our story
AN INSPIRATION
Aventura began, like many seductive ideas, with creative humans seeking adventure. When restaurateur Sava Farah bought the 1800s building Aventura exists in, she was immediately inspired by the history, the patina, and the character of the space. Perhaps most significantly she fell in love with an antique table left behind by the previous owner – a symbol of the moments shared between people and the love of food, drink and overflowing hospitality.
She gathered her team around that table, in the stone carved basement of this building, and was immediately transported to another place – old world, wine and cheeses, music and conversation, candlelight… tapas.
A CREATIVE JOURNEY
Following that transformative experience, a creative journey to Spain is where the seed of inspiration truly began to blossom. In the spirit of adventure, Sava and her team flew to Spain and immersed themselves in the Spanish experience, dining and imbibing on masterfully crafted Spanish gastronomy, delicious wines and gin & tonics. They discovered new ingredients, studied the design and architecture, basked in the culture and honed their vision for an authentic and meaningful Spanish restaurant in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Aventura is an expression of our love – our love for adventure, authenticity, and hospitality.
A DESTINATION
The same table (“La Mesa”) that inspired the restaurant and the trip to Spain now sits proudly in the Aventura dining room - a continuing symbol of Sava and her team’s coming together over the love of Spanish dining – a deeply social experience intended for sharing in the joys of food, drink, conversation and laughter.
Aventura provides a thrill for any palate and the soul transporting you to another place as soon as you walk into the captivating dining room featuring rustic brick arches, original stonework, and a sleek central bar serving an array of Spanish wines, exotic cocktails, modern Spanish-inspired tapas and authentic Valencian paella.
Literally carved from the bones of the original space (b. 1872) and utilizing classic Spanish design elements tied together by a collection of works by local artists. The dining room and bar are intentionally intertwined, once again reiterating the deeply social experience of traditional Spanish tapas bars.
Modern tapas, world-renowned Valencian paella, and overflowing hospitality in the heart of Downtown Ann Arbor.
ann arbor, michigan