Tucked into an unassuming stretch of Garnet Avenue at 1653 Garnet Ave, 92109, Costa Brava is a family-owned Spanish tapas bar & restaurant that has quietly built one of the most devoted followings in Pacific Beach. Owner Javier Gonzalez, who also operates the neighboring wine-and-cheese shop Pata Negra—where he imports genuine Ibérico ham, a first for San Diego—has crafted a menu spanning dozens of hot and cold tapas, made-to-order paella sized for two or four, and entrees like roasted lamb shank and pan-seared seabass with dates and figs. The San Diego A-List has voted Costa Brava’s tapas the best in the city, and its paella routinely appears on local best-of lists. Live flamenco guitar from performer Edward Fishwick, who has studied the art since 1993, fills the rustic patio on select evenings, accompanied by Catalan guitarist Ben Garrido. Wine lovers who want to continue exploring Mediterranean flavors nearby can head to Enoteca Adriano in North Pacific Beach, where Roman-born chef Giuseppe Ciuffa pairs Italian plates with vintage outdoor movie screenings. The interior of Costa Brava features tile floors, arched doorways and weathered wood accents, while the expanded outdoor patio is dog-friendly and outfitted with heaters for cooler nights. An extensive Spanish wine list—more than 500 labels by some accounts—runs from pre-dinner cava to post-dinner sherry, and the half-price sangria-and-tapas happy hour on a walk-in basis draws a steady crowd. Costa Brava holds a 4.6-star Google rating across nearly 1,800 reviews, placing it among the highest-rated dining spots in the 92109 zip code. The restaurant is open Wednesday through Sunday, with lunch service added on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Diners looking to round out a Garnet Avenue evening with fresh sushi can find PB Sushi a few blocks west along the same corridor. Reservations are recommended on weekends and essential on music nights, when the atmosphere transports guests to the lively streets of Spain itself.