Overview
Sydney may be saturated with restaurants and bars on the tapas bandwagon, but Bondi's recently opened Can Cava Pintxos & Wine is introducing a lesser-known sister snack into our palates: pintxos. The Can Cava team, in straight from Barcelona, opened the bar at the start of 2017 in an effort to bring some more authentic small-plate eating to Sydney.
First, a bit of history on these bar snacks. Pintxos (pronounced pin-chos) are a staple of northern Spain and are traditionally simple, pre-made snacks stacked high on slices of bread and finished off with a stabilising toothpick. In some Spanish cities they come free when you buy a drink. At Can Cava you'll have to pay for them (shame), but, in a contemporary twist, their pintxos are, instead, made-to-order and made with fresh, local produce alongside Spanish herbs and spices. Think goats' cheese croquettes with rosemary salt and honey, zucchini and almond tortillas and tuna tartare tostadas (all $4-8). We're most excited to try the pork belly and chorizo pintxos, which combines two of our favourite meats on one glorious toothpick. As with tapas, pinxtos are made to be eaten in a few small bites instead of shared.
For those who like to nibble as a group, head chef Jon Cowan (ex-The Lodge) brings his local background in share plates into the mix, offering larger cheese and charcuterie boards as well. Giant spiced prawn and squid also make their way onto the menu, as does dessert pintxos.
But Can Cava is foremost a bar, and, staying true to form, the drinks menu is 100 percent Spanish, from the wines and cavas (sparkling wine) to the homemade sangria. The small, cosy interior boasts handmade Spanish tiles and furnishings, while the glass windows open fully, creating a seamless indoor-outdoor space. This adds to the bar's relaxed vibe, which is meant to mimic the atmosphere of pintxos bars in Spain, and also fits right in with its Bondi neighbours.
Can Cava Pintxos & Wine is now open at 101 Hall Street, Bondi Beach. For more info, visit cancava.com.au.