Barafina in City of London, Westminster

I popped in for a quick birthday lunch, the food was fresh & delicious. Good portion sizes as well. Would highly recommend and visit again.

Heading here despite it losing its one Michelin star, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the tapas offered. Having opted for several daily specials, I was impressed by the grilled octopus more than most other dishes. I can't say there were any misses throughout the meal, and while the price is high relative to the quantity of food, I can't bring myself to say it's poor value given the effort and quality that was offered.

We'd been wanting to eat at Barrafina for some years, and took the chance to try it on a trip to see Moulin Rouge. It was indeed an experience, alas not the good one we were hoping for! A very helpful young lady gave us initial guidance on the menu and specials, and said that she'd make sure that my mollusc allergy (oysters, mussels) was communicated. That didn't need anything extraordinary, just normal due digence in separation eg not sharing oil. When another waiter took our order, it was clear that understanding of what a mollusc is (and isn't) wasn't there. I said that the vast majority of the menu would be fine, including all of the specials. We ordered a number of dishes and then overheard the chef talking loudly and angrily when the need for just some basic due diligence in allergen management was required. I've eaten in hundreds, possibly thousands, of restaurants that serve molluscs without ever having an issue... except once in Cornwall where the cooking oil was shared for a vegetable dish when it shouldn't have been. After giving our order, the waiter came back a couple of times and essentially said that the chef didn't want to us to have any of our fish dishes, which left little for us to eat. It was quite aggressively unwelcoming. With lots of customers, I guess the chef just couldn't be bothered to take the required care, and/or maybe didn't understand how to do that. We made clear that that was all that was needed, nothing extraordinary, just don't cook together. Anyway, with the restaurant effectively unwilling to serve us we said that we'd just leave. We were then chased down the road by two waiters shouting for us to pay our bill...for the food and drink that we'd been unable to consume. An apology would have been more appropriate. We declined. Instead, we had a nice meal around the corner, including fish and crustaceans without the slightest issue. Personally, I think that any restaurant should have basic allergen training to be able to trade, and it's not great if the response is that people with any allergy issues...and their families and friends...dhould just stay away, no matter what they want to order. We overheard that sentiment "why did they come here". I guess Barrafina will always do well, with its past reputation, Michelin mention and location...but it was a big disappointment for us.

Insanely delicious food, and worth the high price tag. Service was fairly quick, one complaint would be that my husband and I were not served our meals at the same time, so we had to take turns watching each other eat.

Nice decor inside with a great atmosphere, you get a real sense of professionalism from the service to passion for food and quality. Squid croquettes, prawn & pepper tortilla and potato bravas were all amazing, delicious and absolute quality. Service & staff excellent, prices for some dishes on the expensive side but you are paying for quality. Fantastic specials menu too. Very enjoyable lunch overall.

Wir warteten ca. 30 Minuten auf einen Platz an der Esstheke, da Reservierungen nicht möglich sind, aber das störte uns nicht. Dafür war der Preis für ein recht kleines Glas Sangria mit einem großen Eiswürfel mit ca GBP 10 aus unserer Sicht stark überhöht. Das Essen später war sehr gut und das Personal freundlich, wenn auch sehr gestresst. Die Rechnung fiel allerdings recht hoch aus, da der Preis für manche Tapas negativ aus dem Rahmen fällt, auch wenn man das Londoner Preisniveau zugrunde legt.

Great spot but very ££££££’ I really enjoyed the grilled octopus at the location near the Strand in London but I’m at the location in Soho and got a completely different dish which was very disappointing at £24.50. I am in the catering business and know the food cost was probably £4.00 on this dish and feel ripped off.

Ristorante di alto livello. Non prende prenotazioni ma abbiamo aspettato per poco tempo con un buon calice di vino. La Pluma Iberica è uno dei migliori piatti che abbia mai assaggiato e la salsina di accompagnamento è fantastica. Complimenti agli Chef e al servizio!

I visited the Dean Street branch with my partner for our anniversary and we used a voucher that we had been given as a gift. We had never been before and were looking forward to visiting but we were so disappointed with the experience and the waitress that served us was unbelievably rude. We were asked about 5 times within 5 minutes of walking in the door what we wanted. It felt like we were in a fast food restaurant and we were an inconvenience because we wanted some time to consider what we wanted to order. The whole experience was impersonal, cold and the dishes were thrown down on the table without explaining what the food was. We used a voucher and it was explained that we had to use it all in one transaction which I didn't realise so we ordered two more glasses of wine and used the balance. Following this, we were approached by staff suggesting that we use the remainder of the bill towards purchasing a bottle of wine to bring home with us. In other words, get out because we need the table so we couldn't enjoy the glass of wine and drank it quickly. We felt we were rushed out the door and they wanted the table clear as people were waiting. We were only in the restaurant for a total of 1 hour 10 minutes so we were hardly overstaying our welcome. Overall, a completely woeful experience, overpriced and horribly unfriendly.

the service was terrible. The waiters were really rude and impatient. They are acting in the most impolite way possible. They were forced to leave our seats because we haven’t eaten enough! Also, waited in the queue for more than an hour. Never recommend this place!

This is usually my favourite restaurant but the staff this time made it so unpleasant. We waited for 40 min for an outside table just for them to tell us 5 min before 9pm that we can’t sit there as it closes at 9pm. Had we known in advance, we would not have wasted our night waiting here. The staff were rude and completely not understanding about why we were frustrated. Such a shame as the food is amazing, only for it to be spoiled by awful staff.

Love it here! The food is great, and the perfect place for tapas in London. Love the peppers, omelette and potatas bravas. Service is always great too.

It's rare to find a restaurant this good. We had high expectations but we were blown away by the quality and standard of the food along with the theatrical atmosphere that getting a front row seat to the chefs brings. All of the food was delicious, great choice of vegetarian dishes. Highlights were the tuna and the classic tortilla. The fennel salad was unusual and not something I would usually order, but was one of the best salads I have had. We picked the Santiago tart for the dessert was which again delicious. Worth noting that seats here are all stool seats only, so may not be suitable for people with mobility/back issues. Do not miss out on a chance to eat here!

Es el peor sitio donde jamás he comido, te Roman el pelo desde que entras . Carisisimo y poquisima pero poquisima cantidad , no se lo recomiendo a nadie . Es lo peor, senti que se reian de nosotros.

Food OK. But bad service. Some in my party waited over 40 min for their food whilst we had already finished 10/20 minutes before they even started. No apologise was offered.

If it wasn’t so well known it would be a diamond in the rough. It’s simple layout and bustling vibe probably reflects where their focus is: the food and the service. They nailed it. Some of the dishes I’ll remember when I’m in the nursing home. We stepped out of the drizzle and snow into a place running at a different speed to the world outside. There was no line, probably due to the looming rail strike and the light snow. The menu boasts a tantalizing array of tapas, the well curated wine list elevates the dining experience, complementing the dishes well, the staff recommended some good wines so if you don’t know what to get, you can ask and are in safe hands. Sitting at the counter is an entertaining and captivating spectacle that risks outshining the theatre show you will go to later in the evening. The skills of the chefs who are moving fast, but creating the delectable delights you will enjoy before your eyes. The waitstaff graciously answered my questions about the restaurant, wine and the dishes. Located conveniently for a pre-theatre feast, Barrafina is a benchmark for tapas, as I ate the dishes I felt I could understand the intent of the food. The balance of flavours had me thinking as I ate: “I get it”, “I dig it” and “that’s what that dish is meant to be like”.

Ontzettend slecht. Eten zit geen smaak aan behalve zout. Op basis van de eerdere recensies waren zijn erg hoopvol maar in de praktijk dus een tegenvaller. Het is smaakloos en schofterig duur. Prima om in London meer te betalen voor je eten maar deze prijs kwaliteit verhouding is totaal tegengesteld. Wel was onze bediening een vriendelijke kerel.

Jake was brilliant. Amazing tips and the food was off the charts. Particlularlry reccommend the Pluma Inerica. Thankyou

Absolutely delicious food. Great service and excellent vibe and atmosphere. Had to wait for a table but didn't mind as we were able to order drinks and snacks while waiting. I was only visiting London but wish this was my local!

great fine dining experience the staff were welcoming , and professional, the food was excellent each course was leading on to the next , a Wonderfull journey of flavours around the world. the wine was also very good .

Tasty food and attentive service. We’ve tried to get in here a few times and it’s been too busy. Yippee! As a married couple of many years we really like sitting at the bar tables around the busy kitchen. Our waitress/chef was excellent with my wheat intolerance and modifications, I ordered a sherry and she checked my expectations. The food was delicious and well paced. There’s an interesting choice on the menu and with the specials board it excites us that when we go again there will be favourites and other options to try. We’ll definitely return and I would happily (and will!) go and sit there on my own if I’m in the area.

Went in today, wasn’t very busy and had a 45 minute wait. Which is absolutely normal and not as long as it usually takes. Queue was moving slowly and I had a group of three in front of us, that was loud and messy. They had a lot of food and drinks by the window long “breakfast bar” that is a waiting area. Lots of dirty plates, bottles glasses, napkins in the floor. Finally they got seated. The front desk guy asked us to move into that mess, that I politely refuse until it would be cleaned. Then he decided to seat couple behind us to show he’s point, or power trick whatever. Then he tidy up the spot and when I politely question what was all that about, he decided to threat me and ask if I want the bill. I said “please get me a bill” as I didn’t want to spent any minute in this place with moron that doesn’t know how to talk or managing the customers. He decided not to charge us for couple of bills and show of how great full he is, I left 10£ for him as a tip to congratulate him for outstanding service. What a waste of 45 minute if my life! Went to Yautcha and got seated immediately and had fantastic service. Hope management can take a note and won’t put same guy on the front again! Other then that, great food and place, and usually great friendly service. Was my favorit spot that I was bragging about to all my friends, no got put off for awhile.

Ridiculously expensive for what it is. Don’t order cod cheeks as they are salty as hell. Actually, everything is so salty that it doesn’t have taste. Paid £90 each for 5 tapas dishes and a bottle of house wine (the cheapest £35) Incredible. These guys know how to make money from the English. Tapas it the cheapest food in Spain.

Prices keep increasing with smaller portions. They now even charge 75p for a slice of bread which is scandalous particularly taking into consideration the exaggerated high prices!

Wonderful food, fresh ingredients cooked in front of you, great staff, can’t fault it. Short menu but for good reason - they can then focus on quality. You must have desert and a Sherry.

Good food - we had lots of fish and it was fresh and nicely cooked but the service really let it down. We got our first dishes more quickly than we were comfortable with but then waited 35 minutes for the bill despite asking more than once. It was a shame because it should have been a 5 star review. If they were struggling for staff an apology would have gone a long way.

Lovely food, rich, spicy and good basic tapas. The staff are lovely and friendly. But we booked and were then given a very, very small counter at the window. There was no way we could have got more than a drink and a snack on that minuscule space. When the very nice staff started to bring the first of several plates to us, we suggested it wouldn’t do. So, after we waited for a while, we were moved to the stools facing the bar, where there is more space and enjoyed a pleasant, well cooked meal involving some good and traditional tapas dishes. With a preliminary Sherry, a bottle of wine and a bottle of water, five tapas dishes and and a selection of three cheeses to follow, the bill came to just under £140. The lessons? Make sure you have a seat facing the kitchen. And don’t expect this to be more than a very good tapas bar.

Our first restaurant after al fresco dining was back on the menu. A few key items not on the menu but you have to give restaurants a chance to get going again. Good quality was excellent and just like normal. Service great. Despite heaters it was freezing outside but worth it.

Never been to Barafina and I will certainly be back. Had the octopus, tiny squid and the courgette flowers. All delicious. Such a buzzy fun place to be, worth the trip.

Covid 19 has effected many things in our lives but thankfully not this place. The standard of food has not changed one bit. Still the very best casual dining restaurant in London. We sat at the counter and they have created some gaps but the interactive experience hasn’t been affected. They have a lot of outdoor seating so their output probably hasn’t changed. All the usual signature products are there such as octopus, classic tortilla and courgette flower. We had two fish specials which were amazing. Only noticeable difference is that usually all staff are Spanish but at the moment there are a scattering of non Spaniards. Service was great and it doesn’t make it less authentic. The food does the talking here.

Went for lunch . It was my second visit and enjoyed it even more. Food is excellent. The specials were perfect especially the John Dory fish. The courgette flower was delicious as always as was the classic tortilla. Service is very friendly.

This is a very popular, small, high quality tapas bar in Soho. We arrived 10 mins before opening and there was already a small queue outside. It was worth the wait. So the venue itself is smart, immaculate and really quite nice. It's a typical bar setting with fixed stools facing the bar and the staff cooking and preparing food the over the counter from the customers. The staff are superb - very friendly , helpful and incredibly good as a team - watching them work is almost like a show. We were sat almost opposite the head chef and he was amazing - it was fascinating to watch as he checked every single dish personally before it went to the customer - and honestly, the number of dishes they were kicking out was in itself pretty amazing. That man knows how to run a team with constant encouragement ad management. The food was awesome - I love tapas and this was really really good. The combination of the standard and sepcials menu was great - more than enough choice and very good mix of classics with some nice new dishes I've not tried before. Overall the experience was great fun, the atmosphere in this place is bustling , upbeat and cheerful. If you want quiet or subdued then this is not the place for you. It's not cheap here but it's absolutely worth every penny - for two with drinks we spent about £120 but we did try a lot of dishes.

The food at Barafina is great. Queuing is not great particularly if you are with someone important. But I understand why they do it. Tapas style dishes to share and all tasty and well prepared. My only complaint (and this is not the restaurants fault) is that the prices really add up so be careful how many you order. With drinks expect to pay a fair amount. I think we paid over £80 a head. Lovely food though!

Was incredible, now average. Came here exactly one year ago, Returned today and it’s average. The passion shown from the staff last year seemed genuine and was infectious, today they seemed miserable and lacking enthusiasm. Food has deteriorated, food was over seasoned and over priced....

This is my go to place for Tapas in London. The service is friendly, and the food always great. I especially love the squid, octopus, shrimp, and iberico ham.

We came here a few times when it first opened and it was excellent. It's still very good but not quite up to the standards it set previously.

I once rated this tapas bar 5 stars and said it was the must fun we had in London. It is fun but not as was in previous visit. The food also is good to very good but not excellent. I guess it's hard to...

We want to thank Rocio for our amazing night . She was fast , very friendly and efficient with the recommendations. Food was amazing. For sure we will be back !

Tapas is my favorite. Barafina definitely is my recommendation when eating alone and wanting to relax after a-day meeting. Try Daily special.

You need to be aware that you have to queue for a seat! Its worth it. The atmosphere is great, sitting at the tapas bar chatting, talking to staff seeing food go out and choosing what you want. Great for a long dinner or snack...

This restaurant serves the freshest food, grilled right in front of your eyes, as you sit in the bar counters. They have a very good selection of seafood as well as different types of meet. They do not take reservation, so be prepared for about...

We just got to London for the first time. Check into hotel and needed a quick bite, before starting our visits. Walked pass it, walked in and sat at the bar. Food was great, service was friendly and knowledgeable. Always enjoy watching the staff in...

Lovely looking restaurant from the street liked the fact you could sit around and watch them prepare the food. Food was nice I did feel it was overpriced for the amount we had, but overall enjoyed the experience

We stumbled in here after a musical. It was lively and authentic with the staff and several diners speaking Spanish. Your only option is to sit at the bar, which is perfect. We had great food and a memorable night!

Ate here ahead of a theatre trip - opens at 5 and people queue from 430 - you can see why though. Seating around W are where the food is prepared- great customer service- typically Spanish- food excellent- and good selection on wines - food...

Only had to wait 30 mins and it’s always usually quicker than they say. Got a seat in the window which was a bonus. Ordered a selection of dishes which came out in good time. Waitresses happy to help although one of them was telling...

Had lunch with friend I like the food and the place but really expensive not for me and didn't like the win I choose 😂 Good service Thanks

Went for lunch on a Sunday. Place opens at 13:00 but you need to be there earlier to get a space. We had 7 dishes of different sizes for 2 people and it was plenty of food. The food is very tasty and the dishes...

We came to Barafina for a pre-theatre meal and everything was outstanding. In fact, it was a shame that we were going to the theatre because I could have stayed in Barafina sampling the wonderful food and atmosphere for much longer than we had available...

An excellent spanish tapas restaurant you sit at the bar watching all the action. fantastic choice of food and wine. My wife is gluten free but the excellent staff went through the whole menu explaining what she could eat or they can adapt to suit....

I like the idea of having nibbles and drinks while waiting to be seated, the food was very good & we tried quite a few items from the menu.

Top tip go for a early dinner and don’t wait crazy 1 - 2 hours in line. We arrived at 4:45 and where seated at 5:00 on a Saturday night. Quality of all ingredients down to the olives where perfect. Best dish of the night...

Jet fresh ingredients and very busy business. Grilled octopus and squid are excellent. Have to try tortilla which is so special.

Fabulous Spanish tapas bar with a simple and delicious menu, the only down side is that they don't have any table, you just need to walk in and find yourself a seat around a small bar

Very nice restaurant, highly recommend!! We tried more or less 8 plates, each one was perfect Friendly costumer service

Always enjoy going here. The food is fresh and tasty. Portions are reasonable. Tried their croquettes with mushroom, iberaca ham, deep fried squid, zucchini flowers stuffed with cheese were all delicious