The restaurant creates a little corner of Spain in Vancouver.
There are restaurants that put soccer on television.
Then there’s Como Taperia.
The Michelin-recommended Mount Pleasant restaurant has always worn its Spanish roots proudly. Long before the additional screens arrived this summer, football was already part of the restaurant’s identity. That’s why Como’s decision to show matches throughout the season feels less like a marketing play and more like a natural extension of who they already are.
As someone who is admittedly both Spanish and completely biased when it comes to football, I can appreciate the difference between a restaurant showing a match and a restaurant genuinely embracing the culture behind it.
At Como, that authenticity has been present from day one.
The best example might be the restaurant’s now-famous washrooms, where the walls are covered floor-to-ceiling with vintage football cards and photographs. Pelé. Maradona. Cruyff. Zidane. Messi. Ronaldo. Generations of football history watching over guests. It’s quirky, memorable and tells you everything you need to know about the place.
Satisfying tortillas, exceptional croquetas and curated conservas
The World Cup may get people through the door this summer, but the food is why they stay.
One of the things Como understands so well is that great Spanish food doesn’t need to be complicated. It simply needs quality ingredients and thoughtful execution.
The tortilla arrives exactly as it should, golden on the outside and soft, almost custard-y in the centre. The kind of tortilla that sparks endless debate among Spaniards about whether it should be runny or firm, yet somehow manages to satisfy everyone at the table.
The croquetas are exceptional. Delicate and crisp on the outside, they give way to a creamy interior punctuated by salty jamón Ibérico. Rich without being heavy, they’re the sort of tapas that disappear almost immediately and usually lead to another order.
Then there are the conservas, one of Spain’s great culinary traditions. Premium seafood preserved at its peak and served simply alongside good bread, olives and wine. At Como, they serve as a reminder that some of the best dishes aren’t cooked at all. They’re curated.
Pair it all with a vermouth, a cold beer or a bottle of Rioja and suddenly a 90-minute football match turns into a four-hour afternoon.
A little corner of Spain in Vancouver
That’s what makes Como special.
The football isn’t a gimmick. Everything feels connected to the same idea: creating a little corner of Spain in Vancouver.
In an era where many restaurant concepts can feel engineered, Como feels personal. The atmosphere is warm, the food is honest and the passion for football feels entirely genuine.
As a Spaniard, I know I’m biased. But when I walk into Como, order a plate of croquetas, steal a bite of tortilla, open a tin of conservas and hear football commentary in the background, it feels familiar in all the right ways.
Thankfully, despite the additional televisions and expanded viewing schedule for this summer’s World Cup, Como isn’t trying to become a sports bar.
The food remains the star.
They’re simply giving Vancouver football fans one more reason to visit this summer.
Vamos
Christian Alvarez is the founder of Vancouver Chefs and the ICON Dinner Series, platforms that bring together celebrated chefs for immersive, culture driven dining experiences. A graduate of the Northwest Culinary Academy in Vancouver, he blends culinary training with a passion for storytelling, photography and community building. Through curated collaborations, he explores the intersection of food, film, music and art, creating intimate events that celebrate both craft and creativity. When he is not curating dinners, he runs the Vancouver seawall, spends long hours on the road as an avid cyclist, and explores the world through its food and culture.