Don't be fooled by Abantal's location in an anonymous small street near the city center, or its low-key, neutral interior. This contemporary Andalusian restaurant is one of only two Michelin-starred options in Seville (you'll find the other at EME Catedral hotel). The tasting menu offers either seven or nine good-size courses, with or without wines (including sherry, cava, and dessert wine). Dishes include unusual regional ingredients such as sweet chivo lechal malagueño (milk-fed kid from Málaga) and tender liebre (hare), as well as the popular tartar de atún (tuna tartare), plus a new twist on famous Andalusian dishes such as salmorejo, a thick, smooth chilled soup that here is made with tangy beets rather than the typical tomatoes. Regional wines feature prominently on the list: There are semisweet whites and reds from Seville province, plus a pinot noir from the award-winning winemaker Los Aguilares in Ronda.—Fiona Flores Watson

Open Tuesdays through Saturdays 2 to 4:30 pm and 9 to 11:30 pm.

With a quiet, shady patio full of climbing plants, just off the bohemian Alameda avenue, Al Aljibe is one of the prettiest and best-located tapas spots in Seville. The Colombian chef combines Asian, Spanish, and South American elements in his small plates. Offerings include mussels with spicy sauce, cucumber, and mint; and pork with white corn pancakes and coriander Huancaína (Peruvian cheese sauce). The first floor has a cozy dining room where you can order full meals (try the suckling pig with tropical fruit), but it's the second-floor terrace that is hard to beat, with views over the Alameda and beds of aromatic herbs to scent your evening meal (avoid lunch times in the searingly hot summer). Service isn't always sharp, so just sit back, watch the local eccentrics passing, and soak it up.—Fiona Flores Watson

Open daily 1:30 to 4 pm and 8:30 pm to midnight.

This tiny bar is always packed with a loyal crowd of locals and anyone else who can squeeze in. The husband-and-wife team of Sevillano Juan Gómez Ortega and Californian Jeanine Merrill change the tapas menu weekly; a daily fish special comes paired with a glass of wine. The fish and seafood are outstanding and imaginative, mixing robust flavors (tuna, smoked mozzarella, and caper salad). Unusually for Seville restaurants, La Azotea serves an excellent selection of wines by the glass, mostly Spanish with a few Californian offerings. Reservations are not accepted, so if you're not there at opening time to bag a table, you'll have to put your name on the list (it's a fast turnover, and worth the wait). The same couple owns a deli/wine shop across the street (it holds regular tastings of wine paired with excellent local cheeses) as well as a second, slightly larger bar that's more centrally located at 12 Calle Conde de Barajas.—Fiona Flores Watson

Open Tuesdays through Saturdays 1:30 to 4:30 pm and 8:30 pm to midnight, September through July; Sundays 1:30 to 4:30 pm, September through June.

This bustling bar is frequented by a chic designer crowd, fresh from shopping at Loewe and Carolina Herrera just around the corner. Its long, narrow interior has tables with low round stools. Reliably excellent fancy tapas include a burger of super-tender Kobe beef, tuna tataki, and a delectable, creamy mussel cappuccino featuring fishy consommé topped with a layer of coconut foam. Service is smooth and professional, and the decor understated and contemporary. The perfect refueling stop before you head off for more shopping or some late-night Sevillano entertainment.—Fiona Flores Watson

Open Tuesdays through Saturdays 1 to 6 pm and 9 to 11:30 pm, Sundays 1 to 6 pm.