Manchego
Spanish restaurant · Ocean Park
2518 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90405
Highlights
Romantic Spanish tapas & wine bar with cozy ambiance
Romantic Spanish tapas & wine bar with cozy ambiance
"This little tapas spot in Santa Monica sometimes gets lost in the shuffle of the big name restaurants in the area, but when it comes to finding a comfortable spot to have a two-hour wine-and-vent session on a Friday night, Manchego can’t be beat. The charming interior has tiled walls and floors, and there’s a big new front patio now to go along with the one they’ve always had hiding in the back. For food, expect an ever-changing line-up of sharable small plates ranging from spinach croquetas to jamon-wrapped dates." - brant cox
"We don’t usually send people to Main St. for good food, but if we do, we point them in the direction of Manchego. This Spanish tapas and wine bar has solid food and a casual, relaxing space that seems worlds away from the Fireball apocalypse happening at all the other spots on this street. Happy Hour: 5-6:30pm, weekdays. $6-11 apps, $7.25 house wine, $6.25 sangria, $5 bottled beer, $5 churros/cola cao" - brant cox
"The Deal: $6-8 apps, $7 house wine, $8 sangria This Spanish tapas and wine bar on Main St. in Santa Monica has solid food and a casual, relaxing space that’s ideal for winding down after a long day of passive-aggressive emails from your boss." - brant cox
"A relatively quiet Spanish spot on Main St., Manchego is where you go with a few close friends on Sunday because the gossip is HOT, and you need to hear each other. Deal: $25 bottomless mimosas and sangria. Weekends 11:00am-3pm." - brant cox, nikko duren
"Manchego has long been a go-to date spot on Main Street in Santa Monica, and we can see why. This Spanish tapas restaurant keeps things dark, moody, and romantic. The tiny dining room is pitch-black, with flickering candles illuminating blue tiles on the wall and generous pours of rioja. But while the ambiance is dialed in, the food is just okay. There are some nice bites on the menu, like the crispy mushroom croquettes and nuggets of crispy pork belly with a sweet quince jam, but dishes like jamón-wrapped dates or roasted brussel sprouts mostly register as fuel to keep the small talk going." - Sylvio Martins
