Our Story
Over a decade of industry experience that brought us here
Before El Paseo, there was a journey
El Paseo's story doesn't start in 2020. It starts much earlier, in other bars, other restaurants, other kitchens. Because no one opens a bar from scratch: you carry hospitality in your blood, you've learned it on someone else's stoves before lighting your own.
Our founders come from deep experience in this trade. They've worked in set-menu restaurants, in downtown tapas bars, in kitchens serving hundreds of meals a day, and in small neighborhood spots where every customer was a neighbor. They've seen what works and what doesn't. They've learned that a dish isn't just ingredients — it's timing, temperature, seasoning, and care. And that a bar isn't just four walls — it's refuge, routine, conversation, and a second home for many.
That background — those years of trial, error, and learning — is the true foundation upon which, one day, they decided to build something of their own. Something that would bring together the best of everything they'd experienced.
From those kitchens to this one
The learning years
Hotel restaurants, high-volume kitchens, tapas bars. Our founders trained in all kinds of kitchens before taking the leap into entrepreneurship.
The first bar
With everything we'd learned, the time had come to take the leap. A place with soul in Vilafranca, a modest but well-equipped kitchen, and a clear idea: do what we knew how to do well.
The first bar
With everything learned in hotel restaurants and traditional bars, the time had come to take the leap. A first place in Vilafranca, a modest but well-equipped kitchen, and a clear idea: to do things right — no frills, just honesty.
El Paseo is born
After years of experience with their first bar, the time came to create something bigger. A renovated place in Vilafranca, with the same essence as always.
What all those years taught us
The customer, always
In every bar we worked at, we learned that whoever walks through that door isn't a number. It's someone who trusts you to eat well and feel at home.
Respect the craft
Making 200 daily menus teaches you rigor. Making tapas in a neighborhood bar teaches you creativity. Both extremes made us better.
A bar is a home
The best compliment we get is when a customer says: "I feel at home here." That doesn't happen by accident: it's learned over the years.
What defines us today
Real cooking
No shortcuts. Every dish is made to order with fresh ingredients.
Personal touch
We know your name and how you like your coffee.
No rush
Good food is meant to be enjoyed calmly. Stay as long as you like.
Fair prices
Eating well shouldn't be a luxury. Quality at reasonable prices.
What people say about us
"I used to come to the old bar, but since the ownership change it's gotten so much better. The patatas bravas are the best in Vilafranca, no question. And the service is a solid 10."
"The daily menu has amazing variety, always with well-prepared dishes and everything is delicious. You eat like at grandma's but without having to do the dishes. I come back every week."
"When friends visit from out of town, I always bring them here. Great atmosphere, everything is delicious, and the service makes you feel right at home. I love it."