From Andalusia to Rioja, Spain abounds with wines of outstanding quality, value and food-pairing versatility. And Americans have never before had such access to the diversity of Spain's many distinctive wines. These 11 restaurants from around the United States make their Spanish wine selections a focal point, with menus that complement the region's range of styles. To check out more great wine dining spots across the globe, see Wine Spectator’s nearly 3,800 Restaurant Award–winning picks, including the 100 Grand Award recipients holding our highest honor.
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Note: Opening hours and menus are subject to change as the industry continues to adjust to evolving regulations.
Barcelona Wine Bar
240 N. Highland Ave., N.E., Atlanta, Ga.
Telephone (404) 589-1010
Website www.barcelonawinebar.com
Best of Award of Excellence
In Atlanta’s Inman Park neighborhood, Best of Award of Excellence winner Barcelona Wine Bar offers a taste of the Mediterranean. The Atlanta outpost is one of 17 Restaurant Award–winning locations across the country, with a moderately priced, 480-selection program led by wine director Emily Nevin that offers plenty in the way of Spanish and South American bottles. Chef Adam Esser’s menu of tapas, charcuterie and cheese is ideal for mixing, matching and sharing, and includes creative plates such as orzo with mushrooms and Manchego and chorizo with sweet-and-sour figs.
Casa Juancho
2436 S.W. Eighth St., Miami, Fla.
Telephone (305) 642-2452
Website www.casajuancho.com
Best of Award of Excellence
Tucked away in Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood, Casa Juancho will transport you to Spain. A Best of Award of Excellence winner since 1996, Casa Juancho boasts a 450-selection wine list abundant in Spanish reds and California Cabernets. Chef Alfonso Perez’s menu focuses on seafood sourced from Spain and south Florida, as well as a variety of traditional Spanish tapas, paella and prime beef. Adding to the ambiance, live Latin music and Spanish flamenco are performed every night.
Casa Mono
52 Irving Place, New York, N.Y.
Telephone (212) 253-2773
Website www.casamononyc.com
Best of Award of Excellence
For a first-rate Spanish wine experience in Manhattan, head to Casa Mono from B & B Hospitality Group, located between Union Square and Gramercy Park on peaceful Irving Place. There, the menu from chefs Andy Nusser and Tyler Sorce focuses on tapas, seafood and whole animals butchered in-house. The 500-selection, Best of Award of Excellence–winning list, led by wine director Yamil Melendez, offers enormous depth in Spanish wines, including verticals of Vega Sicilia Unico back to the 1960s, Álvaro Palacios L’Ermita back to the late 1990s and numerous bottlings from R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia. Rare wines are also available via Coravin in 3- and 6-ounce pours.
Columbia Restaurant
2117 E. Seventh Ave., Tampa, Fla.
Telephone (813) 248-4961
Website www.columbiarestaurant.com
Best of Award of Excellence
In Tampa’s historic Ybor City neighborhood, on its vibrant main street, the family-owned Columbia Restaurant has been in business more than a century. What began as a small café known for its Cuban sandwiches and coffee has transformed into a Best of Award of Excellence–winning restaurant. The wine list, designed by wine director Jim Garris, boasts 1,000 selections, with strengths in Spanish and Californian bottles, while chef Geraldo Bayona’s menu includes plenty of tapas, grilled seafood, roasted meats and paella. Guests can still opt to try the restaurant’s signature Cuban sandwich, made from the original 1915 recipe. The restaurant offers multiple flamenco shows per evening from Monday to Saturday, as well as live music on Fridays and Saturdays.
Del Mar
791 Wharf St. S.W., Washington, D.C.
Telephone (202) 525-1402
Website www.delmardc.com
Best of Award of Excellence
D.C.-based restaurateur Fabio Trabocchi is known for renowned Italian concepts such as Grand Award winner Fiola and Best of Award of Excellence winner Fiola Mare. At Del Mar, Trabocchi tackles Spanish cuisine, offering a wine program with the same focus. Managed by Casper Rice, the 500-selection list covers a wide range of regions, from Rioja to the Catalonia. Del Mar’s wine collection includes a page of dry Sherries by the glass that are well-suited to savory food pairings on chef Alex Rosser’s seafood-centric menu. To help guide guests, those picks are divided into sections like “Fresher styles for the raw bar” and “Drier, toastier styles for light cheeses.”
El Meson
2425 University Blvd., Houston, Texas
Telephone (713) 522-9306
Website www.elmeson.com
Best of Award of Excellence
Near Houston’s Rice University in the Rice Village shopping district, El Meson has been serving its signature Latin cuisine for more than three decades. Chef Pedro Angel Garcia’s menu blends Spanish and Cuban influences, offering a variety of roasted meats and seafood. There are also diverse tapas options such as piquillo peppers stuffed with lamb, seared foie gras and bacon-wrapped dates with Riojano sausage and blue cheese. Earning Restaurant Awards since 1999, the 550-label list is overseen by Pedro’s daughter, Jessica Elaine Garica. It’s strongest in Spanish selections, especially reds from Rioja and Ribera del Duero. This includes verticals from wineries Vega Sicilia and La Rioja Alta. Wines from California, France and Italy are also featured, as is a substantial Sherry selection. These can be enjoyed in El Meson’s dining room or at its outdoor tables.
Taberna de Haro
999 Beacon St., Brookline, Mass.
Telephone (617) 277-8272
Website www.tabernaboston.com
Best of Award of Excellence
Just a short walk from the Charles River and Boston University in Brookline, Mass., is Taberna de Haro, modeled after the tabernas of Madrid. The menu includes a variety of tapas and large plates that focus on meats and seafood, with dishes such as squid-ink paella, spiced pork skewers and a rack of lamb with roasted red peppers. The Best of Award of Excellence–winning wine list is overseen by owner, chef and wine director Deborah Hansen; of the 320 selections, a significant number are Sherry. There’s also plenty of Albariño and Txakolina to explore, plus a vertical of wines from top Rioja estate López de Heredia Viña Tondonia.
Barcelona Restaurant and Bar
263 E. Whittier St., Columbus, Ohio
Telephone (614) 443-3699
Website www.barcelonacolumbus.com
Award of Excellence
In Columbus, Ohio’s German Village, Barcelona Restaurant and Bar has been earning Restaurant Awards each year since 2005 for its strengths in Spanish and Californian wines. More than 20 of the 215 selections on wine director Tim Hawkins’ list are available by the glass, and guests can also select from four types of house-made sangria by the glass and by carafe. In addition to the list’s Spanish reds, there are many Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Malbec options from outside Spain. Chef Julian Menaged’s menu includes dishes such as pan-seared scallops with bacon, house-made semolina pasta with clams, sautéed mussels and potato-and-pumpkin empanadas.
Bellota
888 Brannan St., San Francisco, Calif.
Telephone (415) 430-6580
Website www.bellotasf.com
Award of Excellence
Spanish and Catalan cuisine come to San Francisco via Bellota, an Award of Excellence winner since 2019. Wine director Erin Rickenbaker’s 300-label wine list represents her travels through Spain, and highlights small wineries she’s visited in the past. There are hefty selections of sparkling wine and rosado, as well as a wide range of Sherries, large-format options and verticals. The list encompasses many of Spain’s wine regions, including Bierzo, Galicia, Levante and La Mancha. These many wine options can be paired with a wide selection of small bites on chef de cuisine Robert Leva’s menu, like marinated anchovies with olives, smoked-ham croquettes and poached prawns. There are also larger plates like a stew of white bean and chorizo and braised short rib with chorizo crust, plus a few paella options.
Clay
553 Manhattan Ave., New York, N.Y.
Telephone (212) 729-1850
Website www.claynyc.com
Award of Excellence
Clay delivers a polished yet unpretentious dining experience in the heart of Harlem, New York. Chef Gustavo Lopez sources ingredients from small farms across New York and Pennsylvania to create seasonal dishes like grass-fed steak tartare, confit duck leg with carrot and farro, chicken liver with toast and several pastas. Wine director Gabriela Davogustto relies on close relationships with distributors to secure the many limited-release wines on her list of more than 250 selections. While the international wine program stands out with picks from Italy and France, Spain is its strongest region. Along with a number of sparkling options, several Spanish appellations are represented here, including Cádiz, Terra Alta, Ribera del Duero and Galicia. In addition to its dining room, Clay is currently offering outdoor seating.
Jaleo
480 Seventh St. N.W., Washington, D.C.
Telephone (202) 628-7949
Website www.jaleo.com/dc
Award of Excellence
Opened in 1993, Jaleo is where celebrity chef José Andrés kicked off his career in D.C.’s culinary scene. The concept now has four Award of Excellence–winning outposts. Its flagship location boasts 230 selections on the exclusively Spanish wine list, overseen by wine director Andy Myers. Wines are also feature on the restaurant’s tasting menus, including a Sherry-based degustation. Chef Andrés’ tapas menu ranges from classics like patatas bravas to more inventive dishes such as a salad of tuna with fingerling potatoes and green beans. There are also house-made sausages and a selection of cured meats. Jaleo’s patio and dining room are both open.
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