COSTA DE LA LUZ, ANDALUCIA...2024, March

Absolutely, I would smear that on really good toasted bread and maybe put pimientos rojos on top.

There is an interesting YouTube video featuring James Blick and AnnieB, who walk around Vejer and stop at some interesting spots including Paco Melero:

I like James Blick and his YouTube channel, but I didn’t care for this one. I thought it was too over-stylized and a bit campy. I did like the one hotel/restaurant(forgot the name) owned by that expat and would love to stay and eat there.
Edit: Hotel del Califa

We’ve stayed at Hotel del Califa in its new-ish 4-star annex, Plaza 18, (in the duplex suite with huge private outdoor terrace with views over the Strait, room 6) , and it’s lovely, as is the Moroccan-Middle Eastern cuisine (with Moroccan female chef and pastry chef) in the Jardín del Califa. The original hotel, Casa del Califa, is an absolute Moorish maze. with many different types of rooms and lots and lots of narrow, winding steps and nooks and crannies. It’s our favorite hotel right on the extremely pretty, tile lined Plaza.

James Stuart is the Scot who put Vejer on the gastro tourist map in many ways before Annie B’s kitchen. He came as a surfer, fell in love with the town and established the hotel and restaurant, then several more restaurants, then the tea salon, the hammam and rental apartments. His Grupo Califa is a constant, ongoing improvement project for the town, and he has housed quite a few “celebrity” guests over the years.

I’ve often wanted to take the 4-day Moroccan cooking class with Annie B that includes a 2-night stay in Tangier, as she is an expect on Moroccan cuisine and knows the ins and outs of the city. She also does other cooking classes that have appealed to me.

James Blick’s videos can be quite over-the-top campy (with “epic” this and "epic that) for me, but in his most recent ones he appears to have mellowed a bit. I subscribed to his newsletters when planning my move here and still do, as he does send out some pearls or wisdom from time to time about moving to Spain.

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Looks like a fantastic hotel and restaurant. I’ve gotten some good tips from James over the years, but not as many as I’ve got from you. :slightly_smiling_face:

Ay shucks :grinning:

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Unfortunately all those amazing tips and recommendations are in jeopardy due to the looming pilot strike at Air Canada . I might have to cancel the whole trip. :sob::sob::sob:

Noooooooooooo! I hope itÂŽs settled post haste!

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Me too! :sweat_smile:

Hi Maribel - I’ve been doing a dig around to find some recommendations for places to eat in Costa de la Luz and I came across this thread. Hope you don’t mind me hijacking this post but you’ve been giving excellent recommendations, so I thought I’d ask if there’s any places you’d recommend that wouldn’t be bothered by us bringing two young kids?

My husband and I love food but fancy places are off the cards for bit. We’re staying in Zahora and Cádiz but have a car and can travel — would love to know if there’s any tapas bars/ relaxed local restaurants you would put at the top of your list?

Thanks!

Hi hungrymum,
I can’t actually think of anywhere where two young kids wouldn’t be welcome, as Spaniards adore children. I wouldn’t take them to a place offering a tasting menu only, as they would become very bored very quickly, but as you say, “fancy places are off the cards”, and rightly so in your case!.

For Cádiz city, the options are many

the many stands at the indoor-outdoor market, Mercado de Abastos, which is in the process of renovation,
the area directly behind the bar at El Faro with high tables or even in the El Faro dining room, they will cater to children, as it’s a local institution,
or SonĂĄmbulo on the lovely Plaza de la Candelaria,

You can certainly take kids into the time warp, wonderful and famous Casa Manteca in the Barrio de la Viña, on the walking route to El Faro (for a great gazpacho or salmorejo or chicharrones), or across the street to the Freidor de Casa Manteca if they enjoy fried fish,

or Quilla, facing the Castillo de Santa Catalina and the beach, which has an outdoor terrace where they can run around,
or Taberna la Sorpresa, another lovely time warp serving the finest tuna from the region in many guises.
Or Almanaque Casa de Comidas on the Plaza de España

Really, outside of the Repsol and Michelin recs that feature tasting menus only, your options are limitless.

As to Zahora on the Costa de la Luz, any chiringuito (casual beach bar serving fresh fish) would be just fine with kids.

I just returned from a week of sampling the Costa del Sol’s chiringuitos from Estepona to Marbella, and they were filled with families (and their pets), enjoying the sun, the beach, the exquisite seafood in season.

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Thank you so much for your thoughtful - and quick - reply. Much appreciated! I will look into the places you’ve mentioned. Very excited for our trip now, I think we’ll be spoilt for choice!

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