Seville 3 night break

[AStepAtaTime]

I have booked a 3 night break in Barrio Santa Cruz for mid June, for my husband's 44th birthday. I am super excited. This will be the first adult break we've had together, just the two of us since the children were born so 9 years ago.

I would like to see a Flemenco show, and he just likes the idea of wandering around eating Tapas. Neither of us speak Spanish!! Can anyone recommend a nice tapas restaurant? Or share their experiences of Seville and the things that really stood out for you? I've never been before and neither has he so it's a totally new experience for both of us. We would like to see the Real Alcazar de Sevilla, and I hear there are some beautiful gardens called the Plaza de America. I personally would like to see the Plaza de Espana.

Do tapas restaurants have to be reserved in advance? I'm really not sure how it works! I imagine lots of the restaurants will be very busy. We're staying in a hotel near the Cathedral but I hear the streets in Santa Cruz are worth just wandering around as it's the old city and very picturesque. Please share your experiences! And if there's anything we should in fact avoid I'd be grateful to know about that too.
Thanks,

Book the Real Alcazar. It is very very popular.

The Plaza Espana is free and has amazing tiles.

Las Setas is quite fun.

Tapas is pretty informal. In a lot of places you simply sit at the bar and order dishes as and when you want them and pay at the end.

I am sure you can get away with not speaking any Spanish as Seville is a big tourist city but at least of grasp of the niceties helps - so perhaps a little Duolingo before you go.

El Rinconcillo is the daddy of tapas bars and a brilliant experience - as a caveat it is busy and popular and we can speak passable tourist Spanish so that made it a bit easier.

Bar Alfalfa is another good call - a really relaxed bar that also serves tapas at the bar.

Seville gets very very hot in summer so be prepared for that, especially if you are not hot weather people.

Thanks @Ginmonkeyagain that is useful, especially the two tapas bars. I have a smattering of "polite" words in Spanish which I will of course put to good use. I looked up both those venues - food looks good! I did have advice from a family member to book the Real Alcazar - again I can see why, it looks stunning.

It is a beautiful city - you'll love it!

The Macarena district is good for lots of old style spanish bars and good nightlife. I am struggling to remember the name of a really cool old style spanish bar we went to there - the kind where you get a little dish of free olives or crisps with every drink.

Ahh got it Casa Vizcaino on 27 C. Feria.

A proper old school Spanish bar.

We rented bikes and had a great time. It's all flat and the bike-lanes are great. It was very hot, but when you're cycling you don't feel the heat - until you stop!

Last time we did a walking tour of the Jewish Quarter which was really good - and pre-booked a tour of the Alcazar. We visited some lovely tapas bars around there - menus also in English mostly. Pelayo was our favourite. We walked over the bridge to Triana and the market / ceramic museum. Cocktails on the roof terrace at Hotel Eme opposite the Giralda for fabulous views. Also the roof top at Hotel/Suites Murillo (building with Rosina's Balcony from Barber of Seville, which has lovely views over the Alcazar gardens. So many fab squares to sit on with a drink. Hopefully it won't be too hot in June.

Last time we did a walking tour of the Jewish Quarter which was really good - and pre-booked a tour of the Alcazar. We visited some lovely tapas bars around there - menus also in English mostly. Pelayo was our favourite. We walked over the bridge to Triana and the market / ceramic museum. Cocktails on the roof terrace at Hotel Eme opposite the Giralda for fabulous views. Also the roof top at Hotel/Suites Murillo (building with Rosina's Balcony from Barber of Seville, which has lovely views over the Alcazar gardens. So many fab squares to sit on with a drink. Hopefully it won't be too hot in June.

Tip for booking the alcazar - I recommend including the state apartments within your ticket. It's about an extra €6. You can only see this upper part of the alcazar with a pre booked ticket (which are limited).
We were in Seville in March, and saw lots of adverts for an evening light show in the grounds of the alcazar, during the summer evenings.
We went to a great flamenco stow on our first trip 6 years ago, I think it was called La Casa del Flamenco, in the Jewish quarter.
We also enjoyed a tour of the bullring, which took about 2 hours.

This is what I posted on another thread about Seville…

We had amazing tapas at this restaurant in Seville - Postiguillo. We booked a table, and I’m glad we did, as there was a big queue when we got there.

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g187443-d6539451-Reviews-Postiguillo-Seville_Province_of_Seville_Andalucia.html

For flamenco I can recommend Tablao El Arenal, it was outstanding. You can either book to have dinner and watch the show, or just book for the flamenco, which is what we did. If you book just the flamenco, you are seated to the side of the stage, really close and with a great view. You can feel the stage vibrate! It really was excellent, I felt quite emotional watching!

https://tablaoelarenal.com/en/