Spain is the top holiday destination for us Brits – you just can’t beat a bit of sun and sangria – so it’s no surprise that we’ve taken to Spanish food as well, and London is full of great Spanish restaurants serving up classic tapas, regional specialities and creative dishes.
Arros QD comes from Quique Dacosta who has three Michelin stars in Spain and is all about fire and rice. The two floor space located just off Oxford Street has an amazing open kitchen right at the centre where you can see a big wood-fired grill and lots of big paella pans over individual grills. Jose Pizarro, who is one of the nicest people in the industry, has three spots in the London (two in Bermondsey and one in the City) that are about simple dishes made with great produce and served with Spanish wine.
Eneko Atxa, whose three Michelin-starred Bilbao restaurant Azurmendi is no.16 in the World’s 50 Best, also has a presence here with Eneko. It’s a more relaxed vibe, but fortunately he hasn’t gone too casual – service is slick and the cooking creative, with some presentation tricks you’d certainly associate with Michelin fine dining. Founded by Nieves Barragan and José Etura, Spanish restaurant Sabor has taken London by storm, winning a Michelin star in 2018. Sabor means flavour in Spanish, and they have it by the bucket loads.