Las Tapas is a more mature version of the beloved Tapas Bar on Maoming Lu, located on the likewise more sophisticated Hongmei Lu. It has a little more sass, higher ceilings and a more developed menu, but all the familiar touches that we love in the original: warm red walls, tall bar tables with slender, leggy chairs, large windows, groovy Latin beats, and a palatable (in price and taste) wine list.

Perusing the thick menu, our eyes devoured the tempting names of over 50 types of tapas before settling on plates of creamy chicken croquettes, velvety artichoke hearts saut¨¨ed with garlic and jamon (?38) and crispy pan-fried breaded shrimps served with a tangy chili sauce (RMB39). Our personal favorite was the grilled tenderloin skewers soaked in red wine (RMB39 for two). Not that we needed more, but we finished off with an indulgent bowl of Pasta con Rabo de Toro (linguini with ox-tail, RMB68), which came highly recommended. We washed down its rich tomato sauce and tender slices of meat with an affordable bottle of Argentine Malbec (RMB160).

Though downtowners might find the Maoming original to be a more accessible option, we were happy to see Las Tapas bustling with Gubei dwellers on a Tuesday night. Perfect for sangria-fueled after-work chats.

Las Tapas
Add: House 33, Lane 3338 Hongmei Lu Entertainment Street
Tel: 021-64658345