Bar Rioja in Islington

Amazing service and great recommendations! Will defo be coming back!

I gave 4 star even when I give 5 star on food, service, and atmosphere because the price is a bit too high for what you get. Everything is in tiny portions and we are left hungry even after we have paid c. £90 for the meal. We were so hungry that we couldn’t go to sleep. The food tasted absolutely amazing tho. It is the same kitchen as the restaurant next door (Camino) and they even share a toilet. This restaurant has a much more intimate atmosphere which I think is better for date nights. However the space is very small compared to Camino and the tables are so close to each other. We can clearly hear what’s the gossip in the next table so I do not recommend going if you plan to have private conversations. The inside of this restaurant is VERY warm so make sure you wear layers that can be taken off or you’ll find yourself longing to go out for a break to breathe. But it’s also because of that, it adds an extra coziness to it. The staff is very attentive and friendly. But just know that because every table is very close to each other, they will walk very close around you a lot so as other customers. Also note that there’s nothing to hang your jacket or bag.

Great place to enjoy exceptional wine! Expect to find some incredible wine labels, accompanied by the most juicy tapas! Mouthwatering… We ordered the gambas (prawns), the croquettes of course like 3x, the pan con tomate, suckling pig (really good), ox cheek (this was top, was just melting on the fork and delicious) and the rib eye stake (this was unfortunately disappointing as it was dry and pretty tasteless). Will definitely come back !

What a smashing little bar. Wine, service and tapas faultless. Thanks Secret London for the recommendation 😁

I was greatly disappointed and unimpressed with our experience yesterday. My partner were out celebrating both our anniversary and her birthday and booked Bar Rioja however was informed in the morning that the Bar would be closed for the day as one of the chefs had covid (fine, acceptable) however I was then told over the phone by a member of staff that we could transfer our booking to the sister restaurant, Camino instead. I was told it would have the same wine, food and overall experience. I was sold at the thought of that as a tasting experience was what I was after. After the cost and time of trekking all the way into town I arrived at this place very quickly realising that it was not what I thought it would be like. The waitress simply showed us to our table and left. Nothing was explained regarding the menu and how drinks work (the tasting experience I was after). I then thought to ask the waitress to guide us only to call her over and was approached rudely with the words, " yea, what's up". I mean are you kidding me... Anyways, that aside, I continued to ask questions and was then told, they are only serving wine by the bottle and this restaurant is different to the bar rioja experience. I then replied, this is nothing I had signed up for, you didn't inform me over the phone, you sold it under false pretences when we did speak and who does a "tasting" via bottle purchases. There was no admittance of wrong doing, it was a wasted trip, ruined our evening of what was supposed to be celebrations and not a single good will gesture in the slightest was offered yet they were the ones who changed our entire original plan. So unprofessional and disappointed in this place!

Really nice little restaurant with great tapas and lovely food. It's a nice little relaxing spot with only a few tables which is great. The only downside is that the toilets are located across the courtyard in Camino (sister company where the food is also made) so there's a very much contrasting atmosphere when you walk in there.

Bit rammed a lot of the time but if you get a table it's a great vibe. Cosy, great wines and the tapas selection is small but perfectly balanced. Special shout out for whatever olives they have cause they're some of the best I've ever had.

Fabulous place. Dropped in without a reservation and were lucky to get a table for a while before the place got really busy, but we're sensitively made aware of when they'd need the table back. Excellent selection of fabulous wines which we enjoyed hugely. Most of all: the place has oodles of atmosphere, is warm and cosy and - the music is the perfect volume to be able to have an actual conversation! Next time will make a booking to linger over the tapas too. Well done whoever runs this place 👏 👍

A must-visit destination! Immerse yourself in an authentic Riojan atmosphere, where Spanish cuisine takes a delightful twist, elevating it beyond the flavors of Spain itself. The wine selection is unparalleled, and the ambiance is nothing short of impressive. The staff operates with remarkable speed and professionalism. The tapas bar rivals those along Calle Laurel in Logroño – and that's coming from a La Rioja native!! . If you find yourself in London, this establishment is a non-negotiable on your culinary agenda. Missing out would be a disservice to your taste buds!!

I booked this a couple of weeks ago and there was a mix up/issue with overbooking, we were kindly offered a space at their linked restaurant Camino with a 25% discount. On the night we got another call to seat us back at Bar Rioja, which was so appreciated, and we were still offered the discount. This was handled so professionally and I have to commend Chiara for this. The vibes were very chilled and relaxed, the bar was super warm and cosy, the menu was impeccable, and the service was hospitable and helpful. I can’t wait to come back! Thanks for such a lovely experience, even with the mix up :)

Had a booking, and couldn’t get a table as it was busy (I guess bookings are redundant). Staff were absolutely rude and dismissive. I’m appalled at their behaviour. I was recommend this via Tik tok and I’m disappointed with their hostility. Luckily, Camino bar were more accommodating with a wider variety of wines.

lovely little bar in a hidden corner in kings cross! great selection of wines of all kinds with authentic tapas. staffs really knows what to recommend depending on what you want. would 100% recommend and go again and again! it does get crowded during the weekend so I recommend reserving in advance

Food, wine and service were fantastic however not including VAT in prices and not being made aware of is incredibly frustrating when you come to pay

We loved our evening at bar Rioja last Thursday - very friendly & helpful staff, lovely choice of wines & advice given when we asked, and a very tasty cheese board. Thank you

Tasty pinxtos and tapas. Wine was excellent with a great variety on offer. Service was great too. I’ll be back 😊

We had a gorgeous night at Bar Rioja! We only went for a glass of wine, but the food was so good we ended up not going to our other dinner reservation and staying here instead. The bar staff were super friendly and nice and the food was incredible! Thank you

Was initially fooled by the name, as it turned out not to be a bar. The attentive waiter kindly recommended a delightful wine and we enjoyed a quick nibble before catching our train. Impressed by the excellent service overall, highly recommend.

Cute little spot with great selection of wine by the glass and very reasonable small bites to accompany!

Beautiful wines. Knowledgeable, friendly staff.

Even though the food is really good, I felt missguided with the menu and the final bill. There are a couple of plates in the menu with a price of 13.5, in brackets says its per 100gr. As it is a tapas bar, you normally expect small plates. They dont ask you or tell you that they will serve a 200 gr plate. So the final bill for a single tapa turns out to be 27, which feels a lot when you are not warnned or adviced in the beginning what will be served. Same with the price of wines, a 75cl and a 125cl price is listed, but they dont ask which one do you prefer. My final bill for 2 wines and 3 tapas was 70..

Excellent service, and very cool place to hangout. Great selection of wines.

As a Spaniard I would recommend the croquetas. The squid wasn't very well fried, the solomillo ibérico wasn't that cut for sure. The food was good, but I wouldn't repeat. Friendly staff and very good wine selection.

Wonderful ambience. Wine selection is interesting and the food pairing was delicious. A wonderful find near Kings Cross

Amaizing little gem! If you don't know about wine (like me) trust their advice, not only they're very knowledgeable but extremely nice.

Tiny bar with extensive wine menu and gorgeous albeit short tapas menu. Mushrooms were stand out dish!

I had a very pleasant evening. Service was okay, but they were providing a 25% discount so I guess I shouldn’t complain. I do hope they’re going to put more staff on. Some interesting selections of Rioja, mixed with some big industrial names, which is slightly disappointing. When a wine on the list are made by big bodegas who supply Tescos it takes away some of the panache. At £2.50 for the tapas; reasonable. I think a slight problem with this place is what’s the difference between the mothership Caminos and Bar Rioja. Not much as besides, a limited selection of Tapas all of the food comes from Caminos. You are sitting in the same place so I guess it’s the wine. I tried a few. OK bubbly from Haro. uninspiring 2014 Reserva. I was expecting quite a bit more at that price point. The viña Muriel Blanco 2014 was a really great white. I checked some of the wines online and there is a 300% mark up. This is about average for London restaurants. I don’t think I’ll be returning despite the pleasant evening. Without the discount it would’ve been well north of £100, a glass of bubbly, some Tapas, a glass of wine, the glass of red and finishing it off with a cheese plate. If I was going for a meal I think there is better value at Caminos.

Very friendly service. Attentive to our needs and suggestion of wine was spot on. Great atmosphere with live Music in a backyard away from the husle and busle from Kings Cross. Super nice and Very tasty tapas. A Very warm recommendation from here

Love this place, was there at the weekend. Made a beautiful Saturday even better in the courtyard enjoying great wine and food!

We managed to get a walk-in table on a busy Friday night and had a great selection of tapas dishes. Thank you Florian and Vicki for being our excellent friendly servers. We had some classic tapas dishes - jamon iberico was a standout as was the galician fillet steak.

Cosy little place with lovely tapas-style dishes and a decent wine list. Definitely worth a visit.

Last visited pre Pandemic. Its still good. Nice selection of sherries and wines. Great service. Nice vibe inside. Tapas was OK.

Beautiful place for a sherry and fantastic tapas. Super cute with a small number of tables inside. Staff are really lovely and helpful. And the tortilla, the salt cod and the padron peppers were all incredible! Will definitely be back

Met friends for Christmas drinks. Very cozy place, only a few tables so noise levels are very manageable. The bar tender is very knowledgeable and passionate about the wines and sherries. The tapas is delish, my only issue is there are only 2 vegan choices, one being patatas bravas. The expresso martinis are the best I've tasted yet. Would definitely recommend this place, especially for smaller groups of up to 4.

Visited on a Friday evening during the World Cup. The staff were excellent and the tapas was really good, definitely recommend a visit

Not to be confused with adjoining Camino bar (although they are under the same ownership). Such a lovely wee place with loads of sherry on offer. The staff were brilliant and keen to make reccomendations to the uninitiated, and the place has a cosy, friendly feel. A great alternative to cocktails and craft beer. Please go.

Great find. Small place in the back of a larger bar / outdoor area. Food was great, wine was great. Service was solid. Definitely would go back

Myself and my team went for dinner after work here and had an incredibly enjoyable evening. The food was awesome and we enjoyed the small plates. The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful and the atmosphere was friendly and lively but not overly loud. They appear to be an outside space and several different areas within the restaurant.

I hardly ever drink sherry but the barman was very helpful, giving sensible advice as to what to have. Very pleasant interior, not busy early on Friday evening, free snacks with the sherry. Will go again.

Half don't want to review this so that nobody else knows how good it is! We went for my birthday as I'm a big sherry fan, which isn't easy to find in the UK. The selection here was great and we worked our way through the sherry flights, also enjoying the tapas that came with them. The variety and quality of the sherry was top notch, and all the food we ordered was superb too. The bar is tiny so booking is advised. Only one lady was serving but she was very friendly and once orders were taken, food came swiftly. It had a proper Spanish vibe to it, felt very laid back and I can't wait to return!

Terrible DJ making conversation impossible. Chaotic and noisy... Not an enjoyable evening

Not a bad little spot a stones throw from Kings Cross

Lovely peaceful little sanctuary in the midst of a busy, noisy area of the city. There are heaters and huge umbrellas to keep you sheltered from the showers. The seat covers are a bit stained though. Service wasn’t great as the staff were through at the restaurant side and kept forgetting to check people were being served at the bar. There’s no cider on draft but the bottled Spanish cider is lovely!

Al lado de King Cross lo encontramos,paseando por sus callejas.Es un rincón muy agradable donde disfrutamos entre otras cosas de un buen vino Español y un buen jamón. El personal muy atento ,el producto de muy alta calidad y el ambiente inmejorable,sobre todo el viernes noche. Un buen hallazgo!!

Pleasant evening at Bar Pepito. Thank you

Great atmosphere, great choice of drinks, great location.

Cute little bar which offers sherry tasting. No cocktails served here but they have nice wine & loved the tapas dishes I had.

Nice and friendly staff. Not a lot of choice for the drinks. But overall nice and cozy place.

Great tapas. Tables crowded together. Adds to atmosphere but not much room

Best tapas in London. Book a table and go. Right now.

Great sherries but they should do some full size bottles by the bottle and not just by the glass.

Good bar quick service friendly staff

Absolutely brilliant! The staff is super nice, the selection of port and other wines is amazing. It's super authentic, the atmosphere is incredible. Absolutely loved it! Great little gem.

Great service, good food. It's a little slice of Spain. 100% would recommend to anyone who would like some good Spanish food!

cheerful vibe. too many people with dance and singalong

Great sherry. Good tapas. Lovely.

It was very good. Great for meeting friends. You forget your sitting near the busy streets of Kings Cross! The drinks were great, and the manager came over to chat to is about his new cocktail which he let us try for free. We will definitely be returning!

It's a cute setting but honestly, nothing special and a tad overpriced for the quality.

Lovely atmosphere. Plenty of space!

Tucked away behind Kings Cross this restaurant is wonderful. A great spin on a heavily saturated market. This is premium tapas. The prices are quite high but not outrageous. I had a great time and also went to the bar after my meal. Highly recommended and super yummy. Staff were fast, efficient and full of recommendations.

Lovely little Spanish tapas when you want less noise and people than the busy one next door. Great food and wines!

Lovely quiet place serving nice sherries and plates of Iberian nibbly bits

Tiny little pub with a monstrous range of sherries ( including some very syrupy ones )and Spanish wines in a great little courtyard just off the hustle and bustle of kings cross. Spanish restaurant (Camino) opposite side of the courtyard with tapas and shared seating area. Great little find.

Very good atmosphere and very good wine! Perfect spot for summer time!

Tiny place tucked away. Provided a personal touch. Thought the wine was a bit expensive though.

Bistro tipicall spanish bar with people talking spanish, there are jamón and good wine. Prices are a little bit expensive for what offers but clima inside is nice for talking and speaking in a good way.

Lovely little place. Warm atmosphere, great Spanish music and delicious tapas.

Cosy bar, nice atmosphere but very expensive for tapas. Tomato bread is great but we ordered it with cheese for an extra £3.50. SO not worth the extra money. Have a quick drink then move on elsewhere.

This is a little gem. Nice wine and ambiance. Some of the tapas have a slightly of balance bread to cheese ratio, but thats probably dependent on preference.

Drinks, atmoaphere and service great. But only seating is bar stools (inherently uncomfortable) and toilet long walk across forecourt in a different building.

Nice quaint little tapas place very friendly

Nice sized bar/restaurant hidden away in a small courtyard. They were showing the football on a big screen whilst we were there. Good selection of wine.

Love this place. Pedro Ximinez Nectar

Small quirky sherry bar with a good selection. Also does whiskies and snacks (I'd recommend the bride beans). Uncomfy stools.

Don’t go if you’re pregnant or you don’t drink alcohol. They will just have water for you, but you can chose between still or sparkling.

Nice and cosy. Soft music, perfect for a date, not a night out with your friends

Very nice bar with outdoor area!!! A cool and alternative place with a special variety of rums.

Sherry flights are interesting and good value for money. Tasty cheeses too.

Great location, with a hidden courtyard feel. Unpretentious staff and friendly vibes

Not too sure that I should eulogise this place, as its a small venue and seemingly perfect for the sherry lover. They have a fantastic selection of sherries (Apostales !) and pair the food with a suggested sherry style. If you think you don't like sherry then go and have their tasting menu with tapas - you will leave a changed person.

Really nice place to eat drink and chill

Lots of delicious sherry, cured meats and cheeses.

We love this place - staff are friendly, food is lovely, the prices are not unreasonable for London, the setting is secluded and the sherry is yummy!

A very fino selection of sherries.

Small Spanish place where a friend and I had a couple of beers. Then we realised it really prided itself for it's Sherry. Neither of us had any vast experience with this drink and the lady behind the bar was very helpful with suggestions. If you are at Kings Cross, you should consider a glass of Sherry (and matching tapas)

Nice place with outside seating for when the weather allows. Good selection of tapas

Very cosy bar with as much seating outside in the courtyard as inside. Great tapas, interesting sherry which is well worth trying, and delicious Spanish wines.

Best tapas in London. Incredibly intimate, but never overbearing. Knowledgeable staff and extraordinary food and sherry. I buy a bottle of Apostoles every year at Christmas (a great excuse to go back at least once a year).

Lovely place to enjoy spanish taste with ideal music

A hidden gem! I love this place. Great selection of sherries and knowledgeable staff to help navigate them.

Great place to enjoy your weekend night out.

Spicy aubergine and the meatballs are delicious. Don't leave without trying them. Quiet and calm atmosphere, perfect for a quiet and intimate evening with friends or a special one.

Such a nice spot for an intimate drink and a few eats, which I prefer way more than Camino. Camino is big, crowded and loud, while Pepito is the opposite. After a few failed attempts at other bars, my friend and I came here on a Thursday evening without a booking and the guy was so nice to make room for us! We sat near by the wall and had a bottle of wine and some food. The food was incredible!!! Definitely try the tortilla, it's made in a special way and we devoured it in a second. The only slight downside to our experience is that at the end the staff was a bit cold (maybe we got a bit tipsy at the end?), but since they were so nice most of the time I'll give this place five stars :)

Massively overcrowded leads to long waits at the bar for service. But that is London for you!

Amazing small sherry bar. Cosy, only maybe room for about 25 inside but with some outdoor seating. fab food and amazing jamon. Only bugbear is having to go to Camino next door to use the loo - sooo busy on a Friday night and a shock to the system after cosy grown up Pepito.

Lovely tiny bar close to Kings Cross station. Extensive sherry menu and tasty tapas.

Decent tapas in a Central location. Nothing mind-blowing but tasty nonetheless.

buone tapas, buon ristorante, buon pepito!

Nice selection of Spanish larger. Good tapas and friendly bar staff.

I liked that they offered flights of sherry, arranged from the dry Manzanilla up to the sweet Pedro Ximenez. Didn't stay very long, so hard to get a very full opinion of the place, but in short it's good if you want to sample some different sherries.

Great little venue with an original air and taste of Spain as soon as you walk in.