Ewell, 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”.

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.

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.

“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”.

“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.

“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.

“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.

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”.

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.

“The Galician beef here is amazing, really special” – this Basque grill in Seymour Village is a “favourite” for many diners and stands in honourable contrast to the “many other average steakhouses” currently abounding in the Capital. Founder Nemanja Borjanovic has pioneered cuts from Spanish ‘Rubia Gallega’ retired milk cows in the UK, with this establishment one of the first to serve it 11 years ago (he is also behind nearby Donostia; and Ibai near Smithfield market). The other signature dish on the “simple menu, done to the max” is “the best turbot ever”, grilled whole over charcoal; with it and the steaks both sold by the kilogramme: “steak, fish and everything else is beautifully prepared and full of taste (we’ll be back!)”

It’s “always a pleasure” to eat at this small but superior Basque specialist in Marylebone, where tapas and pintxos complement the regional grills served across the road at its sibling, Lurra. Opened in 2012, its founder Nemanja Borjanovic pioneered the importing of beef from retired Spanish dairy cows – you’ll find it on the menu here, and at his newer venue Ibai, near St Barts hospital.

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”.

“Well-located – tucked behind Regent Street on the corner of Ganton and Kingly Streets”, this Soho haunt has stood the test of time. Its Italian/Spanish tapas is uniformly rated as “good” and “even if it used to be miles better when it opened, it doesn’t really matter because the place has a lovely feel – ideal for whiling away a lunch with a friend”. (“Wish they would change the high bar stool seats, though: they are just uncomfortable!”). Top Tip – pavement seating in summer, and some fans also tip the “quiet downstairs cellar dining room”.