.png.transform/rendition-xs/image_image%20(1).png "Feder")
Sep 30 2026
Restaurants From Spain in the UK
The turn of the millennium sparked a surge in the popularity of Spanish tapas, with the UK in particular falling for the appeal of Spain’s soulful dishes, prepared with love, spice and fire. We take a look at how this culinary favourite has evolved across Great Britain, highlighting some of the best certified Restaurants from Spain well beyond London.
Discover Spanish food and beverage products in the UK through local gourmet shops, Colmados From Spain.
Top Restaurants From Spain in the UK
Bar 44 (Bristol, Penarth and Cardiff)
Group 44, now with four locations in England and Wales, is the endeavour of owners Tom and Owen, who bring their gastronomic reflections from around Spain to the table in each venue. Following the success of Bar 44 in 2002, the casual Spanish tapas atmosphere extended with Asador 44 - its restaurant with an ample menu of meats, seafood and vegetables cooked over fire, and then with Mercado 44, a culinary boutique with Spanish products to take home.
Menu highlight: Arroz meloso with artichoke, wild mushroom and charcoal aioli
Curado Bar (Cardiff)
Cardiff diners can also check out Curado Bar – hailed as the Welsh capital’s first Spanish tapas bar. With its chic industrial backdrop, Curado is much more than a bar, serving elevated tapas and classic Spanish dishes with a twist. There’s also an extensive cheese menu, an outstanding selection of wine, spirits and beer, and a fun, cosy atmosphere, both on the ground floor and upstairs.
Menu highlight: Slow-braised Salamancan jamón ibérico pig cheek with pickled fennel and piquillo pepper ketchup
Curado bar, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
Lunya and Lunyalita (Liverpool)
In the north, Liverpool is home to Lunya restaurant, an independent restaurant with a strong focus on regional Catalan cuisine as part of Spain’s wider food culture. Since 2010, Lunya has been serving authentic Spanish dishes alongside weekly specials, making it a firm favourite with both locals and visitors.
In 2024, it became employee-owned, and its commitment to service remains a defining feature. Lunya is also the UK’s largest online Spanish deli and offers catering services beyond the restaurant itself. Its more recent sister venue,
Lunyalita overlooks Albert Dock and is set across two floors, making it a versatile destination for casual breakfasts, deli shopping, group dining and sharing plates with friends.
Menu highlight: “Dirty bravas” with chorizo and crispy onions
Pluma (Amersham)
With its quaint rural setting in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, Pluma restaurant has made its mark on High Street with a distinctly Spanish-taberna look. Inside, the simple, top quality ingredients from Spain are given a full culinary spotlight, with Chef Javier creating elegant dishes for the most discerning of palates. Be prepared to be impressed by Basque-style delicacies, served up in high style.
Menu highlight: Pan fried baby squid in salsa roja with saffron aioli
José Pizarro The Swan Inn (Esher)
Just south-east of London, in Surrey, José Pizarro The Swan Inn Esher is José Pizarro’s first gastropub, offering the charm of a traditional British pub with the warmth of Spanish flavour. Whether you are coming for breakfast, traditional tapas or sizzling dishes cooked over fire on the outdoor BBQ terrace, José Pizarro promises the original and authentic Spanish touch. His restaurant portfolio has since expanded into The Big Smoke, to include Lolo, Pizarro, Keeper’s House and José Tapas Bar, all in central London.
Menu highlight: Rabbit paella with seasonal vegetables
Escocesa (London)
At Escocesa in London, high-end Scottish seafood is transformed into Spanish cuisine classics, marrying the flavors of Spain with the fresh catches of Scotland. Bar Esteban and Maresco are two more certified venues by the same group to check out. Aside from stunning fish dishes prepared by seasoned chefs, Escocesa also excels in tapas with modern ingredients, and considering one of the owners’ fondness for sherry, you’ll find an ample sherry menu along with gins, wines and beers from around the Iberian Peninsula.
Menu highlight: Pulpo with white bean purée
Barrafina, London Bridge, United Kingdom.
Barrafina (London)
With no fewer than five locations around London, Barrafina is practically an institution in fine Spanish tapas dining in the city. Founded in 2007 and inspired by the owner’s family ties to Mallorca and the Balearic Islands, the original Barrafina in Soho went on to earn the first Michelin star by a non-reservation restaurant in London. Each of the venues has an open kitchen, so diners can eat and be entertained watching the menu come alive by its passionate chefs.
Menu highlight: Arroz de Carabineros
Sabor (London)
Sabor in London’s Mayfair is one of two restaurants owned by Michelin-star chef Nieves Barragán, the undisputed queen of Spanish cuisine in London. Sabor has four distinct areas offering different styles of cuisine and hospitality culture depending on group size and preferences, including an outdoor terrace.
Its sister restaurant in Shoreditch, Legado, offers a contemporary, lively atmosphere while maintaining the same focus on top-quality produce and Spanish culinary tradition.
Menu highlight: 40-day-aged Txuletón rib-eye with tomato salad
Looking for more? Discover the full Restaurants from Spain selection and explore some of the best Spanish dining experiences across the UK Restaurants From Spain list.
