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  1. Pizarro

    Best for: traditional dishes made from the finest ingredients

    Award-winning Pizarro in Bermondsey Street is Josẽ Pizarro's second site in London, just a few yards from tapas and sherry bar Josẽ. Opened in 2012, Pizarro is the place to eat exactly how the Spanish do: very well and taking your time. The octopus and the scallops are to die for and so is one of the regular specials, pork presa, which is served to share and cooked to perfection. Start with a glass of cava, try as many wines as you can from the extensive list and, whatever happens, finish your meal with some txakolina. An open kitchen, a relaxed atmosphere, great service, a chat with Josẽ himself and truly extraordinary food: what more can you ask for? josepizarro.com

    Entertain at home: try Pizarro's recipe for red mullet with sliced potatoes and black olives

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  2. Hispania

    Best for: Asturian delicacies

    Hispania is a beautiful restaurant and this goes for both its stunning interiors and the quality of the food prepared by Marcos Moran and his team. Their croquetas de compango – croquettes cooked with the meat used to make traditional Asturian bean dish fabada – will steal your heart forever. After that the tuna tartar, black rice and cachopo (breaded ham and cheese) will ensure that you never want to leave. To drink, try the delicious red wine Pruno or choose one of their selected sherries. All in all, this is some serious Spanish dining, perfect for business lunches, private events or an important date. Plan your visit Monday to Friday as it's closed at the weekend. hispanialondon.com

    Entertain at home: try Hispania's recipe for croquetas

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  3. Bravas

    Best for: original contemporary tapas

    Bravas is one of the latest additions to the London Spanish food scene. Young chef Victor Garvey does tapas in a way that his once-teacher Ferran Adrià would approve of, with a very contemporary twist. Take the foie gras crema catalana, for example, which transforms the classic dessert into a savoury dish with excellent results, or the sublime morcilla and Idiazabal cheese sliders or the amuse-bouche, which melts in your mouth to reveal a gazpacho filling. Expect a nice surprise when the bill arrives, as it's very reasonably priced, especially given the lovely location, the quality of the restaurant and the exorbitant prices we usually pay for Spanish food in London. bravastapas.co.uk

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  4. Ibérica

    Best for: paella

    Everything on the extensive menu at Ibérica has true Spanish flavour, with a certain taste for Asturian cuisine that hints of Executive Chef Nacho Manzano's birthplace. The variety and the promise of a great meal make it a mission to decide but you can't go wrong with the corn torto fritter with Cabrales cheese scrambled eggs, difficult to find anywhere else in London. Then there is suckling pig, paellas for all tastes (these need to be ordered at least 12 hours in advance, except on Sunday, and are for a minimum of two people) and many other traditional staples. The Canary Wharf site has just opened a great outdoor space for the second year running: ideal if you want to dine outside and cool off with a cold beer. ibericalondon.co.uk

    Entertain at home: try Ibérica's recipe for corn torto fritter with Cabrales scrambled egg

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  5. Brindisa

    Best for: Spanish tortilla

    For almost ten years – the anniversary is this autumn – Tapas Brindisa has been feeding the London troops the best of Spanish cuisine in the foodie heaven that is Borough Market. There is no denying the produce they use is very good, and the final product is such a success that there are now three outposts in Soho, South Kensington and Shoreditch. It has been said the best Spanish tortilla in London can be found in Tapas Brindisa Soho and everyone is always impressed with how good the staff recommendations are, so we say visit them, take their advice and relax. Life definitely seems better with patatas bravas and Padrón peppers in front of you. brindisatapaskitchens.com

    Entertain at home: try Brindisa's recipe for tortilla

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  6. Laxeiro

    Best for: hearty breakfast with a Spanish twist

    The family-run Laxeiro is that little restaurant at the end of Columbia Road flower market that is always packed on Sunday mornings. Take a look at their breakfast menu to understand why. For under ten pounds, you can have a coffee and the Spanish version of an English breakfast – with morcilla or chorizo, of course – or go for the bocadillos, Spanish sandwiches with Manchego cheese or Iberico charcuterie. Add a spot of sunshine, a window table for people-watching and a good siesta afterwards and that's your Sunday sorted. laxeiro.co.uk

    Entertain at home: try Laxeiro's recipe for Padron Peppers

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  7. Tapas Revolution

    Best for: anchovies and croquetas

    Omar Allibhoy may be under 30 but he has definitely made it in the London food scene with his Tapas Revolution site in Westfield Shepherd’s Bush, another in Kent and a third one opening in Shoreditch towards the end of the summer. His concept goes to the core of tapas: small, varied and quick, and what better way to do that than a pewter bar with high stools in one of the busiest shopping centers in the country. Choose one of their deals for two or three people, which include favourites like Spanish tortilla, fried squid, morcilla or Padrón peppers and cost between £18 and £30; or pick and choose individual dishes from the wide selection. If you have a sweet tooth, go for the churros con chocolate, perfect fuel after all that shopping. tapasrevolution.com

    Entertain at home: try Tapas Revolution's recipe for cod with peas and parsley

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  8. PIX

    Best for: real pintxos

    PIX brings to London a way of eating that is almost more authentically Spanish than tapas. Pintxos are the sort of bar snacks held together with a skewer that you'll find in most places in the Basque country. The place makes for a fun evening: just take a look, pick your favourites, keep the skewer and pay at the end. Snacks such as artichoke and shaved Manchego on crusty bread, spinach and sweet potato tortilla, or bread with ham and tomato are priced at £1.95. Others, such as Ibérico ham croqueta or honey-glazed cod fritters, are £2.95. It's simple, different and delicious and there are four locations in areas from Islington to Notting Hill. pix-bar.com

    Entertain at home: try PIX's recipe for sherried fig and goat's cheese on crusty bread

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  9. Camino

    Best for: garlic prawns and steak

    Richard Bigg is not Spanish but his 25 years spent travelling all over the country have given him a pretty good insight. His love for Spain is obvious and translates perfectly into Camino’s atmosphere and menu. For a perfect summer evening, visit Bar Pepito – London’s first sherry bar – for sangria, ham and olives, and then go across the courtyard to Camino King’s Cross. You’ll be greeted by super-friendly staff, who'll bring you a great selection of tapas before end the night dancing to their DJ's tunes if it’s a weekend. Your Spanish friends will be proud. camino.uk.com

    Entertain at home: try Camino's recipe for crema catalana

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  10. Condesa

    Best for: Spanish-Mexican combos

    Condesa is one of those places you happen upon by sheer luck on a night out in Covent Garden. This fun little bar serves a weird but wonderful combination of Spanish-Mexican tapas – from jamón serrano and mozzarella quesadilla to tacos, proper charcuterie and other treats – to a growing crowd of followers. They serve good beer and nice wines by the glass, in carafes or by the bottle. The music includes true Spanish hits from the past and present. Fun is guaranteed! condesalondon.com

    Entertain at home: try Condesa's recipe for pig cheeks and Pedro Ximenez corn tortilla taco

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A taste of Spain in London

Friends, good times and sunshine: get a flavour of the joys of Spanish culture without leaving your native city

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From traditional tapas and pintxos to contemporary twists on Mediterranean classics, there's a huge range of restaurants in London serving up authentic tastes of Spain. Choose from ten great Spanish dining destinations below, see the chefs at work in our videos or entertain guests at home with one of their tempting recipes. With festival season just around the corner, we've also given you the lowdown on two buzzing Barcelona music festivals, Sónar and Cruïlla.

Live the Estrella life

Live the Estrella life

Follow the movement on Twitter @EstrellaDammUK or like the page at facebook.com/estrelladammuk. You can also get the latest taste of the Estrella life by following #EstrellaLife on Facebook and Twitter.

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