Barcelona Tapas Bar Lordship Lane

With its Gaudi-esque tiles & warm, ochrous walls, this Barcelona Tapas Bar branch displays its desire to duplicate the cosmopolitan vibe of its Spanish namesake. By & large it’s been successful, though weeknights are quieter than the buzzing weekends buoyed up by cavas and wines such as a good Priorat. The food is far better than you might expect from a chain. Habitas salteadas, a tapas of Catalan baby broad beans with Iberico ham, are zesty & fresh-tasting. A special of stuffed mussels is packed with punchy marine flavour, & most crucially to a tapas bar, a tasting plate of cured meats reveals an appreciation for quality ingredients.

Wine List: This fabulous all-Spanish list – one of the UK’s largest – concentrates on the established greats of Spain. Every wine has useful notes & is available in two separate glass sizes. Over 100 are on offer, ranging from £2.95 to £48.25, which can make for some fabulous food & wine matching. If you still haven’t been converted to the delights of cava, there are 16 here to sample. Best Buy White 2005 Terra do Gargalo, Monterrei, Galicia, Spain, £26.95. Best Buy Red 2000 Contino Rioja Reserva, Rioja, Spain, £47.95.