Why Ronda? This is why... Walk down into the valley in the late afternoon and you'll be rewarded with this view. Oh and that's where we stayed up there on the left. The Parador de Ronda, make sure you ask for a room overlooking the valley. The view is breathtaking.

#Ronda #Spain

Ok, so I don't know what this pastry is called, but it was pretty darn delicious. We bought it on in a little store on Calle Tenorio in Ronda. It was like a giant Palmiere comprised mostly of butter and sugar I think. One between 2 people is recommended.

Granada = Free Tapas with every drink you order... How cool is that!

 El Bar de Fede makes the best Sangria in all of Spain... in my opinion. We stopped at this bar initially because the music pouring out it's door captivated us. We sat up at the bar and watched excitedly as the barman constructed gigantic glasses of Sangria in front of us. First we tried the red... and then we tried the white. The Tapas just kept coming, we dined on vongole and slow-cooked lamb. I recommend sitting up at the bar and enjoy the vibe. The staff were friendly and happy to translate the menu for us. Even my Sangria was smiling!

Of course you can order a la carte too, but wait and see what Tapas is on offer first.









TAPAS! Try everything... it's all good! We loved the bright clean interior, the green bottle lightfittings, the Sangria the friendly staff and especially the Tapas... Make sure you leave room for dessert and complimentary Pedro Ximinez Nectar. You won't regret it... "And if one green bottle should accidently fall"... just order another Sangria. :)















Florence Broadhurst wallpaper, hand-made sofas, chandeliers, gilded pictures frames in the heart of the Gothic Quarter. This place is oozing atmosphere... We arrived at 9 am for “Recovery Brunch” and tried the Waffles with fresh berries and the Bircher Museli with fresh fruit and yoghurt. Great breakfast location if you are looking for an alternative to a Jamon y Queso Bocadillo. Perfect start to a big day sightseeing in Barcelona and open late for cocktails too!

Milk is open everyday from 9.00am to 2.00am

Brunch 9.00am to 4.30pm and Dinner from 7.00pm to 12.00am








Modern cuisine meets Catalan bourgeoisie. Enjoy the glorious interior of a building that dates back to 1902, you can’t go wrong. 

Carrer dels Escudellers, 8
Barcelona














Funky little cafe and bar just off Plaça de George Orwell in the Gothic Quarter. Simple, honest food and a laid back ambiance. Settle in and relax and enjoy the wall art...








To be honest, we were so busy eating the food, we completely forgot to take photos.

If you find yourself in Valencia and are wanting a change from the Patatas Bravas, Ensalata de Atún or the Jamon Jamon... then try this place. Modern cuisine, equisite flavours and elegant decor. We started with Carpaccio of Salmon and it just kept getting better from there.

Check out their menu here...

MENU

Address: Carrer del Comte d'Altea, 7, 46005 València, Spain







“This had better be worth it.” He said to me as we followed our hosts through a myriad of lane ways in old town Valencia. It was late... well late for us.

We had left Barcelona earlier in the day, having hired a car, a sweet little Mercedes 180 the colour of molten chocolate and taken to the roads of Spain for the first time. It wasn’t as scary as we’d thought.

At the delightful sea-side town of Peñíscola, we had lunched on Galician Gambas and the mandatory Patatas Bravas, washed down with goblet or two of chilled Sangria. Our Valencian friends had met us at our hotel just outside the old city of Valencia and we dined like kings at the elegant  “La Gallineta” restaurant.

Our friends were most insistent that we kicked on to a bar for an after dinner cocktail.  And now at this late hour we were walking the streets of Valencia. Through a maze of streets, around dark corners, under garlands of streets lights, we paused to take photos of the Marqués de Dos Aguas Palace with its magnificent Rococo facade. Then we plunged passed the Catedral de València traversing Plaza de la Virgen and slipped into another quiet lane way.

The entrance to Cafe de las Horas belies the Neo-Baroque opulence that awaits beyond the doors. From the star-studded Persian blue ceiling all the way down to the free-form mosaic floor, the cafe is feast for the eyes.




Fabulous Trompe-l’œil paintings adorn crimson walls and massive Baroque floral arrangements dominate the bar. I gaze at the Chandeliers and golden statues of cherubs as the compelling notes of
17th Century music reaches my ears. Yes, it was worth the walk.


We settle into a dark corner and our friends order the local brew... Agua de Valencia, although there is nothing “agua” about it. Agua de Valencia or Valencian water was invented by a guy called Constante Gil in 1959. Its made from orange juice (it is Valencia after all), sparkling wine, gin, vodka and sugar.

Here is a recipe if you’d like to try it at home, but I think it tastes best within the cozy walls of a 17th Century Baroque Salon...

Ingredients

    200 ml Orange juice
    50 ml Gin
    50 ml Vodka
    700 ml Cava (or Champagne)
    Pinch Sugar

Method of preparation

    Squeeze a glass of orange juice into a large jug or pitcher.
    Add a bottle of semi-dry cava.
    Add a glass of vodka and gin.
    Add sugar according to your taste.
    Place in the refrigerator.





Cafe de las Horas 
Address: Carrer del Comte d'Almodóvar, 1, 46003 València, Spain
Hours: Open from 10am to 2am (Sunday 10am - 11pm)



















Great place for tapas in Barcelona...