Espana Restaurant & Tapas — Spanish / Mediterranean, Amelia Island
Espana brings Spanish tapas culture to historic Fernandina Beach — a combination that works because the kitchen takes the format seriously and because the Florida Gulf shrimp translate beautifully to gambas al ajillo.
The paella, made to order in the traditional pans over open fire, uses the local shellfish and the Spanish rice and saffron that the dish requires. The shrimp from Fernandina Harbor appear in a preparation that the Valencia tradition would recognize.
The sangria program is the kitchen's most immediately popular offering — made fresh daily with Spanish wine and seasonal Florida fruit, served in pitchers that facilitate exactly the kind of extended dinner that tapas culture recommends.
The historic district location — 4th Street in Fernandina's remarkably preserved Victorian commercial district — provides an architectural backdrop that makes the Spanish concept feel more at home than it should.
Best Occasion: Great for First Dates
The tapas sharing format, sangria by the pitcher, and the historic Fernandina Beach backdrop create a first date with genuine warmth. The gambas al ajillo with local shrimp is the discovery.
Best Occasion: Perfect for Solo Dining
Bar seating, a selection of tapas, and a glass of Spanish wine in a Victorian-era Florida beach town. Solo dining's most unexpectedly pleasant Amelia Island experience.