1 week Ago
Tinned fish aficionados will immediately recognize Siesta Co., the stylish brand of organic, wild-sourced Spanish conversas that can be found at hip shoppy shops and pricey grocery stores. Sieta Co.
’s Lucia Flors and Carlos Leiva will partner with Botanica co-founder Heather Sperling to open Bar Siesta inside the former Alimento space in Silver Lake later this month. The new restaurant will serve Spanish conservas, bocadillos, and snacks by day and then wine, beer, sherry, vermouth, and farmers market-driven tapas by night. Flors, Leiva, and Sperling met years ago when the Spaniards stayed at a friend’s Airbnb before relocating to Silver Lake.
Since then, over many shared meals, the trio shared a dream of opening a Spanish wine and tapas bar together someday. The opportunity came together when a broker contacted Sperling about the soon-to-vacate Alimento, located a block away from Botanica. Alimento’s Zach Pollack had built his first-ever Italian restaurant into a beloved neighborhood destination but closed i t ahead of a soon-to-open Westside spot closer to where he lives.
Flors and Leiva, who hail from Valencia and Alicante, respectively, hope to inject the usually bustling block of Silver Lake Boulevard with a dose of relaxed Spanish culture. Sperling has operated the grab-and-go market and all-day restaurant Botanica since 2017 and is a lifelong admirer of Spanish culture and cuisine. “I feel like this is such an amazing way to expand into this neighborhood and community that I’m so invested in,” Sperling told Eater on the phone.
Sperling said she and her family had an extensive history in Spain and even lived in Barcelona for a while. “Once Carlos, Lucia, and I met, they were quickly absorbed into the friend group where we connected over a shared love of Spain.” Chef Keith Phillips, previously of Rustic Canyon in Santa Monica and Roister in Chicago, will oversee the seasonal tapas menu, offering traditional and creative interpretations of the small wine-friendly snacks.
The beverage menu will feature 100 percent Spanish producers, with a range of drinks to pair with the bites: sherry, wine, cider, vermouth, and beer. The Spanish theme will even extend to the plateware and art. Toward the front of the space, a full Spanish market of gourmet pantry goods will include the entire lineup of Siesta tinned fish, preserved vegetables, wine, cheese, spices, and vinegar.
Those who want to open up a can of sardines or tuna can do that, enjoying with almonds, olives, jamon iberico, and a glass of wine. Interest in Spanish cuisine in Los Angeles has cooled somewhat from its zenith early last year . Silver Lake briefly had the second coming of Bar Moruno from 2022 until it closed in October 2023.
Meanwhile, Tatel quietly closed in Beverly Hills this year, and Soulmate, another Spanish-inflected restaurant, closed in August 2024 . However, Telefèric expanded from its Brentwood perch into a second Southern California outlet in Long Beach earlier this year, and Xuntos continues to thrive in Santa Monica . Bar Siesta’s arrival in Silver Lake adds another compelling restaurant to one of LA’s best dining neighborhoods.
“[Silver Lake Boulevard] is such a great stretch,” said Sperling. “We want to infuse the space with a true sense of Spanish identity in all facets.” Sign up for our newsletter.
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