From La Porticada to Puertochico
In Santander, we have met one of these persons who knows the town like the back of his hand. While he is talking about history and curiosities of Santander, he takes us through different bars and taverns in order to show us every specialty of each place.
At a dramatic pace we go from one tavern to other while he recommends us tasting the best bite of cod, or he warns how rude is the waiter in that place but let´s going in because they have the best seafood! Or “here there is the bestpiconcheese you can ever taste” There is no time to waste because in Santander there are many good taverns and he wants to show us all of them (or, at least, he will try)
The tavern tour is not quite expensive, because in Santander bites and plates are cheaper than in other northern towns. Bites cost between €1 and €2,50 and plates between €6 and €18 depending on what is ordered.
From beautiful Plaza Porticada (arcaded square), that hosted the International Festival of Santander for many years, to the popular neighborhood of Puertochico let´s walk around the excellent cuisine of Santander!
El Marucho
Calle Tetuán 21
Typical restaurant and bar without any comfort but where you can enjoy some exellent fish and seafood well-priced. Here we tasted some extraordianr rabas. During the high season it is not easy to find a place.
La Flor de Tetuán
Calle Tetuán 18
The specialty of this bar is fish and seafood. Prize is higher than in other local places but they serve the best grilled shrimp in Santander (plate costs about €12). Rabas, barnacles, spatter ... all the seafood is great!.
La Bodega de Santoña
Calle Peña Herbosa 21, enfrente del edificio del Gobierno Regional
Typical products from Cantabria like cheese and anchovies.
Casa Lita
Paseo de Pereda 37, al lado de Puerto chico
Great assortment of tapas and snacks from the more classic ones, like the bite of tortilla (Spanish omelette) to their own specialty Cantabrian bite. His chef, Joseba Guijarro, has one Michelin star and Casa Lita has awards for the quality of its bites.
Bodega Fuente Dé
Calle Peña Herbosa
Here we find picón cheese, an excellent blue cheese made in Cantabria. When you get into Bodega Fuente Dé, a hard mix of smells of cheese and pickles bits your nose. Few minutes later, this smell develops in an addictive fragance.They also serve tapas and typical dishes like cocido montañés, cocido lebaniego or picadillo de Potes.
El Solorzano
Calle Peña Herbosa 17
Vermouth with siphon. Great assortisment of tapas, mussels, rabas (squid rings), (tentacles), and many others.
El Diluvio
Calle General Mola 14
Just like Casa Lita, this place is a pioneer in Santander in serving elaborated tapas as País Vasco style. La Cigaleña
Daoiz y Velarde, 19
Un auténtico museo del vino en el que probar especialmente la tapa de bacalao rebozado. Riquísimas.
Tapas y Vinos
Calle Marcelino Sautuola
Rioja wine well-served and excellent tapas. The best one is the Spanish omelette with pork rinds.
El Tivoli
Calle Marcelino Sautuola
Exquisite squid rings and tentacles and very well served portions of ham.
La Conveniente
Calle de Gómez Oreña, 9
With to El Marucho, it is one of the most frequented by Santander visitors. Good plates of anchovies and fried bites served on big tables, that we ate all together listening a piano music.
El Cañadio
Calle de Gómez Oreña, 15
Excellent tapas cooked by one of the best chefs in the town. Here we ended the tapas tour because we ate too much not because there were no more bars or restaurants.
When we were returning home, he still recommended us to go to El Riojano (that looks like a museum with its painted by celebrities barrels), La Gloria, El Cantabria, Las Hijas de Florencio, La Malinche, Días de Sur, La Bodega de Jesús Quintanilla...
So you feel like visiting Santander, do you? Book your flights here!
more infoA Walk Through Sofia with Fuel Fandango
Fuel Fandango is a duo made up of the producer, Alejandro Acosta (also on the Mojo Project) and the Cordovan singer, Cristina Manjón, better known as Nita. The project has been ongoing since 2010 and the duo have built up one of the largest fan bases in Spain, with a large following beyond its borders, too. They made their recording debut in 2011 with a disc and publication of the same name. It was an instant hit with its bold style blend of funk, electronic, flamenco and copla. “Trece Lunas”, an even greater success, emerged two years later. Here at My Vueling City we love Fuel Fandango, a fact that prompted us to ask them for a rundown on the spots they liked best in Sofia during their concert tour there.
“This is the third time we’ve played in Sofia. We love the city and each time we discover new parts of it with a charm all their own. The people are very hospitable and warm. We always feel welcome whenever we come here”, Fuel Fandango told us on their return from the Bulgarian capital. Theirs was a working trip: “We played in the Sofia Live Club, one of the most delightful spots we’ve visited. It’s like a New York jazz club, but on a larger scale, with spectacular sound and a pleasing stage. Most of the international stars that tour Sofia have played at that venue.” However, they also found time to enjoy themselves.
Eating Away
Yoghurt,lukanka (a kind of sausage) and salad are some of the most typical foods in Bulgarian cuisine. Fruit and vegetables are also plentiful, thanks to the good climate. Very popular, too, are barbecues of pork, chicken and lamb. “We went to several typical Bulgarian restaurants – gastronomic tourism is our thing! The first night we went to Bulgary, an inviting, traditional-style eatery founded in 1922. Bulgarian food and wine are wonderful!” But things did not stop there: “We also visited another Bulgarian restaurant; this time, a more modern one. We can wholeheartedly recommend it – it’s called MoMa and the decor is really cool. It combines traditional design elements with contemporary ones.” Also characteristic of Bulgaria’s gastronomy is the variety of local wines and other alcoholic drinks like rakia, mastika and mint. Bulgarian has some fine wines, prominent among them being Dimiat and Mavrud.
Hidden Treasures and the Crown Jewel
They also found time to sightsee and uncover some small gems: “We also stopped off at record shops, as we always do when we tour abroad, to seek out new music and hidden treasures. They took us to this basement store, in a really out-of-the-way place. In the second-hand section, Ale went to town, coming away with some authentic jewels, including some vinyls of traditional Bulgarian music.” The store is called Dukyan Meloman, said Nita, adding: “The city centre is rather small, but it’s really nice to wander through its streets, with small shops of all kinds. It’s very lively.” Although Alejandro would have liked to stay on longer in that bargain basement, they still had time to see other charming spots in the city. “In the square with the Alejandro Nevski Cathedral (one of the largest orthodox churches in the world, and really priceless), there are antique stalls with loads of intriguing objects from the old Soviet Union.”
It was clearly an emotionally charged trip: “We’ve played in Sofia three years on the trot and each time it gets better. We’re still blown away when we see fans in the front rows singing our songs. One girl sang one of our tunes and her mother said she had signed up for Spanish classes at the Instituto Cervantes because she wanted to learn our songs. These are the stories we find the most touching.” The Instituto Cervantes is a Spanish state institution with the mission to promote and teach the Spanish language, and to spread Spanish and Latin American culture. It played a major part in organising and publicising this concert. They also helped us get in touch with the group.
Come and discover Sofia now! Check out our flights here.
Text by Fuel Fandango e ISABELYLUIS Comunicación
Images by Fuel Fandango, n-Off Entertainment, Dennis Jarvis, Bulgary, MoMa, Instituto Cervantes
more infoNeve Tzedek the Bohemian Quarter of Tel Aviv
Neve Tzedek, which in Hebrew means “home of justice”, was the first Jewish quarter to be built beyond the walls of the ancient port of Jaffa, twin to the still inexistent city of Tel Aviv (which emerged in the 1880s). From the outset, it was a place of refuge of the some of the most illustrious figures of Israeli culture. Now, a century after it was founded, its bohemian atmosphere is still in full swing. Some of the houses in this quarter are veritable monuments, built in such styles as the Bauhaus or Art Deco, while its streets are studded with cultural centres, restaurants, shops, cafés and bars you simply must visit on your stay in Tel Aviv. Here are some of the standout venues:
Suzanne Dellal Centre for Dance and Theatre
A must-visit spot on any art tour of Neve Tzedek. Fronted by a large mural by David Tartakover, one of Israel’s leading artists, the Suzanne Dellal Centre for Dance and Theatre has four spaces which host performances by some of the foremost national and international dance companies. It is also the headquarters of the highly acclaimed Batsheva Dance Company. If you aren’t much moved by dance, you will certainly by stunned by the mesmerising interior plaza, the surrounding gardens or the Suzanne Café, one of the best spots in the neighbourhood to while away the afternoon chatting over a steamy cup of coffee. Suzanne Dellal Centre for Dance and Theatre, 5 Yechieli Street.
Dallal
It is important not only to replenish your energies, but to do so where eating is raised to the heights of pure pleasure. In Neve Tzedek, Dallal is such a place. Located in the heart of the quarter, the cuisine at this restaurant draws inspiration from both nearby Jaffa and its Arab roots, and the Mediterranean. Sheer bliss on the palate. Make a point of getting there early and have a cocktail in their enchanting outside square. Dallal, 10 Shabazi Street.
Chelouche Gallery
Dating from 1886, this was the first building to be erected in Neve Tzedek. Aharon Chelouche, a landowner, jeweller and moneychanger, was one of the leading figures in Jaffa’s Jewish community in the late 19th century. A co-founder of this neighbourhood, together with Shimon Rokach and others, the erstwhile home of Chelouche is now one of the city’s paramount art galleries. While the works on its walls are fascinating, no less so are the views of the quarter to be had from the roof terrace. Be sure to go up to the top. Chelouche House, 32 Shlush Street.
HaTachana
At the end of Shabazi Street, the main and most crowded thoroughfare in Neve Tzedek, stands HaTachana, the Hebrew name for Jaffa’s old railway station. Built in 1892, HaTachana eventually fell into disuse and was closed for years. In recent times it was restored and renovated to house a number of cafés, bars, restaurants, shops and markets, turning the former train station into one of the liveliest points both in the district and the whole city. HaTachana, 1 Kaufmann Street.
Jajo
This small wine bar, with a capacity of hardly 14 people, is sophisticated yet inviting and boasts an excellent wine list. Its standout items are imported from Spain and France, and it also features an exciting list of cocktails. It is the ideal spot for ending off a day’s sightseeing in Neve Tzedek. Jajo, 44 Shabazi Street.
Carmel Market
Carmel Market (in Hebrew, Shuk Ha'Carmel) is a must-visit landmark for anyone arriving in Tel Aviv. Located on the edge of the Neve Tzedek quarter, it is a blend of a regular market, street market and souq, and is divided into two sections. The first houses stalls selling clothing, footwear, electrical appliances, etc. often at laughable prices. The highlight of the second and far more attractive section is an area of florists’ stalls, but it also has food stalls (fruit and vegetables, meat, cheeses, breads…), and those selling spices, which provide a fascinating explosion of colour, textures and aromas. 1 HaCarmel Street.
Nachum Gutman Museum of Art
Nachum Gutman, an Israeli painter and sculptor of Russian origin, was a cardinal figure in endowing Israeli art with a style of its own. Indeed, he departed from the European influences of his masters, which he regarded as inadequate for portraying the uniqueness of his country and its landscapes. His works are on display in various public buildings in Tel Aviv and, of course, in the Nachum Gutman Museum of Art as well. Nachum Gutman Museum of Art, 21 Shimon Rokach Street.
Rokach House
The journalist Shimon Rokach was the founder of a neighbourhood which at the end of the 19th century was part of the old city of Jaffa. Built in 1887, the Rokach family home is now an interesting museum devoted to that period. It is also the home of Lea Majaro-Mintz, Shimon’s granddaughter and one of the most widely acclaimed painters and sculptors in Israel. Rokach House, 36 Shimon Rokach Street.
Be sure to discover Neve Tzedek – book your Vueling to Tel Aviv here.
Text by Oriol Rodríguez
Images by Israel Photo Gallery, Amos Gil, israeltourism, Julien Menichini
more infoMilk bars and more
Going out and enjoy in Warsaw can be a delicious experience afordable for everyone. Without frills, three meals can go for about fifteen euros. There are eateries and bars known dairies or milk (mlezny bar) where you can eat as well for about 3 euros.
Ask for a beer or a soft drink without fear. You can sit on the terrace of the main tourist areas (weather permitting), because the beer will cost about a euro ... and they serve big tankards.
Poles are very fond of soups and stews. Some of the most tasty that we tried and that you should not lost are bigos, a stew of cabbage and meat very well, with a similar flavor to sauerkraut; borsch soup broth made with beets and sometimes served with a giant kibble; the zurek rye flour soup, mushrooms, sausage and boiled egg, highly recommended for the winter but summer care because ordered to warm one day and we still raining during the heats ... It is very blunt. Another typical and delicious dishes on the golonka, roast amazing knuckle; and the famous pierogi, a kind of ravioli or dumplings stuffed with meat, chicken, cheese ...
And speaking of pierogi, we recommend Pierogarnia na Bednarskiej (Ul Bednarska 28/30,. Tel (22) 424 13 87), where you can enjoy the famous Polish ravioli well made and at a reasonable price.
The mleczny milk bar or bars
The milk bars are the former communist restaurants that still exist in the form of soup kitchens. You will feel like in high school, with a home-cooked meal, yet cool day, and a variety of traditional Polish dishes.
Some where we sat were Krakowskie Przedmieście 20/22, or the "Bambino" in Krucza 21.
Recordando la etapa comunista
Oberza pod Czerwonym Wieprzem
Żelazna 68
It is a place that has been preserved as it was the Soviet taverns. Unfortunately it has not been preserved almost none and this is one of the best, very good traditional Polish cuisine. The price is average. It is worthwhile to see how they were. Zurek very good soup, duck and golonka (knuckle).
Pijalnia
ul. Zamoyskiego 28/30
This bar any time is good for a drink or a traditional Polish eat a snack. Anytime literally, because the kitchen is open 24 hours a day. Inside, it is decorated with lots of communists details. The walls are lined with newspapers decades ago, the music played has more than 50 years ... Everywhere you look there detales who remember the past.
Cozy Warsaw
Mielżyńki
Burakowska 5/7
Located in an old factory next to a church that gives a special charm, is one of the most pleasant places to take some wine and dine pecking sites. The concept is different because,besides tasting, wines can be purchased. For a romantic night, or with friends, we recommend it. Not expensive, you can have dinner with a good wine for 20 euros. It has a beautiful terrace that is appreciated in the summer.
Restaurante Polka
Świętojańska 2
Beside the square is Zamkowy this restaurant whose interior looks like something out of a friendly dollhouse. Although the decor is not exactly expensive to sample Polish gastronomy.
A dinner for three people, with 2 starters, 3 main courses, dessert and wine came out € 35-40 each.
W oparach absurdu
Ząbkowska 6
The cafe "W oparach absurdu" (in the mist of absurdity), is located in the district of Prague. As for the name, and we can get the idea that this is a somewhat alternative cafe, but very charming!
It is also the favorite cafe of one of our best Polish friends. This cafe is in the "good" area of this neighborhood, so you can go both day and night, and also drinking a lot of beers (my friend ordered a chocolate beer), you can have lunch or dinner typical Polish dishes (eg pierogi) about 4 € the plate.
You have 2 floors and the furniture is old style, with sofas, armchairs and wooden chairs, sewing machines with tables, images of pristine, antique mirrors ... Lovely!
With these recommendations and we just have to tell you something ... Bon appetit!
Makes you want to go, right? Do it! Check out our prices here!
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