Three must-try hidden tapas bars in town
A tapas trail less-travelled in La Línea de la Concepción…
My job as a Spanish teacher has taken me travelling to many weird and wonderful places abroad.
But as the saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder, and when I eventually came back to La Línea I started to appreciate many things and places that I didn’t even realise I had missed.
I’d like to share these local gems with you, starting with something we all love… FOOD. Read on to find out where you can try some of the best food in town – including some that you will find only in La Línea.
The most typical thing in this town, like in the rest of Spain, are the “tapas”. Meeting for food in La Línea typically occurs around 13:00 (in some tapas bar) and it’s quite normal to stay there for the whole afternoon or even later – eating, drinking, talking and enjoying the ambiance. While La Línea is not exactly ‘on the map’, the sheer variety of tapas bars here means that you will still be able to enjoy some of the best gastronomy in Spain.
Bar Francis
If you woke up early and you fancy some La Línea-style brunch, march on down to the Mercado Municipal in the centre of town to find this hidden gem. This small bar can be found inside the market’s building, at the fish market end.
If you do end up in Bar Francis, you absolutely have to order Los Africanos: this bar’s famous, mouth-watering ‘African-style’ chicken rolls. Open until 14:00, Monday – Saturday, this bar is great for nursing a Linense hangover – serving big tasty sandwiches at affordable prices.
Meeting for food in La Línea typically occurs around 13:00 (in some tapas bar) and it’s quite normal to stay there for the whole afternoon or even later – eating, drinking, talking and enjoying the ambiance.
La Taberna
My personal ‘top ten tapas’ list is dominated by Linense bars, but if I have to choose one, La Taberna comes in at first place.
Located in Calle Hercules (running parallel to Calle Real), this tapas restaurant has been open for a very long time, forming part of the city’s gastronomic history.
There you can try my favourite dish: Rollitos de Pollo al Pedro Ximenez (chicken rolls in Pedro Ximenez sherry sauce).
The variety of tapas bars in La Línea means that you will be able to enjoy the best gastronomy in Spain.
Los Primos
Another place in town that you must try is Los Primos. This is a little cosy family bar situated in Calle Cadalso, tucked away next to the better-known Bodebar.
There you will find many different kind of tapas at a very good price, but I personally love the Canapé de Gambas Gratinadas. In my opinion this is the best canapé in town.
