Bodega - Southbourne

In Southbourne, Bournemouth, Bodega - Southbourne brings the easy conviviality of Spain to the coast. By day it is calm and unhurried, ideal for a working lunch or a stolen hour over freshly brewed coffee and lighter bites. When evening falls, the tempo lifts; laughter rises, glasses chime and weekends hum with live music and DJs, making it a natural choice for date nights and spirited gatherings.

In the kitchen, head chef Quentin Royles cooks with a traveller’s eye and an Andalusian heartbeat. Time spent in Cádiz and Jerez informs a menu of tapas and pintxos that balances sun-drenched boldness with quiet detail. His passion for Spanish sherry and a thoughtful list of wines shape pairings that feel effortless, while a seasonal lens keeps the offering nimble and ever-evolving.

Plates arrive with a flourish of colour and aroma: pil pil prawns glossed in garlic, parsley and chili oil; albondigas in a deep tomato and garlic sauce; padron peppers blistered and salted just so. There is the comfort of tortilla espanola, the crunch of kikos and the allure of manchego with membrillo, before sweet finales like burnt Basque cheesecake or churros with chocolate sauce or dulce de leche.

Settle in for a long lunch or linger late; order a glass, share a few plates and let the evening find its rhythm. Olé to that.