Cafe Andaluz

You'll walk into Cafe Andaluz and immediately get that warm Spanish bar feeling: dark wood, the hum of conversation, and the smell of something sizzling in the kitchen. It's the sort of place where you sit elbow-to-elbow with strangers and somehow that's exactly the point. Order a spread of plates—the croquetas are genuinely excellent, the jamón is sliced properly thin, and their patatas bravas have actual character. The drinks list takes itself seriously too, with sherries that'll make you rethink what you thought sherry was. Mid-range prices mean you can actually afford to try things without guilt.