3 Spanish Restaurants in Melbourne

Melbourne is a vibrant, beautiful and energetic city with a distinctly European feeling to it, and certainly, the selection of Melbourne's Spanish restaurants attest to this. As Australia's food capital, it’s no surprise that the locals are admittedly crazy for food – and good food at that. Luckily for them, the array of new bars, cafes and restaurants springing up throughout Melbourne from Fitzroy to South Yarra (and beyond) brings with it new and exciting options just begging to be tried. As we mentioned there are plenty of Spanish restaurants in Melbourne, so we decided to help you out a little and give you the rundown on the best ones, dishes to try and everything else you’ll need to know!

The city gets particularly busy at key times of the year, especially when large events are on. Melbourne is home to some of the country’s biggest events, including the famous Melbourne Cup, Grand Final Day, Australian Open and Melbourne Fashion Week. So, with the constant stream of foodies throughout the year, and these renowned events, as Melbourne locals will know, it’s imperative you reserve before you dine. This absolutely goes for Melbourne’s Spanish restaurants, who are some of the most popular dining choices in the city. So our tip? Pop on Quandoo and discover a range of incredible Spanish restaurants in Melbourne and book your choice in second. No more lines for you!

You'll find restaurants, bars, cafes and even pop-up shops selling tapas across Melbourne. The area surrounding St Paul's Cathedral is a good starting point. Walk along William Street or King Street up to the Federation Plaza and you’ll pass various enticing venues. Some of the best Melbourne tapas destinations are actually bars where you'll find a great range of cocktails and delicious fast tapas which are perfect when you want to enjoy sociable food, without the commitment of a large sit-down meal. Having said that, most people find that they visit a Melbourne tapas venue with the intention of ordering a couple of light dishes, then end up going big when the taste hits.

When you enjoy tapas in Melbourne, you experience a Spanish national cuisine with international appeal. This traditional style of eating is centred around bars in Spain, where little dishes of montadito (food served on bread), fried squid, nuts, olives and patatas bravas are served alongside drinks, usually for free. The tapas in Melbourne is occasionally free at some of the higher-end bars but is also served at restaurants with extensive menus. It is typically very affordable, although some of the higher end tapas restaurants in Melbourne will be a little more expensive because of their top-quality food offerings.

The city has long been known for its progressive views, bohemian culture and liberal way of life. Great food (and coffee) are a daily part of life here and word always spreads fast about new bars and eateries. You'll find trendy little tapas bars as well as more traditional Spanish restaurants in Melbourne, tucked away in laneways or in the heart of it all in the CBD. And what should you expect to find at the Spanish restaurants in Melbourne? Well, you’ll be in for delicious tapas dishes, which a small plates designed to share, which makes this style of eating ideal if you’re out for casual drinks or in the mood to sample several different dishes. You’ll also find paella brimming with meat and seafood, delicious breads and of course freshly made jugs of sangria. Have we got you sufficiently tempted yet?

A Spanish tapa is essentially a snack or appetiser. Several tapas dishes can be served together on small plates to create an entire meal. The dishes can be hot or cold. Chilled dishes could include manchego cheese cubes, mixed olives marinated in lemon and oil, roasted peppers or spicy nuts. Hot dishes include fried baby squid, chorizo, gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp), croquetas de jamon (ham croquettes), calamari, tortilla Española or Spanish omelette. There are also various montadito dishes, which are basically food served on bread, and toppings could include salamis, cheeses or olive tapenades.

When you look for Melbourne's Spanish restaurants you'll certainly notice lots of tapas bars springing up – and one of the best is MoVida Aqui. This family of restaurants have got restaurants in Hosier Lane, Flinders Lane and Bourke Street in the CBD. The Bourke Street venue is close to the Etihad Stadium, so it's an ideal spot for a bite after the game. You'll find classic tapas dishes, such as pan con tomate, las gambas, tortillas, anchovies and calamari, along with paella and other more substantial dishes that really get the taste buds going. Otherwise, Simply Spanish on Bourke Street is another Melbourne Spanish restaurant that has locals buzzing. It has a cosy feel, colourful decor and serves up authentic cuisine with delicious tapas, huge big pan paellas and Spanish-style steaks on offer. It's also perfectly placed for refuelling after a day of shopping!

For a quieter evening of relaxed dining, head out to Point Cook – just half hour from the city centre – to try out Gypsy Road Tapas Bar & Lounge. This is one of Melbourne’s best Spanish restaurants and it offers offers tapas and fusion Mediterranean dishes, all of which use locally-sourced ingredients. There's also a great wine list and plenty of cold beer on tap! If you're not sure which drink to order alongside your food, then sangria is a classic choice. Made with Spanish red wine, brandy, chopped fruit pieces, orange juice and loads of ice, this drink is refreshing, zesty and goes perfectly alongside Spanish cuisine on offer in Melbourne’s Spanish restaurants.

This type of cuisine is best enjoyed at leisure and with friends, family or a special someone. It’s informal and fun and the nature of the food means that you'll often be using your fingers or little cocktail sticks to lift food from your plate. Some of Melbourne's tapas restaurants serve tasting menus with up to nine courses and this can be a great way to experience new dishes that you might be unfamiliar with. Tasting or set menus can sometimes end with a dish of paella, too, so make sure you go hungry! Others may end with a dish of sweet churros, which are fried pastry snacks, often served with chocolate. They are incredibly indulgent and great with a coffee!

The Spanish restaurants in Melbourne are a great choice if you are hosting a group dining event and want a vibrant and fiesta-like atmosphere. Look out for music and salsa dancing too at some of the bigger venues, as after all, Spaniards are renowned for their love of a great party! But if we’re honest, the Spanish restaurants throughout Melbourne are ideal for a cosy date night night or special treat with the family too, so do yourself a favour and reserve a table at one of the incredible and lively Spanish restaurants in Melbourne! You’ll be glad you did!