The best Spanish restaurants in Central London

El Pirata of Mayfair is a long-standing favourite for tapas in Central London, praised for its authentic Spanish dishes, excellent value, and extensive wine list of over 140 Spanish vintages. The menu ranges from classic small plates like pan con tomate and Padron peppers to heartier options such as gambas pil-pil, Spanish tortilla, and rib-eye steak, with sharing menus ideal for newcomers to tapas.

Sabor is a Michelin-starred Spanish restaurant in Central London that showcases the rich diversity of Spanish cuisine across three distinct spaces. The ground-floor Counter offers tapas prepared in a bustling open kitchen, while the upstairs El Asador focuses on Galician and Castilian dishes cooked in a traditional wood-fired oven. For a more casual visit, the bar serves an extensive list of Spanish wines, sherries, and cocktails alongside a selection of tapas.

Michelin-starred chef Tomos Parry, best known for Brat in Shoreditch, also helms the kitchen at Mountain. Earning its own star in 2024, this younger Spanish restaurant in Central London showcases Parry's wood-fired cooking skills, with expertly grilled fish and meat alongside refined specialities such as sobrassada sausage. The menu's smoky, rustic flavours are complemented by a finely curated wine selection from Noble Rot.

Perched above Regent Street, Aqua Nueva is a contemporary Spanish restaurant featuring both a stylish indoor dining room and two inviting roof terraces with sweeping views over Central London. Guests can dine inside or relax on the lounge-like terraces while exploring Spanish-inspired menus that include brunch and pre-theatre offerings. The kitchen turns out an array of shareable dishes, from classic tapas to flavourful croquettes.

The Barrafina chain has become a respected mainstay of Spanish cuisine in the city. There are several of these Spanish restaurants in Central London, serving up traditional dishes in a bustling ambiance that recalls the busy tapas bars of Madrid or Barcelona. The food here is authentic and approachable, with Spanish wines and sherries to complement your meal.

At Donostia, a Basque-inspired open kitchen delivers authentic tapas and pintxos crafted from top-quality seasonal produce by a skilled team of chefs. The menu spans refined small plates like squid a la plancha with ink sauce and Iberico pork tenderloin, alongside timeless favourites such as tortilla and patatas bravas. To drink, there's a focused list of Spanish wines complemented by sherries and spirits.

Opera Tavern in Central London offers an enticing blend of Spanish and Italian-inspired dishes in a chic setting adorned with art prints. The menu features favourites from both cuisines, with courgette flowers and burrata sitting pretty alongside chorizo and patatas bravas. An extensive wine list and seasonal serves complete the warm, inviting atmosphere of this popular tapas spot.

Having started out as a pioneering importer of gourmet Spanish products, you can be sure the ingredients used at Tapas Brindisa are authentic and of the highest quality. The Central London Spanish restaurant draws food lovers with its seasonal menu of Spanish small plates, from classics like Padron peppers and marinated anchovies to cheese and charcuterie boards, grilled specials, and more. Al fresco dining on the terrace is also available.

Arros QD, the creation of eight Michelin-starred chef Quique Dacosta, brings a touch of culinary theatre to modern Spanish dining in a sleek, contemporary setting. Known for its masterful wood-fired paellas, the Spanish restaurant also offers refined tapas and Mediterranean-inspired sharing dishes, with standouts like the mushroom and truffle paella for two. Guests can take a seat at the counter to watch the chefs at work, book the upstairs space for private dining, and enjoy a well-curated list of Spanish wines and cocktails.

Several times a year, the team at Camino travels to Spain, returning with fresh culinary inspiration. Warmly designed with brick and wood, this relaxed Spanish restaurant in Central London serves everything from an extensive range of tapas to hearty dishes cooked over Basque grills. A compact yet carefully curated wine list provides the perfect pairing.

The Port House is a snug, softly lit Central London tapas and wine bar perfect for a romantic evening. With warm wood panelling and an inviting ambience, it offers attentive service and a generous menu of tapas, from simple bites like olives and Padron peppers to heartier options such as croquettes, chicken wings, and patatas bravas. The drinks list is equally tempting, featuring an impressive array of ports and wines from Spain and Portugal.

Maresco celebrates the premium Scottish seafood that primarily finds its way to Spain in a quirk of modern supply chains. In Soho, guests can choose between counter seats overlooking the kitchen or a relaxed dining area while enjoying a menu of Spanish-style seafood dishes and daily specials. A selection of Spanish sherries and fine wines completes the experience.

Lurra focuses on the Erretegia tradition of charcoal and wood grilling, working with ingredients and produce sourced directly from the Basque region. Highlights include beef from grass-fed cows raised to an older age, giving the meat exceptional marbling and depth of flavour. The menu is complemented by classic Spanish tapas like boquerones and croquettes, alongside a wide-ranging selection of Spanish and Basque wines.

The Barbary Next Door is an intimate Spanish restaurant and wine bar with influences from both sides of the Gibraltar Strait, serving classic tapas-style dishes spiced up with aromatic North African ingredients. At the horseshoe-shaped bar, the wine selection spotlights Moroccan, French, and Spanish bottles, while drinks like a harissa-spiked Bloody Mary or refreshing mint sharbat provide tempting alternatives.