UPDATE: Very sadly Bodega San José closed its doors at the end of April 2021 after 80 years in the Bueno family. I will keep this here as a tribute to one of the most cherished bars in the city and some of the loveliest people.

At 135 years of age Bodega San José is one of Sevilla’s institutions, and certainly looks the part. The bar is ample and spacious, with a bank of small sherry casks, an antique wall mounted drinks cabinets and tables at the back of the room,. There is also a small sidewalk terraza. I’m told it was renovated in the not too distant past, but it still maintains the ambiance of a bygone age.

It’s currently run by Nicolás Bueno and his sister María del Rosario, along with their mother Rosario, a delightful woman whose father’s cousins, Pablo and Rodrigo, founded the bar when they came to Sevilla from the north (as did the owners of many bars of this age) in search of a better life.

The food is good too. It’s a bit like visiting coastal bars in Cádiz and Huelva, with wines from each region, including manzanilla en rama from Bodegas Barón. House specialities include prawns – the famous gambas blancas from Isla Cristina – and chicharrones especiales de Cádiz, which are actually supplied by Casa Manteca. We also tried the tortilla and pringá. Other mainstays include hams and cheeses, mussels, anchovies, cod and tuna, and boquerones de vinagre that are prepared daily by Rosario. Admit to having a bit of a crush on Rosario, who I think has one of the most beautiful smiles ever, and who  always insists on holding my hands in hers while we chat. Swoon…

Bread/Service Charge: 0€

Adriano 10
Tel 954 224 105
Open 12.30 – 16.30 / 19.30 – midnight
12.30 – 16.30 Sunday
€ € €

Food 7 | Wine 7 | Service 7 | Ambiance 9

manzanilla en rama

chicharrón de Cádiz from Casa Manteca

tortilla de patatas

montadito de pringá

gambas blancas from Isla Cristina in Huelva… before

… and after

Nicolás & Rosario

Rosario preparing boquerones en vinagre

boquerones en vinagre

the bill

closed… ?

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Updated April 2021