The best Spanish restaurants in London

Sabor is a Michelin-starred Spanish restaurant on Soho's Heddon Street, founded by the former executive chef and operations director of Barrafina. It features three distinct areas spread across two floors, offering an overview of Spain's varied flavours and settings. The Counter on the ground floor provides an array of tapas dishes, meat and vegetable specialties, and a daily fish menu. El Asador on the first floor offers Galician and Castilian dishes cooked in a traditional wood-fired oven, along with upmarket tapas. The ground floor bar serves tapas and a variety of drinks, including Spanish wines, sherries, cocktails, and spirits.

Brat is an upscale restaurant that draws inspiration from Basque culinary techniques, resulting in a diverse menu that features an abundance of grilled and fish-based dishes. The restaurant's excellent work has been recognized with a coveted Michelin star. Additionally, the wine list is extensive and includes a monthly highlight of a particular wine, offering diners a glimpse into its origins and characteristics. 

The Tapas Brindisa restaurants serve an array of small plates, which include everything from traditional snacks such as Padron peppers and marinated anchovies to cheese and charcuterie boards, grilled delicacies, and much more. Outdoor seating is usually available so you can take full advantage of any warm weather that comes your way, while the chic interiors chase any rainy-day blues away. The company also operates several delis, where you can treat yourself with quality Spanish products.

Bar Kroketa is a modern and chic establishment that's centred around the tapas that have made its parent group famous, but with a particular focus on one type in particular: crunchy croquettes that are filled with delectable ingredients. The menu of croquettes is continually evolving, and customers can pair them with Spanish small plates, as well as a selection of wines, sherries, and cocktails.

El Norte is a sophisticated Spanish restaurant in Mayfair, serving signature dishes such as truffle tortilla, creamy croquettes, and premium stone-cooked steak, along with a curated selection of Spanish wines. The restaurant also features a chic lounge area, where guests can savour Spanish cocktails and house-made sangria while enjoying the sounds of electronic and Spanish music played by resident DJs throughout the week.

Decimo, a high-end Mexican-Spanish fusion restaurant located high above King's Cross, offers meat, fish, and vegetarian choices with Mexican and Spanish influences, including signature dishes such as the Decimo Tortilla, a quesadilla with 50g of caviar. Brunch is available on Saturdays, and there's a daily set menu for weekday lunches. Decimo's cocktail menu includes non-alcoholic concoctions, as well as an extensive selection of traditional Mexican spirits. Private dining is also available for up to 50 people.

The Barrafina group offers traditional Spanish tapas throughout London. The concept is straightforward: an open kitchen with bar seating that allows patrons to observe the chefs as they craft the small dishes that are fundamental to Spanish cuisine. Each restaurant has its daily specials, and the food is so good that the original Soho location received a Michelin star, which it held until 2024.

At the Parrillan restaurants, diners can enjoy the unique experience of cooking their own food on miniature grills on the terrace. Guests can select from a variety of meat, fish, and vegetables with sides and desserts. The wine list features Spanish products like cava, and cocktail lovers can choose from a dedicated Spanish G&T menu.

Laxeiro, a family-operated restaurant, has been serving traditional Spanish cuisine in a rustic atmosphere to the East End community for more than four decades. Their menu features popular dishes such as classic tapas, paella, and bocadillo sandwiches. The vibrant and inviting neighbourhood establishment is particularly popular with Columbia Road marketgoers, catering to them with Sunday-only breakfasts.

The acclaimed Spanish chef and restaurateur José Pizarro operates several eateries in London. There's the snug José Tapas Bar for tapas and sherry in Southwark, the elegant wood-panelled Pizarro nearby with an impressive wine list, and the opulent dining room at the Royal Academy of Arts, among others. Whichever one you go to, expect plenty of delicious Spanish tapas, wines, and vibes.

The opulent Aqua Nueva is a contemporary Spanish restaurant situated above Regent Street, providing an indoor dining area in addition to two cosy roof terraces that offer unobstructed views of the Central London skyline. Whether you choose to dine indoors or on the lounge-style terraces, you can indulge in a range of Spanish menus, such as pre-theatre and brunch selections. The menu features tapas and croquettes that are ideal for sharing.

Although Italy and Spain aren't adjacent, they share a border at Salt Yard Group's restaurants. This various eateries around the capital offer a variety of small dishes from both countries, juxtaposing jamón and mortadella, pecorino and Manchego, courgette flowers and patatas bravas. From the cosy tapas-and-wine offerings at the original Salt Yard to the wood-fired grills of Ember Yard, these restaurants serve as a delicious reminder that borders are above all just lines on a map.

Moro, established in the latter half of the 1990s, emerged from a gastronomic exploration of the Mediterranean. The restaurant gained widespread recognition for its ground-breaking small plates that blend North African and Spanish flavours. Various culinary styles merge in innovative tapas and mains, such as sea bream and gambas roja ceviche or charcoal-grilled lamb with aubergine, gum mastic & saffron pilaf and caçik.

Stephen Lironi, a Grammy-nominated record producer, sensed an opportunity when he read how underappreciated Scottish seafood is ending up in Spain, and Escocesa is one of the results. It features a curved steel counter and open kitchen where Scottish seafood is prepared and served alongside classic Spanish small plates, as well as unique delicacies like courgette flowers and highland venison. The drinks menu includes Spanish wines and sherries, cocktails, and even natural Basque cider. Escocesa's siblings Maresco and Bar Esteban are worth a visit too.

El Ganso Cafe, situated in the bustling Broadway Market, is led by the acclaimed Valencian chef Marcelo Sánchez Cabrera. The restaurant's kitchen utilises seasonal ingredients to offer an extensive range of contemporary tapas dishes and off-menu specials, perfectly paired with a variety of Spanish wines and spirits. Additionally, El Ganso Cafe serves classic breakfast and brunch options with a Spanish twist. Outdoor seating is available.

After emerging from lockdown, the creative tapas spot Trangallan transformed into Tranga, which now functions as a restaurant, bar, and market focused on ethical Spanish products. The refurbished neighbourhood eatery offers a hyper-seasonal Galician menu that changes daily and features an array of authentic tapas, including chorizo picante, boquerones, and tortilla, along with seafood and meat plates. Tranga also offers a selection of fine Spanish wines to complement your meal.

Hispania, located on the ground floor of the Lloyds Bank building, boasts a vast space with elegant seating, beautiful tiles, and abundant natural light. It's supposedly the largest Spanish eatery in Europe. The menu, designed by a Michelin-starred chef, features an array of authentic tapas and is complemented by a selection of fine Spanish wines. The grand marble bar is styled in the finest Madrid fashion.

Meson Don Felipe is a family-run restaurant that has been serving tapas and Spanish wines since 1987. The cosy interior is decorated with traditional Spanish elements and features live guitar music every night. The extensive menu includes more than 40 tapas dishes suitable for vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. Wine from various regions of Spain is available by the glass, carafe, or bottle, as well as a selection of sherries and gins.

Clad in tiles and wood, Copita and Barrica are tapas bars that diligently emulate the social and relaxed atmosphere of Spain's tapas bars. The menu features classic dishes like patatas bravas and chorizo, as well as Moorish-influenced options such as burnt aubergine with labneh and pomegranate. They exclusively serve Spanish wine, along with a selection of Spanish beers and sherries.

Ibérica is a well-known Spanish restaurant group in London, founded by Michelin-starred chef Nacho Manzano, that helped popularise authentic Spanish cuisine in the capital. The menu showcases dishes from all over the Iberian Peninsula, with a focus on Manzano's Asturian roots. You can enjoy tapas and wine in a chic and comfortable setting at one of the several branches around the city.

Dani García, one of the world's most renowned chefs, has brought the taste of Andalusia to Shoreditch with his first London outpost, BiBo. This sophisticated Spanish restaurant is located in the basement of the Mondrian Hotel and has a vibrant urban atmosphere, serving contemporary tapas dishes, and an Instagram-worthy paella. They also offer brunch options.

Cambio de Tercio, an upscale restaurant known for its vibrant decor, boasts a notable clientele that includes Wimbledon tennis players, including the legendary Rafael Nadal, who considers it his favourite dining spot in London. Other celebrities, drawn by the restaurant's creative tapas that blend traditional flavours with contemporary techniques and global influences, or the award-winning selection of Spanish wines, can also be found here often. For a more relaxed setting, head across the road to sibling restaurant Tendido Cero.

Several times a year, the team at the Camino restaurants embarks on a trip to Spain to bask in the sun and immerse themselves in the culture, bringing back a touch of Spain to London. The cosy and inviting restaurants, adorned with brick and wood, offer a diverse range of Spanish delicacies, ranging from an extensive selection of tapas to entrees prepared on the Basque grills. Complementing the cuisine is a carefully curated wine list. 

Boqueria, taking inspiration from the renowned food market in Barcelona, offers an authentic taste of Spain by incorporating culinary traditions and sourcing premium ingredients from the country. The restaurant features a variety of classic dishes, including Iberian pork shoulder, chorizo with cider, baby squid, and padron peppers. Guests can dine beneath a ceiling adorned with harvest baskets or in the coxy covered terrace area.

Located in Stoke Newington, this restaurant features a menu of genuine Spanish tapas dishes, with a particular focus on Ibérico pork sourced from dehesa farms in Spain. The head chef, David, hails from the remote town of Extremadura in Spain and draws inspiration from his roots to create authentic and flavourful dishes. The cosy atmosphere is illuminated by candlelight and features traditional Spanish flamenco music, making for a warm and inviting dining experience.

Donostia's Basque-inspired open kitchen takes a dedicated approach to creating tapas and pintxo snacks using high-quality seasonal ingredients and a team of skilled chefs to honour the region's cuisine. Guests can indulge in a variety of upscale small plates, including squid a la plancha with ink sauce and Ibérico pork tenderloin, as well as classic dishes like tortilla and patatas bravas. The drinks menu offers a carefully curated selection of Spanish wines, sherries, and spirits, adding to the authentic dining experience.

Sagardi is a traditional Spanish restaurant that uses the highest quality seasonal ingredients from Spain to create classic Basque dishes, such as morcilla sausage and txuleton beef cuts prepared in-house. Located in the historic Cordy House, the restaurant features wooden floors and furnishings, all set beneath exposed industrial ceilings. Guests can relax in the pintxo bar or the main dining area, or reserve a private dining space for special occasions.

El Pirata is a well-regarded Mayfair-based tapas restaurant, reputed for serving high-quality food at affordable prices. A big hit is their set lunch menu, offering two tapas dishes, bread, aioli, and a soft drink. They offer brunch on Saturdays and their main menu boasts an extensive variety of tapas, such as cheeses and cold meats. To complement the dishes, the restaurant offers a broad selection of over 140 Spanish wines.

Lobos Meat and Tapas is a restaurant group that embraces carnivorous cravings by serving prime Ibérico pork alongside quality wine. The elegant and rustic locations offer a variety of meat-centric tapas, including ribeye steak, meatballs, and marinated pork fillet. Additionally, classic Spanish tapas such as tortillas, chorizo, and patatas bravas are available on the menu.

Having successfully established their concept of hijacking Scottish seafood on its way to Spain, Maresco is another project from the team that brought us Bar Esteban and Escocesa. Serving Spanish seafood dishes off a loose, changing menu, Maresco features a ground-floor kitchen counter and more intimate seating in the basement. There's also a list of Spanish sherries and wines to peruse at your leisure.