A sit-down table, not a standing bar
El Aljibe is on Calle Plocia, the street that was renovated when the Palacio de Congresos took over the old tobacco factory. Its operator, Grupo Grosso, says it was one of the first restaurants to open there, and the 2026 carta marks the house as founded in 1999. Treat it as a sit-down restaurant that happens to work as a wine-and-tapas stop, not as a late-night bar. The operator describes private rooms and a large terrace, with market cooking at the centre.
What the 2026 carta says
The carta calls the cooking Mediterranean, and rice is the spine of it. The mixed rice with pork sirloin and chicken is the cheapest at €21.50; the carabineros rice is the dearest at €35.00. Starters lean on the coast: the Almadraba tuna ceviche is €26.00, and if tuna is what brought you to Cádiz, read about atún de almadraba before you order.
Sherry goes into the pots rather than only into the glass. There is a pumpkin cream finished with manzanilla, and a seafood sauce made with Harveys Fino. A seasonal tasting menu is €46.00 per person, for a minimum of two.
Booking and timing
A restaurant listing warns that weekend dinners tend to fill up, so book if you want a Friday or Saturday night. One older travel guide advises asking for a tapas menu because visitors are often handed the main one only; the 2026 carta lists starters, rice and a tasting menu, so confirm what is on offer when you sit down. Check the venue's official page for current opening hours before you walk over.