Spanish food is incredibly popular in our capital city – and let’s face it, who are we to argue? From mouthwatering slices of jamón and salt-encrusted padrón peppers to melt-in-your-mouth meat stews and flavoursome paellas, the Spanish cuisine is full of absolute winning dishes in our minds. Plus, that’s not even mentioning the tapas or the vino… From Michelin-starred establishments to hole-in-the-wall-style joints, here’s our rundown of the best Spanish restaurants in London:
1. Sabor
The word Sabor means ‘flavour’ in Spanish – a fitting name for a Michelin-starred restaurant that’ll take you on a flavourful journey from the ‘tapas bars of Andalucía through to the asadors of Castile and the seafood restaurants of Galicia’.
Situated on Heddon Street, this bustling eatery has three distinct areas – The Counter and bar on the ground floor and the El Asador on the first floor, each offering a different taste and experience of Spanish cuisine and hospitality. They’ve got all the classics on the bill here, as well as tapas and mains to share. Don’t miss out on their desserts either, which has everything from cheesecake mousse to a goat’s cheese ice cream with a liquorice sauce.
📍You’ll find Sabor at 35-37 Heddon Street, London, W1B 4BR.
🚇 Nearest station is Piccadilly Circus.
2. Barrafina
This gorgeous chain of Spanish restaurants brings you authentic tapas, an ever-changing selection of specials and a drinks menu filled to the brim with the finest Spanish sherries, cavas, and vino tintos.
Ever-popular, Barrafina’s Soho branch was once named the ‘best restaurant in Britain’ at the National Restaurant Awards, and it’s secured itself a Michelin-star. When you get a taste of their tortilla, you’ll understand why. With caramelised onions and an oozing centre so sloppy you could spread it on bread – it’s probably the best pincho you’ll ever eat outside of Spai itself. Winner, winner.
📍You’ll find Barrafina at various different locations in London. You can find out more here.
3. Brindisa
Another fantastic tapas joint here, Brindisa has five bars dotted across the city serving up authentic Spanish food to hungry Londoners. Tapas dishes here are around £4–6 per dish, and they’ll be brought out in intervals – there’s everything from vegetarian options to seafood to artisanal ham and cheeses.
The arroz negro is pretty much to die for, and the Galician octopus with capers, paprika and olive oil ain’t bad either. If you’ve room for dessert, make sure you go for the churros – they’re absolutely bloody delicious.
📍You’ll find Brindisa at various different locations in London. You can find out more here.
4. Laxeiro
This rustic family-run restaurant on Columbia Road is a great spot to enjoy authentic specials from the northwestern region of Spain. A friendly, neighbourhood-style joint, it’s a firm favourite among locals around this neck of the woods, and it started out as a lovely deli – the first of its kind in the East End.
They’ve got a whole host of tasty dishes on offer here – including saffron lamb stew, Serrano ham and chicken croquetas, plus numerous tapas dishes – but where this place really comes into its own is in its paella. It’s a tasty and traditional one with chicken, prawns, squid and saffron rice – all best washed down with a crisp glass or two of wine we say.
📍You’ll find Laxeiro at 93 Columbia Road, London, E2 7RG.
🚇 Nearest station is Hoxton.
5. El Ganso
El Ganso (meaning ‘The Goose’ in Spanish) is a chic and cosy spot right on the corner of Broadway Market – so just down the road from Laxeiro – that whips up some modern Spanish fare in a relaxed and intimate setting.
They’ve got a brilliant wine list and several delicious brunch options here, but the real star of the show here is the tapas. There are vegan and veggie options here as well as standout meat dishes including a traditional Asturian butterbean stew with chorizo and pan-cooked black tiger prawns doused in a chilli and garlic sauce. Sign us up!
📍You’ll find El Ganso at 59 Broadway Market, London, E8 4PH.
🚇 Nearest station is London Fields.
6. Pizarro
Flying in the face of restaurants dabbling in highly experimental flavour combinations, Bermondsey’s Pizarro is proudly level-headed, delivering contemporary (and delicious) Spanish cooking in a charming setting. Head chef José Pizarro took his inspiration from his grandfather’s bar in southwestern Spain, banking that Iberian cuisine done right would draw in the punters. And boy, has he been proved correct…
Ravishingly good croquetas and pan con tomate is a perfect accompaniment to the playful calamar a la plancha – grilled squid with a creamy potato, pine nut and 5J Jamón picada. Add in ox cheek cannelloni with winter truffles and Iberian ham and a roasted tomato, calçot onion and nut sauce paella and you’ve got a real winner here!
📍You’ll find Pizarro at 104 Bermondsey Street, Bermondsey, London, SE1 3UB.
🚇 Nearest station is London Bridge.
7. Ibérica
A family of modern Spanish restaurants from the celebrated, Michelin-starred chef, Nacho Manzano, Ibérica is all about classic and contemporary tapas, artisan cheeses and yummy, Valencian-style rice dishes. Mazano himself hails from the Principality of Asturias, a region of north-west Spain – so much of the lip-smackingly good grub hails from here.
Standout dishes include the paella, the wild boar fideua and the grilled octopus with potatoes and pimentón de la vera, and there are also some pretty delicious desserts on the roster too. If you’re a meat eater, don’t miss out on the jamón Ibérico, which is arguably the best that you’ll find in the whole of the capital.
📍You’ll find Ibérica at various different locations in London. You can find out more here.
8. Boqueria
Another of the best Spanish restaurants in London here, Boqueira combines traditional tapas with a real taste of the contemporary. Inspired by the Mercat de la Boqueria in Barcelona, it focuses on authentic fare, quality ingredients and speciality wines from all Spanish regions – including classics from Rioja and Ribera del Duero.
Expect lively vibes and great cocktails here, as well as specialty tapas with a modern twist like the crispy aubergine tower drizzled with spicy wild honey.
📍You’ll find Boqueria at Nine Elms, Battersea Power Station, London, SW8 4LT.
🚇 Nearest station is Battersea Park.
9. Bar Esteban
This cool, laid-back bar in Hornsey, North London, is a charming spot in which to treat yourself to tapas with some mates. Opened back in March 2013 by record producer and sherry aficionado Stephen Lironi, they specialise in sherries, dessert wines and liqueurs – as well as some delicious food too.
Head Chef Pablo Rodriguez trained at the Michelin-starred Jean-Luc Figueres in his native Barcelona, and standout plates include grilled octopus with pea puree and tarragon and Iberian pork with ajo blanco and wild mushrooms.
📍You’ll find Bar Esteban at 29 Park Road, London, N8 8TE.
🚇 Nearest stations are Hornsey and Highgate.
10. Sagardi
Another real tribute to the Basque Country here, Sagardi is all about using the very best produce to cook sincere and authentic fare that would take pride of place at the family dinner table.
Served in a casual, no-nonsense space with an added butcher’s shop (so maybe not one for the vegetarians), they specialise in meat, fish and tasty ‘txuleton’ barbecue grills. There’s even a section on their menu billed as ‘Grandma’s Home Cooking’ – and you can’t beat that now can you?!
📍You’ll find Sagardi at Cordy House, 95 Curtain Road, London, EC2A 3BS.
🚇 Nearest station is Old Street.
11. Hispania
Admire the glorious decor and colourful tiles of this beautiful restaurant and bar, while you tuck into sumptuous Spanish food from award-winning chef Marcos Moran.
Set just a stone’s throw away from Bank station, they rustle up some pretty epic stews here, as well as local classics such as monkfish fritters, roasted suckling pig and a filo pastry filled with a blend of Spanish cheeses. They’ve also got a bloomin’ great wine list too.
📍You’ll find Hispania at 72-74 Lombard Street, London, EC3V 9AY.
🚇 Nearest station is Bank.
12. El Pirata
Well deserving of its spot on this roundup of the best Spanish restaurants in London, El Pirata is an iconic spot which boasts a whole host of dedicated regulars and even the occasional celeb too!
The delicious food and friendly Spanish atmosphere here will have you feeling like you’re in Madrid, not Mayfair, and they also do a fantastic set lunch menu for just £15.95. It includes two tapas dishes, and you can also add on a dessert for just an extra fiver.
📍You’ll find El Pirata at 5 – 6 Down Street, London, W1J 7AQ.
🚇 Nearest station is Green Park.
13. Lurra
Lurra also specialises in traditional cuisine from the Basque region of Spain. In fact, ‘Lurra’ literally translates to ‘land’ in the Basque language, and all the food served at this airy restaurant is dedicated to producing authentic dishes that showcase all the best natural, well-sourced produce of the region.
You can’t really go wrong with the menu here, but if you like meat, then you’ve got to go for some of their succulent steaks, which are all grilled over charcoal. Other winners include the whole-grilled wild turbot, octopus with pequillo and their signature burnt Basque cheesecake.
📍You’ll find Lurra at 9 Seymour Place, London, W1H 5BA.
🚇 Nearest station is Marble Arch.
14. Bar Tozino
Our penultimate entry onto this roundup of the best Spanish restaurants in London, Bar Tozino is a real hidden gem, tucked under the railway arches of Maltby Street in Bermondsey.
It’s the perfect spot for those who love jamón and great Spanish wine, and is styled to look like a traditional Spanish bodega, with hams hanging from the ceiling and traditional wooden decor donning the walls. It’s also fairly cheap too, so you’ll get plenty of bang for your buck at this one!
📍You’ll find Bar Tozino at Lassco Ropewalk, Maltby Street, London, SE1 3PA.
🚇 Nearest station is Bermondsey.
15. LOBOS
Rounding off this list of the best Spanish restaurants in London is another one for the carnivores among you – as is to be expected from a restaurant whose name translates as ‘wolves’.
They also do amazing tapas such as grilled octopus, roasted aubergine and prawns in chilli and garlic oil. The wine ain’t bad either…
📍You’ll find LOBOS at 48 Frith Street, London, W1D 4SG and 14 Borough High Street, London, SE1 9QG.
🚇 Nearest stations are Tottenham Court Road and London Bridge.
So there you have it – a roundup of the best Spanish restaurants in London. Whether you’re looking to pick away at some tapas or fill your boots with paella and piping hot stew, then this list should have you covered!