If you want Spanish food outside Spain, London is the capital. Decades of Spanish and Basque chefs have built a scene with real depth — from bar-top pintxos to wood-fired Basque asadors and modern tasting rooms.
What London does well
- Basque grilling — aged steak and whole turbot over coals.
- Sherry culture — dedicated bars with dozens of open bottles.
- Modern tapas — seasonal British produce cooked with Spanish technique.
What to order
Jamón sliced to order, croquetas, grilled pulpo, and — if the kitchen cooks rice — a proper paella or fideuà to share.
Four places to start
- Barrafina Dean Street in Soho: an open kitchen, a marble bar to sit at, and a specials menu that changes daily.
- Brindisa London Bridge in Borough Market, which opened in 2004 as London's first no-reservations traditional tapas bar.
- Brindisa South Kensington, inspired by Spanish home cooking, with a terrace for an aperitivo.
- Camino King's Cross, where chef Nacho del Campo cooks seasonal tapas next to a list of Spanish wines by region.
Where to start
Our London directory ranks and verifies every listing, and the wider United Kingdom page covers the rest of the country. A few of the city’s standouts are below.
