Not wanting to shiver from the mid-March snow being dumped on London, we jetted off to sunny Seville for a few days relaxation. We took in the sights, got merry with the locals and most importantly, ate as much delicious local food as we possibly could. Seville is a truly gorgeous city, well known for the friendliness of its denizens and the complete awesomeness of their cooking. The people of Seville love to enjoy themselves and there’s no shortage of buzzing tapas bars and exciting restaurants in which to do so. We sampled all that we could and here are our top five recommendations:

EL RINCONCILLO
You really mustn’t miss this place. Dating back to 1670 and rumoured to be the birthplace of tapas, El Rinconcillo is an embodiment of Sevillian culture. Packed to the rafters with happy revellers and brimming with flavoursome dishes, this is the best place to soak up local tradition.

We loved the succulent Wild Boar chop with sautéed garlic and red pepper. Find space where you can and order at the bar, where they’ll chalk up your dishes and present you with a surprisingly low bill come the end. There’s no chance of doing a runner, it will take you 5 minutes to squeeze past all the other guests.
http://www.elrinconcillo.es

EL TRAGA
Here’s where to head if you fancy a taste of cutting edge Spanish gastronomic concept eating. This stylish restaurant offers a modern and unique take on tapas, paired with an extensive cellar of exquisite wines.

Our favourite dish was the Cajun Octopus with black rice, avocado and kimchi. The texture was beautifully soft and the cool avocado harmonised elegantly with chipotle and kimchi fire. You’ll be impressed by the quality here.
http://www.eltraga.com

CONTENEDOR
This was a bit of a trek from our hotel. However, the food was more than worth the journey and the stroll back helped torch a few of the many lovely calories we’d munched. ConTenedor brands itself as a slow food restaurant. The laid-back vibe suits an evening of romantic indulgence.

The menu comes presented on a hefty blackboard and unless you’ve brushed up on your Espanol, you’ll be needing the interpretation services of your waitress. Check out the scrumptious Confit duck rice. A pleasing portion of comfort food served with a delicately spiced curry sauce. A great find!
https://restaurantecontenedor.com

BAR CATEDRAL
Situated on a busy street only a stone’s throw from some of Seville’s more popular attractions, Bar Catedral fights like a bull to stand out amongst the competition. Another slice of tradition, the décor echoes Seville’s Matador heritage and the menu offers familiar favourites at pocket-friendly prices.

We ate a fabulous lunch and agreed the mountain sized portion of Galician style Octopus with potatoes was a real treat.
http://www.barcatedral.com

UMAMI
Possibly the trendiest of our picks and recommended to us by many locals, Umami’s suave modern interior and Japanese influenced Tapas menu draws the crowds, meaning you’ll need to book ahead. The Chef running the pass had all the focus, intensity (and possibly looks) of J.K. Simmons’ character in Whiplash, ensuing each dish emerged with finely tuned precision.

The dishes were fire and the atmosphere cool. Be sure to sample the crisp vegetable tempura, or the wonderfully fresh Tuna Tataki.
http://umamisevilla.com

These are but a handful of the amazing restaurants we visited in Seville and the internet probably isn’t big enough for us to write about them all. If you’re a fan of great value delicious dishes, prepared and served by warm, passionate people, we suggest you jump on a plane and eat your way around this fabulous city. Ole!