España Restaurant

I had a terrible experience at this restaurant last night. While dining, a waitress (not the one serving my table) kicked my chair hard by accident as she walked past, which startled me. She kept walking without apologizing. The second time it happened, I turned around, our eyes met, and she said sorry. I told her it was the second time already. She came over and told me my chair was sticking out too much and that I was in her way. Then, in a demanding tone, she asked me to push my chair closer to the table which I did, even though I was sitting normally and not blocking the aisle. For context, I’m 5ft and 100 lbs, I don’t take up much space. When I mentioned that I was upset because she didn’t apologize the first time, she told me she wasn’t going to apologize because she’s the one who was going to trip. She also bumped into the chair of the person next to me and dropped a spoon, while no other staff seemed to have the same issue. If she’s prone to tripping, perhaps slowing down a bit would help. To make things worse, she told me twice that my “vibe is very weird.” I couldn’t believe I was being spoken to like that as a paying customer who had done nothing wrong except speak up after being kicked twice. I chose not to argue further and finished my meal, though it was no longer enjoyable. At the end, she brought the bill and said she understood my frustration, apologized, and removed the churros from the bill. While I appreciated the gesture, it didn’t undo how uncomfortable and disrespected I felt. For fairness, our actual server was very nice. The mushroom toast was great, and the squid in the paella was perfectly cooked, though the dish was a bit salty. I can’t comment on the churros since they came after the unpleasant incident. Overall, I left feeling disappointed and shaken by how unprofessional one staff member was.

Had an incredible experience dining here. I accidentally made a reservation for 2 instead of 3 and Jess (our host/server) was SO kind in accommodating us and make sure she did everything she could to help us get a table together. She was an amazing server who had great recommendations and was just so genuinely friendly. The food was also just incredible with so many different bites and flavors. There wasn’t a bad dish and it was so much fun to try some different things! This truly made our trip unforgettable and cannot wait to bring more family and friends here.

Another hidden gem in Vancouver!!🇪🇸 We had a spontaneous dinner plan to España, and it felt like taking a short trip to Spain! Had a really great dining experience - the food was great; everything was to our taste and made with wholesome ingredients; staff was amicable and friendly, creating a cozy and layback environment. The interior had a slightly dimmed lighting, creating a unique character for the bistro. We didn’t get to try the paella and leek this time, but will for sure revisit and highly recommend!👩🏻‍🍳❤️

Amazing experience I truly felt like I was in Spain for a moment. We sat on the outdoor patio, and the service was very attentive. There was a mix-up with our order, but the server gifted us the wrong dish and still brought what we originally ordered, which turned the confusion into a delightful surprise. We had the eggplant dish (my favorite, though I wish it had been cooked a bit more it was fine for my boyfriend), and a beet salad that came by mistake but was fresh and delicious. For mains, we ordered the paella pork bites were amazing, shrimp was perfectly cooked, but the squid was a bit dry and chewy. I also had a classic Aperol Spritz, which was spot on. Loved it here!

An amazing find! Was looking for somewhere new for my wife's birthday. Was pleasantly surprised by how fantastic it ended up being. The menu caught our eye to begin with, but ultimately was so much better. As a lifelong eggplant hater, my wife ordered it and I expected her to end up having it all. To our surprise I ended up loving it. Not the mushy texture it normally has, but creamy instead. The grilled squid was outstanding, as were the chicharrones and the charcuterie board we ordered. We plan on going back soon with family, and I highly recommend this place for anyone to try!

My husband and I went to España, which reminded us of our recent trip to Spain. We were really looking forward to having seafood, but unfortunately it wasn’t available that day, and there was a 45-minute wait for paella. We were disappointed but decided to stay and just enjoy some beer and churros. Our server was very kind and even gave us churros for free, saying she hoped we would come back to try the seafood. Her gesture really made up for our disappointment.

During the Dine Out Vancouver event, I had the opportunity to visit this small bistro and try their three-course meal. Each dish had a clear identity—the appetizer provided a great start, the main course was rich in flavor, and the dessert was absolutely delightful. We didn’t order any drinks that day, but I believe pairing their dishes with wine would elevate the experience even further. Although the event has ended, these dishes are still available on their regular menu. Overall, this is a restaurant worth trying.

Exceptional restaurant with lovely combo of great vibe, fantastic food and sincere attentive service. The beet dish was a unique but unexpected combination of beets, grapefruit and tomato puree. Goat cheese and pistachio was lovely. The lamb chops fab. We also had cheese and churros for desert both of which went lovely with a nice selection of wine and sherry flight and both did not disappoint. Recommend resto without hesitation!!

Have you ever had a craving for a Margarita that just hits the spot? Well....I like them with a kick, strong and as a bonus, smokey...and that is exactly what I got with the Spicy Smokey Margarita at cozy Espana. Loved it. Coincidentally, I was also into tapas that night and they delivered that marvellously with the array of Spanish flavours and fresh ingredients it was one of those dine outs that was an experience rather than sit, have a few laughs, eat and go home. If I were you I would get a little bit of everything off their menu as that would give you close to the 180 degree venture. Ok...my faves this time around....The Margarita, The Eggplant, The peppers and the deep fried olives....oh and The Parmesan Mushroom. That Margarita though.... The atmosphere again was what I was looking for that night....mood lights, comfortable seats, great ventilation and warm and welcoming expert service.....I don't know...maybe I'm gettin' old but ....my patience for subpar service is on a massive decline these days. Our server was an absolute pro and with the amazing food and drinks and a "don't wanna leave" table....Yup. Yeah.....I think I'll make another reservation.

This cozy tapas bar offers an assortment of small plates that are interesting twists on traditional tapas. We particularly enjoyed the Spanish tortilla, the sautéed mushrooms on toast, and the cheese assortment. Be sure to try the churros, which are almost more like beignets, offered with two different dipping sauces. There's a nice selection of appropriate wines by the glass. Reservations are needed on Friday and Saturday nights, even to sit at the bar.

As the scent of Spanish cuisine pervades the atmosphere, I'm taken to the dimly lit dingy restaurants on the shores of Cadaques... truly a taste of Spain. This place may be small (cozy), with the usual lineup at dinnertime, it's worth the try. The steak stands out, though I'd prefer a larger portion, but it's small plates - authentic sharing food. I don't need to list out the menu, though have tried almost every dish, the olives, beets, squid, un vino tinto (my standard order in every corner of Spain) is sheer perfection. Go for the food, you'll forget the service could do with a teeny upgrade

Nice place on Denman Street in downtown Vancouver. We sat at the bar as the wait for a table was long, especially if you don't have reservations. We got the chicarrones (pork belly), roasted spiced eggplant, galacian style grilled squid and pork skewers. The pork belly and squid were great. The pork skewers were a little dry but that seems normal as I rarely find any place where skewers aren't dry. The service was good as they are attentive and the place has an intimate atmosphere.

I went here with a friend for dinner with a high expectation for their paella. Our server was amazing and very sweet, and the vibe is more like a Spanish tavern so the space may be limited when it is crowded. Though we had a high expectation for the paella, unfortunately our paella was too salty for our liking. However, everything else was excellent and I loved the cheese so much. Overall, it was a great experience and would have been perfect if the paella met our expectation.

I came here on a nice summer evening and I absolutely loved the outdoor dining experience! The waiter was very attentive, especially given we were sitting outside, and gave great recommendations. The portions were small and the cost did add up quickly, but I would still recommend paying a visit to this restaurant. Here's what I ordered: 1. Sautéed mushrooms on toast: I loved loved LOVED the taste of the garlic butter! I would highly recommend ordering this dish. 2. Roasted spiced eggplant: another great dish. The kale chips were well seasoned and crispy. 3. Galician style grilled squid: squid pieces were tender and juicy. 4. Grilled hanger steak: great flavour 5. Churros for dessert: crunchy on the outside, warm and soft on the inside

Came here for dine out and was impressed with everything. Delish flavours and the perfect amount of food that left me satisfied. Especially enjoyed the fish that was perfectly cooked-crispy on the outside and tender and moist on the inside served with a very silky celeriac purée. The churros were amazing. Not too sweet with that dulche de lèche sauce is to die for. Warm atmosphere, perfectly timed food and excellent service. Will be back to try more of the menu.

Came out on a Friday night and was extremely pleased! The ambience was fun and lively, making for an extremely satisfying tapas night. Our server was extremely knowledgeable and made sure that we tried the show stoppers on their menu. Favorites for the night were for sure the anchovy stuffed fried olives and the eggplant dish! The paella was also on point, but seemed like they were just throwing whatever they had in the kitchen - the pork crackling was a little overkill. Do not make the same mistake as I did and over order your mains! You must save space for their homemade churros! Overall a great spot with great food! Try some sherry too if that's what floats your boat!

We had our Staff Christmas party last nite at Espana. It was closed to the public as out peeps filled the restaurant. The Food was delicious, atmosphere was excellent, but the best part of the evening was the outstanding service. I have to give a special shout out to our server Jessica who made our time there special. Thanks to the staff and management. Jeff

A very delightful evening spent at España. A very friendly neighborhood restaurant which offers great selections of tapas and daily special. Menu is easy to navigate, and good emphasis on seafood choices. Will definitely return, suitable for party of a few, or dine alone at the bar.

Great service, food and drinks. Since the indoor dining ban, they've increased their outdoor seating. We have been to Espagna many times, but have never posted before. I've popped in for a quick drink and a bite twice in the past week, and really enjoyed it. We tried several of their cocktails and I'm especially keen on their iteration of the Jungle Bird, my favourite tiki drink! I've already had it three times, and the only reason I didn't have more is that things start get "sloppy" ha ha. We didn't eat much, just a couple of small snacks. Looking forward to going back and having a full dinner again soon!

During our work-cation, we came in right around opening time for dinner. The paella was a seafood paella with clams and shrimp. We also had the daily fish which was a crispy rock cod. Our waiter was super polite and professional, and gave us a good explanation of the daily specials. The food was really good. Fresh, hot, not too salty, not too oily. Had a good balance of spices while not overwhelming with any specific flavor profile. The crispy rock cod was our favorite; but the paella was definitely solid too. Ended our meal with some yummy churros. Excellent dining experience.

My husband and I came here in 2019 and had a fantastic meal. We returned tonight and had yet another fantastic meal: crispy olives, pork belly, baby beet salad, grilled calamari, ribeye steak, churros and chocolate mousse. Everything was absolutely delicious. This is now our favorite restaurant in Vancouver. But don't tell anyone - the place is tiny and I want to be able to get a seat the next time we return : )

Was taken here for dinner tonight. As we arrived a little early, we also slid into happy hour (Monday-Friday, 4 to 6 PM) and ordered the Chorizo Scotch Egg, Octopus Conserva with Toast and a glass of the Spanish house red (all $5 each). The 2 tapas were delicious and wished we had ordered more of the other tapas to go with the well balanced red wine. For the main, we had the daily paella (at market price and since I didn't pay for dinner, didn't know how much). The paella was more than enough for 2-4 people to share. The first serving was delicious and loved eating the hot rice with shrimp and ham. With the second serving, I truly felt the saltiness and couldn't finish the final serving. I love paella and understand Spanish food leans on the salty side. My friends took 1/3 of what was left home. For dessert, Churros with thick rich hot chocolate. It was really good and the closest to what I have had in Spain. The churros at Espana is soft while in Spain a bit more crunchy. Still, the sweetness was a good balance to the saltier paella. Service was fast and efficient. The restaurant is small so strong suggest you make reservations. I would return for the happy hour as there are 9 items and the 2 that we ordered had good portion size and $5 for a glass of Spanish wine is hard to beat. Would be curious to try the other dinner items too.

I love España for cozy, intimate nights, sharing a bottle of wine and eating share plates slowly over conversation. This place is about the experience. I wouldn't eat on the outdoor patio, as I think that the full experience of España would be missed by sitting on the sidewalk. The food is good. I've enjoyed everything that I've ordered here. The food is not exceptional, but the prices are moderate and so I don't expect Michelin level plates here. The service is warm and welcoming. Sitting at the bar is a good option if you didn't make a reservation for a table. I consider this a gem of the West End, and the fact that it's busy every night means that others agree.

Flavours and good, menu is a little bit limited. My only complaint is the prices. I understand that food now cost more than ever but patatas bravas is basically fried potatoes with a paprika based sauce. They shouldn't be expensive. This is a tapas bar. Portions are small. So if you are looking for a place to enjoy a drink and a small tasty snack, this is your place.

Getting a table at España is tricky because it is so popular, but it was worth the wait. The atmosphere is cozy and intimate, and the staff are friendly and engaging. It was our first visit, and our server gladly helped us navigate the well-considered tapas. Everything was fantastic, well-portioned and flavourful. The chicharrones and roast baby beets were particular favourites. We explored two Spanish wines we'd never tried before--the Verdeo Verdejo 2019 (white) and Atteca Garnacha (Old Vines) 2018 (red)--and both were excellent. My only complaint is the restaurant is poorly lit. Besides that, we had a terrific experience and expect to return again soon with our flashlights.

Popular hole in the wall on the West End that spills into al fresco dining on the street. The deep fried anchovy olives were a nice twist on the things that come out of the can. The pork belly was quite good: sweet crispy and of course a lot of fat. The paella was tasty: it was a "special" that night and one order was plenty enough for two people. I ordered the flight of dry sherries but did not really care for them. Maybe I just don't like sherry wine. Heads-up: if you are paying with non-canadian money beware: they will add a surcharge of 4.99% above the exchange rate to the bill. Unfortunately you do not know this until you're done with your meal.

it was a's bday a week ago and so we decided to do a belated bday celebration at my place with takeout frm espana. we also wanted to take advantage of the dineoutside deal that's going on right now. a called into the restaurant the day before (so saturday in this case) and ordered the paella picnic set for pick-up. the restaurant told her pick-up time would be around 5:30pm due to the time it takes to make the paella (im guessing). fast forward to sunday, day of pick-up, and a shows up at the restaurant at around 5:25pm to be informed by the staff that the kitchen had a mix-up - the order was apparently taken down incorrectly and there was to be another 25min wait due to the mistake. s and i found this to be very odd - the call for the order wasn't planned super ahead of time (1 day only) and if a didn't show up, what would have happened to the order? also, though there was complimentary items provided (olives and 1 can of pop), it still left a dark stain for the start of the celebrations. the paella did taste amazing - there was a lot of seafood and the portion size was decent. it's advertised as 2-person size but the 3 of us was def full by the time we finished the paella. the salad that was included was...lacking compared to the paella. some of the arugula and romaine leaves looked welted and the size of the salad failed in comparison with the paella. the sangria that came in the combo - it basically tasted like chilled red wine. not sure if it was due to the fact that there wasn't enough time to let the fruit infuse or the fact that there was only 3 slices of orange in the 1L mason jar? i hope this was just a off-chance subpar experience with this restaurant, considering the other amazing reviews for this place.

Relatively small but it's in Vancouver and it's a tapas & bar place so that's expected. Easily packed so make sure you make a reservation! Staff are all very friendly except one was cold and confusing. Our waitress is from Spain himself and he's extremely attentive and friendly. The other blonde lady that seems to be a waitress and host was nice and full of smiles too. The other waitress in all black has a cold tone and not the most helpful when the two older couples seating beside us had trouble seeing the menu. The place is quite dimmed down so that might be a problem for some people with eye problems. The same waitress brought us our bowl (for shells) since we orders the Paella. My boyfriend moved it in the middle of our table and she slide it right back to the edge of the table and said, "this needs to be on the side or else how can I put the Paella" and we were both looking at each other like 'oh, we didn't know'. Then when our Paella came, she slide the bowl in the middle and told us it needs to be moved. (In my head I'm like, you moved it there and told us to leave it so we didn't dare to touch it and now you are telling us we need to move it like we got that in your way?) Other than that particular experience, the rest of the night was great. Some are really worth it like the drinks, tapas, and the desserts. Some other main dish were good but not too memorable and overall considered a little overpriced. The tapas are worth every penny. Fresh ingredients, mice plating, and delicious. The Paella was yummy but not the best I've ever had. The shrimp was way too salty for me without the rice but my boyfriend likes it. The swordfish was AMAZING, tender and flavourful. The calm was a bit small but otherwise tasty too. The rice is softer and wetter the ones I'm used too, but not a bad thing at all. Just different, so if you are used to and only like drier and firmer paella rice then be prepared that this is different. Some street parkings and a paid public parking lot right across the street. Walking distance to the bus stop. Not my favourite tapa bar but they do have some great dishes so will come back again!

We had an amazing experience dining here at Espana. The food here was phenomenal and the drinks were delicious. Definitely recommend checking this place out, the staff was super nice too. All the dishes we had were so good but the steak was unreal.

When you're near English Bay and Denman, this place has patio and indoor seats with excellent Spanish food. We'll be back with a group of four to try their daily paella. The chicharron is also a must to order, pairing it with a cerveza or sangria.

We went for a Dine-Out dinner here. The food was fantastic and the service was excellent. Cute place....it was busy but it didn't feel crowded. Thank you!

Can I just say I love every single Vancouverite I met? Like seriously they were all amazing and full of helpful tips for our trip especially recommendations for restaurants. This particular spot was recommended to us by Dan at Marquis Wines and it did not disappoint! The location is definitely on the smaller side and when we walked in there were no tables, so we sat at the bar. Bartender was amazing! Super friendly and talkative she picked a few of their Spanish wines for us to try and a gluten-free beer that happens to be my new favorite. FOOD: Chorizo Scotched Egg (4 stars) - kinda spicy and very fatty tasting especially with the egg yolk. I'm glad we each only had half because this was huge! served with a green peppercorn aioli that was really good. Outside was fried perfectly and gave the whole thing a needed crunch. A little heavy to start a meal with this, probably better shared between more people as just a bite. Grilled Octopus and Prawns (3.5 stars) - incredibly tender octopus. I did enjoy the caperberries and cucumber with this dish, but also felt there was too much going on with the ingredients and it overpowered the prawns. Iberico Pork with Crispy Garlic *Special (5 STARS) - holy whoa....it was like magic on a plate. I should have taken an order to-go because I just found myself thinking about it the next day. Cooked to med-rare temp because of the quality which was something I've never heard of but was all for. Best piece of meat I've ever had hands down no comparison. Loved it here. Perfect way to end our trip.

This is one of my favourites in Vancouver!! The chef is incredible and every single dish on the menu is a hit. The service is fast and everyone who works there treats you like family. If you're looking for a cozy little date night with a great atmosphere and amazing wine and food, then this place is for you!

Overall, I quite enjoyed the food here! But España has two things going against it. It's very busy and fills up really quickly, with people waiting in line starting about an hour after it opens; and service seems to be very slow. The first isn't much of an issue if you come early, but it is certainly a bit frustrating to wait half an hour or more between finishing your appetizers and getting your main meal. That said, I enjoyed my Dine Out menu here in terms of food. I started off with patatas bravas, which are potatoes cooked in a delicious tomato sauce and topped with some aioli. These were great! Then I had the meat paella - it had a few chunks of perfectly cooked pork belly, some nicely seasoned chicken, and all of it was cooked together with rice that really absorbed the flavours well. And dessert was great too - their churros are yeasty and breaddy rather than crunchy and dense, which was a fun change of pace, and they came with a great dulce de leche and yogurt dip. But as I said - the restaurant was crowded, loud, and slow to bring out food. So while I'd like to come back and try some of their other food, which I'm sure is tasty, I'm hesitant because of how long it took to get our food. Of course, it may have just been because Dine Out was especially busy for them - I'd be willing to give them that chance!

We had a wonderful dinner at ESPANA last night. We happened upon this restaurant while walking in the area. The food was simply delicious and the staff went out of their way to please. I rarely post restaurant reviews but I felt this place deserved the kudos.

Good food, really wish the service was better. There were 2 people working there, both not very attentive and a smile wouldn't hurt. It's a small place and it's quite romantic to sit in the corner seat at the back. Their vanilla bourbon sour was delicious! I didn't try their paella...apparently it's for 4 or more so will have to go back to try it!

When visiting Vancouver, I don't stay around English Bay too often, but this restaurant will be the reason to for future stays. España provides a solid experience from service, atmosphere, food and drink. From the moment I entered, I was greeted promptly, and seeing as I came for a table for one, I was seated quickly for a busy Friday night. My welcoming server was prompt and stayed so for the whole evening. I was introduced to the menu and I allowed the server to make recommendations. I started with the deep fried chickpeas. Light and crispy, not greasy, and seasoned with sweet paprika and mint. A great starter or shareable tapas as most of the menu is. I opted for an entree which was the daily catch. It was sea bass, pan fried with crispy skin. This was served on top of crispy Brussels and potatoes, with a sauce made with capers. I had progressed from an appetizer light and sweet, to a most filling dish with the most strict balance of salt, oil, crunch, and chew. My recommended wine pair was the Godello. She also let me try the Verdejo which wouldn't have cut the saltiness of my entree as well. Perfect suggestion. I finished naturally with the churro x2 with the dolce du leche/yogurt. These were done spot on. Airy fried and dusted perfectly in sugar. I spooned all of the leche as this sat on the bottom of the glass, so as to not waste any of it as I dipped and dipped...and dipped. España is a 5. You must eat here, whether solo, small group, or with your honey. Don't wait. Go.

It's my 1st time staying in Vancouver and I saw the reviews and figured I should give this place a tey. It was just me so I sat at the bar trying to escape from the snow. I had a really good Red wine from the Happy Hour menu and the Daily Tortilla which was amazing! I have been craving Jamon and for $6 I feel like I scored! Churros and a cafe bombon to end my meal. Reasonably priced!

Absolutely loved the chicharrone! They have great wines & good service. I cannot wait to return.

Long story short : Wanna have an authentic spanish paella? this place is the answer. One more thing we were amazed by the appetizers as well : the fried chickpeas was a masterpiece , I would never think about frying chickpeas if I havent tried this ; also while waiting for the paella ( around 20 minutes as they make it in the spot) we ordered the Andalucia Olives and we enjoyed the glimpse of sundried tomato taste on the olives. The service was great and the staff was very friendly. Will come back when I get the spanish food's crave

This is probably my favorite restaurant in Vancouver. I've been here a number of times and always have a great experience. All of the dishes I've tried so far are of great quality. To me this is a real hidden gem. When you walk on Denman it's easy to miss. No large signs that point to this restaurant. It's not necessary. The quality of their food does this for them. The restaurant doesn't take reservations. This might seem inconvenient for some, personally I like it. I usually arrive between 7pm and 7:30 and never had to wait long. As a European and being to Spain numerous times this actually feels like a place you could find in Spain. For drinks I really recommend either the España Sangria or Tinto de Verano. Both are very refreshing and a fruity option compared to wine. Since I believe you can't go wrong with any of their dishes I'll point out a few of my favorites. I really enjoy the daily tortilla (don't get this confused with Mexican tortillas). It's light and fluffy but very tasteful. I'm not a big fan of octopus because of its texture but España takes that concern away. The grilled octopus was amazing! I was actually sad when we finished the octopus. The Patatas Bravas need to be renamed to Patatas Bravo! This potato dish is awesome! The potatoes itself are done well and the sauce with a little kick is delicious. The Daily Paella is great and a lot of food! It says it's for 2 people but you could feed 3 or 4 people with it. The seafood is very fresh and the flavor of the rice is rich. It's tempting to stuff yourself with the tapas, but save room for dessert because the Churros with yoghurt and dulce de leche. I usually have to order extra churros because I really like the sauce. The sweetness of the dulche de leche combined with the fresh flavor of yoghurt is amazing. What I really like about this place besides the food and the authentic feeling is the fact that no one is rushing you. The staff is friendly and gives you space to enjoy your night. No one is trying to rush you through your meal but if you want to you could sit here for hours and eat/drink just like it is back home in Europe but unfortunately rare in North America. It's perfect for catching up with people or date night.

This place was soo yummy! We did not order any main dishes because we wanted to try all the tapas (appetizers). I recommend the Jamon Croquettes. They were soo juicy and they come with such a unique dipping suace! We also tried the tortilla, and that was yummy! It comes drizzled with some honey so you get a sweet and salty taste! For drinks I recommend the Sangria!!!!! The churros for dessert are so good! The only issue with this place is that they are pricey! One slice of Manchego Cheese is $8.

I have gone back here several times and every time it's incredible. Everything, from the meat to vegetables, were perfectly cooked and creatively presented. I never knew eggplant, beets and carrots could be so delicious. If you are looking for a fine dining experience, you will not be disappointed!

The food is substandard and flavourless in most cases. If you've ever been to Spain, you'd be shaking your head. This establishment should be embarrassed not only in the food they serve but also in the service they provide. The restaurant is filled with unhappy servers and employees. The woman that seems to think she runs the joint is not a pleasant person to deal with. You shouldn't bring clients or family here that you want to impress. I doubt you will be treated well if management doesn't know who you are. It is not at all a friendly or welcoming atmosphere for tourists or for non-regulars it seems, especially with so many better, eclectic cultural options along Denman. I feel sorry for the people that work there. It must be a terrible place to have to earn a living because they make it a terrible place to enjoy a meal with friends. My friend Jess thinks it's a super duper place, but we don't always agree on things. Jess is still new at sharing her opinions so we'll see what she comes up with. She has partners in a startup and is very important.

For our last Dine Out of the 2019 season, we chose a restaurant that we'd been meaning to go to for years. Espana doesn't take reservations and it was full before 5:40pm on a Saturday night. Despite being one of the first tables of the night, our service was incredibly slow. Food seemed to take forever to come out. I'm pretty sure we waited 40 minutes between the first and second courses. My first course was the endive salad; it was just okay. I've never had endives so maybe this is just me learning I don't like endives. They were slightly bitter. I did enjoy the anchovies though. The crispy ham was an odd texture to pair with the soft endives and anchovies. I chose the seafood paella as my second course and the flavour left a lot to be desired. I think paellas taste best when they have both meat and seafood flavours. My friend's meat paella was much more flavourful. We both had churros for dessert and for me, it was easily the best course. Unlike the churros I've had at other places (which I think have all been Mexican churros), they weren't noticeably sweet until I dunked them in the thick hot chocolate sauce. I think I would come back again, but only when I'm not in a hurry to eat, and probably just to try their tapas.

Looking for a place to eat on our last night in Vancouver, Espana was recommended to us by the owner of an incredible local boutique Quick Nickel. That's a whole other review but his shop is cool as hell. So 2 minutes down Denman Street and we're there. Small plate Tapa's joint which is far further in Janelle's wheelhouse than mine but whatever. It's a tight little space with a bar that reaches from the front door to the kitchen, with long tables stretched down the left side. We luckily managed to grab the only two seats at the window looking out onto Denman, which was kinda fun to watch the droves of people being told about the hour long wait for a table and the subsequent disappointment on their hungry faces. I didn't feel bad . Very interesting menu with vegetarian and meatatarian options alike. We started with paella balls...I know weird, and honestly the biggest whiff of the evening. Just kinda dull, kinda greasy, no real flavour but the dill Aioli was magic. Just further masked the non flavour of the balls but things got better. It was a special for that evening so I don't know how many times they've tried that disaster, hope they 86 that one going forward. But things picked up.. The GF got this amazing little fried green tomato salad with pickled sardines. Just perfect balance of salty, sweet and crunch with those tomatoes and the sardines were just divine. I followed my lacklustre ball experience with a clams with crispy pork belly dish which was just fabulous. The clams were huge and tasty, and pork belly...well tough to botch that but still amazing. Clear but rich broth brought to life by the natural juices of the clams. Really good. My gal followed that up with a manchego cheese plate and I got a hanger steak with roasted beets and carrots....kill me now I'm good. Just spectacular! Paired with an amazing glass of Atteca Garnacha it was as close to heaven as I've been at a restaurant in while. The hanger steak was perfectly cooked just over rare with salsa verde and shaved manchengo. I mean that's as good of a steak dish as I've had in an age, in Vancouver ‍. If you find yourself looking for a snack or a meal by the beach in the west end, do yourself a favour. Cheers Andy

This is some seriously good and pretty authentic Spanish tapas but the secret is out and the wait time can be crazy in this cozy and dim little restaurant. Our group of four (almost all having lived or traveled in Spain) arrived just before 9pm on a Friday night and were quoted a 45 minute wait. We left and came back and after the quoted time past we were still waiting. We finally got bar seats at the window before eventually getting moved to a table which made the night much more relaxing. The hostess was nice and talkative and kept checking in with us during the wait so that we didn't feel neglected. We all ordered sangria made with brandy and vanilla and it certainly did complete the tapas. Oh, the tapas!!! Our group ordered the following: Fried anchovies with aioli Roasted baby beet salad Fried cauliflower Hangar steak with patatas bravas Seared pork belly with white beans Octopus and chorizo with white beans Churros with chocolate Chocolate and chestnut flan Seriously everything was delicious and enjoyed by our group but the items that stuck out to us were the fried cauliflower (seriously to die for), the pork belly, and the churros. I would get them all again in a heartbeat though. And the bill, very reasonable. I love that! Will definitely be back the next time I am in Vancouver.

Absolutely 5 stars for this place. My partner and I went here last night for a date. We were seated at the bar immediately, our server was warm and very knowledgable of the menu, and the ambiance was perfect for the occasion. We got 2 of the daily specials and another tapas dish - boy, they were one of the best dishes we've had in town. The octopus in one dish was so tender, and the grilled broccoli with romesco sauce and duck egg was (surprisingly) the best dish of the night. Complex, strong flavours without being too over the top. We highly recommend this place for a romantic date night!

Great paella, I was lucky that the one they had for the day did not have any Susan's, just seafood. It took about 20min to be cooked which is expected. Only problem that they did not accept AMEX cards.

Great spot for Spanish food. We got the cauliflower and Spanish octopus tapas and both were bomb! We also ordered the paella which was made to order and tasted fantastic. All in all 3 of us felt really full afterwards and very satisfied. The device was great and we ate street side as this was during COVID. Would definitely recommend!

OHHHHH, Barcelona. How I miss your tapas and especially patatas bravas. Feeling the withdrawals of our Europe trip, my friend found this place and said that her coworker raved about the tapas. So, off we went on a Saturday afternoon to see if this place could satisfy our cravings. We arrived around 6pm and were seated right away for 4 people. Win! The patatas bravas was indeed, VERY similar to the ones we had almost every night in Barcelona. And this is the one I was looking forward to eating the most! Perfectly cooked with a a good balance of tomato sauce and aioli. We also ordered a grilled leg of lamb and sausage, which came on top of a decent size flat bread, with hummus and tzaziki sauce, with arugula and peas. This tapas was surprisingly filling, and the lamb wasn't as "game-y" as I expected. Overall, I was happy with these choices. We also split the paella. I haven't had any other paella in Vancouver so I could only compare to the one we had in Barcelona. And it was definitely delicious, but it was missing shrimp (sad face). But the chicken and sausage were good, and the paella filled us quite a bit. The dish itself was quite deep. We probably could have gotten away with just the tapas, but we had to try the paella for comparison sake. However $45 (it was the market price at the time) for the paella was quite steep for me, and I probably wouldn't get it again. I know the paella probably changes daily and might have shrimp the next time around, but I think I'd rather spend this on more tapas and try the other flavours. Did it satisfy the Barcelona cravings? Yes, for the most part! I don't think this would become a regular weekend spot, because the drive is quite far for this Coquitlam girl, but I'm glad we found this place!

Spanish food is one of my favourite types of cuisine, so I was so thrilled to discover this place! It's not a huge restaurant and they unfortunately don't take reservations, so if you come during prime dinner hours (around 7-8 PM) you will likely have to wait for a bit. They usually have about 4 people working in the bar/dining area and there doesn't seem to be any specific roles for each person, so it may be difficult to get someone's attention initially. That being said, I think this restaurant is worth the wait. It's the perfect place to come with a small group of friends (the tables are not huge) or on a date. The atmosphere is fun and lively, but still intimate and not too loud to have a conversation. They have a great menu full of legit Spanish food, like jamon serrano/iberico and Spanish tortillas (it's not like flatbread, it's made of potatoes), as well as some interesting non-Spanish items like sweetbreads and scotch eggs. Of course, they also do paellas, which they will change up every day (or at least, they were different on the two occasions I came here.) The calamari is also great, as it comes with a mint yogurt and chili jam to dip, and the sweet/savory/seafood flavours all blend fantastically together. Finally, they offer churros for dessert which come with either chocolate sauce or the MOST AMAZING yogurt/dulce de leche sauce. The combination of sweet and tart flavours is out of this world. Honestly, it was so good that the second time I came here it was specifically for the churros and wine. They are known for being one of Vancouver's best places for wine, so definitely give those a try here! Their wine menu is pretty extensive and last time I was here our waitress suggested a white based on my preferences that my whole table enjoyed.

I came here last night with my significant other. We wanted to try something different, and Spanish tapas seemed like the perfect choice. The atmosphere was intimate and cozy. It's a smaller location on Denman, closer to English bay. We ordered a Finca Munoz, a sour bourbon, chicken liver pate, iberico sobrasada de bellota, and the avocado and roast pepper salad. The food was quite good, and I enjoyed all three dishes. I particularly liked the salad (mind it's quote heavy on the mint). The other two each came with two pieces of toast to spread on. The pork sausage was not salty and went well with the paprika. Just a heads up, these are tapas so don't expect big portions. The service was impeccable, even with an almost full house. We only had one drink each, but the bourbon sour was spot on as well.

Paella is amazingly yummy~ always fresh and delicious! Love the little crispness on the bottom of the plate, really hit the spot! Pork belly is flavorful with extra crispy crackling, but on a dry side, so the salad and yolky soft poached egg balance them out, Pork blood rice pudding compliments well with the pork belly and salad. The restaurant is close to English Bay, perfect for evening walk before or after. Can't make reservation, so I would call ahead to check how long is the wait. It would be great if the restaurant has the Yelp feature that give customers estimates on wait time and putting our names down. Definitely will come back!

Really delicious Spanish restaurant with many interesting menu items to order. We ordered the following: chicken liver pâté toast, zucchini blossoms stuffed with salt cod and potato, patatas bravas, quail eggs, mussels and chorizo, roasted salmon, lamb sausage, avocado salad, watermelon and feta salad, crispy pork belly and the paella of the day. Of the items we ordered, my favorites (in order) were the crispy pork belly, zucchini blossoms and lamb sausage. The crispy pork belly was a particular standout - deep fried crunchy pork skin and wonderfully moist and tender meat. The white bean stew underneath balanced out the salty fattiness of the pork belly. I was a bit disappointed with the paella (mussels, clams, octopus and capers) which I found to be a tad bit salty. Our server was excellent - she was friendly, constantly checking on us and very understanding of those of us with tree nut allergies (she determined which items had nuts). The restaurant is small - probably only seats about 25 people - and they don't take reservations. I would recommend coming with a small party or eating an early dinner. The restaurant is classy - dark wood, low lighting - which doesn't make it seem very kid- friendly. That being said, everybody at the restaurant was so nice and understanding.

I went here last night for dinner and the food was over the top amazing. Being a tapas style restaurant, I was happy we had a party of three. It allowed us to try more dishes and not be too full after only a few dishes. Recommendations: the goat cheese salad, roasted ling cod, pork belly and of course the churros with dulce de leche It's a small restaurant so it gets busy! Try to get there earlier, we arrived just after 6:30 and the wait was about 30mins on Friday.

We had a great time at Espana. The wait staff there was very friendly and made you comfortable dining there. We started off with drinks and proceeded to order a few things since the food is tapas style and is meant to be shared. I like this style because you keep ordering food until you feel full. We started with the kale salad and the fried octopus. Both were excellent and we followed that up with the lamb. I'm not a lamb fan, but this was outstanding. No gamey taste and so tender. I would order this for myself the next time. We saved enough room for dessert and had the churros with the dulce de leche. The restaurant isn't huge, so expect a wait and expect there to be some noise. The wait staff was very attentive and were patient with answering questions since neither of us were familiar with Spanish cuisine. They have several Spanish beers available, so it was fun and interesting trying them for the first time. I think that tapas style makes dining so much more fun and Espana didn't disappoint.