In the Ironbound—Newark’s historic neighborhood named for the railroad tracks that once surrounded the area—there are numerous bars and restaurants where you can enjoy happy hour or late-night cocktails. Known for serving authentic Spanish, Portuguese, and Brazilian cuisine, the Ironbound’s dining scene attracts national attention, but you might want some local insight to find the neighborhood’s best kept secrets.

Here are the best restaurants to feast on rodizio, dine on tapas, and sip on classic sangria.

Casa d’Paco

Casa d’Paco is a new Ironbound favorite. Rutgers Newark graduate Angel Leston and his father built the Spanish restaurant, opening for business in 2015.

This neighborhood tavern combines authentic family recipes—Leston’s father creates tapas and his mother makes homemade desserts—with old-school hospitality, making every guest feel like a local. The wine list features a range of Galician wines, including Leston family’s own signature Albariño wine. Pair a glass with the paella, a house speciality brimming with fresh seafood and packed with Spanish flavors.

Fornos of Spain

Located in the heart of the Ironbound on Ferry Street, Fornos of Spain has been serving delectable Spanish tapas to the community for decades. This casual yet upscale eatery specializes in paella valenciana (rice with lobster, clams, mussels, scallops, calamari, shrimp, chicken, and chorizo). Locals flock to Fornos of Spain for authentic meals in a warm, elegant atmosphere, but even if you’re just visiting Newark, you’ll be more than welcome to take a taste.

For wine connoisseurs, Fornos of Spain boasts one of the rarest collections of Spanish wines in the United States. The wine cellar offers over 450 aged and vintage wines to pair with fine Spanish seafood. If you’re looking for something a little sweeter, try the house-made sangria.

Adega Grill

In Portuguese, adega translates to wine cellar, giving Adega Grill inspiration for its dining space. Its elegant dining room features wrought iron cellar gates and stone fireplaces that set an intimate, romantic tone. Adega Grill serves Portuguese and Spanish dishes—expect huge portions—and features a constantly growing wine list of more than 180 wines. Late night crowds gravitate towards the narrow bar and lounge area. 

Adega Grill is a few doors away from Fornos of Spain. Together, these two classic Ironbound eateries have been delighting Newarkers since the mid-1990s. 

Catas

Catas owner Ruben Dominguez grew up in Newark’s restaurant scene and knows the traditional Spanish fare that forms a cornerstone of the Ironbound District. His father owns Spanish Sangria which has anchored the Ironbound for three decades. But when Catas opened in 2011, Dominguez wanted to create a hip bar for a new generation of Newark residents. 

The wine bar is a popular hotspot for soccer fans. In fact, Catas is closer to Red Bulls Arena in Harrison than it is to the main strip of the Ironbound. It brings Barcelona to Newark through Gaudi-inspired murals, Iberian charcuteries, Flamenco dance nights, and tantalizing tapas. 

Fernandes Steakhouse

Like Catas, Fernandes Steakhouse is far away from the Ironbound’s main drag, but it’s a favorite for Newarkers. Housed in a former bank, this two-story Brazilian steakhouse features a vaulting foyer, faux stone walls, and a dining room with Spanish tiles. 

Come hungry because Fernandes serves up copious amounts of meat in the traditional rodizio style: Servers bring out perfectly roasted skewers of meat and carve off pieces straight onto diners’ plates. And no round of rodizio is complete without a slice of grilled pineapple for dessert. Looking for just the right wine to pair with your meal? The blue sangria comes highly recommended.

Sagres Bar and Grill

Named for the town of Sagres in southern Portugal where Prince Henry the Navigator founded a famed navigation school, Sagres Bar and Grill invites you to “explore and navigate through a new world of taste and wonder.” In the summer, sip Ocean Blue Sangria—locals will tell you it’s the best sangria in the Ironbound—on Sagres’ outdoor patio.

Mompou Tapas Bar and Restaurant

Mompou Tapas has been an Ironbound fixture since 2005. As one of Newark’s best restaurants, Mompou’s faces off with Sagres for the best sangria in the Ironbound and offers a less overwhelming wine menu than neighborhood mainstays like Fornos of Spain. During happy hour, pair any of the Spanish wines with Mompou’s famous $5 tapas.