José Pizarro at the RA

The greatest restaurants, much like truly great art, leave a lasting impression on the beholder long after the meal is over. We experienced such an effect when visiting Spanish chef Jose Pizarro’s restaurant at the Royal Academy of Arts, a fitting location for a meal that has lingered in our minds ever since.  

Two seconds spent within the Senate Room confirmed that this isn’t your average museum café. Our eyes were drawn upwards to the sky-high ceiling painted in dusty tones of pink, blue and gold, and this soft-toned colour palette is highlighted repeatedly via duck-egg blue seating and sage green crockery.  

Beguiling interiors might spur you to sit down, but the food will encourage you to stay. The menu consists of hot and cold tapas plates designed to be shared. Two or three per person were recommended by our friendly waitress, and once ordered, they turn up fast.  

Nothing arrived as we expected – in a good way. Russian potato salad, a popular dish in Spain, was served as a neat disc of creamy mashed potato topped with vinegary capers and thin slivers of confit tuna. While a Caeser-like treatment of baby gem changed the way we looked at lettuce forever: every leaf was evenly coated in a cheesy dressing and studded with toasted hazelnuts. From the hot plates, a wedge of toast topped with sobrasada, Mahón cheese shavings and a lick of honey functioned as a Spanish (and far superior) take on cheese on toast. While prawn fritters were soft and meaty and served with a subtly zesty aioli. Finally, we implore you to order the Tarta de Santiago de Peter, an almond sponge steeped in sticky raisins and caramel, then topped with PX sherry ice cream.

For about £25 a head, you can eat like a king, but we encourage you to book. By the time we arrived the restaurant, expectedly, was packed with people who had already got the memo. This place is fantastic and will most certainly stay with us (until our next visit). 

José Pizarro at the RA sits within the historic Keeper’s House at the Royal Academy of Arts, bringing together Spanish cooking and one of London’s most distinguished cultural settings. Overseen by José Pizarro, the restaurant blends thoughtful food with the calm, elegant atmosphere of the RA, making it a natural choice for meals with friends and family before or after exploring the galleries.

The space is arranged across several rooms, each with its own vibe. The Shenkman Bar is open throughout the day for lunch, dinner, cocktails and pre- or post-exhibition drinks, offering a relaxed entry point into Pizarro’s cooking. The Reading Room provides a quieter setting for light bites and pauses between exhibitions, while the Dining Room is where the full menu takes centre stage, set within refined surroundings that echo the artistic heritage of the building. For smaller gatherings, the Academicians’ Room offers an art-filled retreat surrounded by works from Royal Academicians.

José Pizarro’s food is firmly anchored in Spanish tradition, with menus designed for sharing and conversation. The pica pica section sets the tone, with dishes such as gordal olives stuffed with orange, fried Marcona almonds, pan con tomate and 5J Ibérico ham croquetas. Starters include octopus with potatoes and capers, beetroot with Picos de Europa blue cheese and pickled walnuts, and beef and pork meatballs in almond sauce. For something special, premium Cantabrian anchovies are served simply in olive oil.

Mains continue the theme of generous, well-balanced cooking. Options range from baked seasonal squashes with pisto and pumpkin seeds to lamb ragù with extra virgin olive oil mash. Seafood dishes include white wild prawns with garlic and chilli oil, served alongside fried eggs and triple-cooked chips, while 5J acorn-fed Iberian pork shoulder is offered by the weight, paired with confit piquillo peppers. Sides such as chickpeas with sobrasada, spinach with raisins and pine nuts, and roasted carrots with thyme round out the table.

For group occasions, the private dining room within Keeper’s House seats up to 20 guests, with curated set menus that make hosting straightforward. As Pizarro himself says, “The creativity and soul that you find in food and art is the same.” At the RA, the two come together in a setting designed for shared meals, good conversation and time well spent.