Santa Marta Bar & Tapas

What is Santa Marta Bar & Tapas? Anchoring Queen Street East in The Beach after relocating from its original Dundas West space, Santa Marta Bar & Tapas delivers unpretentious, Madrid-meets-coastal Spanish hospitality. Founded by Marta Martinez, the relaxed room balances warm lighting and rustic accents with a spirited front bar area and dining room tables meant for lingering over shared bites. It captures the easy cadence of a neighbourhood tapas bar, drawing everyone from post-boardwalk wanderers to football fans catching live matches.

Santa Marta Bar & Tapas Menu & What to Order Kick things off with briny Gilda skewers and garlic-spiked boquerones en vinagre paired with a chilled Spanish vermouth or Estrella on tap. The kitchen turns out dependable classics: crisp ham and prawn croquetas, sizzling gambas al ajillo swimming in chilli oil, and crispy patatas bravas smothered in house alioli. Tables settling in for a full meal should add the comforting huevos rotos with Serrano ham or a shared pan of seafood paella. Save room for their rich classic cheesecake to finish.

Know Before You Go Reservations can be booked via their website and are smart for Friday and Saturday dinners, though the front bar readily welcomes walk-ins for drinks and quick tapas. The kitchen is closed on Mondays, serving dinner from 5:00 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and opening at noon for weekend daytime grazing. Street parking along Queen East fills up quickly on warm weekends, making the 501 Queen streetcar an easy transit alternative.