andalucia | Azahar Sevilla Tapas

Taberna Manolo Cateca

Shawn — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 09:02:30 +0000

Updated May 2025

Say hello to my local. This little place is about five minutes away from where I live, and it’s fabulous. I have to thank Jaime from Bodegas Faustino González in Jerez for this “discovery” several years ago, after he told me where I could find his spectacular wines (all en rama) in Sevilla. Turns out I can actually find over 200 (!!!) different sherries here, all available by the glass at very reasonable prices. A veritable sherry temple.

The bar began life back in 1920 as a small wine “despacho” and became Taberna La Goleta in 1952. The current owner, Manuel Rodríguez Navarro (nickname: Cateca) took over the space in 2013, maintaining the original features as well as recovering a beautiful beamed ceiling that was hidden behind plaster, though he did modernise the “Urinario” by replacing the saloon-style doors with a solid wooden one. It’s quite small inside, not much more than a “hole-in-the-wall”, but the space is well-used and the preserved Triana tiles are stunning. Outside there are a few tall tables in the pedestrian street.

The speciality, and my main reason for going there, is the huge range of sherries of every type. I feel like a kid let loose in a candy store in here but usually I leave it up to Manolo to decide for me. They also offer a good variety of charcuterie, cheeses, mojama and other preserved fish, montaditos and a small selection of traditional tapas. Some with a twist, like the tortilla with hierbabuena and the housemade “chicharrones especiales”, similar to those from Cádiz, but with a “toque Sevillano” and made exclusively for the bar by Carnicería Roiz. There are also a few daily specials. The staff are super friendly, helpful (they know their sherry) and keen to talk about the bar, or really just about anything. Love this place. A lot.

Bread/Service Charge: 0€

Santa María de Gracia 11
Tel 657 590 509
Open 11.00 – 16.00 Monday – Saturday
€ € €

Food 7 | Wine 10 | Service 8 | Ambiance 9

owner Manolo “Cateca”

impressive sherry list

the auxiliary list

new wine fridge!

there’s cold beer too!

paleta Ibérica

mojama (cured tuna) and fried almonds

boquerones en vinagre

Gabriela manzanilla (perfect with that mojama)

toasted pringá montadito

paleta Ibérica

smoked salmon with piquillo pepper and onion salad

caracoles (seasonal)

Levante & Poniente manzanillas

toasted prawn montadito with alioli

cheese cured in pork lard

Cantabrian anchovies

“chicharrones especiales de Sevilla”

smoked sardines on toast with red pepper salad

Urium fino and manzanilla en rama

tortilla with hierbabuena

papas aliñá con melva

marinated pork liver with onions

payoyo cheese

spinach with garbanzos

tomato soup with hierbabuena

pisto with egg

manzanilla Deliciosa

carne con tomate

carne mechada

chicken livers in amontillado sauce

cabrales cheese

caña de lomo & morcón

spicy chorizo montadito

queso viejo

the house vermouth

the “urinario” with new door

recovered high beamed ceiling

belén (nativity scene) in a sherry barrel

The post Taberna Manolo Cateca first appeared on Azahar Sevilla Tapas.

Bodega La Aurora

Shawn — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 11:04:50 +0000

Founded in 1913 by Francisco Portales, who came from a village near Santander, La Aurora was taken over by Luis Sanchez Gutiérrez, also from Santander and father of the current owners, who worked there 1921-1945. His sons have run it since 1972. Original features in this century-old bar include the massive wood bar, wine casks, and the curious hatch in the door next to the shop window that female family members (living upstairs) would use to collect wine or olive oil, as they weren’t allowed inside the bar.

La Aurora underwent a refurbishment a few years to celebrate its 100th anniversary but remains a simple neighbourhood bar. The aforementioned shop window hales from its origins as an abacería (shop & bar) and these days it holds wonderful window displays of seasonal holidays and events.

The food is basic but good. A favourite is the “do it yourself” flaming chorizo, and I also like their chicharrones de Cádiz, thicker cut than usual. Ask for local orange wine and vermouth straight from the barrel. The bar is self-service and when they get busy a few small tables are put out on the sidewalk.

Bread/Service Charge: 0€

Pérez Galdós 9
Tel 954 228 438
Open 13.30 – 16.30 / 20.30 – midnight
€ €

Food 6 | Wine 6 | Service 5 | Ambiance 8

chicharrones de Cádiz

owner Agustín flaming a chorizo

flaming chorizo

flamed chorizo on bread

pringá montadito

owner Agustín and his sister Ana

secret hatch within a door

The post Bodega La Aurora first appeared on Azahar Sevilla Tapas.

Bar El Comercio

Shawn — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 11:01:35 +0000

Updated May 2025

“We’ve been neighbours for how long and you’ve never eaten here before?” owner Paco Rivera asked me in disbelief back in 2015. The answer was almost 22 years! Well okay, I had actually been in many times over the years for the famous all-day churros, but somehow only got round to trying out their tapas at that time.

Founded in 1904, and passed from father to son since then (both Paco and his father were born in the living quarters above the bar), Café Bar El Comercio is very much old school. A fairly narrow frontage in a wood design typical of the time leads to the bar area, which still has the original tile front and wood top bar, and glass fronted wall cupboards. The walls and shelves are filled with wonderful clutter, including a cute model of the front of the bar with a costalero enjoying churros. At the back is a dining room, with classic marble topped tables.

Its opening hours are a little untypical, being adjusted to its location in a main shopping street, opening at 7.45 am, and closing at 8.30pm, and closed on Sunday. For the same reason El Comercio is best known for its excellent churros and chocolate, which you can also order to takeaway at the window next to the entrance. There’s also a good selection of traditional tapas, montaditos and toasts (try the matecaíto, mini or full-size). Just the thing for when you’ve been shopping.

Bread/Service Charge: 0€

Lineros 9
Tel 670 826 053
Open 7.45 – 20.30 Monday – Friday
8.30 – 20.30 Saturday
€ € €

Food 6 | Wine 5 | Service 5 | Ambiance 6

all-day churros

tortilla de patatas

croquetas de puchero

tortilla francesa de jamón

mini mantecaíto (solomillo al whisky & chips onna bun)

solomillo al whisky

owner Paco Rivera

The post Bar El Comercio first appeared on Azahar Sevilla Tapas.

Los Claveles

Shawn — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 15:38:41 +0000

Updated March 2026

Founded in 1842, just behind Santa Catalina church, Los Claveles (“the carnations” in Spanish) features Feria and Semana Santa poster décor, exposed old brick wall, lots of old posters and a traditional tiled floor. With wide wood frame and glass doors and a little outside terrace, when the weather is right the bar feels like an extension of the street.

Present owner Javier Gonzalez tells me the bar has been run by the same family now for about 90 years. The menu is also very traditional. The “montadito completo” in a soft mollete roll filled with grilled secreto, jamón and a perfectly fried quail egg… well, I’d always go back for that. The fritos are also very good, especially the pavía de bacalao, croquetas and cazón en adobo. Oh, and a proper flamenquín cordobés (with egg, no cheese). Lovely tender stewed carrillada (pork cheek). Very friendly and personal service and some nice wines too.

Bread/Service Charge: 1€

Plaza de Los Terceros, 15
Tel 654 512 973
Open 7.00 – 23.00 Monday – Saturday
(breakfast 7-12 / kitchen 12.00 – 23.00)
10.00 – 17.00 Sunday
€ € €

Food 7 | Wine 5 | Service 6 | Ambiance 8

anchovies and tomato on regañá

zamburiñas in salsa verde

pavía de bacalao

chocos fritos

croquetas x 2: jamón and bacalao

jamón croquetas

bacalao croquetas

buñuelos de bacalao

flamenquín cordobés

albóndigas de choco & gambas

cazón en adobo

lagrimitas de pollo

pinchito de pollo

montadito completo: grilled secreto, jamón, fried quail egg

secreto and jamón montadito

morcilla de burgos montadito

solomillo al whisky

carrillada Ibérica

Santi and Gonzalo Remesal, Juan Rodríguez

Javier Rodríguez

The post Los Claveles first appeared on Azahar Sevilla Tapas.

La Chalá

Shawn — Sun, 15 Feb 2015 18:25:14 +0000

Updated January 2020

La Chalá is fun eating, with its Latin-Iberian-Asian fusion menu, cheerful decor and attentive service, along with a spacious terrace (with actually more seating than inside the bar itself).

Be sure to try the “Arepa Franklin”, a delicious crunchy corn mollete filled with chicken and guacamole. We also love the GARLIC croquetas (where have these been all my life?) and the tacos de chicharrones. Nice wines by the glass at reasonable prices.

Bread/Service Charge: 1€ PER PERSON

Plaza Puerta Real 6
Tel. 954 903 091
Open 13.00 – 16.30 / 21.00 – midnight Tuesday – Saturday
Sunday 12.00 – 16.30
Closed Monday
€ € € €

Food 8 | Wine 8 | Service 8 | Ambiance 8

grilled Canario de Cabra smoked cheese with peanuts and cherry jam

arepita: corn roll filled with roast pork, red cabbage & chipotle alioli

GARLIC croquetas!

the Arepa Franklin – chicken with guacamole

sobrasada & cheese empanadillas with quince jam

serranito Andaluz with a twist

BBQ pork ribs in with “secret sauce”

albondiguitas

cuttlefish “meatballs” with squid ink sauce

thin strips of fried chocos with mojo verde

stir-fried presa Ibérica with veg and noodles

niguiri with smoked salmon, spinach, cheese, sweet mustard

tuna tataky with fried egg and potato straws

tacos de chicharrones

apolonio cheese with olive oil, cashews and grapes

chocolate brownie with ice cream

craft cider

Jefe Jota!

Team La Chalá: Jaime, Daniel, Pedro, Moises, Paulimar

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Updated January 2020

The post La Chalá first appeared on Azahar Sevilla Tapas.