Pulpo Negro

Owned by chef Andres Alemany and his wife Marie-Lou for more than a decade, Pulpo Negro is a real find. Behind its Georgian frontage, there’s a dark interior of bare floorboards, exposed brickwork and menus on blackboards, while a pulsating soundtrack keeps things buzzing and casual – although the eye-catching action happens in the open kitchen, where a young team produces dishes that deftly balance flavours, textures and colours. A couple of snacks followed by five or six tapas is the recommended quantity for two. To start, the ‘pregnant bread’ is a must (five exquisitely light little empanadas topped with grated cheese and blossom honey) but the choice ranges from BBQ Jersey royals with mojo verde and anchovy butter to crispy aubergine with whipped goat’s cheese and Canarian palm syrup – not forgetting an impressive array of BBQ meats and seafood cooked over fire. To finish, sherry-glazed pineapple, chocolate churros or Spanish artisan cheeses might tempt. Pithily annotated Spanish wines and sherries, plus Hampshire cider and ‘fabulous’ cocktails make Pulpo Negro ‘a super-fun place to be’.