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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. 

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