While strolling the streets of Seville old town, you will notice that there is no shortage of cute-looking tapas bars and restaurants, full of people sharing small plates of food, a glass of wine and plenty of laughter.
You’re spoiled for choice when it comes to beautiful cosy places to sit down and enjoy a bit of people watching while sharing some staples from the local cuisine.
This spring, on my second long trip to Seville, a new tapas bar made it to the list of favorite places to eat in the city. Admittedly, I was drawn by the atmosphere and vibe of the place, but luckily in this case, the food also lived up to my expectations!
Universal People Bar is located at Calle Blanca de los Rios 1, a short walk away from the Church of El Salvador. During the five days I’ve been in Seville, it’s been super busy every single night and I thought we would never find a table to finally taste some tapas.
The place is surprisingly spacious as they have a small outdoor terrace, lots of space inside and also a hidden terrace in the back. The interior feels very warm and welcoming as wood has been used throughout, and the walls are decorated with vinyl and artsy black and white photos, adding a bit of a Boheme vibe to the place. The service was super friendly, they all spoke really good English, and best of all – the menu had lots of exciting ideas to choose from.
We ended up ordering just a handful of tapas (as we already ate dinner), which were fried sardines, mushroom croquettes and shrimp croquettes. All of these were served with a really nice side salad (not many restaurants make so much effort with garnish), and everything tasted amazing! In fact, I took my mum back to the same place the next night to taste some more.
This place is a bit off from the main tourist bits in Seville, and even though it doesn’t have any amazing views, the atmosphere, food quality and service completely make up for it. If you’re visiting Seville, I highly recommend adding this place to your restaurant list.
Most Popular Experiences in Seville
Here are some highlights you can experience while staying in Seville.
- Seville Cathedral, Royal Alcazar & Giralda Entrance with a Guided Tour – skip the line entrance for both locations, save a lot of time and enjoy an informative guided tour.
- Seville Cathedral and Giralda Tower Skip Line Tickets Only – save a ton of time with these skip-the-line tickets (no tour guide)
- Entry Ticket to Royal Alcazar Only – buy online and skip the line at the gates
- Guadalquivir River City Cruise – enjoy the stunning views and historic bridges on a city cruise.
- Casa de Memoria Flamenco Show – Seville’s most celebrated Flamenco show, in an authentic setting.
Explore More in Seville
Pelayo Bar de Tapas: Bullfighting Bodega in Seville
Casa de Salinas: Seville’s Finest Private Palace Residence
Seville Cathedral Tickets: Top Tips To Save Money & Time
20 Best Day Trips from Seville: Complete Guide by a Local
How to See Seville in One Day: The Perfect Itinerary for All Highlights
Your Detailed Guide to Visiting the Royal Alcazar of Seville
The Foodie’s Guide: Best Restaurants in Seville
Hidden Gem of Seville: Palacio de las Dueñas
The Gem of Andalusian Architecture: Casa de Pilatos, Seville
The Monument of Controversy: Las Setas de Sevilla
Southern Spain Travel Planning Guide
Is it safe to drive in Spain?
YES! The roads in Southern Spain are generally in very good condition, with modern highways connecting the biggest cities. To rent a car, I highly recommend Discover Cars, which will get you the best deals on your car rental for your trip.
WHAT IF I DON’T WANT TO DRIVE?
PUBLIC TRANSPORT — Southern Spain has a well-established and modern network of trains and buses. To get the cheapest bus or train tickets, take a look at Omio to find the timetables and prices.
DAY TRIPS — If you don’t like the hassle of using public transport, local travel companies offer many day trip options from almost all the destinations in Southern Spain. You can check them out here.
WHERE SHOULD I BOOK MY ACCOMMODATION?
BOOKING.COM — I have been using booking.com for all my trips in Spain and abroad, and have never had any negative experiences. Their reviews are very accurate and you get the best deals even on apartments, not just hotels.
ARE THERE LUGGAGE STORE OPTIONS IN THE CITIES?
YES — If you would like to leave your luggage behind to explore the city on your last day, before heading to the airport, you can use Radical Storage service, which lets you book luggage storage options in almost all the destinations in Southern Spain.
DO I NEED TO BUY A LOCAL SIM CARD FOR THIS TRIP?
YES – You can, of course, use your own card if you have roaming data available. If you want to avoid surprising extra charges from your operator, you can use a service like Airalo, where you can buy digital packs for e-sim cards, avoiding the hassle of sourcing local physical sim cards and extra roaming charges anywhere you go.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links – if you decide to book using one of the links, I will earn a small commission that helps me run this site. This is at no extra cost to you.