BAR GLORIA
calle Pascual Junquera

Unmissable, especially on a happening night. The owners, two Sicilians have bought their own particular flavour to the Conil nightlife.

They not only offer interesting variations on italian anti-pasti, but also serve up some pretty substantial plates. There can be an element of the crazies on any given night. These guys like to party and they don't stop just because they are working. The bar normally plays a good mix of music as well.

However, despite this there is an overall efficiency and you can be sure that you will return.

During the day they offer a very reasonable menu del dia
(at time of posting a mere 6.50euros).
A sample of what's on offer on 19th January 2005

the full set, almost

bruschettas

vegetale agrodolce

spaghetti con le sarde

The Bruschettas, a choice of two. The first, on the left of the photo above, being fish of the day, this was a rich sauce of calamaris in their ink. The second was a mixture of roasted vegetables.
Besides the thngs mentioned above the photos also show, dishes of lentils, fish and rice and aubergine with tomato covered with grilled cheese. The bread is country bread and is available from the excellent bakers about 200m further down the street.

At the time of writing, a media ración of the above dishes, a good Tapa for two, was between 2.50 - 3.00 euros
( Please note the menu changes frequently )

Cafeteria Panaíso

c/Virgen de la Luz

This cafeteria is run by the same people who have the German Bakers round the corner in c/Pascale Junquera. The bar therefore serves excellent pastries and short order snacks for a top quality breakfast, such as scrambled eggs with ham.
The bar gets the sun early in the morning and is an great spot to catch rays in the winter. The bar now has internet access.

The bar is open 7 days a week. 07.00 - 22.00

Bar El Mirlo

c/Padre Ramirez
Just down from the town hall

This popular bar has recently been given a new lease of life with the arrival of a younger manager from the north who is running the bar with the original owners. The bar always had good tapas and excellent value midday menus. Now there are some different tapas and some more red and white wines on offer. Worth checking out the following offers.
Glass of beer or wine plus tapa of the day for 2 Euros and even better value Desayuno/Breakfast special comprising of Coffee, orange juice, toast and ham. 3 Euros.

Arroz Con Leche

C/Mercurio

New and different. opened last year and bought a mix of German and Spanish influences to a bar/bistro that serves great breakfasts and filling hot evening meals. They also have good pastries. Like some of the newer bars in Conil the wine is good and kept well.

Closed Mondays:
Open Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday 10.00 - 23.30
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 09.00 - 13.00 then 17.00 23.00

Bar Celedon

C/laguna 1
Opposite the new fountain with the lions, round the corner from the Ayuntamiento

The bar opened over a year ago, and bought a welcome influence of northern spain to the tapas on offer. The counter groans under the weight of all the different tapas. The bar is waiting for the licence to put tables outside and with the new fountain in place this will become a very popular spot in summer. ( Yes this fountain was in the center of Plaza Espana until January 2007)

Bar Encuentro

c/Chiclana,26

This bar changed hands last year. The new owners, Mexican and Dutch have been offering a variety of tapas including Thai and Mexican influenced dishes. they have some good red wine as well. They were offering a small buffet of tapas for something like 5 euros in the early part of the winter. I am not sure if this still on offer as they have only just reopened.

Bar el Tano

c/Miguel Hernandez
opposite from one of the best Ferreterias( iron mongers)

Smallish smart new bar that is very popular with office workers in the morning. they also have a good reputation for takeaway Pizzas and Empanadas (Fold over pies)

Taberna Gourmet

c/San Sebastian
at the top by the roundabout

This is part of quite a smart chain. The decor is modern with comfortable seating and better lighting than most places. The feel is of a city centre tapas bar, slightly following in the line of the new coffee style bars that became very popular in the U.K. in the nineties. Maybe you'll be seeing Taberna Gourmet in the U.K. soon! The tapas are varied but if thet are worthy of a gourmet rating is for you to decide.

Blanco Verde Restaurant and ** Hotel

C/Rosa de los Vientos

As the Fontanilla on the beach is THE place to eat fish if you are feeling flush, this is the place where locals come for big evenings out. The meat is excellent, it's actually very good in the Fontanilla as well. The Blanco Verde has an patio with lots of plants and the main restaurant. The menu is varied and they serve fish as well. A good place for a big lunch or a full evening meal if you can't be bothered with picking at tapas. There are some big bills generated here. especially amongst wealthy locals with cash to burn

Bar Canarias

Plaza Nuestra Señora de las Virtudes

This popular bar is a bit of a surprise. Located in the square with a long name, just behind Tourist Office. The bar has recently been refurbished and is now run by the son Antonio, who can be found behind the bar every day (Closed Monday). You can enter through the left or right hand door, visible in the photo above. The left hand door takes you into a typical Conil bar, much frequented by town people. There is a television on the wall, so football is on offer. The right hand door leads you into the eating area with tables and chairs, although you can order anything from the menu from the bar. The menu offers the standard fish and meat tapas, albeit of a very good quality. However, the real plus point is the quality of the house red wine, ordered by the glass or the bottle. Plus the Montaditos ( small ciabatta style hot sandwiches), present favourite pork fillet. Also recommended is the tapa of pork fillet with Pedro Jimenez sauce. ( receipt to follow - Tasca de Juan also uses a similar sauce with his his grilled minced beef)

Los Hermanos is very, very popular with the locals, so get there early, from 8.30pm if possible. People cram in against the long bar, but there are tables and stools round the corner. Don't be afraid to point if you see something that you want to try.
This is the best place for constant quality of typical fried fish and a wide selection of prawns, shell fish and more.

Francisco La Fontanilla
Fontanilla Beach

(at the end of the beach road)

This is by many regarded as the jewel in the crown of Conil's restaurants. Frequented by locals and tourists. The restaurant is open most of the year, normally closing at the end of January and opening again in March. The seafood is regarded as the best in town, always fresh. The quality of the meat dishes is normally very good and shouldn't be overlooked. The setting is excellent with the terrace being right on the beach. Booking is advised in high summer, or just kick off early. A reasonable wine list is another plus. Prices aren't bargain basement and the cuisine isn't 'pacific rim', but the restaurant represents the best of traditionally prepared quality seafood. Very much the place to be if your into long lazy lunches.

The restaurant has a web site www.franciscofontanilla.com

Restaurante La Fontanilla

Fontanilla Beach
(By the parking)

Pretty much the same story as the review above, the restaurants sit side by side. The choice is yours!

 BAR PARQUE ATALAYA

Parque Público Atalaya
Camino de La Fontanilla

Located above the Fontanilla beach this bar opened last summer in area that was a run down public; park. The owners leased the site from the council on the understanding that the area would be given a makeover and a new childrens play area would be incorporated on the site. The result is very good and the bar is one of the best places to catch the sunset while sipping a cool drink.

The bar offers a reasonable range of food and is open all year round. The clientelle tend to be the more well heeled locals and tourists plus guests from the nearby hotel. Maybe not the first place to go for those seeking the local culture, however this more Euro style watering hole is well worth a visit. Music is not intrusive and there are some great ornamental lights adorning the interior of the bar. Considering the location prices aren't too bad.

BAR LUNARES

Calle Cadiz

Situated at the bottom end of calle Cadiz, this new bar has only opened in the last couple of months. The new owners are two girls from the north of Spain. The bar has a more contemporary feel than others on this popular pedestrian street. There is also a welcome appearance of dishes from other areas of Spain. The tapas on offer are well presented and good, some of them are quite different from the normal local fayre. The normal range of drinks are available and prices are reasonable. There are tables outside on the street and the inside is has air conditioning, a plus point in high summer. The owners intend keeping the bar open all year round which along with some new shops in the vicinity should go some way to bringing a little more life to this area over the winter period.

During the summer months, especially July and August this street is packed. Go and check this bar out now before things get too busy. Reccommended.

 BAR - DELI CHARCUTERIA IBERICA

Calle Dos Hermanas

Hidden away in the centre of town, you will need to get a map out! This bar has been here a while, the owner is from the north of Spain. This bar is also a Charcuteria specialising in hams and cheeses, you can buy the produce just like in any Deli to take home or sample some of the produce with a beer or a glass of wine (Good wines on offer by the glass). The bar has the narrow entrance by the counter with not much more than standing room with a laid back seating area down a couple of steps towards the back. There are great posters on the wall depicting cheeses from all over Spain.

The bar is open all year and is popular in the winter months. The best time to buy from the Deli would seem to be around midday when it is normally open! The owner is a bit of a blues fan and the music playing is evidence to it. Popular with a slightly older crowd it can get a bit crowded and smokey later in the evening. Suggested time for a first visit would be lunchtime or earlier in the evening.

 BAR PORTILLO

Calle Extramuros - Portillo

A traditional family run bar that is open all year round. The small bar is well frequented by locals, young and old alike, especially over the winter months. The location, on the edge of the Casco Historico, means that it is often as far from the busy centre as the average visitor will venture. As the weather warms up and more tables are put outside the bar attracts a wider clientele.

The majority of the tapas are prepared by the owners mother, the dishes on offer are more varied than those found in some of the more commercial bars closer to the main tourist areas. The tapas vary daily and depend on the season. There is a display unit mounted on the counter where you can see what is on offer. There is waiter service at the tables outside. The bar also offers good fried calamares, chocos etc...

Worth a visit for the good prices, home cooking and not least ,the beautiful original foor tiles.

Bar La Prensa
Calle Hospital, 9

New owners have recently taken over this spot in Calle Hospital. This is the pedestrian area just off the bottom of the Calle Cadiz and almost next to the Medina, the Medina with the big outdoor terrace. The bar is one of the bigger ones in the area and also has a few tables that spill out on to the street. The new owners have moved the position of the serving area from the back to the front, this has improved the interior feel. There are often paintings from local artists on display as well.

 La TASCA de JUAN - Plaza Santa Catalina/calle P. Caro

A newish Tapas bar that excels in good food. The owner, Juan is a trained chef and it shows. He's also a good front of house man. There are tables both inside and out, but be warned, this place can get busy at any time of the year. There are always a variety of innovative dishes on offer plus a good wine list. One of the present specials is a fried quail's egg on top of a slice of Iberico ham placed in turn on a bed of sliced potatoes liberally drenched in olive oil. The interior is a little soulless with rather bright lighting. The far end features a small bar where you can oversee the dishes being prepared in the open-plan kitchen.

 BAR CAPRICHO - calle J. Velarde

Old school and very good for it. Antonio has been catering to locals and visitors alike for many years. There are tables outside in the summer months, and a large bar space inside. The bar tends to close for a few months in the winter - dates do vary.
Antonio likes fishing in his spare time and so often line caught fish are on offer. He also buys things when he feels they look best, so the tapas can be seasonal, such as fresh mussels and clams. There is an interesting old chart on the wall showing the local fishing grounds. There area also a couple of colour photographs from bygone times showing fishing boats dragged up on the beach.

BAR CAMELO - calle Prieta

Bar Camelo is a little different from some of the others, in that the owner, who is in charge of preparing the tapas, is from the north of Spain, hence the great Bilbao bull fighting poster on the loo door. This gives a slant to the tapas on offer which can make a pleasant change. In the summer there are few bar stools outside and orders are taken through the large open window. In winter the place can get quite busy, especially if one of the language schools is passing through. The house red wine is very good, and is produced by friends of the owners. Bar Camelo is not alone in Conil in often playing excellent blues music. The bar is normally closed on Saturday
evening and Sundays. Click to see Croquetas Bacalao receipe

 BAR JUAN MARIA - calle Cadiz

The bar is situated at the far end of the calle Cadiz from the Medina Bar. Here the street opens out and is where the elder fishermen congregate to watch the sunset and chat. Bar Juan Maria is open for most of the winter months. The restaurant is only open at weekends from November to Easter. One of the main features of the bar are the amazing views, walk through to the left when you enter the bar and at the far end there is a large open air terrace with fantastic sea views. There is another enclosed dining area that also has excellent sea views. The menu is good and is frequented by locals as well as tourists.

BAR LIGERO - calle Cadiz

A small establishment that shrink in the winter months to become not much more than a corridor with a bar. The Ligero has been in the same family for many years with the son Paco now at the helm. It is almost two bars in one. The summer sees a wide variety of dishes (see Tortilla recipe)on offer, and tables lining the street outside. This summer the bar has been very popular with tourists, and things can get a bit chaotic in high season. The bar is also very popular spot for watching the world go by on the calle Cadiz. Bar Ligero normally shuts in November for annual holidays. At present the owner hasn't decided when he will open again in the winter. Normally in the quieter months the Ligero reverts to an intimate space with people cramming in for drinks and tapas.