Owned by hip Ashevillian chef Katie Button and her Catalan husband Félix, this convivial downtown hangout celebrates the simple charms and sensual flavors of Spanish tapas, while adding an occasional Southern twist. Standout dishes run long and wide: pan con tomate (grilled bread with tomato), lightly fried eggplant drizzled with honey and rosemary, and a knockout squid-ink 'paella' with vermicelli.
It also features a Barcelona-style vermuteria (vermouth bar). Savor the flavors, order another glass of Garnacha and converse with your dinner companions, not your phone. Reservations are a must, especially on weekends, but you can usually snag a bar seat fairly quickly after 9pm.