The best Spanish restaurants and tapas bars in Singapore

While Asador opened quietly in the midst of the pandemic, this unassuming restaurant in Joo Chiat has been a favourite for its Cochinillo (from $108), a whole roasted Spanish suckling pig from the Segovia region. As tradition goes, they cut the pig tableside – proving that the meat is so tender, that using a knife is entirely unnecessary.

TRY The Rodaballo ($98/kg), a grilled Spanish turbot that is prepared as they do in San Sebastian, or the dry-aged beef tartare ($28) with smoked bone marrow butter. 

The picture-perfect beaches of Barcelona are like no other, but the sea-facing views of Tanjong Beach over at FOC Sentosa come pretty darn close. But panoramic views aside, this laidback beachfront restaurant also has a lineup of tasty Spanish dishes. Like many other Spanish restaurants, a large paella to share with the whole tabe is a must-order for its crisp, slightly charred edges – it also comes packed full of flavour and ingredients like fresh seafood or Iberico pork presa.

TRY For a more unique take on Spanish fare though, it’s the FOC Potato Churros ($15) that blew us away with its warm, toasty crunch paired with a homemade aioli and spicy tomato dip.

Paella might be the staple order at all Spanish restaurants, but over at Guoco Tower’s Pura Brasa, they offer a unique rendition: a charcoal seafood paella (from $36). It’s cooked in a Jaspol charcoal oven so there’ll be plenty of socarrat to scrape off the bottom – the crispy rice, a result from slightly charring the base layer of rice. They do also have a variety of classic tapas, such as Padron peppers ($15), a Spanish cheese platter ($19), and patatas bravas ($9). And as their menu confidently declares, “it’s not only the Italians who know how to make pasta”.

TRY The frutti di mare tagliatelle ($25) and beef bolognese ($24) might not be your conventional choice in a Spanish restaurant, but safe to say, they do the pasta pretty darn well here too. 

There’s an endless choice of good food at Chijmes, but it's Spanish joint The Winery that you’ll need to head over to next. They offer a short ribs paella that’s prepared in the traditional Senyoret manner. It translates to “gentleman’s rice”, so there’s no need to use a knife – you can simply devour the entire paella with just a spoon. Make sure to order some tapas to share too: they do up a decent Iberico and cheese platter ($38) and jamón bikini ($15), a tasty ham and cheese sandwich.

TRY The classic squid ink paella ($24) is a safe bet.

Next Door Spanish Cafe is a homey restaurant in the quiet Siglap neighbourhood, and as the name suggests, it’s one of those no airs, next door joints where they won’t scoff at your flip flops or worn tees. There’s a solid range of tapas that go beyond the quintessential patatas bravas or slivers of Iberian ham. Though, if haven't really been here until you take on the Cochifrito ($28) – crispy fried suckling pig. Since there aren’t many Spanish restaurants in the East, you can expect a full crowd – make sure to make a reservation before strolling down.

TRY Get a serve of the Crudo de Vieiras ($22), sliced Hokkaido scallops with passionfruit and avocado.

Tapas 24 has long been drawing big crowds with its small plates ever since it opened in 2006 by Michelin-started chef Carles Abellan. And now, the first Asia outlet of this well-loved restaurant can be found along the breezy banks of Robertson Quay. Enjoy a savoury feast with some cool shots of Andalusian Gazpacho ($14), blended with Roma tomatoes; and snack on slices of Pan Con Tomate ($8), where crevices from the crusty Catalonian coca bread help trap pockets of oil and juicy fruit.

TRY The addictive Bikini Sandwich ($16), made with Iberico ham, buffalo mozzarella, and black truffle paste. Simply irresistible.

Olivia Restaurant & Lounge serves traditional and contemporary Catalan dishes that are sure to hit the spot. Start your meal with a series of snacks like shavings of Jamón Ibérico de bellota ($32), Ibérico ham croquettes ($7) and a delicate Catalunya lobster-avocado roll. Progressing to mains, there's tuna cheek served in a robust marmitako sauce ($35) and secreto Ibérico” pork ($32) with padrón peppers and pico de gallo. 

TRY Make space for mouthfuls of black rice with grilled calamari ($30).

My Little Spanish Place certainly has a chill, homey feel to it with its red-brick walls and warm lighting. Tuck into classic Spanish fare like the potato omelette with alioli ($8), grilled pig’s ears ($19), tapas ($8-$19), and paella ($36-$88). Of course, no Spanish meal would be complete without a good serving of bebidas – on offer here are glasses of house-made sangria ($10-$13) and a selection of Spanish beers, the Estrella Damm ($12, Estrella Dam Inedit ($38, made in collaboration with Ferran Adria) and Estrella Galicia ($12).

TRY The all-time favourite suckling pig slow-roasted in white wine and garlic ($79, $139, $249 for a quarter, half, and whole pig respectively). Definitely worth pigging out on.

At Kulto, the restaurant comes dressed less like a restaurant, and more like a cosy dining space. Wooden shutters, a common sight in Madrid households, flank the walls of the dining space. And central to the entire eatery is a lively open kitchen, where chef-owner José Alonso stands proudly by.

TRY If you can, make time for the two-course set lunch ($30). Start with the croquettes, stuffed with Iberico ham, and  feast on squid ink paella, a signature, washed down with refreshing sangria ($10), which is available on tap. 

An offshoot of My Little Spanish Place in Bukit Timah, My Little Tapas Bar serves up tapas from across diverse regions in Spain. Graze late into the night on Spanish cheeses and homemade sardines, and get a taste of jamon from four famed locales – Guijuelo, Jabugo, Salamanca, and La Aberca – at the Jamon Bar. On the drinks front, this Club Street joint offers one of the most extensive menus in town for Spanish wines.

Restaurant Gaig has high expectations to live up to. After all, it's the Singapore outpost of its similarly named, one Michelin-starred sister restaurant from Barcelona. Thankfully, the food largely delivers. Besides the usual suspects, the menu showcases signatures from the Barcelona restaurant, Gaig's cannelloni, quail escabetx, and more. 

TRY Fideua negre ($42.50), a dish similar to paella, where squid ink and seafood comes cooked with noodles instead of the rice. 

This corner restaurant's achingly hip fittings are well-matched by chef Carlos Montobbio's modernist Spanish plates. They're tremendous fun: think crispy potato "gratin" towering in a pool of organic yolk and burnt onion sauce, pickled beetroot with horseradish ice cream and sangria sorbet on cone.

TRY Esquina's Spanish Omelette ($6). It's as trippy as tapas get. The traditional Spanish omelette is blitzed till creamy, then griddled blini-style and served on a sourdough crisp.

Its location at the idyllic Alkaff Mansion is enough reason to drop by UNA. But to convince you even further, the handsome restaurant rewards those who make the journey up with traditional bites like Paella de Marisco ($52/$72), bomba rice baked with seafood and chicken. Beyond the usual, UNA also serves unique Basque-inspired dishes. 

TRY Txuleta ($180/kg), a grilled prime rib-eye that’s usually sourced from an older cow which lends a more intense beefy flavour. 

The colourful Spanish cuisine has been taken to the seaside with Sabio by the Sea. As its name suggests, a calming waterfront view comes as part of your meal. Choose from a wide selection of hot and cold tapas ($8-$21) and a variety of meats and seafood prepared on the Josper Grill. 

TRY Nothing matches the soothing sea breeze quite like the Paella de Pescado ($29/$49) filled with fresh ingredients from the ocean like squid, seabass, mussels, clams, and shrimp. 

The touristy-kitsch interiors and inexpensive prices may not inspire confidence, but food-wise, Tapas Club is right on a par with the big boys. There's a lot to love, with everything from patatas bravas to squid ink paella hitting all the right notes and generously portioned. 

TRY Patatas Bravas ($15). The spuds as crispy and fluffy as they ought to be, and you'll want to mop up every last bit of the tangy-and-piquant sauce.

Binomio is a bit of an open-secret. It's greatly beloved by the foodie community, yet it tends to fly under the radar unlike its younger, trendier counterparts. The tapas counter fronts the place to dish up classic bites, whereas the cavernous inner sanctum is a fancy fine-diner for Spanish gastronomy.

TRY Tuetano con caracoles ($27). What's better than grilled bone marrow? Grilled bone marrow topped with escargot, that's what. Probably not great for your cholesterol, but you only live once.

The Les Amis group has an impressive portfolio of hits, and their casual Spanish joint is no exception. Helmed by local chef Ng Wei Han, La Taperia makes no pretenses of ultra-authenticity, augmenting the menu of mostly timeless classics with some of Ng's contemporary creations.

TRY Chipirones Fritos en su Tinta ($16), or in layman terms – baby squid deep-fried in squid ink-infused batter. It's every bit as moreish and addictive as you might imagine, and ideally chased with lots of sangria.

Tapas re-imagined with Japanese ingredients and flavours, and paired with sake – that's the wild ride that Spaniard Pepe Moncayo proposes. It's an omakase-only concept from $98 for four courses plus snacks, and $58 extra for sake pairing.

TRY Dishes changes regularly, but try for the shiso leaf tempura. A smear of tomato tartare is sandwiched between shiso leaves and deep-fried, combining a taste of the sun-kissed Mediterranean with a jolt of Japanese herbal sweetness.