A SPANISH restaurant which closed its doors two years ago is back.
Rioja is set to make a bold return to Glasgow in a brand new city centre location.
Formerly in Finnieston, the tapas and street food favourite will now open on the busy corner of Hope St and Bothwell Street.
And the once small eaterie will now be set over three floors.
There will be a casual but stylish restaurant space upstairs, a bar with live DJs which serves Spanish wines and classic cocktails on the ground floor and a basement games floor, complete with sports screenings, pool tables and foosball.
Rioja, which first opened its doors in 2013 and closed in Finnieston in 2023 due to Covid will announce a series of unique events to mark its launch.
Owned by independent restaurateurs Toni Carbajosa and Kevin Campbell, the new venture will also bring over 20 jobs to the city.
Toni Carbojosa said: “Rioja was a much-loved part of Glasgow’s food and drink scene, and we were overwhelmed by the support and loyalty of our guests in Finnieston.
“Since closing from in covid in 2023, not a week has gone by without people asking when Rioja would return – and now, we’re back, bigger and better than ever.
“We’ve taken everything people loved about Rioja – the energy, the atmosphere, the incredible Spanish flavours – and reimagined it for a brand-new space in the heart of the city.
“This next chapter is about bringing that same passion for great food, great drinks, and unforgettable nights, but on an even bigger scale.
“We can’t wait to welcome everyone back and introduce them to Rioja’s bold new era.”
To mark its highly anticipated return next month, Rioja is rewarding its biggest fans with an exclusive Secret Spanish Supper Club experience ahead of its official opening.
If you ever visited Rioja in Finnieston or you’re a fan of Spanish cuisine and culture, simply sign up at riojaglasgow.com for your chance to be part of Rioja’s return.
