Inside Sotogrande’s New Restaurant Plaza Blanca: Community & Building a Restaurant in Sotogrande

Plazablanca is quickly becoming one of the most talked-about restaurants in Sotogrande, combining modern Spanish cuisine, strong hospitality, and a vibrant community atmosphere. In this episode we explore how a new restaurant becomes a meeting point for locals, residents, and visitors in Sotogrande.I sit down with Haby Zongo, the co-owner of Plazablanca restaurant in Sotogrande to talk about her journey from West Africa to Paris hospitality training and ultimately building a successful restaurant in the Sotogrande community. We discuss what it takes to run a hospitality business in Sotogrande, how Plazablanca was developed from an abandoned building into a thriving restaurant, and how great service, quality ingredients, and strong community connections are key to success in the Costa del Sol dining scene.00:00 Introduction to Plazablanca Restaurant in Sotogrande00:24 Meet the co-owner and the vision behind the restaurant01:00 Growing up in Burkina Faso and early hospitality influences02:03 Training in hospitality school in Paris03:49 Working in restaurants before opening a business04:40 Moving to Sotogrande and life in the community05:35 Opening a first restaurant in Sotogrande Port07:39 The idea behind Plazablanca08:54 Finding the location and developing the restaurant10:06 Designing the restaurant and creating the atmosphere11:19 What makes Plazablanca different from other restaurants12:49 Building a loyal customer base in Sotogrande13:21 Turning an abandoned building into a restaurant14:53 Restaurant layout and capacity15:29 The food concept: modern Spanish cuisine with local influence17:03 Why product quality matters most in cooking18:04 The wine list and supporting small Spanish wineries20:59 Life in Sotogrande and raising a family here22:25 How Sotogrande has evolved since the late 1990s24:32 Plazablanca as a new meeting point in Sotogrande26:12 Plans to make the restaurant a regional destination27:50 Building regular customers and community engagement29:07 Opening hours and the business lunch menuCONNECT WITH CHARLIE!📲 Mobile +34 607 911 661✉️ Email: [email protected]🔗 Website: https://charlesgubbins.com/STAY CONNECTED!📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charlieinsotogrande/👤 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charlieinsotogrande👨‍💻 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/charliegubbins🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nollsotogrande🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/charliegubbins📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@charlesgubbins