Restaurants from Spain: The Spanish restaurants in the UK serving truly authentic cuisine

The largest of the Bar 44 family, the Cardiff site offers plenty of drinks and tapas to enjoy through the evening. Don’t miss the duck and morcilla burger, or the red berry sangria sorbet to finish.

The local work crowd make Iberica Farringdon pretty lively, with most of them lining up along the 15 metre-long bar for wine, sherry, cocktails and tapas plates like grilled tiger prawns and pluma Iberica with rosemary potatoes. The stylish dining room is in keeping with Iberica’s usual vibe, whilst art aficionados may recognise a selection of famous Goya and Velazquez prints on the wall.

Step into the homely old-school tapas bar or sit outside on the sunlit terrace, the choice is yours. Either way, you’ll soon be feasting on staples like jamon croquetas, Galician octopus and the must-try Ibérico pork.

Across the courtyard from sister restaurant Camino in King’s Cross, Bar Pepito celebrates the wonderful world of Spanish sherry. There’s a huge range on offer but the dry and apply Manzanilla is particularly worth a taste.

Pizarro’s restaurants are held in high regard in London, nailing that tricky combination of delicious food and great atmosphere. The Broadgate location has all the hustle and bustle of a great tapas bar, but also has a spacious outdoor terrace for al fresco working lunches and dinners.

Queue-inducing Barrafina is a famous for one thing: tapas. Grab a seat at the counter and enjoy plates of tortilla, artichokes with all i oli, and ham croquetas matched by equally high-quality drinks.

Critically acclaimed chef Jose Pizarro’s relaxed central London eatery serves picky bits and tapas plates. Our favourite is his clever black bean dish made in the Tolosa style, with pickled green chilli and almond sauce.

Just a short walk from Lime Street and Moorfields, Tapas Revolution Liverpool is slap bang in the middle of town. Swing by for a taste of authentic Spanish tapas including the classic Ibérico pork shank.

Camino has a reputation for great quality, affordable tapas and a solid drinks list to boot. Sourcing is second to none here, so get stuck into charcuterie plates of jamon Serrano and Ibérico, as well as a range of artisan Spanish cheeses.

Iberica has evolved from upstart to tapas powerhouse thanks to the swanky locations, smart interiors and consistent food quality. Iberica Victoria is a couple of minutes from the station, making it a great place to enjoy a glass of sherry and a bowl of salted almonds whilst you wait for the train.

For a real taste of what Tapas Brindisa has to offer, the charcuterie boards are the best place to start. Full of Spanish meats, cheeses, fruits and nuts, the boards showcase the team's sustainably-sourced quality produce.

The grill is the beating heart of Asador 44, turning out whole fish, aubergine and pork shoulder to hungry diners. The star of the show, however, is the kilo of Welsh ex-dairy rib for two.

For some of the best tapas in London, head to Barrafina. Here you’ll be perfectly placed to share dishes with a date, like the house special: Dry aged sirloin with a rich Oloroso sauce.

We’ve never met a Barrafina we didn’t like, and the Drury Lane site is as much a winning bet as any. Make the most of the charcoal oven here with the wonderfully smoky Ibérico pork ribs.

At José, the menu changes every day, making it an excellent place to visit time and time again. Expect elevated classics like meatballs with tomato sauce and orange, lentils with chorizo, and squid with pico de gallo.

Housed in the expansive Bluewater shopping centre, you’ll find a cosy haven of delicious tapas. Watch as the chefs whittle down legs of Ibérico ham while you tuck into various small plates, mains and the fan favourite pork shank.

Parrillan’s popular cook-your-own format sees guests grill their own meat and veggies at the table for a fun and flavoursome meal. Pick between proteins like squid, Ibérico pork or lamb plus garden-fresh produce.

While tapas might be the obvious choice here – hence the name – don’t skip trying something from the grill. The Ibérico pork, for instance, is served with a heady mix of baby fennel, parsley, and chilli oil.

Found on the ground floor of the old Lloyds Building, Hispania is a stunning mix of towering ceilings, geometric tiled floors, custom furniture and gleaming marble bar. Classic tapas dishes are well-executed - order 24 hours in advance and you can get a whole Segovian suckling pig for the table.

The chefs here cook over wood for that signature smokiness. The roast shank of veal falls off the bone at the lightest tap of a knife. Paired with olive oil mash it’s the ideal comfort food.

Mix the comforts of a renovated Surrey boozer with Jose Pizarro’s much-loved Spanish cooking and you get some cracking results, like the spicy chorizo Scotch egg. There are a few boutique rooms here too, so you can collapse into bed upstairs, then get stuck into breakfast the next morning.

Renowned for its staunch commitment to sourcing the very best produce, Tapas Brindisa is where to head when you want an authentic Spanish meal in central London. We love the huevos rotos made with black pig sobrasada and the cogollos with ajo blanco.

Good quality and great value is the Camino way, and the Monument branch is a great place to grab a few tapas plates amid the buzz of the City. Try the cured and aged platters, or more substantial dishes like sauteed octopus and chargrilled chicken skewers if you’re extra hungry.

The corner terrace here is the best seat in the house, allowing for great people watching and the perfect place to enjoy tapas like patatas bravas, gambas al ajillo and fantastic arroz negro.

Combining a Spanish bar, restaurant, and deli all under one roof, Curado Bar makes the perfect spot to enjoy top-quality ingredients in a stripped-back format. Think boards of cured meats and Spanish cheeses with carefully chosen wines.

Kick things off with a shot of salmorejo before sampling the tapas menu at Bar 44. There’s plenty to pick at, including the signature pringa 44 confit duck and smoked morcilla burger with piquillo pepper ketchup.

Tucked away right at the heart of the enormous Westfield White City, Tapas Revolution delights shoppers and diners daily. Try the Ibérico pork shank, or go for small plates like sizzling chorizo.

Jose Pizarro’s second restaurant is a little smarter than his beloved Jose, but the food is just as fantastic, with daily-changing croquetas and one of the best burnt cheesecakes in London, when it’s available. There’s an extensive drinks list too, including lots of Spanish wines, sherries, brandies and more.

This Cabot Square stalwart is understandably popular with Wharf workers in search of a reliable lunch or a place to wind down after a long day. Keep an eye out for La Terraza - an outdoor bar and restaurant that opens outside in the warmer months, complete with sharing platters, nibbles and plenty of sherry and vermouth.

Just a stone’s throw from Stratford International, Tapas Revolution is a great spot for feasting on tapas, or just catching up over a cocktail. If you are eating, be sure to sample the slow-roasted Ibérico pork.

Shoreditch isn’t short of good places to eat but Camino is right among them, in a nice airy space near Shoreditch High Street. We love Camino for the classics and cured meats - you can’t go wrong with some pan con tomate, calamares and a plate of jamon Ibérico.

After a long day of shopping in Meadowhall, what could be better than some sangria and authentic tapas? The signature pork shank is a must, but there’s plenty of choice including croquetas and patatas bravas.

Michelin starred and Marbella-born chef Dani Garcia has brought his signature Spanish flair to London in BIBO. Don’t skip his rich lobster rice which arrives theatrically in a paella pan table-side, to share family-style.

Grab a bite and a beer before or after visiting the Royal Academy, at Jose Pizarro’s relaxed café. Here you’ll find a selection of sandwiches stuffed with ingredients that have been sourced from some of Spain’s best suppliers.

The flagship Iberica that launched an empire, Iberica Marylebone is a beautiful mix of Andalusian tiles, floor-to-ceiling windows and huge glass lanterns. The food offering, as always, is consistently high quality, from cold cuts and cheeses to Valencian dry-style chicken and seafood paellas.

No tapas experience would be complete without croquetas, and Barrafina makes the best in the business. Ham croquetas are always on the regular menu, whilst limited editions like crispy cuttlefish and prawn croquetas often make an appearance on the specials board.

The Bristol edition of Bar 44 has a lot to offer, from the basement private dining rooms, Spanish art on the walls and excellent tapas. Snack on duck and morcilla burgers, Padron peppers and gambas until the early hours.

Nab a seat at the counter to get a glimpse of the action at this Bullring tapas eatery. Highlights include calamares, patatas bravas, bacalao and Ibérico pork shank, slow-roasted for 12 hours with beans, peppers and salsa.

Not content with multiple London outlets, Iberica Leeds brings Nacho Manzano’s tapas talents to the Grade II listed Hepper House in central Leeds, complete with incredible chandeliers and an orangery-style glass ceiling that runs the length of the restaurant. Classics like tortilla, padrones and croquetas are the way to go here.

Rustic wood furnishings and a buzzy atmosphere provide the perfect setting for feasting on tapas, before trying the signature slow-roasted Ibérico pork shank, served with piquillo peppers, green beans and topped with salsa verde.

South Londoners are lucky enough to call this one their local, with its run of wonderful tapas dishes. Plump for the king prawns with chilli and garlic or the Salmorejo with jamon trim and quails egg and you won’t regret it.

Quique Dacosta is a big deal in his native Spain, and his London restaurant celebrates the specificities of Valencian paella - more crispy and less creamy than your usual. Dacosta’s paella’s are cooked over live fire and wood smoke, and served in innovative combinations, like the squid ink rice with calamari, artichokes and oyster aioli.

Looking out across the water, the terrace at Tapas Revolution Lakeside is ideal for soaking up the afternoon sun. Snack on bread, olives and charcuterie, or go for something bigger like the signature pork shank.