Bar Estilo

You're walking along Wharfside Street in Brindleyplace, past the canal and the usual corporate chains, when you spot Bar Estilo. Inside, it's warm and unpretentious—the kind of place where they understand that tapas isn't about tiny portions that leave you broke and hungry, it's about sharing proper food with people you actually want to spend time with. The small plates rotate seasonally but you'll find yourself ordering the same things every time because they're just done right: croquetas that have a proper ratio of golden exterior to creamy inside, jamón that tastes like something worth the money, and albóndigas that taste vaguely of your childhood even if you've never had a Spanish childhood. The cocktails are solid without being showy, and the staff actually know their stuff without making you feel daft for ordering a beer instead.