Number 22

The chef may be Italian & at least one waitress is French, but the food at this Herne Hill tapas bar is quintessentially Spanish. Several dishes are unadulterated classics – chilled gazpacho, tortilla, chorizo baked in cider – others have a ‘nueva’ twist, such as seared tuna with fennel & orange, or croquetas made with goats’ cheese, spinach & pine nuts. The crujiente de morcilla is especially popular: crisp little parcels of gorgeously savoury black pudding, a northern Spanish favourite. Braised rabbit with lemon, mint & manzanilla olives is another innovation. The predominantly Iberian drinks list contains various sherries, plus a selection of decidedly un-Spanish cocktails. There’s a relaxed, homely feel to the corridor-like dining room, which leads to a small patio garden that’s perfect for balmy summer evenings.