Newcastle’s Tastiest Tapas

Newcastle’s newest addition to the Darby Street strip, DiVino is the brainchild of former Newcastle Knight turned Goldbergs owner Luke Davico and current Newcastle Jets captain Michael Bridges. With a tapas menu that uses only the best in locally sourced ingredients and an extensive beer, wine and cocktail menu, DiVino is already proving a winner amongst Novocastrian diners. Popular dishes include soft mushrooms with Sicilian dressing, goat’s cheese and roast pumpkin bruschetta with walnuts and sage and my favourite, the crispy whitebait with garlic aioli. Open Tuesday through Sunday, DiVino doesn’t take bookings so be sure to get in early.

Situated next to the Beauford Hotel on Maitland Road, the tiny Barrio 2304 may very well serve Newcastle’s best tapas. Open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, the cafe-restaurant combines a warm and relaxed interior with deliciously fantastic food at reasonable prices. Options include tuna sashimi, beef carpaccio with olive tapenade and tomato and my dining companions favourite, the goat’s cheese and fig bruschetta. Be sure to make a booking as Barrio 2304 is quickly becoming a must visit on any tapas tour of Newcastle.

A bit of a hidden gem in the east end of Newcastle, Longworth House serves delectable offerings in a simply elegant setting. Sit back in the comfy lounge chairs and enjoy the crispy polenta bites, the chorizo plate and the pan roasted olives, all whilst washing them down with a glass of fine wine from their extensive list. So go on, dress yourself up for the night and make the trip to the top end of town as Longworth House is a sure-fire winner.

With an ever changing menu and a warm and cosy atmosphere, Bocados proves that the Spanish really are the kings of tapas. Offering delights such as chilli and garlic prawns, marinated white anchovies and BBQ chorizo with capsicum and almond sauce, it’s no wonder diners can be seen spilling out of the King Street eatery on any given night of the week. For those with a sweet tooth, finish off the night with the house-made chocolate mousse made up of belcolade chocolate with pedro ximenez sherry. Bookings are essential and for groups of six people or more, try the banquet option for $38 per head.

A well established favourite destination for top quality tapas, The Depot on Darby is the perfect spot to kick back with friends over a few drinks and good food. With a huge menu to select from, popular dishes include the house-made flatbreads with dipping sauces, Goat’s cheese dumplings with red pepper and basil and crumbed meatballs with a gooey cheese centre and tomato paprika sauce. With excellent service, a modern interior and great food, The Depot on Darby is another must visit whilst trawling for the perfect tapas. If you find yourself on Beaumont St in Hamilton, check out their sister restaurant there too!