St James's, Spanish Restaurant Guide

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).

“You are immersed in Catalan cuisine and dining culture as soon as you walk through the doors” at Nieves Barragan & José Etura’s “exceptional” destination, off Regent Street – the “Best Spanish in London hands down” according to many aficionados, down to its masterly combination of “outstanding tapas-style cuisine” (“yummy-ness guaranteed!”) and “excellent, interactive service”. “Sitting at the counter is a wonderful experience” but you can also book for larger parties or eating upstairs in ‘El Asador. Top Menu Tips – “the suckling pig… it’s an experience you will never forget”; “the cuttlefish and the monkfish dishes never disappoint”.

“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”.

“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.

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.

“Every tapas-sized dish is delightful and delicious at this informal and friendly” 15-year-old Soho tapas bar. With shared counter-height tables and tiled walls, it feels pretty authentic too – and the gin-and-tonics served Spanish-style in large glasses add to the ambience. Founder Tim Luther is a former wine importer, so there’s a good range of wines and sherries, too. (There’s also a second branch in Fitzrovia, originally called Barrica, at 62 Goodge Street).

“Forget hopping on a budget flight to the famous Cal Pep in Barcelona…” – the original inspiration for the Hart Bros’ genius small group of tapas pitstops – “… here in London you can sit at the counter, with the fun of watching mouthwatering tapas being prepared in front of you, so delivered piping hot (and best is the unbeatable fresh fish cooked ‘a la plancha’)”. “From the greeting to the explanations of the dishes, service is knowledgeable and caring”; there’s “a good choice of Spanish wines and sherries”; and the “superb” overall formula has made them one of the most popular destinations in our annual diners’ poll for almost 20 years now, even if the feeling has grown that “merely a small selection of dishes can incur eyewatering bills”. Top Tips – “the best atmosphere is had eating perched on a stool at the counter, but the Adelaide Street branch does have comfortable table seating downstairs”. On the Menu – “specific praise for the mojama”; “especially lovely prawn stuffed tortilla, seabream and the crisp aubergine with honey”; “tasty rabbit paella”; “squid croquetas are a perfect combo – crunchy on the outside, unctuous within”. “Shout out for the basics: lovely oils, bread etc…”

“A nice lunch followed by some very nice art!” is a formula for success according to the many fans of José P’s “wonderfully situated”, “light and airy” dining room in the heart of the Academy. Many reports note that this is “way above the norm for an in-house gallery restaurant” and heartily applaud its “smallish selection of excellent tapas”. Even some fans, though, acknowledge that “what makes this place special is the wow factor of the venue”. And one or two poor experiences dragged the food rating down this year (“the food could be so much better – one wonders when José Pizarro was last there in person to oversee it?”).

2022 Review: Joining José Pizarro at the RA is this less-formal tapas bar from the star Spaniard. The RA’s food operations in recent years have always conformed to the low expectations of gallery catering generally, but our hunch is that José didn’t get the memo telling him that no great shakes are expected, and that actually it may be rather good...

2024 Review: Madrid-born Arian and Alberto Zandi added this new Mayfair venture to their portfolio (alongside Zuaya and Como Garden) in November 2021. On the plus side, results from the Spanish menu can be excellent. On the downside, the bill here can mount and feedback is sufficiently up-and-down to preclude a fully wholehearted endorsement.

“Über-trendy, with open kitchen, fire-based cooking and slap-bang in the middle of the West End” – Tomos Parry has an ongoing hit on his hands with his “wildly popular, very busy, buzzy and noisy” follow-up to Brat (see also) – a two-floor site in Soho (near the foot of Carnaby Street). His kitchen team “have got it nailed”, delivering “stunning flame-licked titibits from the grill”. There is the odd sideswipe at “small portions and crazy prices”, but any backbiting is drowned out by the raves of those having “lots of fun” with “the most interesting dishes of the year!” “Sit at the counter with a commanding view of the room… perfection!” Top Menu Tips – “pumpkin fritto; raw scallop and monkfish; chocolate ensaimada”; “fantastic tripe!”; “sensational roast duck”.

“It serves croquettes… It does what it says and it does it well!”. So say fans of this small chain – a “simple concept well-executed” with the main dish containing “a wide variety of fillings: think of any Spanish tapas ingredient and it’ll be in there”. “The cocktails are good as well”. In April 2025 they added a 50-cover site in Broadgate Circle to their existing locations in Soho and St Christopher’s Place.

A homage to the cuisine of Spain and especially the Basque country, launched in summer 2025 in Soho’s Kingly Court, across two floors with an outside terrace and private dining rooms. Chef Rob Roy Cameron is an experienced Hispanic hand following a long stint at the fabled El Bulli followed by Tickets and 41 Degrees in Barcelona, where he played a leading role. Alta followed Moi as the second project from the new MAD Restaurants outfit by Artem Login, founder of boutique café chain L’Eto. The menu incorporates smaller plates (such as Razor clams or Seabass Crudo) with a grill section (to include Whole Seabream, Turbot Head, 35 Day Aged Beef Sirloin, and Hen of the Woods).