Restaurants I like

Australia recs current as of August 2023. Pics at instagram.com/jyleejylee. Cities covered – San Sebastian, Barcelona, Madrid, Elche, P aris, London, Istanbul, Melbourne, Sydney, Tokyo, Seoul.

SPAIN

Disclaimer – I love seafood so most of my favourite places will be seafood focused.

San Sebastian (thanks to @jessicaraffal and @bengroundwater for the majority of these recommendations)

RESTAURANTS

  • Ganbara – Always delicious!!!! Fav dishes are the wild mushrooms with yolk, spider crab tartlette, pintxo with monkfish and prawn, callos (tripe), kokotxas (hake throats), txistorra (basque sausage) in puff pastry. If you don't drink, get my fav non alco Mosto (white grape juice)
  • Bar Txepetxa – the best place for fresh anchovy pintxos with a huge range of options. Big fan and one of my all time favs - the crab cream, sea urchin/ uni are my favs. Also to share a plate of the deep fried baby squid (chopitos).
  • La Cuchara San Telmo – one of the more interesting pintxos bars with options like crispy pigs ear, morcilla, sauteed foie, suckling pig, would totally recommend. For solo diners – you can get the classic different sizes for most items which is helpful. Also has an English menu woo.
  • Bar Nestor – a classic, the txuleta (steak) is huge, well priced (35 euros or so for around 700g) and usually great and the tortilla is totally worth lining up for. Tomatoes and peppers also excellent. In peak tourist season, you rock up an hour before opening to put your name down to get a piece of the tortilla. As at March 2022, not many tourists so didn’t have to go this early. For solo diners – you can get takeaway if you can’t finish the txuleta.
  • Casa Camara – worth visiting to see their incredible live crustacean cage in the middle of the restaurant. Located right on the water, their basement usually floods so this ingenious cage was made which they will pull up and get your live Galician lobsters from. I loved everything I ordered which included (at the time I went) the kokotxas (hake fish throats), Huelva white prawns (grilled), txangurro (classic Basque crab dish). A short bus ride from Old Town. For solo diners – they did half serves of the prawns and offered to do a half serve of the txangurro for me too. Many thanks to @lennoxhastie for this rec! 
  • Casa Urola – split into a more casual pintxos eatery downstairs (scallop with seaweed is tops) and a more formal restaurant upstairs. For the restaurant, I would recommend the seafood dishes rather than the meat. For solo diners – they did half serves of the monkfish and pan fried carpet shell clams for me and BOTH AMAZING.
  • Bar Haizea – one of my favourite local super friendly pintxos bars, I love the foie with apple, croquette, their other seafood pintxos.
  • Gerald’s Bar – run as a San Sebastian counterpart to the Melbourne Gerald’s Bar, a really lovely venue with an intimate personality, great food and champion service. Loved everything.
  • Ssua - the pigs ear with gochujang pintxo is 10/10 as are the torrijas and gossua desserts 
  • Bar Sport - the grilled foie PERFECT
  • Borda Berri – another pintxos classic, crispy pigs ear and idiazabal risotto I love every time.
  • Kofradia Itsas Etxe - a solidly excellent seafood restaurant near the water, more casually modern, super friendly service. The croquetas (hake, white tuna, fried anchovy and mackerel) and the eel soup are excellent. 
  • Heladaria Arnoldo – I’ve visited here every time I go to SS. Great icecreams, I always get the leche merengada (meringue milk) because it’s so special. Also the churros they make here in a waffle like maker rather than deep fried so they’re super light and fluffy. 
  • Matalauva – really creative modern pintxos. The yolk toast is my fav. For solo diners – easy
PASTRIES/BAKERIES
  • Pastelería Aguirre - the BRIOCHE. You can ask for it to be split and get a single little piece too. It’s HEAVEN. 
  • Otaegui - the oldest bakery, get the pantxineta (a pastry cream puff pastry tart with toasted almond pieces). Originally created here, now a basque classic. 
  • Rafa Gorrotxategi - I love the gateau basque here! 

Outside of the city
RESTAURANTS
  • Gueyu Mar (Asturias) – about a 2.5 hour drive from the city, wouldn’t recommend public transport as it is near impossible to organise as at Feb 2022. Seafood focused, grilled over charcoal, a next level experience, would 1000000% recommend. They preserve their wonderful grilled seafood in cans as well which you can buy in delis in SS and which I would highly recommend.
  • Etxebarri (Axpe) – I usually take an ALSA bus to Bilbao (1.5 hours) then take a taxi (30min) as the buses are a bit erratic. Doesn’t need an introduction really lol.
  • Elkano (Getaria) – an easy 30min bus ride from SS. Incredible seafood over charcoal. Chef Aitor’s incredible knowledge and generosity in explaining all of the parts of the turbot make it my favourite place to order a whole turbot. Best shared between two people but if you’re determined, you could do it solo (approx 1.2-1.3kg turbot). Also recommend the grilled sea urchin, red peppers, cheese icecream (worth trying), and asking to watch your fish be grilled. Incredible views, one of my favourites and the Cristobel Balenciaga museum is a few min walk nearby too (fyi closed Mondays).
Other
  • I stumbled across the most incredible Airbnb experience with Julen from AUPA HI which I would 100000% recommend to anyone looking for a properly local Basque experience. Julen is from Aretxavaleta and his tour involves visiting local producers from his hometown which may change from time to time and also having meals with some incredibly lovely Basque families, including his own friends. Super convenient as he picks you up from Old Town and ferries you around for the day. The best views of the Basque Country I got all trip.

Barcelona

RESTAURANTS

  • Ultramarinos Marin – amazing quality seafood and flavours, super well priced. The fresh seafood is always perfect, the cured tonyina (tuna belly omfg), get the monkfish if it’s available and their in-house charcuterie is also incredible (currently the rubia gallega makes me cry). Dessert also must be the tocinillo. Call to make bookings and they take bookings in English too. Also tell them I love them. haha. Solo dining doable and they do half portions as well. 
  • Gresca - Hi I'm in love with Gresca - I went twice the first week I ever visited. Super delicious, interesting, some fire - seafood and also my other fav bits (brains etc) but other options as well. Super lovely service and staff, huge fan. Solo dining doable. Best to book early so you can be at the bar in front of the kitchen which has the best vibes. 
  • Suru bar - by ex Gresca chefs, love the focus on offal and the great skewers. 
  • Besta - sister restaurant of Batea, seafood focused, super interesting and lovely service, big fan. More of a restaurant style where the food is slightly more restaurant/complex than the food at Batea. Solo dining doable and they do half portions as well.
  • Batea - sister restaurant of Besta, seafood focused, love the interior - it is so fun and lovely, and sitting at the bar is v fun. Food is more sharing bar style and drinks are great. 
  • Alapar - Japanese Spanish fusion, really lovely intimate venue, some very innovative delicious dishes, seaoned more to Spanish levels fyi. Solo dining doable.   
  • Koy Shunka – beautiful Japanese omakase style with Spanish seafood. Seasoning perfect for me. Solo dining doable.
  • Paco Meralgo – everything delicious and perfectly cooked. Toro with edamame and tiramisu favs. English menu available as well as a comprehensive list of allergens. All the seafood here is top notch and cooked expertly. Thanks to rec from @hongsta_gram!! Solo dining doable. 
  • Rias de Galicia – top seafood, cooked perfectly, spider crab croquettes and angulas wow. More of a white tablecloth type restaurant but still really lovely. Solo dining doable and they do half portions as well.
  • Mont Bar – innovative flavours, v delicious
  • Pur – beautiful seafood and produce, totally recommend. Solo dining doable and they do half portions as well.
  • Cal Pep – no menu, they just serve the best seafood of the day. Super chill and very good. Solo dining fine as they all sit at a bar. 
  • Gelida - super local great goodnesss - callos with offal my fav. Super chill casual local venue. Solo would be fine. Thanks to rec from @sanchoelwancho! 
  • Chiringuito Escribà – a lovely very casual location to have delicious paella (huge), my fav deep fried baby squid (chipirones) by the beach – good for groups. I went solo and was still fine but the paella is huge lol. 

BARS

  • Paradiso – on the World’s 50 Best list, always a queue, go at a weird time. Experimental drinks, a lot of fun!
  • Mudanzas - by the same people who do Paradiso but more chill vibes. They have a very local cocktail menu i.e. the drinks relate to key hospo institutions in BCN. 
  • Sips - on the World's 50 Best list, v cool vibes and excellent drinks. Usually a queue as well. 
  • Sake bar at Dos Palillos - a great range of bar food and lovely sake and service. Big fan. 

PASTRY/DESSERT

  • Hofmann Patisserie – my favourite croissants. Jamon and cheese, mascarpone, raspberry and are my top picks. Their pastries are also beautiful and delicious. I've been told the croissants get less crispy as the day progresses. I usually turn up when they open. 

Madrid 

RESTAURANTS

  • El Brote – one of my favourite restaurants to eat at in Madrid. Locally foraged mushrooms forming the basis for multiple dishes, I would go here in a heartbeat and every day. Min 2 pax so means I can't go every week which is what I would want to do sigh. 
  • Bascoat - produce focused, delicious, interesting, top service - all the things I love <3 
  • Lana - a truly great fire restaurant focused on steak (no fish!) - such a great variety of different steaks, and also excellent desserts
  • El Senor Martin - sit at the bar, the vibes are way better. Top seafood, always trying out new dessert combos, I'm a big fan
  • La Tasqueria - SUCKLING PIGS HEAD. Also the most innovative delicious offal I've had in Madrid. The menu is a little complicated - it's diff for the restaurant and the terrace outdoor area. I usually get the 4 course menu (you get to choose your courses) then add the suckling pigs head. 
  • Taberna Laredo - one of my fav tabernas, everything is great. The grilled seafood, deep fried rabbit ribs, scallops, white prawns or whatever seasonal seafood they have, the SALMOREJO is my fav here. Totally recommend for a top notch casual local lunch or dinner.  
  • Sacha - a Madrid institution, each time I've visited I work out what I value in a restaurant experience - it's delicious food, welcoming staff, my favourite produce and trying things I haven't had before. Sweetbreads, seafood, wild mushrooms, Sacha has everything I love. Solo dining yes, they also can do half portions. 
  • La Buena Vida - just top Spanish food, cooked perfectly. They're game specialists but not so much in summer when it's too hot so if you're keen on that, come in cooler months.    
  • La Huerta de Tudela - produce and vegetable focused, great set menu for only 45euros. Totally recommend. The kind of place people call a "hidden gem" but actually IS.  
  • Triciclo - I loved the food, service and venue here. Both delicious and super interesting with just the right amount of fire/smoke that I like and the loveliest staff, I totally recommend. Spanish food but truly elevated, balanced and delicious. Solo dining yes - they have 3 sizes of each dish which makes it really flexible for solo diners! 
  • Puntarena - Mexican 
  • La Tasquita de Enfrente – a la carte or chef's choice - top quality seafood focused, a very intimate venue and truly wonderful service and staff. Solo dining yes, they also can do half portions.  
  • Estimar - top quality seafood and warm lovely service, desserts are also wonderful and one of my favourites is here - the rice pudding with rice pudding icecream. The flan is also INCREDIBLE.  (I love the crayfish carpaccio, and then when seasonally available - the grilled espardenyes (sea cucumber), chipirones, navajas (razor clams) with saffron.) Note - not cheap but it's all cooked and presented perfectly.
  • Ikigai Velazquez - wonderful nigiri, sushi, temaki - fusion options are very interesting and also delicious e.g. espardenyes with its own pil pil nigiri, dry aged lubina (sea bass) with beurre blanc and cecina, butterfish with sweet miso, rose prawns and Iberian lard gyoza, TEMAKI WITH CRISPY PIGS EAR AND TORO. 
  • Kyoshi - super lovely nigiri and Japanese dishes. There’s also an omakase at the bar. Based in a Hilton, the vibe is more hotel than buzzy restaurant but service is perfect and it may be just the chill you’re looking for while eating. For Australians - it's seasoned to Spanish tastes so will be more than we usually get in Aus. Solo dining yes. 
  • Taberna Pedraza - get the super yolky liquid tortilla, jamon croquetas and any of their perfectly grilled fish. Solo dining would be fine - they also have a bar. More Spanish seasoning levels i.e. stronger than Aus. 
  • La Bien Aparecida 
  • El Senador - great pick for suckling pig in Madrid. For ordering suckling pig, I always recommend 1 between 2 or 2 between 3 if you want to eat anything else too. 
CASUAL RESTAURANTS
  • Casa Lucas - super local very delicious Spanish dishes. More taberna style. 
  • Miga Cana - in Vallerhermoso market - a delicious, casual venue. Solo dining would be fine. 
  • Chuck chuck chicken - truly excellent Korean fried chicken, takeaway or delivery only
  • Hong Kong Kitchen - the best Cantonese I've found so far in Madrid
  • Ondinas do Mendo - Galician super local seafood and steak bar/ restaurant. So friendly also delicious, the steak and rice pudding made me particularly happy. There is a bar area so can prob solo dine. 

BARS

  • Salmon Guru - a super fun World's 50 best bar, the drinks are all top notch, really recommend. The interior is quite loud and colourful so maybe not the best for a quiet chill drink but it's so much fun and the staff are so lovely. 
  • Angelita - a World's 50 Best Discovery pick - downstairs is a very chill cocktail bar with very very very great drinks
  • La Sastreria - the most lovely vermouth bar, with regional vermouths on tap, the widest range of bottled vermouths I have seen and classic snacks (conserves, gildas etc) 
  • La Venencia – even if you don’t like bars, the vibe of this place is next level – established 70 years ago, and basically the same as what it was like during the Spanish Civil War. Serving only 5 Spanish sherries in casks as well as cheese, charcuterie, fresh anchovy snacks – totally recommend. No photos or tipping allowed.
  • 1862 Dry Bar – on the World’s 50 Best list, great venue, excellent drinks, would totally recommend a visit.
  • Papaya - they make all their own spirits, great vibes, good for a drop in
  • Caino (wine bar) - really friendly lovely wine bar, great food by the chef at the related restauant oppsite
  • Dosrombos - cocktail and icecream bar - they make super delicious alcoholic icecream and also cocktails with icecream. 
Elche, Alicante
  • El Granaino - in fairness, I ate here heavily jetlagged but I remember I wanted more of everything. The mojama with fresh seasonal tomatoes I particularly remember! 

FRANCE

Paris

RESTAURANTS

  • Solstice - my absolute fav in Paris at the moment. Korean and French but just perfectly balanced, delicious and interesting. 
  • Loupiotes - the most local, lovely delicious and elevated food I had on my May 2023 trip. Big thanks to @sigurdhoste for this rec. 
  • Parcelles - 
  • Bistrot Paul Bert – truly excellent french classics, vibes and the friendliest service. I had a sweetbreads and mushroom feuillete and paris brest I will remember forever
  • Robert et Louise – thanks to @juancarlotomas for this rec, classic French bistro goodtimes and really really great fire cooked steaks and potatoes, escargot, tarte au citron etc etc
  • Benoit Paris – venue vibes top notch, a truly lovely bistro with this incredible sweetbreads and kidney casserole that I LOVED. Thanks to rec from @hongsta_gram!! 
  • Le Recamier – if you love souffles (I love souffles), this place has an epic variety of savoury and sweet. I love love love the escargot savoury souffle and the salted caramel sweet souffle. The fresh mushroom and bean salad is also wonderful, ask for their lemon oil instead of the truffle oil (I hate truffle oil lol) on the menu.
  • Table by Bruno Verjus – the most incredible ingredients and a top notch experience, would recommend. Bruno is super lovely!!! Many thanks to @lennoxhastie and @hongsta_gram for this rec! 
  • Magma - Really wonderful, interesting and delicious food, love the venue and service. 
  • Nellu Wine Bar - went for an easy lunch, it's a very well priced 3 course option. 
  • Oxymore – if you like pizza, this place has excellent french toppings
  • Breizh cafe – crepes, go here for crepes. There are several locations in Paris. I love the salted caramel with ginger and vanilla icecream crepe and all their savoury crepes are great too.

BARS

  • Septime La Cave – Septime’s wine bar is super cute and a real vibe
  • Frequence– on the World’s 50 Best list, a super fun bar with records wall vibes and Japanese influenced drinks and snacks
  • Little Red Door – on the World’s 50 Best list, currently a great cocktails menu driven by working with local producers

PASTRY/DESSERTS

  • Jacques Genin – the best caramels IN THE WORLD. The classic flavours are great and you def must try the mangue-passion and framboise as well
  • Tapisserie – the pastry arm of Septime, super friendly and delicious pastries. My current favs are the choux.
  • Blé Sucré – such good pastries and baguettes here
  • Pierre Herme – I like their icecream!
  • Cedric Grolet – expensive (like 15eu a pastry) but some are delicious – if you’re a pastry nerd, def worth a visit. Their flowers pastries are at Opera and the fruits pastries at Le Meurice. So far I’ve tried three and two were amazing and one I didn’t love. Decent odds?
  • Painn Paris - I had the best vanilla and pistachio flans here 

OTHER

  • Le Grande Epicerie – my favourite gourmet food hall in the world. Right next to my fav department store – Le Bon Marche which is great for cute gifts of their house brand products.

UK

London

RESTAURANTS

  • St John - Smithfield
  • The Ledbury 
  • Planque - I loved Planque, the food was interesting, delicious and gave me Sydney based Ester/Poly cousin vibes, service also super lovely and the venue is great for friends, dates, etc etc. 
  • St John - Marylebone - I haven’t been to the others yet but keen to try Smithfield location which has more of the original classic nose to tail dishes. The Marylebone location was also lovely.
  • The Albion Pub - for Sunday roast, the black pudding scotch egg and desserts of sticky toffee pudding with icecream and plum and almond tart with clotted cream were 10/10
  • The Pig and Butcher - top Sunday roast and dessert options. Best to book early. 
  • Lyle’s - really reminds me of my fav restaurants in Australia. A beautiful venue, produce driven, interesting and delicious. 
  • Nest - I was super impressed with Nest. For 59GBP, it was a top notch complex and delicious meal centered around a single ingredient e.g. I went for chicken and loved all the chicken iterations. Produce focused, will be interesting to go back to try in their new location.
  • Humble Chicken - previously a yakitori restaurant, it's now pivoted to omakase 
BARS
  • A bar with shapes for a name - I love the concept of this (ice cubes were all shapes as were the cheese pieces on the cheeseboard) and the drink I had was great, am keen to go back again. 
  • 69 Colebrooke Row - 
  • Scarfe’s Bar - a super lovely bar in the very fance Rosewood Hotel, waited around 15min on a Fri night to get in. Drinks wonderful, custom glassware is so beautiful and the seats (if you can get a lounge chair) sooooo comfortable. Plus live jazz every night. 

TURKEY

Istanbul (many thanks to @ozgekalvo for most of these recs<3)

RESTAURANTS

  • Adana Ocakbasi
  • Reks Kokorec
  • Nazende Cadde
  • Nizam Pide
  • Lades Menemen
  • Van Kahvalti Evi
  • Bursa Inegol Kofte Salonu
  • Sehzade Cag Kebap
  • Sokak Lezzeti Tarihi Balik Durumcu Mehmet Usta
  • Bambi Cafe Taksim - such a great wet burger
DESSERT
  • Karakoy Muhallebicisi - buffalo milk desserts including honey and kaymak, the buffalo milk with honey, the rice pudding and kazandibi (chicken breast milk pudding)
  • Keyfeder Kunefe Katmer
  • Inci Pastanesi - best profiteroles
MEZE SHOPS
  • Ozcan Famous Pickle

AUSTRALIA

Melbourne

RESTAURANTS/ WINE BARS

CAFES

BARS

PASTRY/DESSERTS

Sydney

RESTAURANTS

CAFES

BARS

PASTRY/DESSERTS

OMAKASE


Tokyo

Seoul
Evett 
Mingles 

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