Mate's Table
Subscribe
Create
Share with the community

What would you like to make?

Add a recommendationShare a place worth gathering around.Create a guideBuild a useful list for your city.
For business

Restaurant

Simply Spanish

116 Cecil St, South Melbourne VIC 3205, Australia

Recommended by 0 people

Updated

Find Simply Spanish

116 Cecil St, South Melbourne VIC 3205, Australia

Directions ↗
+61 3 9682 6100
HoursMonday: Closed Tuesday: Closed Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM Thursday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM Friday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM Saturday: 10:30 AM – 9:00 PM Sunday: 10:30 AM – 4:00 PM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

Book Now

About Simply Spanish

Saffron aromas guide market crowds to giant meter-wide pans simmering right on the Cecil Street curb. Simply Spanish keeps the South Melbourne rhythm humming with ladles of seafood and chorizo paella dished up hot from the outdoor station. Snag an open patio table for a jug of sangria and sizzling garlic prawns, or line up at the takeaway window for a fast lunch on the go. Table orders arrive in dedicated paella pans finished with that proper, crunchy socarrat crust scraped from the bottom.

  • Live Big-Pan Station: Meter-wide pans simmer continuously on the curb, dishing out fresh servings for takeaway or quick table seating.
  • Classic Paella & Socarrat: Pans arrive topped with prawns, calamari, mussels, and chorizo, toasted down to a crunchy bottom crust.
  • Market Tapas Sharing: Groups crowd patio benches over pitchers of sangria, garlic prawns, and twice-cooked pork belly.
RestaurantSpanishRestaurant

What's On at Simply Spanish

Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Choose Simply Spanish

Why market visitors and groups choose Simply Spanish for authentic paella and tapas.

  • Authentic Paella with Crispy Socarrat

    Large pans simmer with seafood, meat, and rice cooked with crispy edges and deep seasoning.

    The rice had crispy edges and a slightly crunchy bottom, which was delicious to scrape and eat.

    Melvin J.

  • Fast Market Takeaway Counter

    Quick-service takeaway options ensure shoppers can pick up hot paella on the go.

    If you dont have time, the takeaway main paella they sell is also amazing and have returned for that many times!

    Ryan Wong

  • Feasts Tailored for Group Dining

    Large paella pans, tapas, and shared drinks accommodate gatherings and celebrations easily.

    Ten of us shared jugs of Sangria, numerous Tapas dishes, Seafood, Valenciana, Chicken & Chorizo, Mushroom & Pulled Pork Paellas and finished with Churros for dessert.

    Nicole Garrett

  • Shared Platters for Gatherings

    Prompt service and hearty portions make gathering over assorted small plates and rice pans seamless.

    Big pan paella was a winner for our group. It was readily available, packed with flavor and fresh ingredients, very filling and definitely worth coming back for.

    Michelle Mercado

  • Live Giant Pan Cooking Visuals

    The outdoor setup lets guests watch huge meter-wide paella pans cooked fresh right before their eyes.

    The big pan paella is iconic—rich, smoky, and packed with seafood, chorizo, and perfectly cooked rice. Watching it cook in the giant pan adds to the experience.

    KH Choi

  • Vibrant Market-Side Atmosphere

    Patio seating immerses diners in South Melbourne Market's active, energetic surroundings.

    Enjoy the hustle and bustle of the market while enjoying an authentic Spanish meal and drink.

    Hasanain Hasan

Customer-favorite paellas and tapas freshly prepared for market dining

  • Big Pan Paella

    Big pan paella was a winner for our group. It was readily available, packed with flavor and fresh ingredients, very filling and definitely worth coming back for.

    Michelle Mercado

  • Seafood Paella

    Ordered the seafood paella ($80), which had prawns, calamari, diced fillet, clams, mussels, and scallops. The flavors were fantastic, full of seafood goodness and umami.

    Melvin J.

  • Garlic Prawns

    We started with the garlic prawns, a delicious dish with plenty of garlic, seasoning, and oil.

    René _

  • Beef Cheek Tapas

    The beef cheek tapas is melt-in-your-mouth tender, slow-cooked in a rich glaze over creamy mash—absolutely divine.

    KH Choi

Before you head over

Practical planning tips on peak queues, takeaway alternatives, and bar seating at South Melbourne Market

  • Head to the Bar to Bypass Table Waits

    If outdoor patio tables have a queue during busy market hours, grab an open seat at the bar for immediate paella and sangria service.

  • Opt for the Takeaway Counter for Quick Bites

    If you are pressed for time, use the dedicated takeaway station for hot paella directly from the big pan, where queues move quickly.

  • Expect Table Delays for Large Groups

    Large parties dining together on peak market days can encounter wait times exceeding 40 minutes for walk-in seating, so allow buffer time or arrive early.

Explore more places in Melbourne

Find familiar flavours, neighbourhood favourites and somewhere new in Melbourne.

Browse all Melbourne venues