Hidden beyond a pair of imposing iron gates, up a fleet of marble stairs and behind a hefty, wooden door, sits Sobretablas - an eco-conscious, fine-dining restaurant decorated with gargantuan tropical plants. It's one of the newer additions to Seville's restaurant scene and noted by Michelin for its good value.

This joint hasn't changed much in the past 50 years. In the front room, fine wines are sold from wooden cabinets of curiosities and hulking legs of ham hang from the ceiling. Delve farther in and you'll find an atmospheric bar with clay floors and walls lined by antique wine vats with vintage film posters slapped on top.

Come here for the atmosphere, not the tapas. You'll find a coterie of local wine-lovers in this stand-up bar where gilded frames jostle for space on the walls - it's the textbook definition of a "busy hang". Its montaditos (small sandwiches) make for a tasty amuse-bouche, but if you're after something more substantial, head elsewhere.

Foie gras with caramelised peanuts, anyone? Bread-crumbed prawns with soy mayo, perhaps? This is one for experimental diners who aren't looking for the classic tapas experience. Book ahead. It opened back in 2008, but an evening table here remains a hot commodity among the city's clued-up gastronomes.

Hold your breath; it's a tight squeeze at this traditional tapas bar which tumbles out onto the street in Santa Cruz. It's a discreet, non-touristy haven in the city's most thronging neighbourhood - just a hop, skip and a jump from Seville Cathedral.

All the best tapas bars are pokey but precious, and this tiny spot, speckled with old clay pots and strewn with cured ham, is no exception. It has its fair share of competition on Plaza de la Alfalfa - a sleepy square, teeming with under-sold restaurants - but is one of only a few old-school tapas joints that caters to gluten-free diners.

Thought tapas was a no-go zone for vegans? Well, you're wrong. Unlike most traditional tapas spots, this modern, sit-down restaurant serves plant-based and veggie-friendly variants of homegrown classics. There are a couple of meatier options on the menu to placate tapas purists, too.

If you're too tired to deal with the hustle and bustle of the city's stand-up tapas institutions, pull up a chair at Petit Comité. It's a fine-dining, table-service restaurant with more of a Parisian bistro feel. Its small plates are riven with international flourishes; expect beef tataki or cod with aioli, for instance.

If you can overlook the laminated menus, this place is a treat. Situated on the pretty chequerboard that is Plaza de la Gavidia, its kitchen serves all of the classically Andalusian tapas dishes as well as a handful of more exotic temptations.

If you nab an outdoor table here in the summer, you'll be nibbling on pescaíto frito in the shadow of Seville Cathedral. Yes, it sits in the muddle of touristy honey-traps in the city centre but you'll be hard-pushed to find a more comprehensive offering of fish dishes at such a reasonable price.

Sunlight streams into this whitewashed courtyard which is decorated with baroque tiles, minimalist brass light fixtures and pared-back designer furniture. It's a delightfully chic take on the classic tapas bar with an elegant cocktail menu to match - ideal for those who prefer to sip martinis than split a bottle over dinner.

Take a pew at the open kitchen and watch Cañabota's chefs sizzle all manner of fish, prawns, langoustines and more into artfully edited, tapas-sized portions. It might be one of Seville's most esteemed fish restaurants, but the vibe here is refreshingly relaxed - no need to truss yourself up. Try the tempura rockfish and corvina for starters…

For those who want to try Cañabota but lack the means, its wallet-friendly sister restaurant is a must. The menu here is a little shorter but no less exciting and you'll still be served fresh, catch-of-the-day produce too. Try the marinated sardines on tomato-confit toast - it's the stuff of local legend.

A stylish mishmash of abstract paintings, fabulously irregular chandeliers and exposed industrial pipework hangs above diners at this "slow-food" tapas restaurant. You'll feast like a real Andalucian here; all vegetables are plucked from the restaurant's own "huerta" (kitchen garden) and meat is sourced locally.