Bodega is a Spanish tapas bar on Southbourne Grove and the sister venue of the original Bodega over in Christchurch. The formula is the same on Southbourne's high street: small plates meant for sharing, a proper list of wines and sherries, and cooking informed by genuine time spent in Spanish kitchens.
On the menu
Head chef Quentin Royles spent time in Cádiz and Jerez, and the Andalusian influence shows. Traditional and modern tapas and pintxos fill the menu, patatas bravas, pimientos de Padrón, jamón Serrano and gambas al pil pil among them, all intended to be ordered a few at a time and passed around the table. Two to three dishes each is the kitchen's suggestion. The menu marks vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free dishes, and the staff want to hear about any allergies.
Drinks and the evening crowd
The drinks list pairs Spanish wines and sherries with craft cocktails and sangria. The mood changes with the calendar: calm early in the week, fuller and noisier as the weekend arrives. Resident DJs and live music take over on Friday and Saturday nights, which makes it a favourite for dates and group nights out, and bottomless brunch runs on selected weekend dates too.
Practical details
Mondays are closed, hours are shorter in the middle of the week, and the venue stays open later at the weekend. Book ahead for the busy Friday and Saturday sittings, and if you're a party of eight or more, ring the restaurant directly. Bodega has no car park of its own, though free on-street parking is available on and around Southbourne Grove.
Bodega fits neatly into the wider Southbourne eating and drinking scene. Find neighbouring options in our food & drink guide, or use our things to do guide to combine dinner here with a walk on Southbourne's beach and clifftop.