Sherry Wine News

Taverns with a Sherry soul: tabancos of Jerez!

Like any other city in Andalusia, the Sherry capital is populated with countless bars... "Café bar", "bar restaurante", "bar de tapas", "bar cervecería" or simply "bar" are amongst the most common signs that one can find while strolling around Jerez. However, probably the most charming local bars of Jerez are hiding behind a rather uncommon sign saying "tabanco".

Tabanco is not a common word in Spanish. It is not widely used in Andalucía either. Not even the sherry towns of El Puerto de Santa María and Sanlúcar de Barrameda are too familiar with it... but if you are in Jerez, everybody will be able to give you directions to the nearest tabanco.

The word seems to have originated sometime in the 17th century from the fusion of the terms "tabaco" (tobacco in Spanish) and "estanco" (shops where goods regulated by the Crown were sold, such as tobacco and wine amongst others). If you look the word up in a Spanish dictionary today, the definition describes a stall.

As it normally happens in local shops in Andalucía, people would meet neighbours, friends and relatives in the primitive tabancos, and if we add sherry served by the glass to this scenario, we will understand how tabancos slowly became what they are today: quirky old taverns where jerezanos go to buy the Sherry they use at home and to have a drink with friends and family.

Many tabancos have also enabled a space to prepare food so now you can pair your sherries with selected local dishes. Furthermore, some tabancos schedule small flamenco performances apart from the ones that may happen there spontaneously!

Some of the most iconic tabancos of Jerez belong to the so-called "route of the tabancos": a recommended itinerary that offers visitors a unique opportunity to immerse themselves into the food and wine scene of Jerez, through a comprehensive selection of sherries from different bodegas and a vast offer of local specialties.

Tabanco Plateros 1 of 6

Tabanco El Guitarrón de San Pedro 2 of 6

Tabanco La Pandilla 3 of 6

Tabanco San Pablo 4 of 6

Tabanco Las Banderillas 5 of 6

Tabanco El Pasaje 6 of 6

These are the tabancos of the route. Enjoy your journey through them!

Tabanco el Pasaje (C/ Santa María 8): a place filled with soul and with fabulous sherries from Bodegas el Maestra Sierra. It opened in 1925 and it hosts flamenco performances regularly. Don't miss their smoked fish tapas!

Tabanco San Pablo (C/ San Pablo 12): another classic in the tabanco scene of Jerez. It opened in 1934 and its famous for its "ajo caliente", a typical country recipe from Jerez based on tomatoes, garlic and bread. It is on a pedestrian street and it has tables outside so it is ideal for tapas alfresco!

Tabanco la Bodeguita (C/ Arcos 5): this is a tabanco that keeps the flavour of the really old ones. The atmosphere is more than authentic and their selection of sherries both by the bulk and by the bottle is excellent.

Tabanco Plateros (C/ Algarve 35): it recently changed locations and got a slightly more modern image but its lively local atmosphere remains untouched. Don't miss their chicharrones!

Tabanco el Guitarrón de San Pedro (C/ Bizcocheros 16): a hidden gem in the quarter of San Pedro, hosting fabulous flamenco performances and other culture activities.

Tabanco las Banderillas (C/Caballeros 12): decorated with bullfighting memorabilia and staffed with efficient and fun waiters, it stands out for its fabulous food. It's always busy with locals so go early!

Tabanco la Pandilla (C/Valientes 14): a quirky, bohemian and charming tabanco located in an old bodega, with a cute little backyard. Fabulous sherries from bodegas Sánchez Romate, delicious montaditos and great music!

If you wanted a local host to take you on a food and sherry adventure around Jerez and its tabancos, don't hesitate to contact Genuine Andalusia. They will turn you into a sherry convert and a lover of Jerez!

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The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of El Consejo Regulador.

Iván Ricoy

@GenuinAndalucia

Iván is a Certified Sherry Educator and the founder of Genuine Andalusia: a specialized tour company based in Jerez, committed to connecting travelers with the local essence of South West Andalusia, through authentic local experiences. The three main pillars of his tours are food and wine, culture and heritage and outdoors and nature and the three concepts describing his services best are comfort, beauty and authenticity. He has been in love with the Sherry Triangle since he moved there from Madrid when he was 7 years old.

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Iván Ricoy @GenuinAndalucia
21 January 2020

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