Best Restaurants & Bars in El Arenal Seville 2026
Where tradition meets the Guadalquivir - bullring district tapas and riverside dining
Updated weekly
About El Arenal
El Arenal was once Seville's port district - the sandy riverbank where ships loaded with gold from the Americas would dock. The Torre del Oro (Tower of Gold) was the last stop before riches entered the city. This wealth made Seville the richest city in Europe during the 16th century.
The Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza, built in 1761, is one of Spain's most beautiful bullrings and the spiritual home of Sevillano bullfighting. Even if you don't watch a corrida, the building and its museum are worth visiting.
Today, El Arenal bridges the gap between Seville's monumental centre and the river. The tapas bars here are traditional and reliable - this is where Sevillanos bring visitors to show them what the city does best.
Monument District
El Arenal has always been defined by its landmarks. The dining scene caters to a mix of locals, visitors, and theatre-goers from the nearby Teatro de la Maestranza. Expect slightly higher prices than Macarena but lower than Santa Cruz.
Opera & Bullfighting
Carmen, Bizet's famous opera, is set in the Arenal's old tobacco factory (now the university). The bullring has hosted Spain's most legendary matadors. This dramatic heritage infuses the neighbourhood with theatricality.
How to Get There
From Seville city centre:
- Walking:5 mins west from the Cathedral towards the river
- Tram:T1 to Archivo de Indias (eastern edge)
- From Triana:Walk across Puente de Isabel II
TUSSAM Ticket Info
Everything in El Arenal is walkable from the Cathedral and Triana.
Local tip: The riverside Paseo de Colon is beautiful for a sunset walk. For tapas, head one block inland to the streets behind the bullring - better value and more authentic.
El Arenal Venue Map
The El Arenal Hot List
Week of 22 February 2026
This Week
Hola Seville, you beautiful people! It's your boy back again with this week's Arenal Hot List, brought to you by donde-onde-where.com! And at Numero Uno, holding firm at the top for the 4th week running, it's Islamorada Tapas Restaurant Sevilla! The gastropub is proving irresistible, with their innovative tapas clearly hitting the spot. Can anyone dethrone them?
But the competition is fierce! Ricca Pizzería is smokin' hot, rocketing up to number two, a brand new peak position for their authentic Italian slices! And Vuela Tapas & Cocktail is soaring into the top three, up a massive five places! Their creative cocktails and modern tapas are clearly a winning combination.
But the movers don't stop there! Bodega Díaz-Salazar is this week's highest climber, up a mighty six places to number four! Locals and tourists alike are clearly loving their traditional tapas and bustling atmosphere. And La Isla Restaurante also climbs to a new peak position, landing at number seven. Looks like classic Spanish cuisine is making a comeback!
What will next week bring? Will Islamorada continue its reign, or will one of these climbers snatch the crown? Tune in next week to find out! Adios!
Rankings updated weekly based on composite scoring methodology · Only positive movements shown — every venue here is winning
Explore More in Seville
El Arenal FAQs
El Arenal is Seville's riverside district between the Cathedral and the Guadalquivir. Named after the sandy riverbank (arena means sand), it's home to the Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza (bullring), the Torre del Oro, and some of Seville's most traditional tapas bars.
El Arenal is ideal for first-time visitors. It sits between the Cathedral and the river, making it easy to navigate. The tapas bars are traditional and welcoming, the flamenco shows at the tablaos are excellent, and the riverside walk is beautiful at sunset.
The streets behind the bullring - Calle Adriano, Calle Arfe, and Calle Garcia de Vinuesa - have the best concentration of traditional tapas bars. Avoid the touristy spots directly on the river and head one street back for better value and authenticity.
El Arenal has several excellent flamenco tablaos (performance venues). The atmosphere of watching flamenco in a traditional Sevillano setting is unforgettable. Book ahead, arrive early for the best seats, and combine with dinner at a nearby tapas bar.
El Arenal is central - walk 5 minutes west from the Cathedral towards the river. The T1 tram stops at Archivo de Indias on the eastern edge. From Triana, walk across the Puente de Isabel II and you're in El Arenal.
Still have questions? The best answers come from locals at the venue.
Rankings recalculated weekly from live Google review data. Our Hot Score weighs review velocity, recency, rating trend, and baseline rating — no editorial picks, no paid placements. We filter out tourist traps near the monuments and prioritise the traditional bars that locals trust.