Alianza Bar & Cafetería

Description:

• Follow narrow alleyways to reach this restaurant, the centerpiece of a hidden square in the Barrio de Santa Cruz. Cool tiles, marble surfaces, and air-conditioning are the perfect antidote to the heat of a sultry Sevillana afternoon. The romantic-revival interior, festooned with photos of famous bullfighters and literati, is like something from a stage set for pre-Franco Spain. And as the evening approaches, the tables on the square, close to a splashing fountain, evoke the scents and sounds of a Spanish garden. Come here for drinks, salads, platters, and insight into the Spain of another era. Salads cost 7€ to 8€ ($11-$13), sandwiches 5€ to 9€ ($8-$14), and platters 8€ to 21€ ($13-$34). It's open daily May to October noon to midnight; November to April daily noon to 8pm.

• © Frommer's 2012