London's top 50 restaurants: Spanish

Fine cheeses, succulent meats and out-of-this-world tapas are all on offer at London's best Spanish restaurants

Explore these stylish Spanish tapas bars in London that capture the flavours of the sun. Do you agree with the choices? Use the comments box below or tweet your suggestions.

Fino

Rated as: 4/5
Price band: 3/4

Sam and Eddie Hart have pioneered a wave of top-class Spanish eateries in Fitzrovia, first with Fino, then with Barrafina. Over the last year or two we’ve noticed Fino edging ahead of the more casual Barrafina for service and food – the menu’s far more extensive at Fino, and the prices appreciably higher too.Main courses change twice daily, although you’ll find that signature dishes such as pork belly are a fixture. Fino offers a modern take on classic Spanish flavours – morcilla iberica with quail eggs, seared tuna on a piquillo pepper salad. Fino’s the smartest option of the Hart brothers empire, in every sense (they also own Quo Vadis,which is not Spanish).

When to go: For a smart night out; book well ahead.

What to have: A glass of sherry or two, some jamón, the day’s specials.

Read Fino review

33 Charlotte Street, entrance on Rathbone Street, W1T 1RR

Book online

Salt Yard

Rated as: 4/5
Price band: 2/4
Critics choice

The people behind Salt Yard hit on a winning formula: Spanish and Italian modern ‘tapas’, plus good wines by the glass. It’s been so successful that a branch, Dehesa, opened near Carnaby Street; and then in January 2011, Opera Tavern in Covent Garden. Well-sourced charcuterie, Spanish and Italian cheeses and creative, elegant tapas dishes are the main draw, but the wine list offers interesting selections from lesser-known regions of Italy and Spain and excellent sherries.

When to go: For a bite and glass on the go in Goodge Street.

What to have: Tapas until you drop.

Read Salt Yard review