Barrafina

Barrafina is London's answer to quality Spanish tapas - you'd be lucky to find somewhere that matches the dishes they serve here. Saying that, you're likely to have to wait a while before you're seated, if you get a seat at all. Yes, some people eat and drink standing up or leaning against the bar. Fear not, this otherwise alternative to dining out is both accepted and expected at Barrafina, purely because of the amount of people who frequent the place.

Once you're in and settled, however, things get even better with the amount of culinary delights that are served up. Little plates of proper Spanish fare such as olives and almonds do well as filling starters and so do the piping hot ham croquetas. Following those the tuna tartare, classic tortillas, grilled quail with allioli (Spanish garlic mayonnaise - the original aioli) are all worth mentioning and we strongly recommend trying them. Washing it all down with one of the many varieties of wine by the glass is a great way of experiencing tradition and makes for a lovely accompaniment to the tapas. The staff will be more than happy to chat through the options with you and their friendly, knowledgeable manner adds to the feel-good vibe of Barrafina.

Be ready to wait in line here, but don't expect it to be a waste of time because the end result is more often than not worth the effort.

Opening times:

Monday - Saturday: 12:00 - 15:00 & 17:00 - 23:00, Sunday: 12:30 - 15:30 & 17:30 - 22:30