Restaurant Guide

MoVida: Restaurant review

Can anything be less Spanish than 6pm dinner? The popularity of this tapas bar means that may be the only sitting you get unless you're a forward-planning booker.

Address

1 Hosier La
Melbourne, VIC

Hours

Sat-Sun noon-10pm;
Lunch: Mon-Fri noon-3pm;
Dinner: Mon-Tue 5pm-10pm, Wed-Fri 5pm-10.30pm

Prices

Tapas $4-$10
M $15-$39
D $8-$15

REVIEW

There are plenty of MoVidas – Aqui in Melbourne's law district, a café at Sydney Airport and three in graffiti-slathered, tourist-packed Hosier Lane, including the newest offspring, Bar Tini. They all have their charms, but it's the original establishment that's hard to beat. The space is ageing well, all timber and terracotta with a blackboard dessert menu above the kitchen pass. The playlist makes easy listening. And the staff, a humorous troupe of professionals, is efficient even when the room is pumping, which it often is. The crowd is here for the meat-heavy menu, the source of old favourites – the anchovy and tomato sorbet tapa is one for the ages, as is the swimmer crab tortilla – and daily specials, perhaps a powerful combo of calamari, chickpeas, spicy sausage and squid ink or Goolwa pipis tossed with seaweed and fennel. They're here for the wine, too. MoVida's list is, not surprisingly, Spanish- leaning and waves the flag for much of the good, small-producer stuff from that part of the world and includes a short, strong list of sherry. Finish with churros or flan. Perfecto.
Phone:
(03) 9663 3038
Bookings:
Bookings recommended
Features:
  • Licensed
  • Bar
  • Vegetarian-friendly
  • Impressive wine list
Accepted card types:
  • American Express
  • Diners Club
  • Eftpos
  • MasterCard
  • Visa
Chef(s):
Frank Camorra & Ewen Crawford
This review was made independently for the Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide. The guide's reviewers visit unannounced and pay their way.