Bodega is a Spanish tapas bar on Southbourne Grove, the sister venue to the original Bodega in Christchurch. It brings the same idea to Southbourne's high street, small plates built for sharing, a serious wine and sherry list, and a menu shaped by real time spent cooking in Spain.
The food
Head chef Quentin Royles cooks with an Andalusian accent, drawing on time spent in Cádiz and Jerez. The menu runs through traditional and modern tapas and pintxos, think patatas bravas, pimientos de Padrón, jamón Serrano and gambas al pil pil, designed to be ordered a few at a time and shared across the table. The kitchen recommends around two to three dishes per person. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are marked on the menu, and staff ask to be told about any allergies.
Drinks and atmosphere
Spanish wines and sherries sit alongside craft cocktails and sangria, with the room shifting gear as the evening goes on, quieter early in the week, busier and louder at weekends. Friday and Saturday nights bring resident DJs and live music, making it a popular choice for date nights and group get-togethers, with bottomless brunch sessions also running on selected weekend dates.
Good to know
Bodega is closed on Mondays and runs shorter hours midweek before extending into the evening at weekends. Booking is worth doing ahead of busy Friday and Saturday sittings, and groups of eight or more should call the venue directly. There's no dedicated car park, but free street parking can be found nearby on and around Southbourne Grove.
Bodega sits well alongside the rest of Southbourne's food and drink scene, browse more of our food & drink guide for nearby options, or see our things to do guide to pair a meal here with a walk along Southbourne's beach and clifftop.