London's top 10 tapas restaurants

Spanish tapas are having a moment. With Capote y Toros (from the team behind Cambio de Tercio) opening this week, and José Pizarro’s ham and sherry bar launching in Bermondsey Street in May, as well as the success of recent arrivals such as Opera Tavern and Morito, it’s a good time to be serving up a taste of the Spanish way of life in the capital. Here are 10 top tapas bars not to be missed.

Aqua Nueva
With its bling-bling decor and elegant dishes, this bar ups the ante when it comes to the tapas experience. The kitchen combines the modern and traditional to good effect: try laçon con grelos (pork leg with turnip tops) for a classic taste of Galicia, or order the endive wrapped in Iberian pork with pomegranate dressing for something more contemporary.

Barcelona y Tapas
With its Gaudí-inspired riot of mosaic tiling, high-quality (if retro) wines, and informal style, this restaurant serves unpretentious but flavourful food that leans towards Valencia. Try the typical east-coast starter of bread with tomato, followed by fideuá (a paella made with noodles), or morsels of pork marinated in paprika, chilli and red wine.

Barrafina (pictured, right)
This tiny, polished enterprise in the heart of Soho has long been the benchmark for what good tapas are supposed to taste like. It’s run by the Hart brothers (who also own Fino and Quo Vadis) and offers runny-centred Spanish omelettes as well as delicious plates of grilled razor clams, Spanish ham and morcilla. No reservations.

Cambio de Tercio
With its brightly painted walls, clients including Spain’s tennis hero Rafael Nadal and a modern menu offering dishes some of our readers rate as ‘the best Spanish food in London’, expect this tapas experience to be a full-throttle one. Creative plates such as gazpacho with cherry ice cream and lobster, and Manchego lollipops generally thrill.

Camino
Fun and feisty, this bar and restaurant is packed in the evenings with the young, post-work crowd. It serves an extensive range of tapas that cover all parts of Spain, from favourites such as croquetas and pimientos de Padrón, to Canary-Islands staple papas arrugadas (salted potatoes served with a spicy sauce) and pulpo a la gallega.

Dehesa
Named after the Andalusian woodland area that’s home to the black-footed ibérico pigs who give us pata negra ham, this Spanish-Italian hybrid serves thoughtful small plates that draw their inspiration from both cuisines. Try braised ibérico pig cheeks with morcilla, cauliflower purée and prunes in Pedro Ximénez, or Trevise-and-caramelised-pear salad with oregano and chestnuts.

Morito
Standing tall beside its older sister Moro, Sam and Sam Clark’s tapas venture is based loosely on dishes from Spain’s Moorish-influenced south, but also offers Middle-Eastern delicacies. Crunchy croquetas have a luxurious, smooth filling; spiced lamb cutlets are juicy and vibrant; while ice-cold sherries add another dimension to the delicious menu. No reservations.

Opera Tavern (pictured, above)
The third venue by the brains behind Salt Yard and Dehesa, located in an old Covent Garden pub, is proving a winner with critics and punters. They rave about the mini foie-gras-and-pork-burger, the expertly sourced hams and larger dishes such as the presa (a tender cut of pork between the shoulder and the loin) with shallot jus.

Pix (pictured, left)
The offering here focuses on pintxos – a tradition in the Basque country whereby diners help themselves to the skewered tapas laid out along the bar, then settle up by counting the skewers they’ve accumulated. Pintxos at Pix range from classic to contemporary mouthfuls, with most priced at a greed-inducing £2.50.

Tapas Brindisa
One of the standout eateries at popular foodie destination Borough Market, Tapas Brindisa is a lively, clattery, informal affair. Dishes para picar include artisan cheese, hand-carved hams, as well as patatas bravas, padrón peppers, and pork belly with quince sauce.