Viva España - Oliva
The best known night spot in Oliva is undoubtedly Viva España, just outside the
town on the national road to Valencia. The restaurant is open all week and at
weekends you can enjoy a fun night out with dinner followed by a flamenco and
international cabaret show.
Viva España is a family run business with dad playing the perfect "mien host" - a great
showman who addresses his audience in several languages, croons quite passably
and gets everyone dancing until the small hours. Mum runs the kitchen, one
daughter handles the admin and the other is one of the lead dancers! It's a
popular venue, especially among foreigners, and whilst the flamenco dancers may
not be your authentic Andalucian gypsies they still manage to put on a very
slick and enjoyable performance.
In beautiful premises surrounded by leafy orange groves the restaurant combines
the best traditional Mediterranean gastronomy with the most fascinating flamenco
musical spectaculars. The owner Maria Julia is in charge of the kitchen and
applies her experience of more than 20 years behind the furnaces. Thanks to the
excellent work of this magnificent chef and the well equipped kitchen it is
possible to taste the best rice - for example stews with seafood and vegetables,
fish, meats seared on a coal BBQ or local home made dishes.
On Saturday night and Sunday lunch time as well as Friday night in the summer
season you can enjoy a fabulous Dinner and Flamenco show. The 5 course dinner
begins with a cold platter of cured meats, cheeses, pates and bread followed by
prawns in garlic. The main course follows and you can choose from a succulent
lamb shank, steak, spicy kebabs or a fish dish. A vegetarian option is always
available. This is followed by a delicious dessert at which point the fabulous
Flamenco show begins.
The two hour professional flamenco show is an unforgettable experience with
dancing from various regions of Spain. The fantastic Jose Serrano always gives a
nerve tingling performance with feet that move unbelievably fast to hard
flamenco rhythms. The cost is 45 Euros per head including a glass of wine.
