About La Feria

One blustery day in 1997, three friends decided to escape Michigan's wintery chill by sipping glasses of Rioja wine and sharing their memories of Spain. Specifically, they reminisced about Feria de Abril—a week-long festival that fills Seville with music, dancers in flamenco dresses, and the aromas of local cuisine. These memories gradually formed into a solid idea as the trio made plans to throw an annual party, one which would bring the Spanish festival's vibrant spirit to their new home in southeastern Michigan.

Each year, the party brought a larger number of friends and acquaintances together to dine, drink, and competitively roll their "R"s. After 16 years, those friends decided that the celebration should continue throughout the year. They entered—and won—The Comerica Hatch Detroit contest. With their winnings, they opened La Feria, a brick-and-mortar restaurant dedicated to Spanish wine, authentic cocktails, and tapas that are "much as you would find in Seville or Madrid," according to one The Detroit News writer. Chef Pilar Baron-Hidalgo prepares the shareable dishes, which range from charcuterie to mussels simmered in white wine, with an emphasis on local sourcing.