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Best Spanish cuisine in London
Evening Standard 28.05.08
Something fishy: paella, a classic Spanish dish
Get ready to queue: Barrafina
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London is celebrating Spanish food and drink until June 8, with many places putting on special menus and offering deals. Here are the best tapas bars and restaurants serving the cuisine.
FIVE TOP SPANISH RESTAURANTS
Fino
33 Charlotte Street, W1 (020 7813 8010).
£35pp ex-drinks. Mon-Fri noon-2.30pm and 6pm-10.30pm; Sat 6pm-10.30pm.
Run by Englishmen but the Hart brothers do a good job. Note the food from the “plancha” — a large iron griddle.
Cambio de Tercio
163 Old Brompton Road, SW5 (020 7244 8970).
£40pp ex-drinks. Mon-Fri 12.30pm-2.30pm and 7pm-11.30pm; Sat noon-3pm and 7pm-11.30pm; Sun noon-3pm and 7pm-11pm.
Sophisticated Spanish food with an element of whimsy but also showcasing the very best ingredients. Seriously good wine list.
Camino
3 Varnishers Yard, Regents Quarter, N1 (020 7841 7330).
£30pp ex-drinks. Mon-Fri 8am-11.30am (breakfast), noon-3pm and 6.30pm-11pm; Sat 9am-3pm, (breakfast) and 6.30pm-11pm; Sun 10am-4pm (breakfast) and noon-4pm (brunch).
Jolly place that is a bar and tapas bar as well as being a proper restaurant — the large grill turns out magnificent steaks.
El Faro
3 Turnberry Quay, Pepper Street, E14 (020 7987 5511).
£30pp ex-drinks. Mon-Sat noon-3.30pm and 5pm-11pm; Sun 1pm-5pm.
Charming Spanish restaurant over-looking the dock. Slick service despite the laid-back atmosphere.
Salt Yard
54 Goodge Street, W1 (020 7637 0657).
£30pp ex-drinks. Mon-Fri noon-3pm and 6pm-11pm; Sat 5pm-11pm.
Something of a wild card, this place is somewhere between restaurant and tapas bar, and manages to merge Spanish cooking with Italian influences.
FIVE TOP TAPAS BARS
La Bota
31 Broadway Parade, N8 (020 8340 3082).
£15pp ex-drinks. MonThurs noon-2.30pm and 6pm-11pm; Fri noon-2.30pm and 6pm-11.30pm; Sat noon-3pm and 6pm-11.30pm; Sun noon-11pm.
Good value authentic tapas at this north London stalwart.
Barrafina
54 Frith Street, W1 (020 7813 8016).
£30pp ex-drinks. Mon-Sat noon-3pm and 5pm-11pm.
Glossy younger sister of Fino. No booking, lots of queuing, the best Spanish omelette in town.
Tapas Brindisa
18-20 Southwark Street, SE1 (020 7357 8880).
£25pp ex-drinks. Mon-Thurs noon-3pm and 5.30pm-11pm; Fri and Sat noon-4pm and 5.30pm-11pm.
For special offers visit www.tastespain.info. The restaurant outlet of Brindisa food importers — splendid hams and cheeses.
La Rueda
642A King's Road, SW6 (020 7384 2684).
£25pp ex-drinks. Mon-Fri noon-3pm and 6.30pm-11.30pm; Sat noon-11.30pm; Sun 1pm-10.30pm.
Workmanlike Spanish tapas served graciously. One of four branches.
Meson don Felipe
53 The Cut, SE1 (020 7928 3237).
£25pp ex-drinks. Mon-Sat noon-11pm.
Old-school tapas bar behind Waterloo station. Choose between sitting at a table or a stool at the bar.
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Reader views (11)
Ole in Putney also provide good quality tapas.
- Shehnaz, London
The best secret Tapas Bar in london is the Crown House in Chelsea the food is fantastic & delicious, value for a money, got everything.
- Stephan, London, london uk
And I'm not going to even give away the name of the best Tapas in London, 'cos the best places are the best secrets.
Suffice it to say that its near Salt Yard, Fino and El Dorado and
beats all of them by a million miles for quality, taste, service
and most importantly, PRICE!
- Fiona Green, London
Seriously, why is El Pirata not included?? It is by far the best for tapas in London, great atmosphere, reasonably priced and with a fantastic wine list. Even better, there's a new one opening in Westbourne Grove shortly - can't wait!
- Lynda, London
I have been to all these restaurants and they are ok, nothing special for me, LA COSTA DORADA , has everything, delicious foot great music, and the best flamenco show in town.
- Julia, London SW 9
I can´t imaging why Costa Dorada is not included, they have the best Spanish cuisine from all over around Spain and the best Jamon with the best music.
- Gema, LondonSW10
Cambio de Tercio is the best, but no London tapas list is complete without El Pirata.
- Stan , London
How about El parador in Mornington Crescent. Great food, very reasonable and excellent welcoming staff. Again they have all the classics as well as some more unusual tapas.
- Eugenio, London UK
What about El Rincon Latino in Clapham North? Not only is the atmosphere great, the food is delicious and the service is fast but you can also get Churos on a Sunday morning!
- Serena, London
Agree with Yolanda about Pirata.
- David C, London, England
I can't believe "el Pirata" was not included in "The best Spanish cuisine in London" published today 28th May. This tapas restaurant in Mayfair is really good and offers not only the usual tapas but also others more unusual from other Spanish regions. They're beautiful! (I'm Spanish, and I'm quite picky when it comes to Spanish cuisine abroad) I wonder if they are not included here due to marketing reasons?
- Yolanda, London, UK
