6 editor-picked spanish tapas restaurants across 4 cities.
A guide to spanish tapas restaurants worth a trip, by city. We list operators, signature dishes, and the rooms locals book first.
The Hart brothers' walk-up tapas counter on Adelaide Street in Covent Garden London, opened 2014 and Michelin-starred, runs a daily-changing list of Spanish small plates.
Signature: Tortilla de patatas, Pluma Iberica
Order: Tortilla de patatas and a daily specials seafood plate from the blackboard.
Tip: No bookings. Aim for 11:45 to be first in at the lunch open; sit at the counter to watch the plancha.
Jose Pizarro's standing-only tapas bar on Bermondsey Street in London, opened 2011, a Spanish counter that runs Cantabrian anchovies, jamon and croquetas from morning to late.
Signature: Iberico jamon, Croquetas
Order: A plate of Iberico ham, the croquetas and the daily fish specials at the counter.
Tip: No bookings; squeeze in standing at the bar from 18:00 onwards. Lunch from 12:00 is walk-in friendly all week.
Andy Nusser and Mario Batali's Gramercy tapas counter in New York City has held a Michelin star since 2009. Andalusian small plates, deep Spanish wine list.
Signature: Sea urchin panini, Bone marrow with oxtail
Order: Sea urchin panini and the bone marrow with oxtail.
Tip: Counter seats are easier than the dining room. The next-door Bar Jamon takes walk-ins for the same kitchen.
Jaleo in Washington DC is Jose Andres's 7th Street Spanish tapas room, the kitchen that opened ThinkFoodGroup in 1993 and codified DC's modern small-plates dining template.
Signature: Gambas al ajillo, Paella valenciana
Order: The paella valenciana with rabbit, snail and green bean; ordered table-wide and finished with a torch.
Tip: Lunch is the easier reservation; the sherry list runs deep into Manzanilla pasada that the bartenders will pour by the glass.
Mercado Tapas Bistro on Bogusławskiego in Wrocław runs a Spanish tapas room with a serious sherry list. Michelin Selected 2025, the city's best move for a long shared lunch.
Signature: Jamón ibérico, Patatas bravas, Gambas al ajillo
Order: Jamón ibérico de bellota with bread and tomato, then patatas bravas and gambas al ajillo.
Tip: Order off the chalk specials, not the printed card; the kitchen ships Iberian product fresh.
Mercado Tapas Bistro on Bogusławskiego in Wrocław keeps a fast, walk-in friendly Spanish room. Tortilla, jamón, patatas bravas, a long sherry list. Michelin Selected 2025.
Signature: Jamón ibérico, Patatas bravas, Tortilla española
Order: Tortilla española, patatas bravas, and a glass of fino sherry off the daily chalk.
Tip: Lunch sees the same kitchen at lower prices and a faster turn; arrive before 13:30.
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