El Marqués is a small Spanish tapas bar and restaurant at No. 259 Yanji Street, in Taipei's Da'an District. It was opened in May 2017 by chef Jorge Nebot and his Taiwanese wife, Vanesa Tsai, and it takes its name from the chef's grandfather.
There is not a lot of room. The restaurant seats 26 at tables and another 6 at the bar, and it describes itself as cozy, friendly and casual. That size shapes most of what follows about visiting.
What is on the menu
The menu runs to around 60 dishes: tapas and larger plates, with Spanish wines and gin tonics to drink. It changes quite regularly, so we are not going to list dishes here that may not be on when you visit. Tapas are meant to be ordered several at a time and shared, so a long list in a small room works in your favour.
The gin tonic on the drinks list is worth a word. In Spain the gin tonic (usually written as one word, gintonic) became a bar staple in its own right, typically served in a large balloon glass with plenty of ice and a garnish.
Booking and private events
El Marqués has a loyal clientele, and the restaurant says advance reservations are required, especially for dinner on Fridays and Saturdays. With 32 seats in total, walking in on a weekend evening is a gamble. Our directory also flags it as open late.
The restaurant can also be rented for private dinners and events; ask the restaurant directly about numbers.
The website listed for El Marqués in our directory is its Facebook page. Since the menu changes, check there before you go.
Other Spanish restaurants in Taipei
Our directory lists two more Spanish restaurants in Taipei:
- Molino de Urdániz, No. 61, Sec. 1, Jianguo N. Road, Zhongshan District. Its listing describes it as known for its Michelin stars.
- Jarana, in an alley off Sec. 4, Zhongxiao E. Road, Xinyi District, a modern Spanish restaurant.
Of the three, El Marqués is the small, casual tapas bar, founded in 2017 by chef Jorge Nebot and Vanesa Tsai. If that is what you are after in Taipei, book ahead.
