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A little about us…

Sol y Sombra has been Dundee’s most popular tapas bar since it opened in 2011. Born out of a love for Spanish food and culture, we have created a menu of fresh, authentic and simple tapas. The aim is to recreate the feel of a typical Spanish family meal, so everyone has to share and enjoy the meal as one.

Sol y Sombra’s name comes from the Spanish words for sun and shade and refers to different types of seats one can purchase at bullfights. The cheap seats are Sol, and are in the full sun, whereas the most expensive seats are Sombra and are fully shaded. A Sol y Sombra ticket has some shade and some sun throughout the day. 

A little history…

Our building has had a rich history in the hospitality business. Built in 1842, the building was the Lorne Bar until 1969. In 1969 Dundee footballer, Bobby Cox, bought the Lorne Bar and renamed it the Sliding Tackle. Two of the supporting beams in the cellar are recovered wreckage from the Tay Rail Bridge Disaster of 1878.

It was bought over in 1975 and renamed the Ferry Inn, which it was until Phil and Joanna started Sol y Sombra. In the summer of 2024 Kelly and Paul Fairweather bought the business to compliment their other two restaurants; The Selkie, Dundee and The Ferry Selkie. Since buying the business there has been a huge investment in the building to keep the character and charm of    Sol Y alive and well.  Whilst there have been some changes the team and suppliers remain the same, ensuring that we continue to build on the proud history of Sol Y Sombra. 

5 star ratingReturning to Sol Y Sombra a few weeks since last visit and lovely new decor in upstairs area is amazing.
A very busy night as we arrived early evening. Highly efficient service from two brilliant waitresses. We ordered 6 tapas dishes and a bread/olives platter. More than enough food for the two of us. Really enjoyed the Pescadero Point Rose wine. Such a busy place with a vibrant atmosphere. Will return again.
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Steve M
15/02/26
5 star ratingSol y Sombra has been our favourite restaurant for several years, however we hadn't visited since it had been taken over and so were curious as to how much it might have changed - for better or worse!
As it turned out, the new team have made what I thought was the best restaurant, even better! It's been freshened up a little inside, and the menu is now slightly expanded (at least lunch time was) to allow you to pick and choose tapas dishes, as well as the original "set menu".
Some new or different dishes - all delicious as always. Staff were all very friendly and welcoming. No suprise really, given these fold also have the nearby Selkie - another outstanding restaurant!
Our 5 year old loved trying all the different dishes.
Looking forward to our next visit already!
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SRP1991
16/03/26
5 star ratingMet friends here for a catch up and we weren’t disappointed. Great atmosphere and lovely layout. Staff were very friendly, cheerful and helpful. Service was great. And the food was amazing and looked amazing. There were 4 of us and we chose 3 tapas each and shared. Which was a perfect amount. It was that good, we’ve booked again for next month. Highly recommend. Great location. Lots of pubs nearby if you want to carry in the night. Or if you’re being sensible, you could have a lovely walk along the beach/promenade to walk off your meal.
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Meander12731465567
03/03/26
5 star ratingEnjoyed a great lunch with good service in lovely surroundings. The tapas were delicious, as was the wine. The £16 lunch deal is great value & my friend & I shared our dishes. The portions are generous.
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16Littleflower
14/03/26