I took a ballroom dancing class in college. The first day, the instructor told us that there were two styles he wouldn’t teach us: the first, tango. Too passionate, he noted, for a class of college kids. We laughed it off. Then he said flamenco. Too passionate, he noted for a second time, but it sounded completely different. No one laughed. Instead, an understanding settled over us like some sort of Spanish pixie dust. Since that class, I’ve attempted to dance the tango, and seen many flamenco performances - once even on my honeymoon in Madrid. More recently, another closer to home at Cafe Sevilla in Costa Mesa.

A must-visit for anyone looking for a taste of Spain, the moment you step inside, you’ll be transported to the streets of Seville with its warm, inviting atmosphere and decor reminiscent of a traditional Spanish tavern. The menu showcases a wide range of authentic cuisine and beverages, including tapas (think grilled octopus, sauteed garlic mushrooms and bacon wrapped dates) and sangria (a customer favorite made with fruit and red wine), using the freshest ingredients and traditional cooking techniques. But the real star of the culinary show here is its signature Paella Valenciana, a seafood extravaganza brimming with mussels, clams, calamari, shrimp, chicken and grilled sausages.

Home to the longest-running flamenco dinner show in Southern California, Cafe Sevilla offers a three-course dinner each Saturday night to complement the thunderous, soulful, sometimes melancholy dance that originated in Andalusia, Southern Spain. Watching these dancers expose their emotion and passion through their strong and precise motions is not only beautiful but extremely moving. Flamenco combines pride, strength, pain, and passion through aggressive but purposeful movements with the dancers’ feet.

Proudly offering the most authentic Spanish ambience in the state - the tapas bar, restaurant, and nightclub has been in operation for over 30 years.

Treat yourself to a hand-crafted cocktail or their signature sangria, small plates and live Latin music in the tapas bar. If your Saturday night is full already, clear the schedule: you won’t regret witnessing the passion of the dance which was recognized as part of the World’s Intangible Cultural Heritage. For its complexity, its poetry. For memory and history. For the taste of Cafe Sevilla.

Cafe Sevilla | 1870 Harbor Blvd.  | Costa Mesa | (in Triangle Square) | (949) 688-1555 | CafeSevilla.com