The endless list of restaurants and accommodation establishments whose opening is delayed by weeks or months due to some official "trifle" is one entry longer. The "Paco Ribeira" should have been ready in midsummer. It was finally allowed to open in October. The small restaurant in the midst of the confusing collection of high-rise buildings and glass palaces on the Donauplatte is an offshoot of Vienna's best Spanish restaurant "Paco" on Alsergrund. "Ribeira" is the Spanish equivalent of Riviera, although you have to be very fond of this stretch of the Danube bank to have such associations. No matter. The excellent Estrella Damm is freshly tapped. Those who like sangria will find three versions of the mixed drink. The sherries come from top producer Lustau, and almost all the wines are available by the glass. And if you have something to celebrate here, you can even get "Mauro" from the legendary oenologist Mariano Garcia or the massive Priorat grenade "Clos Mogador". When it comes to the luxury product Iberian ham - the "Paco" group consumes 220 pieces per year - the finest pieces are reserved for the main house and the city bar "Reserva Ibérica". The "Paleta de bellota" ham shoulder is no less delicious on the menu here. Chorizo and lomo are also available. The rest is a kind of "best of" from "Paco". Extremely good "Boquerones en vinagra" - marinated anchovies from Cantabria. Patatas bravas nice and spicy, prawns al ajillo, juicy "Secreto" - i.e. fillet - of grilled Iberian pork. In this windy corner of Vienna, "Paco Ribeira" is one of the few oases for civilized enjoyment.
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