🌞 Craving that real Spanish flavour in London?
Think crispy croquetas, fresh pan con tomate, juicy gambas al ajillo and a glass of perfectly chilled Albariño 🍤🍷
London is packed with incredible Spanish restaurants, from Michelin-star gems to tiny tapas bars that feel like Madrid — and yes, some spots will make you forget you're not in Andalucía 😏💃
Let’s discover the best Spanish restaurants in London, explore famous spots like Barrafina, and learn a little Spanish foodie vocabulary along the way. ¡Vamos! 🇪🇸✨
When we talk about fine Spanish dining in London, one name always pops up:
Sabor (meaning flavour) brings the bold taste of Spain right into the heart of London. Imagine:
🔥 smoky seafood cooked over live fire
🐖 Iberian pork so tender it melts
🍋 Galician-style octopus with paprika
🍷 wine selected from the best bodegas in Spain
The energy inside feels vibrant, casual and wildly authentic — no stiff white-tablecloth vibes here. Just great food, loud laughter, and a warm 'bienvenidos' the moment you walk in.
💡 Why Sabor is special:
It captures regional Spain: Galicia in the seafood bar, Andalucía at the grill, and the Basque Country in the pintxos style.
🗣️ Perfect phrase to say when you eat there:
¡Qué sabor tan increíble! (What an amazing flavour!)
If there's one Spanish concept London has mastered, it's tapas culture. Shared food, buzzing atmosphere, and endless dishes to try — es perfecto.
A London tapas institution. At Barrafina, you sit at the bar and watch chefs cook right in front of you.
Expect:
🥔 Spanish tortilla just like grandma makes
🦐 sizzling prawns drowning in garlic oil
🍅 the silkiest pan con tomate
🐙 grilled octopus cooked to perfection
It’s lively, it’s noisy, it’s delicious chaos, in the best possible way.
Pro tip: There might be a queue. Bring good vibes… and a big appetite 😋
Other amazing tapas spots to explore:
🍷 Lobos Meat & Tapas – carnivore heaven
🧀 Lurra – Basque grilled excellence
🌶️ Tapas Brindisa – perfect for first-timers
Ah, Covent Garden — theatre lights, cobblestones and… incredible Spanish food.
Whether you're grabbing tapas before a musical or planning date night, Covent Garden offers:
🍤 iconic tapas bars like Barrafina Adelaide Street
🍷 intimate wine-led restaurants
🫒 Andalusian-style spots for fried fish & olives
The atmosphere is cosy and romantic, and terraces make it perfect for people-watching (a Spanish favourite pastime 😉).
Imagine hearing street music, sipping cava and sharing patatas bravas… típico español 😍
🏙️ Best Spanish restaurants in London (beyond tapas)
Spanish cuisine is so much more than tapas. London lets you taste entire regions:
🇪🇸 Basque asadores with charcoal-grilled fish and steaks
🐟 Galician seafood houses with octopus & percebes
🍋 Andalusian bars serving fried fish and sherry
🧀 Cheese and jamón temples that worship Iberian flavour
Look out for:
🐖 Iberian presa (tender pork cut that tastes like steak)
🥩 Txuleton steak (Basque beef: huge, smoky, incredible)
🐟 Boquerones (marinated anchovies — trust us)
Whenever you see a jamón leg hanging, you’re in the right place 😌🐖
🧾 Useful Spanish restaurant vocabulary
Impress your waiter with these 😏👇
🗣️ Example phrase:
¿Podemos compartir varios platos? Can we share several dishes?
Ready to test your knowledge of Spanish tapas? Click on the interactive game below to learn or refresh your vocabulary on some of Spain’s most popular tapas. It’s a fun way to improve your Spanish and discover more about Spain’s delicious cuisine! Enjoy and learn! 🎉👇
🫄Estoy lleno, pero feliz I'm full, but happy
🤤 Esto está de muerte This is insanely good
👌 ¡Qué rico! How tasty!
Head over to this handy blog post: Conversations at the Restaurant 🍽️🇪🇸
There you’ll find real‑life dialogues in Spanish at a restaurant, useful phrases, and helpful tips — perfect for building your confidence when you dine out or visit a Spanish restaurant in London. Dive in and get ready to speak like a local! 👍
If you want to eat como un auténtico español, aquí tienes una lista VIP de tapas esenciales — perfect to show off when ordering:
🧀 Jamón ibérico de bellota
Silky, nutty, legendary. If you order this, you get Spain.
🥚 Tortilla de patatas
Say it like this to sound local:
Una tortilla jugosa, por favor.
(A juicy tortilla, please.)
🦐 Gambas al ajillo
Hot prawns swimming in garlic & olive oil. Heaven in a pan.
🥔 Patatas bravas
Spain’s national addiction. Ask for extra sauce 😏
🐙 Pulpo a la gallega
Tender octopus with paprika, salt & olive oil. Simple. Wow.
🫒 Aceitunas aliñadas
Marinated olives — classic, simple, muy español.
🥖 Pan con tomate
A Catalan masterpiece. Simplicity done right.
🍚 Paella (but careful 👇)
Not a tapa! But if you find a place making it properly — order it.
If not… huye (run 😂).
🧠 Bonus phrase to sound truly Spanish:
Vamos a picar algo
Let's nibble on a few things / get tapas
London may be British at heart, but in its kitchens… la pasión es muy española 🇪🇸🔥
Whether you're visiting a Michelin-star temple or sharing croquetas at a tiny tapas bar, you’ll feel like you’ve travelled to Madrid, Sevilla or Barcelona — just without the flight 😌✈️
So go out, eat well, and when in doubt, always order one more tapa.
Porque como decimos en España… barriga llena, corazón contento ❤️🍽️
Instructions:
👉 Click the correct option
👉 Hit 'Check Answers'
👉 Discover if you're tapas master or need more practice (…and more tapas 😜)
🫶 Have you ever eaten at a Spanish restaurant in London? 🇪🇸 Do you prefer sharing tapas or having your own dish? 🍷 What’s your favourite Spanish drink to order?
💬 Tell us in the comments!👇