Vino Tinto: New Spanish concept opens at One Raffles Quay, with tapas and tipples

There’s a new Spanish concept right in the heart of the CBD, from the couple behind the popular Canchita Peruvian Cuisine and Tinto Spanish Restaurant at Dempsey. 

Vino Tinto, named after the Spanish word for “red wine”, by chefs Daniel and Tamara Chavez, has just opened at the lobby of the bustling One Raffles Quay along Shenton Way.

With more than 30 tapas plates on its menu and an extensive wine and beverage list, Vino Tinto wants to be a place where customers can have something to eat and drink at any time of the day. 

It’s no coincidence that Vino Tinto’s name takes after its sister restaurant — fans of Tinto at Dempsey may spot some signature dishes that have made its way onto Vino Tinto’s menu.

Expect fan favourites such as the tostas ramona (“crystal” bread with burrata and anchovies, S$24) and even its highly-raved fideuas (Spanish noodle paella, from S$32) at Vino Tinto, alongside new creations such as the roasted Spanish artichoke (S$5) with garlic butter.

You’ll also enjoy an extensive selection of wines to pair your tapas with — Vino Tinto even claims to have the largest Spanish wine selection in the CBD — and glasses start from just S$14, so you know you’ll never be left high and dry. 

There are also other beverages such as sangrias (of course), cocktails, and Spanish coffee, if you prefer. 

Trying Vino Tinto’s menu

Even at Tinto, the toastas ramona (S$24) has been a highlight: It features crispy “crystal” bread (so named because of the near-transcluscent appearance of this toast), with a heaping of burrata cheese and topped with Spanish anchovies, crushed tomatoes and dried figs.

While the price might seem steep for just four slices, its combination of creamy from the cheese, savoury from the anchovies, and sweet from the tomatoes and figs, is delightful and sure to whet your appetite for the meal ahead.

The ingredient-packed seafood omelette (S$22) is a simple dish, but extremely satisfying and great for sharing — the combination of anchovy aioli and red mojo sauce over the omelette also reminded us somewhat of the Japanese okonomiyaki, in a good way. 

This is only available during dinner time, though, so plan ahead if you intend to try this dish. 

Any respectable Spanish restaurant needs to have a good octopus dish, and the pulpo al brasa (S$28) is Vino Tinto’s crowning glory.

It comes with tender, lightly charred octopus chunks on top of a bed of smoked chilli mayo, grapes, toasted crumbs and smoked paprika oil. It’s a straightforward dish done well.

Those who are familiar with Tinto’s menu will also recognise the fideua, which is similar to the more well-known paella, but is instead made with noodles known as “fideos”. 

Vino Tinto’s menu introduces two fideuas — one seafood and another with pork. 

We tried the latter, the fideua de cardo & padrones (S$32), which comes with iberico pork, padron peppers, chestnuts and saffron aioli.

I’ve never had a fideua prior to this, but Vino Tinto’s rendition sold me on this traditional dish from the Valencia coastal region. It features a nicely crisped top, well-seasoned pasta noodles, and impeccably soft slices of iberico pork that I couldn’t quite get enough of.

It comes with saffron aioli, but the fideua was so tasty, I didn’t touch the accompanying condiment at all.

Of course, there’s also plenty of paellas on its menu — four, whether it’s lunch or dinner — if you prefer to stick to rice, and its proteins run the gamut from seafood to chicken, with even vegetarian options available.  

But regardless of your choice of mains, you mustn’t leave without trying the signature tres leches (S$14), which is essentially a dense coconut cake served in a coconut “soup”, topped with mixed berries and a vanilla pastry cream that reminded us of a panna cotta. 

When we heard “moist coconut cake”, it brought to mind an almost soggy dessert, yet this was anything but. The lightly sweet milk cake remained firm, while absorbing its moat of sauce well. 

I daresay this dish alone would have me returning in a heartbeat, nevermind the calories from all that cream and coconut milk. 

This was an invited tasting.

For more eats around the CBD, check out our Raffles Place guide or standing sushi bar Sushi to Sumi.  

Enjoy up to 50% off when you dine with GrabFood Dine Out.

You can also book a ride to Vino Tinto at One Raffles Quay.