Ah, Spain. The flamenco. The bulls. The… paella?

When he was travelling as a younger man back in the 50s, John Olsen fell in love with Majorca, and it was here that he began his artistic exploration of food. At The Olsen’s new restaurant Spoonbill you’ll find some of his favourite dishes are re-created using seasonal, local ingredients.

Soft tacos filled with lemongrass and chilli snapper are a definite highlight, but also on the menu you’ll find Otway pork, dry-aged beef from Gippsland, Yarra Valley quail, salt-bush lamb from South Australia and herbs from the hotel’s own garden. But it would be churlish not to indulge in a plate of seafood-sprinkled paella and one of the Dr Olsen cocktails (French champagne with a dash of cognac).

Combine fare with a St Ali coffee, opt for a local brew with tapas at the bar, or pull up a pew outside on the Daly Street terrace.

As they say in Spain: ¡Salud!

Spoonbill
The Olsen, 637–641 Chapel Street, South Yarra
T: (03) 9040 1188