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Tapea Malta: Spanish tapas, grilled meat and seafood, modern style in St Julian's
Spanish tapas, grilled meat and seafood, modern style · St Julian's, Malta
Our Review of Tapea, St Julian's
Food at Tapea: 15/20
Definitely the best Spanish restaurant in Malta, celebrating the modern incarnations of traditional dishes which have become all the rage in Madrid and Barcelona. Chef Paola Álvarez, is an architect turned chef who aims to “bring precision, creativity, and soul to every plate.” She also argues that “her background in design shapes how she builds flavour and presentation — each dish is a balance of structure, colour, and emotion.” You get the idea. So slow down and get into the mood. The tapas are superb. Highly recommended are the croquetas artesanales de jamón ibérico co (artisan creamy croquettes of Iberian ham) at €16, Matrimonio de anchoas y boquerones en vinagre de Santoña (the marriage of anchovies in olive oil and salt with anchovies in vinegar and garlic served with cristal bread) at €18.5, Pimientos del piquillo rellenos de txangurro (Piquillo peppers stew filled with spidercrab and seafood bechamel, covered in soft tomato and piquillo sauce) at €19.8, and the Espárragos blancos de Navarra (white thick asparagus from Navarra with garnished vinaigrette) at €16. Of course there is a Jamón Ibérico de bellota for €30. Main courses are less spectacular but we would recommend the Fabada Asturiana (a traditional Asturian ‘fabada’ (bean stew) served with chorizo, blood sausage and smoky bacon) at €22, and the Tartar de atún rojo salvaje de Almadraba (wild red tuna (Blue Fin) from Almadraba served with wakame and sturgeon pearls at €28.50.
Atmosphere at Tapea: 8/10
The feel is modern, and light, with a conservatory style (just don’t look closely at the plants). The waiters are overwhelmingly Spanish speaking with adds to the atmosphere, though more Latin American than from the mother country. The crowd is highly mixed, tending towards the younger side. This is not a silent restaurant, but then again it is not one of those would be nightclubs.
Service at Tapea: 7/10
The waiters have to be charmed and coaxed, but you get there in the end. This is definitely not a place for quick meals (so Americans be warned) as everything is freshly prepared, but rather for slowly savouring the excellent dishes. The wine list is of course dominated by Spanish offerings. There are inexpensive verdejos for €25 or so and some fabulous riojas for €50/60.
Cuisine
Spanish tapas, grilled meat and seafood, modern style
Price Level
€€€
Ratings
Tapea — Frequently Asked Questions
What type of food does Tapea serve?
Tapea is a Spanish tapas, grilled meat and seafood, modern style restaurant in St Julian's, Malta.
How expensive is Tapea?
Tapea is rated €€€ for price (on a scale of € to €€€€€).
Where is Tapea in Malta?
Tapea is located in St Julian's, Malta at Triq il-Qaliet, Saint Julian's, Island of Malta, Malta (as shown on listings).
Is Tapea worth visiting?
Tapea scored 31/40 in our independent Malta Guide review, covering food quality (16/20), atmosphere (8/10) and service (7/10).
Can I book a table at Tapea online?
Yes, Tapea accepts online reservations via their official website.
