These Are The Best Spanish Restaurants In London
If you’ve waved goodbye to the sandy Ibizian shores for another summer or can’t make it to Barcelona, enjoy the next best thing and book yourself into one of these Spanish restaurants in London.
From tapas spots perfect for sharing to date night destinations and restaurants by world-renowned chefs, these are the best Spanish restaurants in London worth trying.
José Pizarro Restaurants
Since opening his first restaurant, José Pizarro has built something of a Spanish dynasty in London. Alongside the original tapas bar came a restaurant in Broadgate Circle, which specialises in serving croquettes and Jamón to hedgefund managers, and The Swan, a gastropub in Surrey, which also hosts a number of rooms so you can roll straight into bed after eating your bodyweight in paella.
Then there’s the Bermondsey stronghold – three restaurants all in the area. There’s Pizarro, a casual dining restaurant, José, which specialises in tapas, and newly opened Lolo, his first all-day dining spot.
Look forward to dishes such as croquetas de jamón Iberico; pan con tomate – toasted bread with garlic, Catalan tomatoes and Pizarro extra virgin olive oil; Pulpo a la plancha con crema de patata y pimentón – grilled octopus with creamy potato, egg white caviar and paprika; and chorizo al vino – slow cooked chorizo in red wine with quince.
where: Various Locations
website: www.josepizarro.com
El Norte
For Mayfair elegance, El Norte needs to be your port of call. Created by Spanish twins Arian and Alberto Zandi – the team behind Zuaya, Riviera and Como Garden – this restaurant transports its guests to Spain in an instant. You’ll find traditional dishes adapted to a modern setting.
Signature dishes include the indulgent truffle and manchego cheese tortilla; creamy ham croquettes with guacamole; glazed Iberian pork with celeriac puree; and Dénia carabineros with olive oil and garlic.
where: 19-20 Dover Street, Mayfair, W1S 4LU
website: www.el-norte.co.uk
Barrafina
Barrafina does dining a little differently. Home to five locations spread across the city, the restaurant boasts an intimate number of red leather stools and a marble-topped bar, allowing guests to peek into kitchen life and watch the chefs at work.
The restaurant specialises in modern Spanish tapas, filled with favourites including prawn and piquillo pepper tortilla; cured monkfish; chicken thigh with romesco; and patatas bravísimas.
where: Various Locations
website: www.barrafina.co.uk
Parrillan
Home to two restaurants in Coal Drops Yard and Borough Yards, Parrillan is named after the Spanish word, ‘Parilla’, meaning grill. As you could have guessed, the restaurant specialises in grill and wood-fired cooking.
At Parrillan Borough Yards, you can let the experts serve up a show for you, with menu highlights including oxtail and kale from the wood fire oven, mussels and grilled squid from the grill; and indulgent lemon meringue pie with lemon sorbet.
Borough Yards & Coal Drops Yard
www.parrillan.co.uk
Tapas Brindisa
Whether you’re after riverside views in Richmond or an easy lunch in central, Tapas Brindisa is always a good idea. Serving traditional tapas, the restaurant group sources the finest ingredients from across Spain and its islands. It’s like experiencing the real deal without Spain’s balmy climes.
Share with the table and order the Brindisa charcuterie or seafood platter, as well as the chorizo de León – chargrilled León chorizo on toast with piquillo and rocket; Merluza con pisto – hake with ‘pisyo’ slow roasted Mediterranean veg and summer girolles; patatas bravas; and esqueixada – salt cod salad with tomatoes, olives, red peppers and Tolosana black beans.
where: Various Locations
website: www.brindisakitchens.com
Sabor
Translating to ‘flavour’ in Spanish, Sabor is a family-run restaurant inspired by the tapas bars of Andalucía, the seafood restaurants of Galicia and the asadors of Castile.
The restaurant is split into three distinct sections. Begin on the ground floor where you’ll find The Counter serving up a daily changing menu of fresh fish. Freshly prepared by the in-house fishmonger, the space operates on a walk-in basis only so head down early to get your table.
Up the spiral staircase, you’ll find El Asador. Home to banquette seating and an open kitchen, the space specialises in dishes from the Galicia and Castile regions. Expect wood-fired specialities here.
where: 35-37 Heddon Street, W1B 4BR
website: www.saborrestaurants.co.uk
Lita
Less than a year after opening, Lita already established itself as a must-visit destination with its innovative yet approachable approach to European cuisine.
Known for his bold flavours, thoughtful sourcing, and modern twist on classic European dishes, Lita has brought something special to London and was rewarded with a Michelin star earlier this year. The menu combines traditional and contemporary Spanish influences, celebrating seasonal ingredients while showcasing culinary artistry and flair.
where: 7-9 Paddington St, London W1U 5QH
website: www.litamarylebone.com
Brat
Brat summer might be over, but there are still more than enough reasons to head to this lovely restaurant perched on the first floor of a pub. Don’t judge it by its discreet location – led by Chef Tomos Parry, Brat got itself a Michelin star within six months of opening. Inspired by the cooking techniques of the Basque country, your visit might just be a slightly smokey one with chefs cooking over fire here. Meat eaters and seafood lovers will love this one, and the menu takes you from the affordable (lamb ribs for £11) to the steep (a whole turbot fish for £185).
Where: 4 Redchurch Street, Hackney, E1 6JL
Website:www.bratrestaurant.com
Ibai
Head Chef Richard Foster, formerly of Chiltern Firehouse, is behind London’s new 80-seater Basque steak restaurant, Ibai. You can expect dishes like king crab rice, boudin blanc black pudding, tuna t-bone, Aldabia corn-fed chicken and of course, classic steaks. The wine list also champions Basque producers with mature vintages of sought-after classics such as Vega Sicilia and Lopez de Heredia.
Where: 90 Bartholomew Close
Website: www.ibai.london
Tollington’s
Iberian fish bar Tollington’s has already stolen the hearts of North London and become one the most buzzy spots in the city. The team behind Four Legs took over what was the old fish and chip shop on Finsbury Park, keeping the same old-school vibe and impeccable quality. You can get a takeaway from the bar or choose to eat in, with a handful of tables and stools available in the back.
where: 172 Tollington Park, Finsbury Park, London N4 3AJ
book here
BiBo
Under the watchful eye of chef Dani García, BiBo is the optimal spot for a buzzy Shoreditch lunch or dinner. One of the best Andalusian chefs working in London, you can expect big things from the menu.
Begin with a tapas selection featuring the likes of chorizo brioche with quail egg; tuna belly tartar; bibo grilled avocado with coriander pesto, feta cheese and crème fraîche; and cod fritters with aioli. Before venturing onto one of the epic sharing paellas, from the whole grilled blue lobster to the roasted chicken.
where: 45 Curtain Road, Shoreditch, EC2A 3PT
website: www.book.ennismore.com
