Five Food and Drink Picks Outside of the Bull Ring
Cos sometimes you need to leave the security of the centre...
Feature
Itchy ventured out of the Bull Ring (but not tooooo far) to find some
alternative venues to catch a bite to eat and sip on something
alcoholic.
Bodega
Just across from the Bullring, this South American restaurant provides an excellent range of nachos, patatas fritas, burritos and other exotic delicacies… not to mention their extensive cocktail menu. Itchy feels they deserve a pat on the back for offering not only a large selection of tequila-based cocktails, as most Mexican places do, but also a list of concoctions featuring the underrated and oft-neglected spirits: Brazillian cachaça and Peruvian pisco. Yum.
Sobar
If you like a good deal, head down to Sobar, in the Arcadian Centre. They run a deal on selected burgers, pizza or salad along with a drink for £5 (or £6 at the weekend), as well as a selection of premium classic cocktails for £4 from Sunday to Friday. We sat in the sun, on the luscious fake grass, feeling a bit smug. Itchy is also enamoured with the vending machine in the ladies, selling lipgloss, dry shampoo and hair clips, also at damn good prices… Bargain hunters, get down to Sobar.
Taj Mahal
One for those who get hungry after a couple of drinks, this Indian restaurant is open till the early hours (later than the website suggests, we found). With dishes priced at around £5 each, it won’t be a nasty surprise when you find the receipt in the morning, either. The food is pretty tasty too - we’d even consider coming here sober of an evening - but falling out of The Victoria opposite (they do excellent cocktails and have squishy sofas) and into this curry-scented paradise is definitely the way forward. They even put your napkin on your lap for you. Posh.
Cafe Ikon
Offering a range of hot and cold “small plates” alongside “large plates” such as tagine, this little gem of a restaurant provides a Spanish infused menu that’s worth the short walk from the centre of town. Itchy was a little overwhelmed by the plethora of options, but enjoyed a real mix of flavour and textures from the small plates... not to mention the very drinkable house white. They also serve traditional paella for a minimum of two people, which takes 45 minutes to prepare as it is cooked to order – take along a patient paella-lover and you’re in for a good evening!
The Coffee Room
The perfect place to pop for a pre-show meal if you’re going to the Hippodrome or Electric Cinema, this restaurant/cafe provides pretty much whatever you fancy... salads, burgers, vegetarian options, it’s all there. One word of advice: try the chips. Delish. Itchy was particularly bowled over by the Hot Chocolate menu (We'll definitely be recreating the Mont Blanc at home - Cadbury’s Drinking Chocolate, steamed milk, vanilla ice cream, marshmallows, cream and a 99 flake. Yes, please.)
So, now you've got no excuse - step away from the Bull Ring and discover some culinary delights in your city... Itchy dares you.
Bodega
Just across from the Bullring, this South American restaurant provides an excellent range of nachos, patatas fritas, burritos and other exotic delicacies… not to mention their extensive cocktail menu. Itchy feels they deserve a pat on the back for offering not only a large selection of tequila-based cocktails, as most Mexican places do, but also a list of concoctions featuring the underrated and oft-neglected spirits: Brazillian cachaça and Peruvian pisco. Yum.
Sobar
If you like a good deal, head down to Sobar, in the Arcadian Centre. They run a deal on selected burgers, pizza or salad along with a drink for £5 (or £6 at the weekend), as well as a selection of premium classic cocktails for £4 from Sunday to Friday. We sat in the sun, on the luscious fake grass, feeling a bit smug. Itchy is also enamoured with the vending machine in the ladies, selling lipgloss, dry shampoo and hair clips, also at damn good prices… Bargain hunters, get down to Sobar.
Taj Mahal
One for those who get hungry after a couple of drinks, this Indian restaurant is open till the early hours (later than the website suggests, we found). With dishes priced at around £5 each, it won’t be a nasty surprise when you find the receipt in the morning, either. The food is pretty tasty too - we’d even consider coming here sober of an evening - but falling out of The Victoria opposite (they do excellent cocktails and have squishy sofas) and into this curry-scented paradise is definitely the way forward. They even put your napkin on your lap for you. Posh.
Cafe Ikon
Offering a range of hot and cold “small plates” alongside “large plates” such as tagine, this little gem of a restaurant provides a Spanish infused menu that’s worth the short walk from the centre of town. Itchy was a little overwhelmed by the plethora of options, but enjoyed a real mix of flavour and textures from the small plates... not to mention the very drinkable house white. They also serve traditional paella for a minimum of two people, which takes 45 minutes to prepare as it is cooked to order – take along a patient paella-lover and you’re in for a good evening!
The Coffee Room
The perfect place to pop for a pre-show meal if you’re going to the Hippodrome or Electric Cinema, this restaurant/cafe provides pretty much whatever you fancy... salads, burgers, vegetarian options, it’s all there. One word of advice: try the chips. Delish. Itchy was particularly bowled over by the Hot Chocolate menu (We'll definitely be recreating the Mont Blanc at home - Cadbury’s Drinking Chocolate, steamed milk, vanilla ice cream, marshmallows, cream and a 99 flake. Yes, please.)
So, now you've got no excuse - step away from the Bull Ring and discover some culinary delights in your city... Itchy dares you.
