ConTenedor
Price: $$
Boasting a menu that champions organic, hyperlocal, seasonal produce, this artsy slow-food restaurant, in the trendy Macarena neighborhood, remains at the top of Seville’s dining scene after 18 years. Well-priced, with dishes from around $15, its innovative food—presented like edible modern art—continues to push culinary boundaries. Try the artisan beet tagliatelle with apple pepper cream, black olives, and seasonal mushrooms if in season. ConTenedor has an extensive wine list, too, that’s packed with local and regional vinos sure to make oenophiles swoon. Book in advance and look out for the restaurant’s iconic jazz and dinner nights. For an even more intimate experience, head to its new sister venue, T Espacio Gastronómico—a one-table fine dining restaurant for up to 18 people, led by chef Ignacio R. Llinares. Be ready for tasting menus made up of elevated Spanish cuisine from around $80. —A.T.
Las Golondrinas
Price: $
A Trianero will tell you you need a passport to enter Triana from Seville. It’s a joke, of course, but it highlights the sense of distinction locals on the other side of the Guadalquivir River feel from Sevillanos. Still, this working-class area, known for seafaring and flamenco, is worth a wander over the bridge as it’s home to some of the best lesser-known places to eat in Seville. Las Golondrinas, on Calle Antillano Campos, is one of them. The lively, no-frills restaurant has everything you want from a traditional Andalusian tapas bar: blue-and-white azulejos tiles, grunting bartenders, and cheap, hearty small plates that fly out of the kitchen quicker than you can say “¡una caña, por favor!” This small, humble place is known for its champiñones—mushrooms topped with a herby green alioli—but the puntas de solomillo (grilled tenderloin), served on a bed of deep-fried, crispy chips, is equally memorable. —A.T.
This article was originally published on Condé Nast Traveller UK.