Spanish tapas may suggest a familiar course for a night out, but Toro didn’t become a Boston icon by sticking to the script. Chef-owner Ken Oringer (and his former partner Jamie Bissonnette, who left the restaurant group in 2023) made the likes of street corn-inspired Maíz Asado and a handheld Uni Bocadillo with miso butter staples as much as jamón Iberico and Paella Valenciana. Meanwhile, the bar program—which introduced Boston to the porrón (a traditional Catalan drinking vessel that’s like a cross between a wine carafe and a watering can) and cocktails like the frosty Frezcal—is just one of the reasons Toro is among our favorite party places. More than a decade in, this popular South End spot still commands crowds night after night in the convivial dining room and on its hidden-gem patio. 

Pagu is part-Spanish tapas joint, part-Japanese izakaya, part French bakery, and all Cambridge. The Central Square restaurant is the unique realization of chef-owner Tracy Chang’s influences and experiences, which include time spent working with chef Martín Berasategui at his Michelin three-star restaurant in San Sebastian. You’ll taste that background by way of acorn-fed Aljomar jamón ibérico and Pan con Tamate—as well as the worldly local’s own spin on Spanish flavors, such as Black Cod Croquetas with Thai chili alioli, an extra-garlicky version of the traditional condiment; and Basque Burnt Cheesecake with Maine blueberry sauce. Spanish flavors abound on the bar, where there are numerous Iberian wines as well as cocktails like Kyoto Temple, made with Japanese tea, whiskey, and fino sherry.

The small plates at Tres Gatos are certainly inspired by Barcelona, but these seasonally changing Spanish tapas sport flavors from around the world—and ingredients from the backyard. (Seriously, at the right time of year, the mint that crowns your cocktail or the oregano in the chimichurri was plucked straight from the raised-bed garden.) Take one of our faves, the Gambas al Ajillo: these large, head-on shrimp come off the plancha and into a dish of a vibrant, addictively delicious zhoug, a Yemeni cilantro sauce. The summer menu often includes ceviche, which features flavor combinations like halibut with shoyu, mint, husk cherries, and peanut salsa macha. We could go on, but you should just taste for yourself. Once somebody’s house and currently also a bookstore and record shop, this Jamaica Plain restaurant is cozy for date-night and totally unique.