La Barca Spanish Tapas& Wine Bar

La Barca Spanish Tapas & Wine Bar occupies a seafront unit at 33 West Clyde Street in Helensburgh, owned and run by Milan and Cara Nikolic. The name means "the boat" in Spanish, echoed inside by a handcrafted boat-shaped bar and a mural depicting the harbour. Tapas and paellas are cooked to order and served in olive wood bowls, traditional cazuela dishes and mini cast-iron pans, with paella typically taking around half an hour from order to table. Milan Nikolic leads the kitchen, drawing on Spanish cooking traditions for a menu built around small plates rather than one central dish. The bar also operates a sister pizzeria, Padrone, a few doors along the same street. Ingredients for the tapas menu are sourced and prepared fresh each day rather than held in advance, according to the restaurant.