Bodega Espana

Tapas is not exactly my favorite thing, maybe because of too many overly oily gambas pil-pil, rubbery tortillas or chewy fishy calamari….. So, I guess I have to admit that I don’t yearn for tapas the way I do, a glass of amarone or some delicately put together sushi roll.  But how could I say no, to the ladies that lunch and go snowboarding, when they invited me for a glass of wine and tapas one day after work.

Bodega Espana is tucked away in Basel’s old town on Heuberg 4, CH4051.  The Tapas bar is back to back with the wine shop 'Vinos de Espana' and owned by a Spanish family who now call Basel home.

The bar is cosy with huge ornate ceiling lamps and a chunky, old fashioned, dark wooden, café bar.  The patron makes everyone feel welcome and at home, priding him self in offering authentic, affordable, quality tapas and good Spanish wine! 

We had tapas and wine for three, for 110CHF, with the highlight being the juiciest, freshest, calamari rings we had one plate and ended up ordering another.

The service is very laid back and may not be the place for a quick snack on the run.  Go for the cosy, friendly atmostphere and tapas served up by a family who knows Spanish food and wine.

Roll on the smoking ban though as the bar was chokingly smoke filled.