XUNTOS

L.A.’s Spanish dining scene is fairly lackluster, but this Santa Monica tapas bar serves a decent enough selection of traditional bar bites from Asturias, Catalonia, the Basque region and Galicia, where chef-owner Sandra Cordero spent her childhood summers. Pronounced “chuntos” (which means “together” in the Galician dialect), the restaurant offers hallmarks like patatas bravas and croquetas de jamon alongside harder-to-find items like bikinis (tiny grilled cheese sandwiches), tuna empanadas (served in slices, unlike the ones in Latin America) and whole fried anchovies. Not every dish will impress Spanish food snobs, but Westsiders are already flocking to the lofted dining room for calimocho (red wine and Coca-Cola) and a well-appointed list of Spanish cocktails, sherries, wines and vermouths.

Xuntos is home to the best tapas experience in LA and is one of the places we’d insist on for a fun, off-the-cuff dinner in downtown Santa Monica. Most shareable dishes cost between $15 and $20, so groups can explore the region-spanning menu without breaking the bank. It’s also a sneakily easy place to linger, so order a bottle of chilled albariño for the table and make the rounds on dishes like crumbly Galician tuna empanadas, Cantabrian anchovy toasts, and grilled Basque squid stuffed with shallots and minced scallops.

Owned by chef Sandra Cordero of Gasolina Café in Woodland Hills, Xuntos is u003ca href=u0022https://observer.com/list/los-angeles-best-spanish-restaurants/u0022u003ea modern Spanish restaurantu003c/au003e in downtown Santa Monica specializing in all things tapas. The pink interior is fitted with elegant light fixtures, leather booths and a scallop shell wall. Whether you snag a spot at the bar or sit on the second-level terrace, the romantic atmosphere pairs perfectly with a glass of Spanish rosé and shareable seafood.

Spanning two storefronts of a precious 1926 building on Santa Monica Boulevard, XUNTOS beckons with its unassuming charm. Chef Sandra Cordero, the mastermind behind this culinary haven, envisioned a warm and inviting space that would play host to the flavors of Northern Spain. The Galician term "xuntos," meaning "together," perfectly encapsulates what this cute restaurant is about.

Opened in July in a 1926 building, Xuntos, a laid-back Spanish tapas bar and restaurant, is open for dinner, with Northern Spanish bites that include anchovy on buttered bread, scallops in the shell (pictured above, center) and squid ink pasta. The wine list focuses on natural bottlings from Spain and California. 561 Santa Monica Blvd., barxuntos.com

XUNTOS is a Tapas Bar from Chef/Owner Sandra Cordero in the heart of Downtown Santa Monica. Cordero designed XUNTOS, “together” in Gallego, to be warm, fun, not too serious, with plenty to eat. Occupying two storefronts of a 1926 building at 516 Santa Monica Boulevard, the space includes two kitchens, two mezzanines, a dining room & a bar room.

In 2015, Sandra Cordero opened Gasolina Cafe, which became a community hub renowned for its paellas. After a 10-year run, Gasolina closed in January 2025. Meaning "together" in Gallego, Xuntos (516 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica 90401) was opened by Cordero in July 2023, showcasing pintxos (small bites) and tapas from her native Spain.

Looking to celebrate your 40th birthday dinner in Los Angeles at an upscale tapas bar?. Check out Xuntos and experience top-notch Spanish food and historic Californian architecture. Enjoy a large cocktail and wine selection and indulge in posh Spanish tapas such as tortilla española and mousse de chocolate.

Look no further than Xuntos, a charming tapas bar and Spanish restaurant tucked away in Santa Monica’s vibrant downtown area. Here, in a two-tier space graced with intriguing aesthetics and comfortable seating spread across four rooms, Chef Sandra Cordero cooks up her magic. Cordero’s philosophy is simple.