Bite-sized bliss
Perched on the seventh level of Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, cheerfully decorated with vintage porcelain and Andalusian motifs, is a corner of Spain – one that serves some of the most authentic tapas in the city. Having opened in mid-2018, Tapas Club boasts an enticing (and unapologetically porcine) menu created by acclaimed Spanish chefs Jose Angel Alonso and Manuel Berganza. (Tapas Club’s degustation menus range from six to 10 courses, with a price range of RM168 to RM399 per set.)
It’s worth noting that Berganza was the first Spanish chef to receive a Michelin star rating in the United States, which he earned at the helm of Andananda in New York – and clearly, he’s not lost his culinary fire. Patatas bravas – the simplest and yet the most difficult tapas dish to make – is cooked properly with smoked paprika, while more unusual fare like deep fried baby squid with fava beans and Butifarra sausage deserves just as much attention.
Sure-fire favourites include the unctuous squid ink paella, grilled Iberico pork, and crisp, golden churros that – again – lay claim to being the best in town, especially when dipped in hot chocolate. Tapas Club’s beer and wine selection is a draw in itself, given that everything from a 2011 Pintia from Tinta de Toro (RM593) to their heady Amber Export beers are sourced directly from Spain. You won’t find them in any other restaurants in Kuala Lumpur – nor such excellent tapas, for that matter.
