5 Best Restaurants in El Arenal and Parque Maria Luisa, Andalusia

Excellent tapas (try the lamb kebab with dates and couscous), a lively bar, and an extensive wine list await at this restaurant run by the fifth generation of a family of celebrated restaurateurs. The menu focuses on traditional, home-cooked Andalusian dishes, such as cod in a green sauce, pork fillet in whiskey, and cola de toro guisado con salsa de vino tinto (stewed oxtail in red wine sauce). Don't miss the fried eggplant stuffed with prawns or the lamb meatballs. If you want a quiet meal, call to reserve a table in one of the small upstairs rooms.

A couple of blocks west of the Cathedral lies one of the city’s best-loved tapas venues, usually jam-packed with locals enjoying an aperitif. Established in 1939 and now in its third generation, the bar is most famous for its meat dishes including the pringá sandwich (slow-cooked pork, chorizo, and black pudding in a bun) and pork cheeks. Cod also stars on the menu—try the carpaccio or crispy fried—along with a good selection of vegetable dishes such as the local spinach with chickpeas. Be sure to order a plate of the house potatoes, marinated in garlic and made by the owner every morning. There’s an excellent choice of wines, and sherry lovers are in for a treat because the list runs long. A warm welcome and service with a smile come guaranteed.

A stone’s throw from the Cathedral sits this undiscerning eatery famous for its signature tortitaco (a shrimp fritter-taco hybrid), paellas, choice of tapas, and value lunch menu (€10.50, weekdays only). The lofty ceilings and bare brick walls are functional rather than inspirational and there’s no outside terrace, but the prices, deliciousness, and friendly service more than compensate.

Almost within stone’s throw of the Giralda, this family-run restaurant has been making a name for itself with fresh fish dishes for over two decades. The owners hail from Sanlúcar de Barrameda downriver, and the ingredients come from their hometown and always include swordfish, sea bass, and anchovies. House specials are the sopa de galeras (garlic soup with shrimp), alcachofas con gulas (artichokes with eels), and stuffed squid. There's also a daily stew dish, usually fish-based. Eat inside at the slightly prim tables in one of the dining rooms, outside on the more informal street terrace, or perch at the bar for a tapa or two (from €3).

If you’re a vegan, vegetarian, or flexitarian and finding the meat and fish scene in Seville a bit heavy, head for this bar inside the Mercado del Arenal. It started life as Spain’s first vegan bakery in 2009, and since then the menu has grown to encompass breakfast and brunch, plus a long list of 100%-animal-free options to make into burgers, nachos, or wraps. There’s also an excellent value menu del día (€10) at lunchtime, and a choice of pastries and cakes.