Banstead, Spanish Restaurant Guide

“Reliably tasty small plates and a jolly vibe” make this “inventive” and “friendly” tapas bar near Tooting Broadway “a great meeting place any day of the week”. It was opened 11 years ago by ex-food journalist Madeleine Lim and restaurateur Hikmat Antippa, who also owns nearby Turkish spot Meza.

2023 Review: “Bright modern tapas with some old favourites” are on the menu at this “stylish” pair south of the river, named after the food market in Barcelona. “Consistently good cooking” and “reasonable prices” are the plus points, although they may “lack the extra zing of the very best places”.

2023 Review: “Bright modern tapas with some old favourites” are on the menu at this “stylish” pair south of the river, named after the food market in Barcelona. “Consistently good cooking” and “reasonable prices” are the plus points, although they may “lack the extra zing of the very best places”.

“Enjoyed sitting at the bar in Borough Kitchen…”; “a great place near the South Kensington Museums…”; “a great site on the banks of the Thames in Richmond” – it’s often the handy situation, “casual atmosphere” and affordable prices of this Hispanic group that generates interest amongst diners. “The food is of a reasonable standard”, but considering they are run by the UK’s premier Spanish food importers, performance is notably “chain like”, with “nothing spectacular” food-wise and “average service” often the end-product.

Rioja-bred Abel Lusa “has been serving top-quality Spanish food since 1995 – long before Hispanic restaurants became fashionable in London” at his South Kensington flagship. He “deserves a medal for consistency at least” as it’s “hard to have a bad meal” here, and yet it’s “surprising how rarely it is mentioned in foodie circles”. The same cannot be said of its renown down at the All England Club: both Nadal and Alcaraz are regulars during Wimbledon fortnight (although often it’s for delivery-only) and Lusa now serves food at major tournaments around the globe.

“The quality never waivers” at Abel Lusa’s “fun and buzzy” tapas bar in South Kensington, a spinoff from his famous Cambio de Tercio – and some even reckon “the food is better than in its more expensive big brother over the road”. Top Menu Tips – “patatas bravas a must, as well as the jamon”.

“Reliable Spanish restaurant” of more than 30 years’ standing in Pimlico “with good-value tapas”, “open-air seating and friendly staff” – a “regular meeting place” for groups of friends or colleagues to catch up over a plate of paella and a glass of wine.

“Enjoyed sitting at the bar in Borough Kitchen…”; “a great place near the South Kensington Museums…”; “a great site on the banks of the Thames in Richmond” – it’s often the handy situation, “casual atmosphere” and affordable prices of this Hispanic group that generates interest amongst diners. “The food is of a reasonable standard”, but considering they are run by the UK’s premier Spanish food importers, performance is notably “chain like”, with “nothing spectacular” food-wise and “average service” often the end-product.

Bright, modern haunt – complete with big floor-to-ceiling windows and an outside terrace – that’s long anchored Peckham’s emergence as a food scene. Billing itself as ‘Your friendly neighbourhood wine bar’, the vino is the highpoint here, but the grub’s a cut-above and good value.

Grade II listed late-Victorian tavern on Acton Green Common which serves an unusual mix of Spanish tapas and more standard pub fare, both in its handsome rear dining room (with small courtyard adjacent) and in the characterful bar; the quality varies, but it’s a popular spot.

This veteran (est. 1994) tapas bar (in a side street near Piccadilly and Green Park) has long been a top pick for a jolly and affordable meal in Mayfair. The cooking is mostly “good” (if not at the gourmet end of the spectrum), and “it’s great for business lunches”. The pirate himself, Johnny Depp, is among the many famous faces that have passed through its doors over the years.

“Properly special and intimate for date night” – this “lovely restaurant” in Mayfair’s pretty Shepherd Market has come roaring back in our annual ratings, with its superior bistro fare consistently highly rated: “I know it’s had its detractors recently but this was great – the food was outstanding – ambience was intimate, quiet but loud enough to not feel conscious about your conversations”.

Many a Londoner has enjoyed their first taste of tapas at this “always very busy” and crowded Hispanic fixture, opposite the Young Vic theatre (a stalwart launched in 1987). The tapas are “reasonable” rather than brilliant, it’s fair to say, and a popular innovation is “paella cooked outside on the pavement” in warmer weather.

José P’s “busy, bustling, authentic Spanish restaurant” in his Bermondsey heartland (opposite his original tapas bar) wins consistent praise for “top-notch Hispanic cuisine (a nice mix of small and large sharing plates”), with “knowledgeable staff” on hand to “make you feel very special”. “A great place for a rowdy lunch with friends or a more intimate get-together with a partner”, it has “a wine list which encourages you to explore lesser-known Spanish varieties”. Top Menu Tip – “amazing jamon croquetas!”

2024 Review: “Living up to the naturally high expectations”; this prime site within the Café Royal, off Piccadilly Circus, wins praise – albeit on limited feedback this year – for the “meticulous patisserie” you would hope for from Albert Adrià (who, back in the day, was pastry chef at his brother Ferran’s world-famous destination restaurant: El Bulli, long RIP).