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Egaña Oriza | 
 : c/ San Fernando 41.  : 954 227 254; 954 227 211.  : restauranteoriza.com
 : Basque / Creative
Adjacent to the Real Alcazar on the corner where the Jardines
Murillo meet the University of Seville, chef Jose Mari Egaña's
creations are perhaps the best in the city. Blending the
traditional techniques of Basque style cooking with the
best fresh, seasonal ingredients from Andalucia and nearby
regions, Egaña's perfect fusion is the result of four generations
of chefs in the family. When in season, wild game such as jabalí (boar) and venison are highly recommended.
A carefully selected wine list, perfect presentation and
excellent service are the least to expect. The two floors
of the restaurant feature high ceilings with views of the
Alcazar gardens through artistic stained glass windows.
Taberna
Alabardero | - (expensive unless you try the menu
at lunch)
:
c/ Zaragoza, 20. : 954 502 721. : tabernadelalabardero.com
: Spanish / Creative / New Cuisine.
I'll let you in on a little secret. Well it's likely not
much of a secret anymore, but you'll enjoy this place if
you're looking for a nice lunch at a reasonable price. Eat
downstairs at El Alabardero for a full three course meal
for 12 € and I guarantee you won't have a better meal
in Spain for that price. Note that the lunch menu, in the
downstairs portion only, is by far the best deal. This is
no bar food or tapas, although I don't have anything against
the two. El Alabardero is the school of hosteleria so you get some young waiters who are practicing their skills
but at a high level. The menu changes most every day and
you might consider the food as being from the new school
of Spanish cooking - they're not afraid to use some interesting
or exotic ingredients in preparing the dishes. The presentation
of the food is also something to be seen. It's upscale at
a very reasonable price. Note on some holidays and other
events the menu price may be higher. For a truly special
meal, which comes at a high price, try the upstairs dining
room where you can enjoy excellent wines (by the bottle
only) along with some of the best cuisine in Seville.
Enrique Becerra |
: c/ Gamazo 2. : 954 213 049. : enriquebecerra.com
: Andalusian
Located in a 17th century house in the Arenal quarter, Enrique
Becerra serves traditional Andalusian cuisine with an emphasis
on fresh, seasonal ingredients. The downstairs dining area
is formal, yet relaxed, including a bar and dining area,
complete with columns from the roman city of Italica, just
a few kilometers outside of Seville (it should be noted
many older Sevillian houses have made use of columns and
marble from the city, before restoration and preservation
work ever began). Upstairs there are a number of private
rooms offering a more intimate and elegant dining experience
(reservations required, and this is an excellent "romantic"
dining experience should you try). As for specialties, it
is difficult to pin them down to just one area. Many generations
of family experience in the hostelry business translates
to perfection: meats range from veal, iberian pork, beef
and lamb roasted with honey, while fish dishes include swordfish, bacalao (cod) and fresh specials. With daily changes
to the menu, one must keep an eye out for some of the best
offerings. Add an excellent variety of homemade desserts
as well as one of the largest selections of wines, finos,
and olorosos in Sevilla, and it appears there is
no course Becerra can't handle with quality.
Restaurante Horacio |
: c/ Antonia Díaz 9. : 954 225 385. : restaurantehoracio.com
: Andalusian
Located between the Cathedral and Plaza de Toros en the
Arenal quarter, Horacio serves mostly Andalusian dishes,
with a few variations. Both fish and meat is well prepared,
with a favorite of mine being the brocheta de rape con
marisco (monkfish and shellfish kebab). Other seafood
includes sole, and an excellent fish and seafood stew. Meats
range from lamb, pork and filet of beef. One large dining
room plus two private dining rooms for groups. A nice selection
of desserts, good service and a warm and comfortable atmosphere
(not too stuffy).
La Albahaca |
: Plaza de Santa Cruz, 12. : 954 254 177. : Restaurante
La Albahaca
: Andalusian / Creative.
Consisting of 3 separate salons for dining inside a former casa-palacio, as well as a terrace for outdoor
dining in the Plaza de Santa Cruz, La Albahaca is known
as one of the more romantic restaurants in Seville. The
traditional blends with the creative on the menu, where
customers can choose from a variety of meat and seafood
dishes. A small, and carefully selected wine list often
changes depending on the restaurant specials. After dinner
one can walk a short 10 meters and enjoy a flamenco show
in Los Gallos.
La Juderia |
: c/ Cano y Cueto 13. : 954 412 052; 954 426 456. : Restaurante
La Juderia
: Andalusian.
La Juderia takes it's name from location, as it is situated
at one of the entrances to the old jewish quarter. Owned
and operated by Grupo Modesto, which runs Restaurante El
Modesto and a few other establishments in the city. La Juderia
is a little more upscale, a dining experience complete with
table cloths and well dressed waiters. The downstairs dining
room is more comfortable and offers a more elegant atmosphere
than it's sister restaurant across the street. In keeping
with the tradition of El Modesto, La Juderia offers excellent
food although a little higher in price. Their specialties
include a variety of seafood, but I enjoyed one of the best
filet mignons I have ever tasted in Seville. While you could
eat tapas in La Juderia, the bar is much smaller than El
Modesto. For this reason I recommend it as a restaurant
to have the best experience.
Corral
del Agua |
:
Callejón del Agua, 6 : 954 220 714. : Corral
del Agua
: Andalusian / Romantic.
If you are looking for a romantic setting and don’t
mind forking over a little money the Coral del Agua helps
set the mood. In the middle of Santa Cruz right next to
the old city wall, the restaurant is in an 18th century
building the most charming section of Sevilla. Dining options
include a candlelit table in a plant and flower filled patio.
Service is excellent and the food very good. Still, I like
this restaurant more for the ambience than for the cuisine.
Becerrita |
: c/ Recaredo 9. : 954 412 057. : becerrita.com
: Andalusian / Innovative.
The Becerra family is well known in Seville, and Becerrita
is a good example of what the family has done well: one
generation handing over to the other without notice. Father,
Enrique, whose name graces the family restaurant in the
Arenal, leaves Becerrita in the hands of his son, Jesús
María Becerra. As with Restaurante Enrique Becerra,
seasonal/fresh market often appear as specials on the menu.
Although in my opinion the menu is at times a little more
creative and less straight Andalusian than in Becerra, as
noticeable with some of the main dishes. And in keeping
with the family tradition, a large and well selected wine
list is available. Dining rooms are very well decorated,
with two regional touches: The private dining rooms all
carry names of important families, streets or landmarks
around Puerta Carmona: Imperial, Medinaceli, Don Enrique,
Pilatos and Puerta de Carmona. Decoration and paintings
are from Sevillian artists and architects.
Az-Zait |
:
Plaza de San Lorenzo 1. : 954 906 475
: Andalusian / Creative
Receiving many excellent reviews, both in the press and
by a few regular exploreseville visitors, I have yet to
try this restaurant. Offering what appears to be a very
creative variety of dishes, I will soon have more information
on this restaurant after a visit.
Restaurante
/ Bar Eslava |
:
c/ Eslava, 3 - 5. : 954 906 568
: Andalusian / Creative
Just next to the San Lorenzo church (located across from
the church bell tower) you'll find one of Seville's most
popular tapas bars. There is also a small dining room next
door, thus the two numbers on the address above! Lunch can
be a good time to make a visit and is generally less crowded.
Try the menu del día for a very good value.
If possible, make dinner reservations ahead of time or arrive
fairly early.
Kiosco
de las Flores |
:
c/ Betis : 954 274 576. : kioscodelasflores.com
: Andalusian / Romantic
Formerly located just next to the Triana bridge (where El
Faro de Triana is located now), El Kiosco de las Flores
has gone upscale, with a much larger restaurant. Plenty
of glass to offer good views of the Plaza de Toros, Cathedral
and Torre del Oro across the river. An open air terraza
for dining al fresco on cooler nights is a nice
choice as well. The specialty has been, and always will
be, pescaito frito, carefully prepared fried seafood.
The prices are a bit high, the food a good deal better than
Rio Grande down the street, and the view perhaps the best
reason to come. Certainly a romantic spot.
 
Hotel
Un Patio al Sur
Prices start at: 72 €
Hotel Un Patio al Sur is located on a pedestrian street in the central shopping district, close the Museum of Fine Arts. The recently renovated 19th century Sevillian house, (opened in October 2008) includes 11 rooms on two floors. The hotel common areas include a central Andalusian patio covered by a glass ceiling, as well as a roof terrace overlooking the surrounding neighborhood. More
information...
Hotel Dona Manuela Casa Modesto
Prices start at: 80 €
Hotel Dona Manuela is owned and operated by a local company which also runs several of Seville's best restaurants. The location in the Santa Cruz neighborhood overlooks the expansive Murillo Gardens. Guests will enjoy the proximity to many tapas bars and restaurants as well as excellent front desk service. There is also a very conveniently located public garage: access to the underground garage is less than 3 meters from the hotel entrance. More
information...
Hotel
Alminar
Prices start at: 90 €
The Hotel Alminar is located on a quiet pedestrian street just two blocks from the Cathedral, adjacent to the Santa Cruz quarter and shopping district in the the centre of Seville. The Plaza Nueva, Plaza San Francisco and Plaza Salvador are close by, leading to the main shopping streets of Sierpes and Tetuan. The 12 room hotel occupies a traditional and completely renovated 17th century building. With the small number of rooms, the hotel is able to offer a warm and very personalized service for every guest. More information...
Hotel
Casas de Santa Cruz
Prices start at: 86 €
The Hotel Casas de Santa Cruz is located on a typical pedestrian street in the Santa Cruz quarter, between the Plaza de los Venerables, the Plaza de Doña Elvira and the Reales Alcázares. The 7 room family run hotel includes a typical Andalusian patio and small roof top terrace with views of the Cathedral. The hotel offers a free continental breakfast in the family's restaurant next door to the hotel. Free high speed internet access is available via the hotel's WiFi connection.
More
information...
Hotel
Amadeus
Prices start at: 100 €
Hotel Amadeus is located in a renovated 18th century manor
house of Sevillian style in the Barrio Santa Cruz. Now open
for 3 years, the family who previously lived in the house
has renovated it and runs the 14 room hotel, ensuring that
each guest is well cared for. This is officially listed
as a 2 star hotel but I like to place it in the 3 star category
for the personal attention and quality of the rooms. Throughout
the house you will note a classical music theme, from the
paintings and decoration to the two pianos, violins and
harp on display. More
information...
Hotel Sacristia de Santa Ana
Prices start at: 95 €
Hotel Sacristia Santa Ana is the result of an ambitious renovation project which took several years. The building now houses a hotel and restaruant overlook the Alameda de Hercules. Guests will find a large variety of options for tapas, dining and nightlife in the same open plaza. The typical Andalusian home is also a wonderful setting. More
information...
Hotel Casa 1800
Prices start at: 110 €
Hotel Casa 1800 is a new hotel located two blocks from the Cathedral, marking the entrance into the juderia quarter of the city. Guests will have the major monuments at their doorstep, while the narrows streets of the juderia are just behind the hotel. Plenty of tapas bars and restaurants are located along the adjacent Mateos Gago street. More
information...
Hotel
de Rey de Baeza
Prices start at: 145 €
Hotel Casas del Rey de Baeza is located in the historical
centre of Seville, just a few blocks away from the Casa
de Pilatos and other monuments. The hotel offers it's guests
a high quality exceeding it's standard. This traditional
18th century mansion has 44 bedrooms, each unique in it's
architecture and decoration. The Hotel preserves the historic
qualities of the house while the rooms are decorated with
a modern and elegant touch, ensuring that your stay is comfortable. More
information...
Hotel
Casas de la Juderia
Prices start at: 130 €
Hotel Casas de la Juderia is located in the barrio Santa
Cruz in the historical centre of Seville, a very short walk
from the Cathedral and Reales Alcazar. The hotel is a complex
of houses and palaces, interconnected through a series of
patios and walkways. Offering 118 rooms, each is unique
in it's design and layout. Guests will enjoy an authentic
Andalusian style house with flowers, courtyards, fountains
and wrought iron gates, blending perfectly with Seville
and the Barrio Santa Cruz. The hotel provides a wide variety
of services and amenities for their guests.More information...
Hotel Alfonso XIII
Prices start at: 220 €
Hotel Alfonso XIII is known as the best hotel in Seville, and some say the best in Spain, while a few others dare to call it the best hotel in Europe! It certainly once was, and the ambitious renovation project which recently ended has done a lot to help. Expect one of the best levels of service as well as an incredible location: everything is reachable on foot, plus there are tram, metro and bus stops just outside the front steps (not to mention horse drawn carriages). More
information...
Hotel Palacio de Villapanes
Prices start at: 180 €
On a casual encounter I was able to tour the palace before most of the contents were removed. Interesting items were the first elevator in the city of Seville as well as large mohagany doors which had estimated values of 10 - 15,000 Euros, each! Rooms are divided between an older and more modern wing of the palace. The location is next to a church and the Hotel Las Casas del Rey de Baeza. More
information...
  Before 11:00 when the lights go out, get
a drink at the outdoor bar on top of Hotel Doña
Maria with a view of the Cathedral and all the lights.
The hotel may be out of your budget but one drink won't
set you back too much. And this is one of the most romantic views in Seville, and worth paying for.
Tables can be hard to come by so you may want to get there
a little early. If you're lucky enough to stay at the
Hotel you can enjoy a dip in the pool on a warm summer
night as you muse over the incredible size of the Cathedral.
 Rent
a four-wheeled tandem bike in Parque Maria Luisa
to take a quick tour of the gardens. They come in varieties
for two of four riders and are a good way to see all of
the park if you don't have much time. While they tell
you not to take it off the paved streets you'll miss out
on half the fun if you don't! Just make sure you've mastered
the hand break before you start your trip. And keep an
eye out for horse carriages and joggers, as well as the
occasional fat and lazy pigeon.
 Buy your sweetie some sweets at a local convent - certainly
a different experience than a bakery. In many you have
an interesting exchange at first. Ring the bell and wait
until you hear the nun say "Ave Maria Purisima".
You'll likely want to respond by saying "Sin
pecado concebido". Now you're ready to ask for
what you want, place your money on a turnstile and spin
it around for the nun on the other side. Then wait for
something delicious to be spun back to you. One of my favorites: San Leandro (famous for their yemas).
 Order a heart-shaped Palmera de chocolate for breakfast at any one of the San
Buenaventura locations. My favorite is tostada entera con jamón serrano y aceite. But
I can always do with a palmera de chocolate or
two as pictured to the right. My favorite two locations?
The first and original location on calle Carlos Cañal
next to San Buenaventura church (and likely the smallest
of them all). The other is in Santa Catalina because they
know me there, they're nice guys and it's close to home.
 Enjoy
a romantic Hammam experience in some of the nicest Baños
Arabes, or Arab baths in all of Spain. The complex,
called Aire de Sevilla, just opened in Santa Cruz and
are hidden away on calle Aire. They have just about everything,
from different temperature baths to massages, steam rooms,
a teteria and a roof top terrace with a very
nice view of the Cathedral. This was the site of some
small Arab baths many centuries ago. You can find more
information on the baños arabes at: www.airedesevilla.com.
 Are you visiting Seville with that special someone? Are you really sure? Perhaps
the one you plan to spend the rest of your life with?
Drag that someone down to the Ayuntamiento and
pass under the arch which joins Plaza San Francisco and
Plaza Nueva. Local legend says you will marry
the person with which you pass under the arch. If you
decide you've made a mistake then find yourself a broom
and sweep the feet of that person. An old saying in these
parts is if your feet are "swept" then you won't
marry.
 Take your special someone on a horse carriage ride. While it doesn't come cheap - maybe around 40 Euros - taking a horse drawn carriage ride is certainly romantic. Favorite routes include around the Cathedral and out to the Parque Maria Luisa where you can visit the Plaza de España. If you don't have the money to ride you can take a photo in one - just remember to tip the driver a little something for their trouble!
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