A grocery that became a tavern
Taberna La Sorpresa sits on Calle Arbolí, very close to Plaza de las Flores, in the old town near El Pópulo. The business dates to 1956, when it opened as an ultramarinos, the half-grocery, half-bar format that has almost vanished from Cádiz. Juan Carlos Borrell has run it since 2014, and it still reads as a shop that learned to pour wine: tinned and salted fish and its own barrel wines rather than a designed dining room.
What to order
The house speciality is wild almadraba red tuna. The usual order is the tartare or the sashimi, and a 2026 city guide also points to the artisan vermouth. If you want to know why that tuna matters in Cádiz before you pay for it, start with atún de almadraba.
- Tuna: tartare or sashimi of wild almadraba red tuna
- Salazones: salted fish
- Conservas: tinned seafood to share
- To drink: the house barrel wines, generous (sherry-style) wines, or the house vermouth
Expect picoteo, small plates for grazing, not a sit-down main course. One guide calls it more gastronomic and more expensive than a standard tavern, but still highly recommended.
Booking and timing
Seating arrangements are not documented consistently, so ring or ask ahead if you need a table for a group. Opening hours and prices vary between listings, so check the bar's own channels on the day.