Cantinera takes the spirit of a traditional Spanish cantina, a local bar, cafe and tavern all rolled into one that usually acts as a meeting place for the neighbourhood to come together, and brings this same idea to Brockley. Opened by chefs Celia D’Ortiz and Jake Barwood, this adorable independent restaurant will have a weekly changing menu that’s simply written on the blackboard, again creating this relaxed, local feel.
Currently, Cantinera is operating on a walk-ins only basis, as the small team gets to grips with what works best for their customers. If you are caught short without a spot, though, don’t worry - the gang will be happy to take your number while you pop for a drink nearby, and give you a call as soon as a seat opens up.
While Celia and Jake know that drinks are a big part of a traditional cantina experience, Cantinera isn’t currently licensed, so instead they encourage their guests to bring their own drinks to enjoy BYOB with a small corkage fee per person.
The opening menu offered an insight into what diners can hope to see from Cantinera with dishes including Andy’s bread with wild garlic butter and radish for the table, followed by a selection of tostadas with fillings across seabass crudo, almond praline and fried leeks, as well as wild garlic pipian, heritage beef tomato and grilled asparagus.
Slightly larger plates have included pork belly skewers with recado mayo and spring onions, as well as cuttlefish and chickpea braise with beef tomato, and panisse, guajillo mayo and kale chacharron. While the interiors haven’t been officially revealed, the site does look pretty cute already, with a pale yellow facade, globe lighting and some high table seating. The vibe is trend-conscious but relaxed; a perfect little spot to have a casual couple of plates and drink after work.