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With the slightly clubby feel of a basement bar, BIBO adds to the line-up of Shoreditch’s best restaurants. This high-end tapas spot comes from Dani Garcia, who owns and runs his eponymous three Michelin starred restaurant in Spain and has a clutch of sibling BIBO sites across the globe.

When faced with world-renowned accolades it’s hard not to have sky high expectations and on arrival the team sets the tone for a meal that’s both familiar feeling yet fun. The cheery front of house staff are there in droves and throughout your meal it’s never long before you’re checked on. Once shown to your seat you can appreciate the level of investment ploughed into this space. Embroidered branded napkins sit atop generously sized and spaced tables surrounded by cosy velvet chairs and banquette seating. Bespoke sculptural elements include a cloud of hundreds of porcelain fish suspended overhead. This is big budget stuff.

The classy cocktails are reason to visit alone (and dare we say, even better than the food), with the central bar the main focal point in the dining room. It's this spot that acts as the stage for experienced mixologists to perform from, a team that turns out wonderfully complex-sounding serves. The results are really, really good drinks that are both strong and smooth.

While there are mains and family sharers on the menu, we plumped for tapas where familiar favourites like calamari and patatas bravas sit alongside house specials such as an oxtail brioche or signature croquetas. The former is just a couple of bites but rich enough to share between two, while the croquetas are silky soft and richly flavoured with jamon. Even simple plates like pan con tomate are deftly handled and elevated with the use of high-quality ingredients and spot-on seasoning. The main issue we have with tapas is squashed too, with no snippy portions but instead generous serves of sharing-style food.

On our visit food came so fast that we’re done and dusted in an hour, which for the price seems a little too speedy, but did nod to a team who were efficient and eager to please and we have no doubt if we'd asked to pace things a little more gently our request would have been accommodated. 

Found on the lower ground floor of the Mondrian Shoreditch (formerly The Curtain hotel), BIBO is the first UK restaurant from three Michelin-starred Spanish chef Dani Garcia.

Although the concept is new to these shores, Garcia already operates four other BIBO locations, in Marbella, Madrid, Tarifa, Doha and Malaga. The Shoreditch location has room for a total of 120 diners, including 20 on the ‘Spanish courtyard’ and a further 12 in a private dining room on the floor below.

BIBO’s dining room is a calm and inviting space showcasing a natural colour palette - think light oak floors, soft clay rendered walls and reflective surfaces. The space also subtly references Andalusia through the use of rose-coloured handmade tiles, bordeaux red arched wall features and limed oak joinery. Other stylish elements include antique tan leather and teal and rose fabrics, plus oversized rattan pendant lights which bounce light between the polished copper walls.

There is also a central island bar, where you will find a statement mirrored raft and globe light housed within a copper rod structure (a nod to the hot air balloon which features in other BIBO restaurants globally). Outside, the Spanish Courtyard is an all-weather oasis, complete with bold red walls, hanging plants and wooden fans beneath a retracting glass roof.

BIBO is known for bringing a fine-dining twist to the tapas bar concept and the Shoreditch location is no exception. From the menu, guests can expect to indulge with BIBO favourites such as the oxtail brioche - a pulled oxtail brioche with thin mushroom slices, a secret DG sauce and rocket. You can expect a few international flourishes too, including guacamole which is made tableside and features avocado, green peas, broken-up burrata, mint and nachos.

As for the drinks list, expect sangria, cocktails and all manner of wines.