Viva España Restaurant - 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 is 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.
