Best Spanish Restaurants In London

Just like UNO is the #1 game in Spain, The Best Spanish Restaurants In London (as recommended by us) are exactly as they suggest:

The Best Spanish Restaurants In London…
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Barrafina | Soho, Covent Garden, King’s Cross, London Bridge

Arguably London’s most prodigious, wild, atmospheric, jovial Spanish restaurants. If you want to argue with us. Head chef Antonio Gonzales Milla’s menu of authentic Catalan tapas goes hand-in-hand with the hospitality nous of the Hart Brothers (also behind Quo Vadis and the El Pastor restaurants) in marble-lined, mostly counter dining-only settings.

Details: Covent Garden, Soho, Covent Garden (again), King’s Cross, Borough Yards | Book Barrafina
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Sabor | Mayfair

Mucho ruido y pocas nueces: “Lots of noise, very few nuts” – Spanish proverb

Luckily, the hype around Sabor’s opening and its founder, former Barrafina chef Nieves Barragan Mohacho, was entirely justified. Set across two floors on the secluded Heddon Street – probably the closest London can get to authentic Spanish back street dining – Sabor offers both tapas, flowing thick and fast over the counter in front of the open kitchen, and larger grill dishes from the asador, served upstairs. It speaks to its quality and authenticity that Sabor became a Michelin Star restaurant within a year of opening.

Details: 35-37 Heddon Street, W1B 4BR | Book Sabor
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Bar Kroketa | Soho, Marylebone

As the name suggests (provided that you can understand a bit of random Basque), Bar Kroketa specialises in croquetas; those stuffed fried balls that you can never resist ordering as an appetiser whenever you’re at a Spanish restaurant. Well, now they’ve got a dedicated restaurant of their own – a corridor-like, counter-orientated space at the foot of Kingly Court  – courtesy of the Tapas Brindisa team. They’ve given the tapas staple headline status through a daily-changing menu of fillings that have (so far) featured jamón; king prawn and prawn head aioli; piquillo peppers and manchego cheese; and even dessert versions like chocolate & salted caramel. If you’re more interested in the other part of the name – the bar part – they do wines, cocktails, sherries, caña (a small glass of a draught beer) vermúts and sidra, which is like a hard Spanish cider.

Details: 21 Beak Street, W1F 9RR | 23 Barrett Street, W1U 1BF | Book Bar Kroketa
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José Tapas Bar | London Bridge

If you were to walk down a cobbled and narrow San Sebastián side street and unsuspectingly find a hidden gem of simple, authentic and perfectly executed tapas with a range of local Spanish wines… well, you’d probably be reminded of José Tapas Bar, in London. Chef José Pizarro is slowly building an empire along Bermondsey Street, so if José’s full – or you’re in a bigger group, and need slightly more substantial seating than stools around a barrel – try Pizarro or Lolo instead…

Details: 104 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3UB | No reservations
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Pizarro | London Bridge

Combine NYC’s Lower East Side – the exposed brickwork, the intimate glow emanating from industrial light fittings, the dark wood and the naked concrete – with the warm buzz of large communal tables, sharing plates and the best in seasonal Spanish fare. El resultado: Pizarro.

Details: 194 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3TQ | Book Pizarro
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Lolo | London Bridge

Either this is the last restaurant José Pizarro will be opening on Bermondsey Street, or he’ll need to make some changes by deed poll – but Lolo is his latest opening, a tongue-in-cheek reference to his middle name of Manuel. It says a lot that, despite being his third eatery on the street, Lolo has been pretty much packed out since opening in the summer. And that’s down to the excellent Spanish fare being served here, which includes – for the first time – Pizarro’s take on breakfast.

Details: 102 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3UB | Book Lolo
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Lita | Marylebone

Lita is getting a lot of people fired up. It’s a gorgeously put-together spot in a quiet pocket of Marylebone, where chef Luke Ahearne (ex-Corrigan’s Mayfair) is performing actual magic over an open flame. Some of the highlights on his Mediterranean, but mostly Spanish-leaning, menu include smoked Basque sardines, langoustine baked rice and fire-scorched Galician beef rib. And sure, it’ll clear out your overdraft to dine here. But if you’re looking for somewhere to enjoy a blow-out meal, you might as well go down in a blaze of glory…

Details: 7-9 Paddington Street, W1U 5QH | Book a table at Lita
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Boqueria | Battersea

Boqueria: An upbeat, Michelin-recommended Spanish restaurant, bar and terrace with a fresh, modern menu that happily marries traditional and contemporary tapas dishes.

Details: 278 Queenstown Road, Nine Elms, London SW8 4LT | Book Boqueria
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Ibai | Barbican

Some people argue that the marbled, uniquely flavourful meat of Galician ex-dairy cows is like the aged red wine of steak. And if anyone’s got the chops to do txuleton justice, it’s the people who have been importing the stuff directly from Spanish farmers for the past 10 years. So Txuleta founder Nemanja Borjanovic has joined forces with ex-Chiltern Firehouse chef Richard Foster to open Ibai, a Spanish steakhouse in a gorgeous revamped factory space.

Details: 90 Bartholomew Close, London, EC1 7BN | Book a table at Ibai
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Capote Y Toros | Kensington

At Capote Y Toros you will: sip manzanillas, amontillados and moscatels (or any of the other 125 sherries on the drinks menu) while listening to Spanish guitar from the singing chef, sampling tapas and watching waiters break into impromptu dance. Enjoy.

Details: 157 Old Brompton Road, SW5 0LJ | Book Capote y Toros
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Morito | Clerkenwell, Hackney

The Morito restaurants are a pair of laid-back Spanish eateries found in the heart of Exmouth Market and on the fringes of Shoreditch respectively, combining a buzzing atmosphere, personable waitstaff, tapas, cocktails, sherries and an all-Spanish wine and beer menu. Book into the bar below the Hackney restaurant on Tuesdays to enjoy a best-hits set menu alongside live music.

Details: 32 Exmouth Market, EC1R 4QE | Book Exmouth Market | 195 Hackney Road, London E2 8JL | Book Hackney
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Tollington’s | Finsbury Park

Tollington’s is the latest, manically popular opening from the team behind The Plimsoll. And sure, it might not sound extremely Spanish, but that’s because they’ve kept the name from the space’s previous incarnation as a chippie. That, and the glimmering silver counter at its heart, which now houses delicacies like the famous devilled crab choux fritters. The vibe is very much your childhood holiday in Majorca, with punters either perched up on stools or huddled round aluminium tables on the pavement out front, devouring Iberian seafood classics like plancha-grilled prawns and garlicky pilpil hake. Oh, and the chips – masquerading as patatas bravas under pools of fragrant sauces – are banging.

Details: 172 Tollington Park, N4 3AJ | Make a booking at Tollington’s here, or try walking in
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Parrillan | King’s Cross, London Bridge

Siblings and neighbours to (two of) the Barrafina restaurants, the terraces at Parrillan King’s Cross and Parrillan Borough Yards are Spanish restaurants with a difference. Because alongside the shady al fresco seating, fine sherries and cocktails by the jug-load, they also have a chef who knows exactly, without even a whisper of discussion, how you like your food cooked – you. Thanks to your personal table top grill (or parrillan), it’s all in your hands…

Details: Coal Drops Yard, Bagley Walk, N1C 4AB | 4 Dirty Lane, London, SE1 9PA | Book Parrillan
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Moro | Clerkenwell

Moro is Morito’s big brother, neighbour, and London’s original (and still best) British / North-African / Spanish restaurant with post-industrial decor…

Details: 34-36 Exmouth Market, EC1R 4QE | Book Moro
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Topa | Holloway Road

Given that, by day, Provisions is a fancy AF deli slinging artisanal cheese, meats and wine, it’s not a total leap of the imagination to think it could make quite a good tapas bar, too. So by night, the place transforms into Topa, an intimate little spot where ex-Leroy chef Simon Shand puts together Basque-style pintxos like grilled peppers topped with melting goats cheese, plus larger dishes like veal tartare, and sautéed mushrooms with a raw egg yolk.

Details: 167 Holloway Road, London, N7 8LX | Book on 020 7700 0476, or just walk in
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Ember Yard | Soho

Ember Yard is the 4th restaurant for Ben Tish and Simon Mullins, boasting an open-plan kitchen with a custom-built charcoal grill; ensuring that the whole menu is in line with traditional Basque grilling and smoking techniques. Including the cocktails.

Details: 60-61 Berwick Street, W1F 88X | Book Ember Yard
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Copita | Soho

Copita is a relaxed, chic, unconventional tapas bar in the heart of Soho with low-lighting, white subway tiles, dark wood seating… and a boatload of popular acclaim for its authentic rendition of Northern Spanish nueva cocina.

Details: 26 D’Arblay Street, W1F 8EL | Book Copita
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Donostia | Marylebone

Donostia is all about authenticity. In both the food (thanks to head chef Tomasz Baranski), and in the drinks list. Because alongside the carefully sourced wine list is the local Basque cider speciality, which requires an unusual pouring method (from above head height) in order to increase “aeration”. Wear something splash-proof.

Details: 10 Seymour Place, W1H 7ND | Book Donostia
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Tranga | Newington Green

Formerly Trangallán, Tranga may have lost some letters but it’s kept all of its romantic, sherry-drenched charm. By day, tables spill out onto the street outside, and by night, flickering candles illuminate the array of antique furniture and bric-a-brac scattered around the restaurant. The food here is Galician in origin, with Celtic influences (sounds like an odd combo, but it’s apparently a centuries-old connection). Expect hearty stews, fragrant seafood dishes and the traditional Tarta de Santiago, an almond tart dreamt up during medieval pilgrimages.

Details: 61 Newington Green, N16 9PX | Book Tranga
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Maresco | Soho

Speaking of Celtic influences, Maresco comes from the team behind Stoke Newington’s Escocesa, a paragon of Spanish-Scottish dining (and till now, probably the only place specialising in Spanish-Scottish dining). Buzzy counter seating combines with inventive dishes like oysters with green gazpacho and Highland venison with grape mustard… and a very lengthy drinks list.

Details: 45 Berwick St, London W1F 8SF | Book Maresco
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Laxeiro | Hackney

Laxeiro has sat on Columbia Road for 40 years, and it shows; in the warm welcome, the comfortable interiors and the assured home-style cooking inspired by owner Isabel’s childhood in rural Galicia. Slow-cooked Ibérico pork cheeks; charred octopus scattered with salt and paprika; mouthwatering chickpeas sautéed with spinach and peppers – there’s enough here for everyone to feel like they managed to sneak their favourite dish into the order. Add in a jug of sangria and a table outside in summer, and you can really re-Lax…

Details: 93 Columbia Road, London E2 7RG | Book Laxeiro
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Salt Yard | Fitzrovia

Salt Yard is an award-winning Spanish restaurant & bar where you can 1) Enjoy a full spread of tapas, 2) Enjoy a glass of red wine, a coffee and a perfect martini with a handful of Marcona almonds, or 3) Enjoy it all.

Details: 54 Goodge Street, W1T 4NA | Book here

 

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