The fish tapas of Alicante are famous all over Spain—top Michelin-starred chefs often come to town on tapas-eating holidays. One of the places they come is Nou Manolín, where everyone from deckhands to stevedores to upscale tourists mingles at the bar, drinking the local wines and making a meal of little plates of batter-fried anchovies, garlicky grilled shrimp, sizzling casseroles of sausages—more than 50 choices in all. The upstairs dining room is far more elegant, and emphasizes local fish and the beautiful vegetables of the Alicante coast. (In 2012, French chef Joel Robuchon declared it his favorite place to eat in Spain.) The menu features many rice dishes, but the best bet is often the catch of the day baked in a salt crust.