El Rincon de Rafa in Manchester

Absolutely fantastic food and atmosphere. If you love tapas, you need to make a trip here

The atmosphere feels like a local Spanish restaurant, but the food was very average. Got Spanish omelette which was microwave reheated but tasted decent. Also had their seafood paella. Looked amazing in pictures but lacked flavour. Having had these items in Spain as well the flavours were not there but the staff were lovely and friendly. Unfortunately the food didn't live upto the hype from the reviews here

Up till recently I would have given it full stars. Its been our go to place especially on special occasions. But last weekend we were very dissatisfied. Squid batter was pale. The squid was all the same size ..no taste and could've. easily come out of Icelands freezer. Mushrooms ...again non descript....poor. croquettes were OK...but too big ones instead of the usual 4 small ones manchego cheese has gone up to nearly 10 pounds but nearly doubled in amount..that seemed so with a few dishes. We didn't enjoy it. There are better tapas places to go now for taps in Manchester. They had also taken a few dishes off the menu. Shame.

A slice of southern Spain slap bang in Manchester City centre. Second time I’ve dined here and the food did not disappoint. Langoustines, gambas pil pil and the most tasty red wine I’ve tasted in a long time. We dined here for my birthday and the staff went above and beyond to make the experience a super special one complete with birthday cake and surprise sing along! Thank you so much can’t wait to return! :)

Both the service and the food are very good, and the price is also very good. I forgot to take my headphones during this meal, and they also kept them very well for me! Very good service!

Stopped here for lunch for the first time in many years (it’s been here for decades) - it’s a traditional restaurant with excellent food, lovely wines and efficient and friendly staff - well worth a visit

Lovely atmospheric place hidden away, v tasty food, good sized portions.

Fabulous food and fantastic service. My first visit, but definitely not my last.

Hadn’t booked but the gentleman made room and found us a table.Food was the best tapas I’ve ever had and the service was excellent and friendly the atmosphere was bustling but not loud.would definitely recommend and we will be back

Absolutely delicious. Hidden from the sight of the main road, this restaurant is an absolute gem. Huge portions for tapas and incredibly tasty. Entire family was in love with the place and filled the entire table with dishes. Book in advance as it fills up in the evening as we barely got in as walk-ins. Highly recommended

Lovely little hide away Tapas Restaurant 💜 Family Mother's Day meal. Thoroughly enjoyed the Atmosphere, Staff and Owners were Friendly, Helpful and not intrusive. Food was Amazing, Freshly cooked to order. I couldn't tell you what I Loved the Best, because All of it was Deliciously Tasty. An Authentic Spanish experience! Will definitely be going again

Perfectly satisfactory. Food was okay-not madly inspiring or amazing but it was fine. Drinks were nice and well priced. Service was great-friendly and unobtrusive. Bill was very reasonable. I’d go back.

We did not book and it was very busy. Sat at the bar eating tapas. Great food.

Looks really authentic, but the food was a total disappointment. The jamon was an extremely light colour and of poor quality (served very cold and felt like it came direct from a supermarket packet). The patatas bravas were soggy, with a cheap tomato sauce. And the rest of our order was of similar standard. Certainly not Spanish quality.

The place is not big, if you don't have a reservation, it's better not to take risks, the paella is not very delicious, but it must not be unpalatable

Still many people at 9pm. The environment is good but the place is not easy to find. Good taste but a little bit salty for me. Anyhow the price is quiet reasonable.

One of Manchester’s best tapas restaurants, set off the main road (Deansgate) but with terrific helpful service and a fantastic range of food options, each more fabulous than the last. The staff catered for a group of nine of us, three of them vegan/vegetarian, with ease and everyone’s reaction was a very clear desire to revisit and recommend. This was the perfect way to celebrate my birthday.

the seafood bella seems like the cook put tons of salt in it，only after meal can I find the fact that my lips were in orange color ，so funny. After all the plate was so expansive that it isn’t worth it.DISGUESTING!!!!

Great hidden gem in Manchester city centre

Called in for lunch after an unsuccessful shopping trip, it's like walking into a traditional tapas bar in Spain, the food is great, service too, i have booked to come back with friends next month, you won't find more authentic Spanish restaurant in Manchester.

Fantastic authentic Spanish bar and restaurant. You could not find this wonderful atmosphere anywhere else in England. You could actually be in Spain. Fantastico! Together with excellent food, staff and of course, your host, the lovely Rafa

Fabulous atmosphere,food brilliant and authentic,service outstanding

Nice and simple Spanish fare at very reasonable prices. So relaxed and informal. Great place

I was excited to visit for the first time. Always good to visit an authentic and established independent restaurant. The venue definitely has a traditional Spanish feel in terms of the general setting and aesthetics and takes you back to early visits to Spain in the 1970's and those of the beaten track places that you still find today! However, the building was very cold, most people sat with their coats on. The toilet facilities were tired and in need of a deep clean ad possible refurb. no running hot water that I could find to wash your hands! The food was acceptable, the majority of the order was tapas dishes, but we did not receive all the food at the same time, we had to wait for very intermittent delivery of the ordered dishes, meaning that some of the party didn't eat at the same time as others. The biggest disappointment experienced was, my daughter had ordered the Paella main dish, this is a minimum of 2 persons - not an issue we thought as we would share the second dish within the whole party. We patiently waited for this to arrive after all tapas dishes had been presented to us. On asking the waitress, she said "Oh sorry I didn't see it on your order, you can still have it but it will be a least half an hour". As the rest of the party had nearly finished their food and the fact that the Paella couldn't be reduce to a single serving (which the waitress said no to) we said no to waiting the stated "At least 30 minutes". At no point was there an offer of ordering more Tapas in place of the Paella. That was the limited level of customer service we was going to receive. The added insult when paying, no offer of any discount on the bill or a final apology. So my daughter had to have something to eat when we got home some 2hrs later! I won't be coming back, but to retain other customers my recommendations are. 1: Heating (Appreciate this is a cost to any business, but customer comfort is key). 2. Running Hot Water (Basic Food Hygiene requirement). 3: Ensure you double check a customers order and when presenting what you think the last dish is, ask the party if they have everything they expected.

Good Spanish Restaurants, recipes can be a hit or a miss but overall very acceptable.

Really nice little place. The atmosphere was nice and the food was good. It was almost like that nice feeling of having a local pub with tapas. It was an inviting place that just gave me that home cooking vibe.

Love visiting here for a fantastic family meal.

What a gem. Great service. One woman looking after an entire room was fantastic to see. If they were British, they would need at 4 people to do that job. Fantastic food, good wine, nice and relaxed atmosphere. Can’t recommend it enough for those that love a real restaurant

Great Spanish food with a cheap price. One of the old man at the reception looks not happy when we told him we don’t have any reservation.-It was 2pm and the restaurant was half empty. He asked us to finish with in 1h and threw the cutlery on the table, which is a bit rude.

Been coming to El Ricon since the late 1980's. The only genuine tapas bar in Manchester. I am not going to tell you why we keep coming back, work it out for yourself!!

The best paella for me and my family.

2nd time visiting here and although quiter the food did not disappoint. May have ordered a bit too much but they were happy to wrap up so we could take home. Very authentic. The best tapas by far in greater manchester.

First time visiting and really enjoyed everything.

Great place ... infact the best tapas in Manchester.

If you are Spanish then I’d recommend to skip this place. Food is bland and pretty average. Most of the tapas were ok but the ‘cocido’ was probably the worst plate I had in really long time… I’m almost certain that we were served canned food called ‘fabada asturiana litoral’… and the best thing from the whole menu was the beer Victoria from Malaga.

What a joy to see an authentic tapas menu, not a burger or pizza in sight! Great staff too and delicious house wine (red Rioja).

This is an excellent venue for a relaxed long lunch. The welcome is warm & friendly. The beers cold and authentic. Loads to choose from the menu, all exceptional dishes, tasty, plentiful and beautifully presented. Raffa and team you've really upped your game!! & at very reasonable cost !! Muchas gracias. Dan & Friends 💙

This is my favourite place to eat in Manchester and I have been here numerous times. Whether for a quick bite at the start of a night out or a slow romantic meal, this is the perfect place. The food is authentic and delicious. I must have tried almost everything on the menu and have never been disappointed. The patatas bravas are the best I’ve had anywhere and the filetitos melt in the mouth. There is a well stocked bar with a variety of beers and some good wines. The service is excellent and there is a wonderful atmosphere to this place, tucked away as it is, in a cellar on a dark back street. Highly recommended but be aware that access is down a flight of stairs.

Visited on a Friday evening, it was really busy but the service was first class . Comprehensive Spanish wine list, unfortunately for me the beer menu only includes lager and not cerverza tostada (eg Turia/ Alhambra etc) Food was very good and portions generous, paella and meatballs very good, patatas bravas, mushrooms in blue cheese and chicken in paprika fantastic, only disappointment the ribs, whilst the meat was extremely tender and fell off the bone, we would have preferred the sauce to be less runny and have a stronger Barbecue taste. But overall very impressive and we will return

I’ve been going to this restaurant for 20yrs,but tonight we ordered for 4 people at 5-30, by 7-20 we had received half of our order, the owner said they had lost the our order ,no apologies, just remove 4beers!!!!!! Absolutely disgusting

Ordered the pulpo a la gallega (octopus) and paellas. Tasted really good 👍🏻👍🏻really enjoy it.

Excellent city centre tapas bar - lovely atmosphere and real character. Friendly service. And a really tasty selection of traditional tapas dishes. A Manchester fixture.

We were a party of 8 with connections to the restaurant owner who had just left before we arrived 😀! But the food was good and we had a great time. Thank you.

So we were excited to eat here and booked months in advance . Arrived to it being half full but a nice atmosphere and lovely smells . Rather odd ordering system where you tick the items you want ? Perhaps a language issue ? Anyhoo we ordered some plates and a few drinks . Food arrived in a staggered fashion and all seemed ok . Mid way thru eating ( we were opposite the kitchen ) and could see the bottle wash area , I witnessed the chap who was cleaning guest plates eating from the returned plates , I didn’t think I’d saw right and then myself and my GF saw him do it again. Really terrible hygiene and fully put us both off any more eating . We left the restaurant . Some 5/6 hours later we were both struck with vomiting and worse . Can only assume it’s from here . Contacted the restaurant and had no reply so reported to EHO in Manchester

The food was fabulous. The best tapas I’ve had anywhere. Service was lovely. Recommend the steak in creamy gravy!!!!!! Oh and fried potatoes eggs and chorizo

Really laid back Spanish restaurant /bar. Friendly staff great food

The fish dishes including whitebait, sea bass and octopus were gorgeous, and the chorizo was stunning, but unfortunately the lamb, ribs and steak were all over cooked. The rustic atmosphere is great and the service was decent with friendly staff, but unfortunately one too many dishes were sub par for us. I don't think we'd return.

food is good，but the seat is not comfortable. And too noisy.

Just the best Tapas venue in the UK . The chorizo and lamb chops are just the best

Enjoyed tapas. Staff and venue fantastic

Went with friends for our Christmas meal. My 4 friends ordered tapas, my main meal arrived 45 minutes later after they had finished. My 1st choice meal was not available (at 13.00). One of our dessert choices was also unavailable. Our jug of tap water arrived with the bill. Generally disappointed by the experience.

This is a “warm “ place with great food in family style. Traditional Spanish dishes from ham to paella are available, and other vegetables are nice too. Great value for money.

Great place for tapas and warm mediterranean hospitality in Manchester.

Went with friends who had recommended this place, the restaurant itself looked tired badly in need of redecorating and the toilets looked grubby,cracked tiles in a bathroom never a good look. The service was really good attentive and nothing to much trouble, the food cold to warm a meat piella that contained just chicken and peppers not our idea of a meat piella the potatoes bravas basically square cut roast with some bland tomato sauce in the middle. The drink quite reasonable in cost, coffee you expect to see a proper coffee machine and not a Dolce Gusto pod machine. Shame really we'd been led to believe it was the best tapas in Manchester sadly it's not lags way behind La Vina, still you live and learn. Sadly won't return till we get a report that it's improved in all the other areas except service.

Absolutely delicious food, proper Spanish food and ambience.

Nice spot for lunch to escape busy deansgate and Christmas markets. super authentic spanish feel and tasty no-nonsense tapas.

We ordered three dishes: tortilla, rabo de toro and paella. Tortilla is soso, I can make a better one. But the rabo de toro and paella were extraordinary. Everyone should try that. The service was very disappointed. I waited for 30 minutes (from 13:24 to 13:54) to pay the bills. The staff were very rude. Staff: Chinese should be patient. Me: We are from Sheffield so we have to catch a train back. Staff: So you speak Chinese? Me: Yes Staff: So you have to be patient I can understand that Saturday afternoon is extremely busy, but it was not the reason for me to receive the service like this.

Second visit to El Rincon de Rafa - absolutely fantastic again! A genuine family run restaurant focused on authentic food, great wines and beers, and service second to none.

Authentic flavoursome food, fine wine, fantastic food and excellent service. A lovely evening was had by all. Thanks.

Absolutely superb food and atmosphere

Second time at this place, we came here for dinner. The place is nicely decorated and reminds you of Spain. As we came on a Saturday night, the place was fairly busy and a little bit noisy (but less than other places in the city). The staff was either neutral or nice. The experience could be much better if it wasn't for the food, which is what you crave for when dining out. We ordered seafood paella, croquetas, shrimps, patatas bravas and a vegetable tapas with mushrooms. Everything was decent/ok, the paella had zero taste. I also tried the seafood alone and it actually tasted bad. Maybe it was just a busy night, but they could definitely do a better job.

I had high expectations following friends' recommendation. Unfortunately, I found it mediocre. Food is much better at Evuna or El Gato. Service was ok.

SAD TO SAY THIS PLACE IS GROWING OLD QUICKLY. The decor is tired the staff need a smile on their faces although Rafa is his usual charming self. the paella was not good , some of the chicken was not good meat, bits od skin fat and gristle and the tapas were not up to the standard of other tapas restaurants in manchester. A great shame to witness this decline so come on Rafa get some new ideas and perk El Rincon up and brighten up the menu.

Interesting food in a backstreet location. Felt authentically Spanish. Loved it.

Friendly service, atmosphere feels like you’re abroad and the food is phenomenal. Prices are super reasonable for the area. This is a hidden gem, perfect for a date.

It's like a little bit of Spain in Manchester. The food is fabulous, very authentic, the staff are friendly efficient and attentive. Second visit and it won't be the last. It's so reasonably priced too.

Excellent place for tapas great atmosphere and service. Great portions too!

Wonderful night out while on a business trip by myself. Loved the food and will be back

Love this place. Authentic Spanish tapas and friendly service.

Visited recently with family. We had been for a very long time and the food and service was as good as I remember. Authentic Spanish food and great value. They also understand allergens too, which is great for my coeliac husband.

I think I have to say that I am from Spain when making this review. This means that my criteria may be based more on my own experience knowing the typical cuisine of that country. That means being a little more critical. The service was incredible and very friendly, nothing to complain about and it is economically affordable. When it comes to food, as I have already mentioned, I am a little more picky, we ordered a couple of tapas and were not very happy about it. A few comments I can say is that the potatoes with aioli and mojo sauces left a lot to be desired and are the star accompaniment. The croquettes were ham, they were good except that the flavor was like an old ham. The "broken eggs" were exquisitely good. It really is a place that you can definitely go to eat and you will surely enjoy the food. Thank you for the kindness received.

We have been coming to this home from home for years , we lived in Alcudia Majorca, Rafa and Louige , and Anna and the staff are exceptional, they go above and beyond for you,Tony, lanita and our daughter who is heavily pregnant,went above and beyond tonight, thank you , if anybody want a true Spanish tapas this place is the best 10 out of 10, if it was billions it’s there , the best place to eat.

Anniversary meal with the wife lovely food served promptly very pleasant staff complimentary glass of prosecco which was nice will definitely be going again

Got more flavour by licking the toilet bowl

Great staff ... good food..prices right...

Generous helpings (compared to London) Rather hard to find, but worth the effort!

Very nice little hidden gem. Food and service excellent. Will be back.

A great place to have a few drinks and a couple of tapas after work in Manchester.

Honestly the most authentic delicious Spanish food I've had in Manchester. And the service is amazing, totally feel like I'm back in Andalucía. Gracias por todo Ana ¡nos vemos pronto!

Really a huge fan of this fantastic Spanish restaurant. Tapas especially oxtail is great 👍 also a good value of money

Great Staff . food always great. Love it 😍

Great hidden gem tucked out of the way in a. Back alley where you wouldn’t expect to find such good food. Enter down the stairs and you enter a Spanish tapas bar. We had seafood paella, prawns pil pil, steak in red wine, sausage and black pudding stew, oxtail with potatoes (can’t recall the Spanish names ) the food was top notch and arrived quickly and efficiently. when you approach this place from the outside you wouldn’t expect to find such a hidden gem.

Love these place environment, food and service.

Magnifico lugar, muy buena comida española. Aunque algo escondido, mereció la pena acudir a el.

Authentic Spanish restaurant. Generous portion so Don't order to many dish.

Ce restaurant propose un large choix de spécialités espagnoles qui vont des tapas à la paella en passant par d’autres plats typiques. Le local est en sous-sol de l’immeuble. On descend un escalier et on découvre une grande salle très haute de plafond qui sûrement avait d’autres fonctions précédemment. La décoration rappelle l’Espagne. L’accueil est chaleureux et le personnel attentionné. Les plats sont cuisinés avec talent et servis copieusement. Ceux que nous avons mangés étaient délicieux. N’hésitez pas à partager des tapas en attendant que les plats principaux soient cuisinés. Une étape gustative dépaysante à ne pas rater.

Family celebration. The food was superb, the staff always ready for us. Can't wait for repeat

Spain in the centre of Manchester. All good. Real size wine measure and good house wines. Food above average. One dish came out ages before the others. Service was bad with one waitress who just threw the dishes onto the table. No customer service skills. The other waitress was good.

Called in for some food after a recommendation from a friend. We had 3 tapas dishes to start and a Meat paella. Washed down with 2 jugs of sangria. The food was spot on and if they had outdoor seating I could of drank the sangria all night!! Lovely traditional spanish theme inside with no-frills but we will definitely return 👍👍

El lugar perfecto para recordar España o para sumergirte en ella si la echas de menos. Rafa y Miguel han sido realmente un encanto con nosotras. Recomiendo la paella sin duda ya que está buenisima. El local está decorado con mucho gusto y lo mejor que tiene es el personal. sin duda alguna, si volvemos a Manchester, está será una parada obligatoria.

Fantastic food with a real Spanish feel inside on arrival. Staff lovely.

A good choice. Once you enter the premisses, you realize you're in a traditional homey Spanish restaurant. The food is homemade, and all you ask for will be very good. I reckon it is as good as being in Malaga despite the weather outside. The owners and team are welcoming and can advise good options if you are not used to Spanish food. The service takes a little bit of time, but it is worth it because good food needs good timely preparation.

Lovely Spanish atmosphere, great food especially the croquetas, blue cheese mushrooms and patatas bravas. Even though a little difficult to find it's well worth a visit.

The best Spanish food and drink outside of Spainl

Great place for tapas meals, all presented well and tasted great. Some seating is hard benches which are too heavy to move and kept getting knocked when people on next table moved. Reasonable prices and wide choice of meals to choose from. Don't be put off by the approach down a dingy street outside and be aware you have to go down stairs to enter the restaurant.

A must try in Manchester city center for Authentic Spanish tapas. The atmosphere at El Rincon de Rafa feels like you have been transported to Spain, fantastic atmosphere, friendly staff and delicious food and sangria jugs. Speaking of food, menu offers plenty of tapa options and great portions. (3 tapas per person is more than enough, trust me!)

Food served in dribs and drabs finished the croquettes then about 5 mins till the next food arrived.Bread came last.

Very authentic Spanish style bar / restaurant. As typically found in Spain, it’s down to earth and basic in many respects. Food / menu is exactly typical of what you might find in Spain. Shame they didn’t have spinach & chick peas tonight when we were there, we were really looking forward to that. We had the veg paella instead, which was good. Good value too, it’s rare we can dine in manchester for £50. Come here for a down to earth authentic Spanish experience, but not for a special occasion, if you’re seeking elegance and all that, maybe this ain’t the place. Hands down the most authentic Spanish food & experience in Manchester. Go for that.

Hidden gem. Fabulous food and the house wine is lovely.

This place is lovely once inside you are transported to Spain listening to the animated Spanish chatter of people enjoying authentic food. Great for casual dining and or drinks. Disfrutar!