Stepping in amid the growing nightlife climate of Penang’s Georgetown vicinity, Patio Bar de Tapas offers yet another dwelling for nocturnal bon vivants in pursuit of palatable eats as well as danceable beats. Opened in the heart of the town’s Weld Quay strip of nighttime establishments, the tapas bar is the brainchild of hospitality stalwarts Kenny and William, who bring with their experience a youthful Mediterranean-inspired approach, uncovered in the array of delicacies provided within the bar’s space. Holding true to its namesake morsel, Patio conjures up dainty dishes of the Latin persuasion, piquing appetites with Calamares squids filled with minced pork and drizzled with squid ink compote, char-grilled prawns marinated with spices and herbs, and house favourite bombas which feature bits of spicy chorizo melded in mashed balls of potato, among others. The tapas bar also goes beyond in dishing out Spain-inspired mouthfuls, with main courses yielding a selection of stuffed mushrooms with chicken breast and fries, dubbed Baked Relleno de Pechuga de Pollo; and house specialties of seafood paella - which the restaurant reserves to limited daily servings, each of which require extended cooking times of up to 40 minutes - ample time for the seafood’s broth and constituent flavours to settle into fragrant bundles of rice. Matching its fused Mediterranean ambit is the restaurant’s multiple domains ensconced within, ranging from a modernistic bar area that greets entering guests with sheeny cement counter tops affixed upon bare brick backdrops, to an urban courtyard that stretches out from under the terrace lounge, taking meals and barroom banter out in the open quayside ambience.