Spain is not just a nation—it’s a state of mind. For those with a passion for food, it’s a journey that never ends. Sometimes, you’re chomping down on a plate of sizzling sardines on a sunny beach; other times, you’re sipping a full-bodied Rioja in some secret wine bunker. The best way to find this country’s soul? Hit the road. From village eateries serving up ancient standbys to Michelin-starred restaurants that redefine what can be done with a meal, this trip has it all.

Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/delicious-paella-with-mollusks-in-big-frying-pan-4305836/

First Stop: San Sebastián

San Sebastián is not merely beautiful—it’s a gourmand’s mecca. It has more Michelin stars per capita in all of Europe, but the magic happens in pintxos bars. There are no sit-down menus here; top cuisine appears on teeny bits of bread with a toothpick. Never sit down. Basques dart around bars, grabbing a glass of txakoli (a slightly fizzy Basque wine) and a plate of whatever strikes their fancy. We enjoyed the heck out of the pintxos bars, tried a lot of things and spent very little money.

Sample La Viña’s renowned caramelized Basque cheesecake, a creamy dream that melts in your mouth. Then make your way to Bar Néstor, whose menu is limited to a sublime tomato salad, cured meat, and one tortilla Española that disappears in minutes. If you want to guarantee getting a slice, arrive early and have your name placed on the list. The wait is worth it.

Bilbao

Only a short drive from San Sebastián is Bilbao, a city that’s never content to do anything halfway. Its showpiece is the Guggenheim Museum, a building that’s a work of art in and of itself. Bilbao’s Casco Viejo (old town) is packed with bars that serve up cod-stuffed piquillo peppers, slow-cooked beef cheeks smothered in butter, and squid cooked in ink.

For something really special, book a table at Azurmendi, a three-Michelin-starred restaurant that marries imagination with sustainability in ways you can hardly picture. A meal here is an adventure—picture edible leaves served in a bonsai tree and truffle-infused egg yolks. Before you sit down to eat, you take a tour of the restaurant’s rooftop garden and greenhouse on a sensory adventure, nibbling here and there.

Madrid – Where Classics Never Pass Away

Madrid doesn’t play around with food. This is where you come to indulge in the basics—hand-carved ibérico jamón, rich cocido madrileño (slow-cooked chickpea stew), and crispy churros dipped in rich melted chocolate.

Let’s talk about Botín. Open since 1725, it’s the world’s oldest restaurant, according to the Guinness Book of Records. Its specialty is Suckling pig slow-cooked to perfection in a wood-fired oven that’s been smoldering for close to three centuries. The crack of the skin, the fall of tender meat, and you can see why Hemingway couldn’t stop writing words about this place. We stopped in for lunch and found it charming!

For something more contemporary, take DiverXO, Madrid’s only three-Michelin-starred restaurant. Dabiz Muñoz’s restaurant turns dining into a state-of-the-art affair with unexpected flavor combinations and playfully creative presentation. Imagine a plate that looks like it’s a work of abstract art but is actually a glimpse of what fine dining will be like in years to come.

Valencia Is The Cradle of Paella

Ask a Spaniard to point you in the direction of good paella, and he’ll direct you straight to Valencia. But here’s a little secret: genuine paella has nothing to do with seafood. Authentic paella is actually a countryside paella that’s flavored with saffron and cooked over an open flame with rabbit, chicken, and snails in a shallow pan. 

Valencia was our first nomadic stop in 2019 and what a great place to begin our six years (now) journey! Aside from the food, the architecture and attractions of the city are worth your time to check out.

For the real deal, head to La Matandeta, a rustic country restaurant in which paella is slow-cooked over smoldering orange-wood coals. In anticipation of your meal, have agua de Valencia, a dangerously silky drink that is a mixture of freshly juiced oranges and a generous splash of cava. For something more interactive, some restaurants offer paella-cooking classes so that you can learn the secrets of achieving that perfect socarrat (that crispy crust of rice at the bottom of the pan).

Granada 

Granada does something that no other Spanish city does: it provides you with free tapas. I mean it. Purchase a drink, and you’ll have a plate of something magically placed beside it. The more you purchase drinks, the more impressive the food will be.

Hole-in-the-wall bars have everything ranging from sizzling chorizo to garlicky prawns. If you want something more sophisticated, book a table at Restaurant Chikito, a local institution that’s had a rich Oxtail stew on its menu for decades. In the Albaicín quarter, you’ll find family-run tapas bars where locals sip vermouth and chat for hours, the type of place where recipes haven’t changed in generations.

Here at the heart of Andalusia, you will find some of Spain’s richest gastronomic experiences. Whether you indulge in a traditional Andalusian banquet or book a private Andalusia Tours and Packages for Adventure, Spanish cuisine never ceases to amaze.

Seville

Seville is intoxicating. In streets that smell of oranges and flamenco dancing that breaks out spontaneously, the city appears to be in a timelessness of its own. This is where you fall in love with jamón ibérico, that prized Spanish ham cured with pigs that feed on acorns and aged for years. Try it at Cañabota, cut paper-thin and served with a glass of chilled fino sherry. Then treat yourself to the best pringá montadito—a small sandwich with slow-cooked meat that melts in your mouth.

We both agreed that Seville was a town worth revisiting! It can get very hot in summer, but we were there in spring, and it was lovely, with some of the most walkable cities we ever found.

Jerez – Sherry, Horses, and Something Sweet

No Spanish trip would be complete without a sidetrack to Jerez, Sherry’s homeland. Not your sweet sherry that your grandparents used to have—this is dry and full of flavor and complexity.

Start at Bodegas Tradición, where you’ll sample sherries that have been aged to perfection and taste like liquid gold. Then find tocino de cielo, a creamy custard dessert that literally translates to “bacon from heaven.” I promise you’ll understand why it’s so over-the-top after you take a single bite. If you have time to spare, take in a performance at the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art, where gorgeous horses perform traditional dressage in a beautiful exhibition of athleticism and grace. The journey is done, yet the taste lingers with you. Spain is more than a destination to see; it’s a feast to behold. From the splendor of a sizzling sardine cooked to perfection to the extravagance of a Michelin-rated masterpiece, every bite has a story to share.