El Lola - Bar de Tapas y Flamenco

Good quality tapas and friendly staff. The best was the truffled egg tuna tartar, that was a standout. The tuna tataki was less memorable but good, as were the cuttlefish croquettes.

Overhyped. After reading all good reviews we expected a really exceptional tapas and tuna. Croquettes were fine (good but nothing beyond that), same as tuna tartare. The Japanese BBQ tuna was disappointing - the sauce what too thick and the fish was served on some kind of sticky powder. Since we couldn't figure out what it was, we asked the waiter. He explained ot was flour with octopus ink. It was rather tasteless. sticky and unpleasant. Not my taste, but maybe someone else would like it.

I couldn't recommend El Lola more.. this was our most memorable meal during our 10 day trip to Spain. We had the spicy tuna tartar, goat cheese, chicken meatballs, and pistachio cream dessert. All were delicious but I'd travel back to Tarifa just to have the tuna tartar again. The meat was so fresh, not a fatty piece in it, and such a generous portion. On top of the food, the wine, service, and atmosphere as we sat outside were all top notch.

Great atmosphere, food good, we had various half plates, which were delicious and substantial, the calamari sliders were delish, as was the boquerones on toast, followed by the Iberian ‘Lagato’ which had the most amazing chargrilled flavor. Service was sketchy as they were sooo busy but everyone was very polite. They don’t take reservations, so get there between 7:30-8pm if you don’t want to queue for an hour or more. Very much worth a visit!

Lola a must visit during your stay at Tarifa. It can be really busy, but its worth it. The atmosphere is fantastic. Service great! Good with kids. Food above standards. A good Rioja for 3 euro a glas, just perfect! Overal we enjoyed our last evening on the terrace. Take the tuna platter to share👌and the jamon croquetas👍

5 stars — Waiting 90 minutes was absolutely worth it. The croquetas, the little hamburguesitas, and the revuelto de patata con jamón ibérico were all outstanding. Every bite felt special, full of flavor and made with care. Truly magical tapas worth the wait.

LOLA in Tarifa is an absolute must! The food is out of this world – from the house signature Frito Lola to the spicy tuna tartare (whaaaat a mezl 🤩) every bite is delicious. The atmosphere is full of flamenco-style charm and energy. Just remember, it’s first come, first serve, so get there a little early. Totally worth it!

This place is super popular and way too busy. There are equally good choices nearby. As such, the atmosphere with the street full of waiting patrons continually staring at you is a tad annoying. We arrived at 8 and waited 5min. Those that arrived at 8:30 waited till 9:30 to be seated. The highlight is the service. Super fast, not one set waiter for your table, ultra-attentive, and fun/friendly. Food is excellent, but it is also excellent in the mutliple adjacent restaurants. El Lola specializes in tuna; also meat and veggie offerings. Anything heated/cooked is very salty, thus the flavor. The rare tuna was great - no salt but good balance of olive oil and garlic. Photos are of the Tataki Tuna and the Presa Iberica de Bellota. I do not recommend the presa.