The name Cantina is translated as ‘bar’ or ‘tavern’ in Spanish. Usually at most Spanish cantinas there is a simple tapas provided by the bar for the patrons. We have developed both the beverage concept and broadened the food philosophy to provide a dining and drinking experience which will offer something for everyone.

We are located right in the heart of the Darlinghurst/ Oxford Street food precinct at 245 Oxford Street on the corner of Sturt Street, one block from Taylor Square towards Paddington.

What is tapas ?

Popular throughout Spain in bars and restaurants, tapas are appetizers that usually accompany sherry or other aperitifs, wine and cocktails. They can also form a perfect meal and range from simple items such as olives or slices of cheese to more elaborate preparations like paella, chorizo, garlic prawns, and dip plates. Just gather a group of family or friends, order a carafe of sangria and enjoy the variety of the Mediterranean’s tastiest treats.

Do you serve Spanish tapas ?

At Cantina we have a number of traditional Spanish tapas dishes on the menu, but we offer a whole lot more. Our chef has designed a menu which allows the customer a walk through the streets of the Mediterranean. Our range of tapas takes influences from Spain, Morocco, Greece and Portugal. Our truly international bar encourages our diners to experience Mexico by trying our extensive range of tequila and aperitifs. Drink your way around the vineyards of Chile, Spain and Argentina when sampling our extensive range of hand selected international wines which perfectly compliment the dishes on our exciting menu.

This all depends on how hungry you are. Most of our diners order up to three dishes per person and in a shared eating environment this gives them a whole range of succulent flavours to experience. However it is always a good idea to leave room for dessert and sherry as this is one of the most memorable parts of the evening when dining with us.

What is sangria and what is in it ?

The blood-red colour of this beverage inspired its name, which is derived from the Spanish word for "blood." Sangria is made with red wine, fruit juices, soda water, fruit and sometimes liqueurs and brandy or cognac. Both are served cold over ice and make a refreshing accompaniment for tasty tapas dishes. At Cantina we have perfected our sangria recipe with a combination of white rum, triple sec, brandy and red wine. Our carafes which come in half and full litre sizes are packed with freshly cut apples and oranges and slightly tweaked with a topper of lemonade.

What is in your margaritas ?

The margarita or "marguerita" is the most common of tequila-based cocktails. It is reportedly named after Hollywood screen siren Rita Hayworth, whose real name was Margarita Carmen Cansino. While they are more commonly served "on the rocks," margaritas are often served as a frozen or blended drink. Most margaritas are lime flavoured. At Cantina we offer three different types of magaritas which all have their separate charms. Our Cantina Margarita contains tequila, triple sec, lemon juice and lime and comes served in a salt rimmed cocktail glass. Our Espana Margarita caters for those who enjoy their cocktails on the sweet side. Its defining ingredient is Licor 43 a Spanish liquor which offers a sweet hazelnut taste.
And finally our newest addition to the Magarita family is the Absinth Magarita. For those who enjoy the mystic of a drink which promises to excite your tastebuds we recommend you try this special concoction which reinvents the ‘infamous’ European mixer into a whole new drink.

What is the best wine to drink with tapas ?

There is no definitive answer to this question. All of the wines on our list have been especially chosen to compliment the tapas we serve. Each dish comes with a recommended wine pairing and we encourage you to try a number of different wines which we have by the glass to accompany your food. Ask our wait staff about our most popular wines once you have ordered your tapas and we’ll make sure you will be pleasantly surprised at the choice of flavours with which this truly international list will tempt you.

What are your most popular dishes?
We have refined our menu so that all of the dishes are popular with our customers. However since opening we have developed a Cantina "top 10" in no particular order these are the most popular with our regular customers and from the feedback we get from both local and international guests.
dip plate
w/ white bean, chickpea, beetroot, eggplant & grilled sourdough
patatas bravas
potato cubes w/ onion, chilli & tomato sauce
pan-fried haloumi
w/ char grilled marinated red peppers
grilled spanish chorizo
w/ romesco sauce
dusted calamari
w/ chilli & lime mayo
lamb & pork meatballs baked
w/ garlic & tomato
char grilled chicken skewers
w/ paprika & chimichurri sauce
garlic prawns
cooked in hot garlic oil & spring onions
roast beetroot salad
w/ goats cheese dressing & toasted walnuts
braised button mushrooms
w/ onion, tomato & paprika

Do you cater for vegetarians ?

Yes, in fact tapas cuisine, more than most, offers vegetarian diners the opportunity to enjoy a wide variety of dishes on the menu. Nine out of the thirteen cold dishes are vegetarian and with a further three hot dishes, the feedback from our vegetarian customers has been overwhelmingly positive.

Do you serve dessert ?

Our desserts are considered our surprise element of the meal. Most people do not associate this type of cuisine with dessert, but our chef has carefully pieced together a strong list of wonderful flavours which offer the perfect ending to our dining experience. Our traditional churros and special cheese plate with silky premium Spanish PX sherry offer a taste explosion of James Bond proportions.

What are your hours of business ?

We are open daily from 6pm- late (licensed to 2am). This gives our patrons the advantage of heading upstairs for an extra drink or two after enjoying their meal.

Are you opening for lunch soon ?

Due to popular demand we plan on launching special lunch hours in the summer of 2006/07. Watch this space….

Where do I park ?

There are a number of parking options when coming to dine with us. On Darlinghurst Road and Victoria Street there is ample parking with some metered parking reverting to free parking after 6pm. There is also a 24 hour parking station at St Vincent’s public hospital for those who prefer parking off street.

Our Chef has travelled extensively through the Mediterranean regions from where these dishes originate. He tried, tested and experimented with many different flavours to finally come up with some of the most loved food from these regions. He has combined traditional flavours with modern techniques and the freshest produce available to present dishes which have an authenticity which surprises even the most well travelled diner.

Do you have a function room ?

Yes, functions are an important part of our business and we provide a memorable evening for all of our customers who choose our restaurant as their function venue. We have a separate upstairs bar/ venue for functions with over 40 -50 persons exclusively seated or 40-60 canapé style. We also provide cakes for special occasions. Just enquire when making booking. To enquire about reservations or functions at
Cantina – phone 9357.3033 or Function Enquiry

Do you take group bookings ?

Yes we are able to take group bookings and encourage these due to the nature of the cuisine. We can offer a single group table of up to 25 and (similar to functions) with groups of 40 or over we can provide a private section of the restaurant upstairs. All group bookings are required to order from one of our three set menus to assist in providing our diners with the best possible experience. We also provide cakes for special occasions just enquire when making booking. To enquire about reservations or functions at Cantina – phone 9357.3033 or Group Booking Enquiry

Does Cantina have set menus ?

We have a selection of three mouth watering set menus which our chef has personally designed to best experience our food. The set menus are designed for 8 or more diners in mind. They all differ slightly in the dishes they serve and cater for different budgets. For all function or large group bookings these menus are required to allow us to cater for your evening as smoothly as possible.