Spanish food, cooked when you order it
A small kitchen on Howden Street, and a flamenco tablao through the wall.
Howden Street, Edinburgh
Two doors. One is the kitchen, one is the tablao.
Saliha opened Alba Flamenca first and the restaurant grew out of it, so the food and the music here have never been separate things. The same family runs both. The guitarist you hear at nine will have eaten the staff meal at six.
The cooking moves around Spain: salmorejo from Andalucía, pulpo and albariño from Galicia, cider and cabrales from Asturias, pan con tomate from Cataluña. Nothing is plated in advance.
Small plates, like in Spain
Three or four each is about right. Everything comes out as the kitchen finishes it, so put it in the middle and share.
Croquetas del día
Whatever the kitchen made this morning
Carrilleras
Pork cheeks, mash, ñora gravy
Flor de calabacín
Courgette flowers, goat’s cheese, honey
Gambas al pil pil
Garlic, white wine, chilli
Vieiras
Scallops, morcilla de Burgos, pea purée
Bacalao
Cod loin, white wine, cream, shallots
Boquerones
Cured anchovies, parsley oil, confit garlic
Patatas bravas
Triple cooked, smoky tomato, alioli
Ensalada de burrata
Confit tomatoes, sherry vinegar
Pollo con romesco
Chargrilled thighs, romesco
Puerros con romesco
Chargrilled leeks, romesco
Tortilla en salsa verde
The classic, in green sauce
Chorizo al vino tinto
Cooked in red wine and garlic
Horchata martini
The espresso martini, Spanish
Negroni española
Gin, Campari, Spanish vermut
Agua de Valencia
Cava, orange liqueur, gin, fresh orange
Sixteen of them, and it keeps going. Swipe, or read the whole card.
What gets ordered, over and over
Not a signature dish in sight. Just the ones that come back to the pass empty.
On Sunday we only make paella
One pan, two people, started when you order and carried out still in the pan. It does mean no tapas that day. Cava, sherry and a jug of sangría are still very much on.
Next door · Venue 237
The flamenco came first
Alba Flamenca is the most established flamenco venue in Edinburgh, if not in Scotland, and it is on the other side of our wall. Saliha has been bringing Spanish performers here for over twenty years.
“We had the special slow-braised pork cheeks which were worth the visit alone.”Tripadvisor
- Travellers’ Choice · 2021, 2022 and 2023
- Restaurant Guru · Recommended, 2023
- Sherry Spot · Listed by Sherry Wines
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What our guests say
Five out of a few thousand
“We had the special slow-braised pork cheeks which were worth the visit alone.”
Tripadvisor
“No pictures, but trust me. Food was spectacular, especially the pork cheeks.”
Tripadvisor
“Bravas, chorizo, chicken, meatballs, prawns and croquettes to name a few.”
Tripadvisor
“In the rich garlicky sauce, the meatballs which were delicious.”
Tripadvisor
“Spanish, vegetarian friendly, gluten free options. A hidden gem.”
Tripadvisor
01 / 05
Every one of these is a real review, left by a real guest. Nothing here is written by us.
Follow along
It mostly happens on Instagram
Who is playing at the weekend, what the croquetas are today, and whether there is a table free tonight. That all goes up here first.
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