Frank Camorra’s Movida is the restaurant responsible for igniting Melbourne’s ongoing love for modern Spanish food. What started as a casual tapas bar has, over the years, developed into an in-demand comedor (dining room) with bookings, often weeks in advance, essential. The gap left for a more relaxed tapas bar is filled by sister restaurant Movida Next Door.

Dinner at Movida can quickly turn into a pricey occasion, as it’s hard not to get carried away. The menu of tapas and raciones is designed to be shared – but avoid overdoing it early so you can leave room for dessert. If you’re feeling adventurous, let the kitchen order for you and sample a cross-section of signature dishes and seasonal specials.

The Movida empire continues to expand with a seaside diner in Lorne, a shipping-container taqueria, bars at Melbourne and Sydney airports and a growing off-site catering service. Regardless, it will only take one visit to Movida to reveal why it is universally acclaimed as one of the city’s best.