next door which is aptly named Movida Next Door. While Movida itself is very nice, I personally prefer the slightly more laid-back style of Movida Next Door, and the food is equally as delicious at both.
Both venues are quite small. Make sure to book ahead or go at a very quiet time. Quality ingredients prepared in a rustic, unpretentious way make Movida's food a real treat. Mix it with a little Spanish tempranillo and you're well on your way to culinary heaven.
I would definitely list Movida and Movida Next Door among the best Spanish restaurants Melbourne has to offer. I've also tried one of their other venues, Movida Aqui, but to be honest I wasn't as impressed. It felt like a slightly more commercial version of the original, designed for the law firms and corporate lunches of the William St end of town. If you're looking for a chilled Sunday lunch, look no further than Movida Next Door.
Añada
My next pick for best Spanish restaurant Melbourne would have to be Añada. Añada is located on Gertrude St in Fitzroy and, like Movida and Movida Next Door, it's very small and intimate. A great place to go with a date, but probably not the best choice for a larger group. Again, make sure you book ahead or go at a very quiet time.
Añada's attention to detail and combination of unusual ingredients cooked in unexpected ways, with incredibly delicious results, is what makes it special. It's quite pricey, so be prepared to spend a bit, but you'll be well rewarded. I personally prefer the smaller dishes to the larger ones, and you can quite happily fill yourself up on a range of delicious tapas.
Portello Rosso
Portello Rosso is another great Spanish restaurant in Melbourne's CBD. If you're looking for some delicious Spanish food and want a traditional Spanish bar experience, it's very hard to go past this place. Portello Rosso is located in a small laneway off Little Bourke St and can easily be missed if you're not careful. The ambience is lovely, and the Spanish tapas here are some of the best you'll find on the west side of Elizabeth St.
Bar Lourinha
To round off our list of Spanish tapas bars in Melbourne, I'm going to choose Bar Lourinha. Bar Lourinha is another cozy, intimate venue with a very unique and traditional vibe. The food is delicious and the service is friendly, so this is definitely one of those Spanish tapas restaurants in Melbourne's CBD that is not to be missed.
There are numerous other Spanish restaurants in Melbourne, and I think I've tried most of them, but the ones above are the ones that stand out. They're all good for different occasions. If you want something lively and upbeat with great music, you can't go past Vamos. If you want something relaxed and intimate, then maybe try one of the others.
Whatever you try, I hope this article has been useful and that you find some delicious Spanish food just around the corner!