Search

Barrafina

54 Frith Street, W1D 4SL Full details & map

Restaurant: Spanish

Barrafina - Barrafina

Time Out says 4 Users say 5/5 Rate it

By Time Out Editors Posted: Oct 6 2011

The younger, sexier sibling of Fino, Barrafina is a glossy take on the classic Spanish tapas bar. Thanks to its no-bookings policy, the queue for seats often snakes out along a side counter to the street, but there's an excellent selection of nibbles to keep the wolf from the door as you shuffle along the line.

On our visit, giant caper berries, salted almonds and moreish ham croquetas made the perfect foil for a cold glass of Manzanilla Pasada sherry. When you're finally perched at the bar, the real fun starts.

Amiable chefs chat with the assembled diners, recommending dishes while you watch them at work. Ingredients are impeccably sourced from key regional providers, and simply prepared to allow the flavours to sing.

Highlights included folds of butter-soft, piquant chorizo ibérico, ahead of a soft-centred jamón and spinach tortilla. Sweet, meaty giant prawns, grilled in their shells and served with own-made aïoli, also got the thumbs-up.

Of the salads, the crunchy, bitter centres of a row of halved baby gems were beautifully offset by fresh shallot vinaigrette, soft anchovies and crisp strips of smoked pancetta. Prices are on the stiff side, but Barrafina's legions of fans remain undeterred.

Tags: European, Spanish, Hip factor, People watching, Something different, Wines, Central, Soho, Mid-range, Tapas, Restaurant

Comment 7 Tweet

Barrafina details

Address

Barrafina

54 Frith Street W1D 4SL

Transport Leicester Square or Tottenham Court Road tube

Telephone

020 7440 1463

Barrafina website

Tapas served noon-3pm, 5-11pm Mon-Sat; 1-3.30pm, 5.30-10.30pm Sun

Tapas £2-£18.50

Credit cards AmEx, MC, V

Facilities

Tables outdoors ( 4, pavement ), Babies and children admitted, Bookings not accepted

Barrafina map

Expand the map

Restaurants & cafés near Barrafina

See all restaurants near Barrafina

Bars & pubs near Barrafina

See all bars & pubs near Barrafina

Just drinking? See Bars & Pubs

Share your thoughts

Name (will appear on the site) *
Email (will not appear on the site) *
Add a star rating Min 1 star. Zero stars will be treated as unrated.
Enter text...
Tick to receive relevant updates from Time Out including news, events, offers and competitions.

* Mandatory fields for leaving a comment

Comments & ratings 5/5 (Average of 4 ratings)

By SS - Dec 13 2011

4/5

Great tapas and atmosphere but the queues are very long, any day, any time, and it spoils the experience somewhat. Saw Bill Murray of Hollywood fame the last time I was here and he seemed to be enjoying the Rioja and Jamon! It almost made up for the 45 minutes of shuffling along in the queue.

Report

By MaryK - Nov 15 2011

We,ve been to Barrafina on a number of occasions and despite a long wait to be seated, it was always worth the wait. HOWEVER on our last visit on Saturday 12th November. We waited over 2 hours to be seated, which wouldn't have been so irratating if the resturant's staff hadn't dumped what I can only assume were friends up the queue. This happened 3 times which meant that 8 pecious seats were taken out and meant by the time we sat down all the fresh sea food had gone and we had to rush what we ordered to get back for the train... very disappointing!

Report

By Marcus - Sep 10 2011

4/5

Deserves a better review from TimeOut, in my opinion. As described below, "consistently excellent".

Report

By GW - Aug 20 2011

5/5

Some of the best spanish food you can get in london. It's not for everyone - it's really rowdy, and you often have to wait for ages to get a table if you get there after 6.30pm(!), but this is what I love about it and I have been several times over the last couple of years. The food is consistently excellent, especially the fish which changes daily, and it has great staff who always seem to be enjoying themselves. if you are precious about bustling and atmospheric places and want a quiet meal, go to tapas brindisa on broadwick street - completely different experience and vastly inferior in my opinion.

Report

By eddie - Jan 17 2011

Never got to find out how good the food was.Ordered around £15 of drinks said that we waiting for some others to join us for dinner. After 10 minutes first asked then told to leave bar area and stand until we wee ready to eat. We were ready to do and did.

Report

By Oriana - Jan 13 2011

Best place for a lovely, delicious spanish meals served in meze style. The cooks are cooking infront of you, meet is cut in front of you as well. Very busy and really tasrty. Will be definitely coming back.