Harden's says
A Spanish tapas and sherry bar masterminded by Peter Sanchez-Iglesias (of Casamia - number 4 in our top 100 restaurants 2016) and named after his father. It opened alongside the relocated Casamia in Bristol's new General development (on the site of the old General Hospital).
Harden's survey result
Summary
Andalusia comes to the West Country at chef Peter Sanchez-Iglesias’ tapas venture on the Bathurst Basin, named after his Seville-born father, and featuring an authentically dark-walled setting replete with sherry barrel tables; both the à la carte or £75 per person tasting menu, which secured one reporter’s affections this year, feature many dishes cooked over a wood fire, and the front of house are notably solid. Yes, a visit can be “very expensive”, particularly if you lay into the Spanish wines and sherries, and “price sensitivity” remains a regular feature of commentary (perhaps “puzzling given the affluence of Bristol”) but given the “incredible, innovative cooking” on offer, most reports suggest you get what you pay for. (Stop Press: In October 2024, the closure of the family’s flagship ‘Casa’ was announced, with any vouchers for eating there now redeemable here).
Summary
“Yes, it comes at a cost, but it’s worth it…” – The Sanchez Group’s harbourside HQ (next to relaunched Casa) is a highlight of the city, combining “impeccable” Hispanic dishes and tapas with a thoughtful list of Spanish wines and sherries and “has an air of self-confidence (just the right side of arrogance) that sets it apart in Bristol”. The “really helpful front of house team” also wins consistent praise. That it’s “not cheap” features in practically all reports, but the value stacks up, although it is “a bit noisy”.
Summary
Newly expanded and now sole occupant of the Sanchez Group’s harbourside HQ following last year’s surprise closure of the all-conquering Casamia, this “lively” and “enjoyable” tapas bar (named after patron Peter Sanchez-Iglesias’s father) is “well worth a visit”. Nobody doubts the quality of the “great tapas” and accompanying Spanish wines and sherries, but there are persistent grumbles about the “expense” and the “extremely loud music” that can make conversation difficult for some.
Summary
Peter Sanchez-Iglesias’s spin-off from the acclaimed Casamia is a buzzing Andalusian-style joint near the docks where you can sit on the terrace or plump for the eight-seater counter and banter with chefs. The order of the day: “absolutely delicious tapas, with excellent sherry to match” – and this is confirmed in many reports. But ratings blipped this year on the back of a couple of ‘off reports’: “been a few times… too loud and massively overpriced”.
For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Paco Tapas?
Lower Guinea St, Bristol, BS1 6SY
Restaurant details
Paco Tapas Restaurant Diner Reviews
"Great Tapas and Spanish food"
"I was the only person eating and the food took a long time to come out. However the stuffed quail was stunning"
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £30.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £3.00 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £0.00 |
| Service | 10.00% |
Lower Guinea St, Bristol, BS1 6SY
Opening hours
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5 pm‑10 pm |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5 pm‑10 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5 pm‑10 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5 pm‑10 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5 pm‑10 pm |
| Sunday | CLOSED |
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