You no longer have to book a holiday to Spain to experience truly authentic Spanish cuisine, with some of the best Spanish restaurants located right here in the UK. From humble yet heroic specialities such as tortilla de patatas and pan con tomate, to Valencia’s much-loved rice dish, paella, the rise in popularity of Spanish food has led to a spurt of incredible restaurants popping up all over the country.
It’s a trend that Marcos Fernández, the CEO of Ibérica Restaurants and Arros QD, is acutely aware of. "In the last 15 years, we have seen an explosion of Spanish food in the UK. Both restaurants and retail are now striving to provide a true reflection of our [Spanish] gastronomy, which is increasingly what British customers are looking for."
But what exactly makes the best Spanish restaurants in the UK, well, the best? Every single restaurant in this list has been accredited with the Restaurants from Spain Certification, which recognises restaurants that offer high-quality Spanish food and drink and an all-round authentic dining experience. Launched in 2020 by Spanish government promotional body ICEX Trade and Investment, the accreditation is designed to establish a certain level of quality for consumers, while also providing a benchmark for future restaurateurs looking to promote Spanish cooking in other parts of the world. You can find the certification all over the globe, including a host of accredited groups right here in the UK, which can easily be recognised by the Restaurants from Spain logo.
For chef and founder of Tapas Revolution Omar Allibhoy, it’s a huge step in the right direction for the representation of Spanish cuisine in the UK. “I am so glad that the Restaurants from Spain seal of approval is now live and accessible for all Spain-loving guests, as well as those looking for a real taste of Spain. This certificate will give them the confidence and assurance to visit restaurants that champion the best Spanish products and that merit our traditions, like we do in all nine of our Tapas Revolution restaurants’’.
Not only does every single one of the hotspots in this guide serve standout dishes, they also strive to offer the best possible experience across every element of the restaurant. From serving wines sourced from a range of regional producers to employing chefs that specialise in Spanish cooking, while always using the highest-quality ingredients.
Yes, it takes a lot to be considered one of the best Spanish restaurants in the UK, but these very special restaurants have all surpassed the mark. From acclaimed Spanish chef José Pizarro’s string of eponymous restaurants, to independent joints such as Curado Bar and Hispania, discover the very best of Spanish cooking in the UK with our round-up below.
Pizarro Restaurants
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What: José Pizarro, aka the Godfather of Spanish Cooking, is the eponymous owner of this London-based empire of Spanish restaurants. After giving up a career in dentistry to focus on cooking, he opened his first restaurant in 2011, José, a small tapas bar in Bermondsey, before going on to launch Pizarro (go figure) in the same year. Since then, there’s been no stopping him. José’s restaurants are all built around the ethos of simple, seasonal food served with Spanish wines and sherries in atmospheric yet unpretentious dining rooms. He says: "Having the seal of approval from Restaurants of Spain is a huge honour, particularly because their vision resonates fully with my own. At my restaurants, my goal is to source the finest available ingredients, to respect the integrity of every ingredient and to bring people together over a shared passion for delicious food and create wonderful memories together". Diners can enjoy the restaurant's popular Russian potato salad - served in a neat disc of mashed potato and topped with confit tuna. Although, don't order too many dishes for mains so you can experience the impressive Tarta de Santiago de Peter, an almond sponge steeped in sticky raisins and caramel
Where: Various London locations
Book now – Jose Pizarro at the RA
Book now: Jose Pizarro The Swan Inn Esher, Jose Pizarro Broadgate, Pizarro, Jose
Sabor: The Counter and El Asador
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What: If José Pizarro is the godfather, Nieves Barragán Mohacho is undoubtedly the godmother. Having won Barrafina a Michelin star at the chain's original outpost, she has since risen to the very top of the UK's Spanish food scene. Those who want to experience her unique cooking style need only head to Heddon Street in Mayfair, where they will find not one but two restaurants at the same address. Upstairs is El Asador, a more relaxed setting with the welcome addition of bookable tables, banquette seating and the titular asador (a traditional wood-fired oven). Here, there is of course tapas to be enjoyed, but also larger dishes like Iberian lamb ribs, Galician beef rib or even Segovian suckling pig. Downstairs, meanwhile, is the Michelin-starred, walk-in-only Counter, where the menu changes daily, featuring fresh fish from the in-house fishmonger as well as regional dishes from all over Spain. The bar adds a further, more causal option for indulging in tapas while knocking back glasses of sherry, gin, wine or beer.
Where: London
Book now – Sabor: El Asador
Find out more: Sabor: The Counter
Ibérica
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What: Ibérica's story began back in 2007 when owners Marcos Fernandez Pardo and Nacho Manzano embarked on a mission to introduce authentic Spanish cuisine to the UK which, at the time, they felt was largely underrepresented. It was built around the concept of taking the best ingredients and traditions from their homeland to create an authentic Spanish experience for customers - and it worked! Ibérica now has seven restaurants across London and Leeds where it serves a host of classic and contemporary tapas dishes. The classic tapas plates include Spanish tortilla, pulpo, croquetas and patatas bravas, while the restaurant's own twist on tapas includes options of roasted pumpkin with labneh, fried egg and sauteed ceps, twice-cooked lamb and ribeye with confit leeks.
Where: London and Leeds
Book now – Marylebone
Book now: Canary Wharf, Victoria, Farringdon, Leeds, La Bodega
Hispania
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What: For elevated Spanish dining, look no further than Hispania in the City, which is set over two stunning floors in Lloyds Bank’s former headquarters. It’s a grand affair, with lofty ceilings, large columns and a central spiral staircase. The menu meanders through hot and cold sections before reaching signature dishes, stews and 'rices'. The arroz negro is always a popular shout, with its rich savoury notes coming from squid ink, while sweet prawns and cuttlefish ensure it's perfectly balanced. While the food offers a selection of classic Spanish dishes and tapas, the wines are an equal match - sourced from the most renowned vineyards in Spain.
Where: London
Book now – Hispania
Arros QD
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What: Everything at Arros QD revolves around the six-metre wood-fired stove, where head chef Quique Dacosta brings his passion for paella and wood-fired cooking to life. Bringing the warmth of Valencian cooking to Fitzrovia, diners can expect big flavours and modern flourishes from its unique dishes, as well as a Mediterranean wine list the length of your arm. A paella to share is a must (we love the classic Valenciana with rabbit, chicken, Garrofó beans, rosemary, veal and herb stock) but make sure to try a few 'extras' too. A side of confit artichoke is wonderfully earthy, while the wood-fire tiger prawns with brava sauce are heaven on a plate.
Where: London
Book now – Arros QD
Camino
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What: Camino is all about capturing the liveliness and vibrancy of an authentic Spanish tapas bar. The idea was sparked on a road trip across Spain in 1984, when founder Richard Bigg fell in love with the country's infectious culture and wanted to bring a piece of it back to the UK. Everything about Camino is as authentic as it can be: executive chef Nacho del Campo hails from the capital of the Basque Country and only uses the highest-quality ingredients in his traditional dishes. Think plates of the best jamón ibérico, classic patatas bravas and sauteed octopus with saffron potatoes. It also serves some of Spain’s best beers, and a carefully selected list of Spanish wines. Plus, the restaurant regularly organises staff trips for the team to meet its suppliers and experience the culture so that everyone who plays a part in your dining experience is truly invested.
Where: Various London locations
Book now – Shoreditch
Book now: Monument, King’s Cross, Bar Pepito
Grupo 44
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What: 44 Group comprises a host of restaurants across the south of England and Wales, including Bar 44 and Asador 44. The former focuses on quality ingredients served simply and with a modern touch, where equal emphasis is placed on food and drink. Asador 44, meanwhile, is a Spanish grill and wine house in Cardiff where you can sample suckling pig, fresh fish and whole legs of lamb cooked over charcoal. It also has its own online shop, Mercado 44, where you can buy artisan Spanish products to experience at home.
Where: Cardiff and Bristol
Book now – Asador 44
Book now: Bar 44 Cardiff, Bar 44 Penarth, Bar 44 Bristol
Tapas Revolution
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What: Launched in 2010, Tapas Revolution is a relaxed Spanish restaurant with sites up and down the country, from Bath to Birmingham. Expect uber friendly service and a focus on classic tapas dishes, from croquetas de jamón to gambas al ajillo (prawns cooked in a terracotta pot). Not to mention plenty of sangría, Spanish wines and cervezas.
Where: Various locations
Book now – Bath
Book now: Birmingham, Bluewater, Sheffield, Westfield, Westfield Stratford
Curado Bar
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What: Curado comes from the Spanish for ‘cured’ and is a Basque-style bar specialising in jamón and pintxos (small snacks). It also boasts its own separate wine bar, Vermut, where it serves three styles of wine (vermouth, Montilla-Moriles wine and sherry) including a number of options on tap. Enjoy alongside a selection of cured fish, meats and cheeses.
Where: Cardiff
Book now – Curado Bar
Tapas Brindisa
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What: Brindisa really does take the quality of its ingredients seriously, with the group laying claim to multiple retail outlets and delicatessens, a wholesale business, ham schools and, of course, its five acclaimed tapas bars and restaurants in London. Established 30 years ago, the name derives from the word ‘brindis’ meaning ‘to raise one’s glass in a toast’, and that’s exactly what its restaurants aim to do – to pay tribute to the people who produce the fantastic ingredients it uses in its kitchens. The décor is largely traditional and laid-back inside, allowing diners to relax while they feast on Spanish classics such as Galician padrón peppers, patatas bravas, chorizo on toast and its signature charcuterie and cheese boards.
Where: Various London locations
Book now – South Kensington
Book now: Soho, Battersea, Richmond, Borough Market
Barrafina
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What: There are four, and soon-to-be five, Barrafinas in London, but it all started when Sam and Eddie Hart opened their original site on Dean Street in Soho. Serving modern tapas in a relaxed setting, each restaurant boasts an open kitchen for guests to watch the chefs artfully create its authentic dishes, while also to better connect the customer with the kitchen team and the food they’re about to eat. The menu doesn’t overcomplicate things and offers a curated selection of tried-and-tested dishes, from tortillas to croquetas to Pluma Iberica pork with confit potatoes.
Where: Various London locations
Book now – Soho
Book now: Covent Garden Adelaide Street, Covent Garden Drury Lane, King’s Cross, Borough Yards
Parrillan
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What: Parillan comes from the same group that owns Barrafina, and currently offers two sites in Borough Yards and King’s Cross. Parillan is taken from the word ‘parilla’ meaning ‘to grill’, so you don’t need to ask twice about what these guys do best. Alongside a lengthy list of sherries, cava and Spanish wines, guests are invited to take the reins and grill over their own parillas at the table. One of its most impressive dishes has got to be a humongous wood-roast shank of veal served with super smooth olive oil mash - a true celebration of quality produce cooked over flames.
Where: Various London locations
Book now – King's Cross
Book now: Borough Yards
BiBo
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What: Although there are multiple BiBo locations across the globe, from Madrid to Málaga, this one in Shoreditch is the first UK restaurant from three Michelin-starred Spanish chef Dani García. It’s a spacious enterprise with capacity for 120 diners in the main restaurant, plus 20 more in its pretty Spanish-inspired courtyard. Serving a choice between a la carte, brunch and express lunch menus, diners can feast on an array of veggie, meat and seafood dishes including tuna belly tartare with yuzu soy marinade, sesame oil and salt cured egg yolk, gazpacho with anchovies, pistachio and feta cheese, and chorizo brioche with quail egg. Leave room for one of Dani Garcia’s paellas, his signature dish, with one particularly indulgent variation featuring a whole lobster.
Where: London
Book now – Bibo
You know what goes really well with tapas? Wine! Check out these fine wine shops that do delivery in London.