[UPDATE: This restaurant is permanently closed.]
The Spanish food scene in KL may not be as well established as, say, Italian or French – but it has been steadily gaining popularity in the last few years. One of the newer places is Tapas Club @ Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, a lively spot where you can share a few glasses of wine with friends, and of course, lots of tapas.
Prior to this visit, I had literally zero experience with Spanish food, so I was surprised (and pleased) to have won an Instagram contest organised by the restaurant, to host two people for a Wine Tasting (worth RM120++ each). Of course I had to bring N; him having worked at a wine company and also being from the Philippines where they have a strong Spanish influence in their cuisine.
Two hours later after a horrendous jam (the roads were flooded in the city), we were finally at the restaurant. Already I loved the ambience – the wall racks lined with fine wines, the colourful streamers hanging from the ceiling which lent the whole space a festive vibe, as well as the cosy, ambient lighting.
We had four wines for the night: Arzuaga Rosae 2018, Fan D Oro 2017, La Planta 2017 and Tinto Arzuaga Crianza 2016. I’m not much of an alcohol drinker, but if I had to, I prefer wine over other spirits. The first was the Arzuaga Rosae, a mild rose-wine from the Ribera del Duoro region, one of Spain’s “11 quality wine regions”. It was fruity and light, with a long finish and subtle floral hints.
The wine tasting also included three complimentary plates of tapas and a plate of cheese. The ham and mushroom croquettes were extremely addictive, with a crispy, breaded crust and a creamy blend of ham and mushroom, respectively.
Fan D Oro 2017 is a creamy, balanced white wine that is ideal for seafood, cured cheeses, white meats and vegetables. We paired it with Spanish omelette and cod fish, as well as the cheese which came served with crackers. The latter was absolutely divine; drizzled over with a dash of olive oil, the block of cheese was rich and more creamy than salty.
La Planta 2017 was N’s favourite. He drank both his glass and mine. I had stopped drinking by then (designated driver + bad with alcohol; I break out into hives).
Was still feeling hungry so I ordered another tapas – the highly recommended Gambas Allajilo (Garlic Prawns) (RM25).
If you’re ever here and could only order one tapas – this is it. Everything we had was tasty, but this was easily the best dish of the night. Not only were the prawns sizable (and peeled, for all you lazy folks out there), they were also coated in a beautifully rich and addictive garlic sauce. I know tapas is all about sharing, but this was one of those dishes I could have finished all on my own. Maybe order a couple more if you’re here with friends!
For mains, we had the Arroz Negro (squid ink) paella (RM68). Served in a huge pan with squid and clams, the dish could easily feed two or three people. The seafood flavour was actually pretty subtle, and the rice had a great texture. Of course, the best bits were the soccarat, which is the hardened layer at the bottom of the pan.
We also had entertainment from these two very talented chaps.
We thoroughly enjoyed our first visit to Tapas Club, and will definitely be making a return trip soon. Even if you’re not a wine drinker, the food here is awesome and tastes authentic. A great place to get acquainted with the flavours of Spanish cuisine.
Thank you very much again for hosting us!
TAPAS CLUB
Lot 7.01.01, Level 7 @ Dining Loft, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, 168, Bukit Bintang Street, Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur
Phone: +603 2110 2718
Opening hours (daily): 10.30AM – 10 PM
*Photos not watermarked taken by N.
Eris Goes To 
Very cool indeed! Your city never ceases to amaze me.
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