Pizarro

This is the smarter of José Pizarro’s two Bermondsey eateries, and the only proper sit-down option – although we recommend perching at the kitchen counter and enjoying some “great theatre” if you can. This is a good-looking place, contemporary without being achingly fashionable, and it attracts a local crowd to match. The ingredients are always top quality and handled with expertise by the kitchen team: meltingly soft chicken livers on sourdough are “a must-try”; grilled baby gem lettuce is paired with blue cheese, piquillo peppers and caramelised walnuts; Cornish hake might be grilled on the plancha and served with sautéed potatoes. To finish, expect inventive desserts ranging from a strawberry soup with basil and lime granita to cream-cheese ice cream with blackcurrant and chamomile syrup. The wine list is among London’s best for good Spanish producers and emerging regions. There’s a newer branch in the City, but fans tend to favour this “truly remarkable” original.

Try the new Gadira tasting menu featuring tuna prepared in various ways. Designed for a minimum of 8 guests, this menu showcases the finest Barbate bluefin tuna sourced from the renowned fishing hub in Andalusia, ensuring a fresh and flavorsome dining experience. This tuna feast features mormo stewed for a few minutes, marinated tuna ribs accompanied by chips, a giant loin tuna steak cooked a la plancha, and lemon ice cream with a touch of salted dry air tuna's heart. An experience for real foodies. £100 per person.

Pizarro in Bermondsey is José Pizarro’s second in the area with his original tapas bar one block away on Bermondsey Street. The restuarant is an homage to José's grandfather who had a bar by the same name in Talaván in the West of Spain.

The restaurant brings traditional Spanish cuisine to the heart of London with its menu of small tapas plates—perfect for sharing—or more substantial options with a choice of starters and mains. Diners can enjoy quality, seasonal Spanish produce cooked in an open kitchen that shows off José Pizarro’s passion and Spanish influence. 

Up first on the menu is the selection of tapas dishes, titled Pica Pica. This includes daily changing croquetas, padròn peppers and Jamón Ibérico. Moving onto starters, there is a range of salads on offer as well as seaafood options including clams in a spicy sauce and grilled squid in a Spanish sherry sauce. Of course, the Spanish influence continues into the main courses with a vegetarian option of wild mushroom rice, apple, fino and soft sheep cheese. Ibérico pork makes another appearance in the main options as well as a sharing dish for two that features suckling lamb served with patata al caliu, yoghurt allioli and fresh herbs. 

If you're visiting in a large group of more than eight diners, Pizarro offers different set menus that can be pre-ordered. You can opt between a £50 or £60 set menu with both featuring an array of tapas dishes, starters, main courses and desserts. Pizarro also presents a set menu perfect for meat-lovers with its £100 suckling pick option that, of course, makes a feature of Jamón Ibérico, Spanish cold cuts, Catalan sausage and marinated pork. 

Alongside the range of desserts is a fantastic list of dessert wines that are selected to match each dessert choice. With a hugely extensive drinks menu, guests are spoilt for choice with the selection of Spanish wines, brandy, whisky and liqueurs. Non-alcoholic diners are not forgotten with a little selection of classic mocktails.