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The Best Spanish Restaurants in W1: Seven Picks, From a Michelin Star to a Mayfair Tapas Bar

The best Spanish restaurants in W1 cover almost every way Spain eats: a Michelin-starred tapas counter and asador in Mayfair, Basque grills in Soho and Marylebone, a queue-for-it counter on Dean Street and a Mayfair tapas bar that has barely changed in 30 years. We picked seven. Michelin status was checked against the current guide, and every address and booking policy against the restaurant's own website in October 2026. All seven are inside the W1 postcode; Barrafina's other branches and Legado in Shoreditch are not.

The seven at a glance

1. Sabor

35-37 Heddon Street, W1B 4BR. Nieves Barragán Mohacho's restaurant opened on Heddon Street, the pedestrian lane off Regent Street, in 2018 and won a Michelin star the same year; it holds one star in the current guide. It is really two restaurants. On the ground floor, the counter beside the bar serves tapas from across Spain with a focus on fresh seafood. Upstairs, El Asador cooks the food of Galicia and Castile, and is the place for the Segovian suckling pig the Michelin inspectors single out as one of the finest Spanish dishes in London. There is also an outdoor terrace. Barragán's second restaurant, Legado, won its own star in 2026, but it is in Shoreditch, well outside W1.

2. Mountain

16-18 Beak Street, W1F 9RD. Tomos Parry, the chef behind Brat in Shoreditch, opened Mountain in Soho with the wood-fired cooking of the Basque Country as its inspiration. It runs over two floors; the brighter ground floor is the one to ask for. The menu is short and plainly described, and lets the ingredients carry the dishes: Michelin's inspectors pick out the mutton chops and the grilled cockles. It is the most fashionable table on this list, so book ahead.

3. Barrafina Dean Street

26-27 Dean Street, W1D 3LL. The original Barrafina, founded by brothers Sam and Eddie Hart, whose mother was born in Mallorca. There are now five London branches, but Dean Street is the only one that does not take reservations: you queue, then sit at the counter and watch the chefs. Order from the blackboard of specials, which usually includes the fish of the day, and finish with the Santiago almond tart. Come early or late to keep the wait down.

4. Donostia

10 Seymour Place, W1H 7ND. Named after the Basque name for San Sebastián, Donostia serves Basque pintxos and tapas to around 40 guests, many of them at a dining bar facing the open kitchen. Ibérico de bellota pork runs through the menu, from jamón on the charcuterie plates to grilled presa and pluma, and the Basque cheesecake is the dessert to order. A downstairs room can be hired for private dinners. It opens for dinner every day and for lunch on Fridays and Saturdays; check the website for current hours.

5. Lurra

9 Seymour Place, W1H 5BA. A few doors from Donostia, Lurra takes its lead from the erretegia, the charcoal and wood grills of the Basque Country; the name means "land" in Basque. The signature is txuleta, steak from Galician Blond cattle raised in northern Spain and kept to between 12 and 16 years old, far older than most British beef, which gives the meat its marbling and depth. Wild turbot cooked over the grill is the other dish people book for. Come in a group and share.

6. El Pirata

5-6 Down Street, W1J 7AQ. For more than 30 years this tapas bar has sat on a quiet street between Piccadilly and Park Lane, serving traditional Spanish dishes in a warm, unfussy room with the feel of Madrid. It is the antidote to Mayfair prices: Time Out once called it "a low-key, low-price Spanish gem". Reservations by phone on 020 7491 3810 or online.

7. Copita

26-27 D'Arblay Street, W1F 8EP. A Soho tapas bar since 2011, with a seasonal menu and specials that change weekly. The wine list is entirely Spanish and almost all of it is served by the glass, carafe or bottle, with a good range of sherry, which is the best match for the food. Seating is at bar level, and it takes private hire for up to 50 people.

What to order: a short glossary

• Tapas and pintxos. Tapas are small plates shared around the table. Pintxos are the Basque version, often a bite on a slice of bread held with a cocktail stick, eaten standing at the bar.
• Croquetas. Fried croquettes with a soft béchamel centre, most often made with jamón. A good test of any tapas kitchen.
• Jamón ibérico de bellota. Cured ham from Ibérico pigs fattened on acorns, the top grade of Spanish ham.
• Presa and pluma. Two prized cuts from the shoulder of the Ibérico pig, served pink from the grill.
• Tortilla. The Spanish potato omelette; the best are left soft and slightly runny in the middle.
• Basque cheesecake. Baked very hot so the outside caramelises almost black while the centre stays creamy.
• Sherry. Dry fino and manzanilla suit salty ham, fried fish and olives; richer oloroso stands up to grilled meat.

How to choose

• For a special occasion: Sabor, and book El Asador upstairs if you want the suckling pig.
• For Basque food: Mountain in Soho, or make a night of Seymour Place: pintxos at Donostia, steak at Lurra.
• Without a booking: Barrafina Dean Street, ideally at opening time.
• On a budget: El Pirata or a few plates at Copita's bar.

For more places to eat in the postcode, see our guide to where to eat in W1, the full list of Michelin star restaurants in W1, and our best restaurants in Soho.

Sources: Michelin Guide Great Britain and Ireland 2026, including The best Spanish restaurants in London; the restaurants' own websites (checked 15 October 2026). Menus and hours change; check the restaurant's site before booking. Back to The W1 London homepage.