El Rincon de Rafa in Manchester

Hidden gem if you are looking for something unpretentious with an authentic Spanish rustic feel.

Amazing authentic tapas bar as a group of 8 was obligated to have the set menu for £19 each. Was amazed we got eight different tapas of very generous portions. And all delicious served at a steady pace not rushed. An outstanding lunch was had and all would recommend you try. I personally would recommend pollo paprika

Rafa's is truly a hidden gem, great food at affordable prices

We wait for almost an hour, and the food tastes so bad and so salty. Also not good service with impolite people.

Best tappers this side of Spain absolutely wonderful Staff !!!! Very very reasonably priced

This is our second visit to this restaurant and on both visits were blown away by the level of service, the quality of food, the ambience, and the price. A perfect little hideaway with a real Spanish feel.

We stumbled upon this little gem tucked away down a side street we just happened to walk past. Although they were busy (Friday night) and we didn’t have a reservation, they found us a seat at the bar. Would definitely come back and recommend to others.

Great tapas in authentic Spanish restaurant !! Friendly service and reasonable prices. Highly recommended !!

Been eating here for years, quite simply the best Tapas place in Manchester. No doubt. Every dish was just gorgeous! Patatas Bravas, Gambas Pil Pil, Albondigas, Pan Catala and Filetitos Pimienta were all amazing! House red wine was superb according to my Wife, and the Estrella Galicia on draught was beautiful! Amazing food!!!! Top Class!!!

Not suitable for Chinese babies. The food is terrible. The food is served very slowly and is very noisy.

Proper authentic Spanish tapas, just like being in Spain. First came here about 20 years ago and it's still as good as the first time we visited.

I came here alone, and was told that the paella could only be ordered for two people, so I had to pay for two people’s portion of paella. I pointed out that the menu didn’t mention this; it just stated the price as £10.50 per person. Not sure if anyone else who has been here has had the same issue. Also, something strange happened—the waitress randomly brought a glass of apple juice. I told her I hadn’t ordered it, and she replied, 'But I have made it.' It was just weird.

We spent an evening locally while waiting for a flight at the airport the next day and carrying out an online treasure hunt. We discovered this by luck during a break in our game around the area. Outside appearances are very misleading and inside you'll discover what looks like, and has a feel of a traditional tapas bar. The food is amazing and the price is very reasonable. If I visit the area again, I would definitely consider another fine meal here.

We hadn't been here for about 5 years and on this visit it was just as good as ever. Excellent food and atmosphere.

When I was paying, I forgot the PIN of my new card. The staff immediately questioned me, ‘Is this your own card?’ as if I were some kind of criminal. This was extremely insulting and unacceptable. I will make sure all my friends know about this terrible experience and never step foot in this restaurant

I had booked a table for 2 an hour before arriving and was told the table was reserved. We arrived an hour later to be told there was no table for us. She also claimed i hadn't rang the restaurant. Then the lady didn't even check for a reservation. The restaurant was hardly full either! We were offered a seat at the bar or on a stool, not very appealing... As we began to leave, the couple queued behind us asked for a table for 2 (no reservation), where seated immediately on a table. Right in front of my eyes. Probably sat them at the table I'd reserved. Overall I'm sure the food is nice. But the service i received was quite terrible, if I make a reservation I expect there to be a table. And not accused of lying about calling the restaurant. I've attached proof that I did call the restaurant.

My boyfriend and I made a reservation an hour before we wanted to attend the restaurant and when we arrived they basically refused us in saying we didn’t have a table and we didn’t make the booking keep in mind the restaurant wasn’t full at all . They turned us away saying there’s only seats available at the bar and as we left they let in the couple behind us who didn’t have a reservation and seated the straight away . We left feeling extremely irritated

Terrible Service & Poor Management! I made a reservation two days in advance through the official booking system, but when I arrived at the restaurant, they denied my reservation and claimed they had no record of it. The staff offered no reasonable explanation and were completely unhelpful, showing zero responsibility for their mistake. We planned our time around this reservation, only to be turned away upon arrival—a total waste of time and effort! If a restaurant can't even manage basic reservations properly, how can customers trust their service? This level of disorganization is unacceptable. I do not recommend this place. Be cautious if you plan to dine here, or you might face the same frustrating experience!

Love this place. Been there forever. They get everything right for a relaxed lunch

I returned here after many years and it was as welcoming, friendly and good as I remember. Tasty tapas in a lovely space hidden away from Manchester’s Deansgate. Some brilliant football memorabilia on the walls. Highly recommended.

Great ambiance and service. Food is good, classic tapas but not exceptional. Regardless, it was an enjoyable experience.

Taste of Spain in the heart of Manchester. Authenticity of the food is bang on and there is a really welcoming, hearty atmosphere to the place. Even the price to boot, had to double check the receipt as I was quite surprised how much we got for the price. Must try. 6 stars.

I'd not been to El Rincon for a few years but so glad we went again. Lovely tapas and very reasonably priced, house red wine is lovely too! Staff were very friendly and helpful with a steady stream of customers popping in for food on a very cold January afternoon.

Fantastic - visited today (14 Jan 25) - arrived as a group of 11 of which 4 wee vegetarians Staff amended set menu for the end of table vegetarians - brilliant / thank you Added veg paella - which was so fresh HIGHLY Recommend

Poor service! Even it is no customers, the waitress ask me to finish within two hours. And so rude to tell me.

Authentic and tasty Spanish food with reasonable price

Gran experiencia general, buen servicio, buena comida en un restaurante auténtico encantador. Sin duda volvería en el futuro.

Highly recommend. Very friendly, lovely relaxed, unpretentious atmosphere. Food was wonderful big selection of very tasty dishes. An amazing gem in the heart of Manchester.

For authentic Spanish tapas in Manchester, this spot is unbeatable. The food is packed with bold, traditional flavors, and the paella is simply outstanding, rich, perfectly cooked, and brimming with fresh ingredients. What truly makes this place special, though, is the exceptional service. The staff are incredibly warm and attentive, going above and beyond to create a memorable experience. During our visit, they surprised my friend with a birthday cake, completely unprompted, and refused payment for it, a genuinely thoughtful gesture. With delicious food, a welcoming atmosphere, and exceptional service, this restaurant is a must-visit. I can’t wait to return! This is my 6th time!

Lovely staff, great food and very authentic

Nada realmente fuera de lo común aquí. No iría tan lejos como para decir que fue decepcionante, pero el menú establecido que tuvimos que tener debido a una reserva de 9 personas por £ 25. 95 era en gran medida poco inspirado. Dos rodajas de baguette cada una, chorizo en rodajas finas Morrisons y salami directamente del paquete, chorizo Morrisons herradura en una salsa de tomate suave fue probablemente la peor de las ofrendas. Los mejores fueron los pimientos rellenos de ensalada rusa, Pollo pimentón, Gambas pil pil y las albóndigas no estaban mal. ¿Iría otra vez? Posiblemente, si no tuviera que tener el menú establecido. Me gustaría ver un plato tripe, pudín negro, patatas bravas crujientes, auténticos jamones tallados, anchoas, almejas... todo lo bueno que tenemos en España.

Superb hidden gem with fantastic customer service, delicious food and great value for money too!!!

Great authentic Spanish restaurant serving tapas. Good food and service. All the dishes tasted amazing. Only downside was that they had lost our reservation and we had to sit at the bar.

Sangria and Rioja wines are wonderful! Most of dishes are delicious. However, Paella is too ordinary. Chicken with Paprika sauce is not up to standard. Service is nice. Highly recommended for enjoying your lunch or dinner.

Had a crutch with me as I need it for the support, asked for table for 2, said no tables available and that was it - we ended up standing around to find a new place to go to. New couple walked in soon after and managed to get a space at the bar which she also eventually gave me. Assumed I wasn’t able to sit at that bar but didn’t even ask Food was good, enjoyable experience

Visited on a busy Saturday afternoon. All tables were booked but we managed to eat at the bar. Food was delicious as usual.

Cold food is not my thing. If you like potatas bravas or meatballs with a cold tomato sauce then this is the place for you!! The calamari was slightly rubbery. All in all the best thing we ate was the croquettes. Not good

There's something about this place that I can't quite put my finger on. Been twice in the last 2 months and had a great time, each time. Food is great, service is great. There is no pretence, good honest Spanish tapas, and you can have a conversation without having to shout. I would recommend this place to anyone (unless you don't like tapas 😉). The per person price I quote below is because we had copious amounts of red wine.

Atmosphere was fantastic, the venue was great. We were all very excited to dine here after seeing the excellent reviews on Google maps. However I must say, the food was average. The tortilla was dry, the egg was overcooked giving a cake like texture. The steak tasted very iron-ey and quite tough. The aubergine with honey sauce drizzled on top was very bland.

Post theatre tapas and a bottle of wine. Faultless and lovely service.

Me reuní con amigos para almorzar, y fue como si estuviéramos en España! El personal es genial, así como la comida. Vino bueno y no sobreprecio. sin duda volveremos. No se necesitan vuelos para probar Espana!

He estado muchas veces en Raffas a lo largo de los años, pero no recientemente, sin embargo, tengo que decir que la comida de hoy era la mejor que he comido en este auténtico establecimiento español. Mi familia amaba absolutamente cada minuto. El personal es cálido, acogedor y amable. La comida sabrosa, abundante e IMHO la mejor relación calidad-precio en Manchester. Bien hecho equipo Raffa 🇪🇸🙏👌👏

He estado aquí varias veces y cada vez traigo gente nueva y todos se enamoran del lugar. Las mejores tapas que he probado en España.

Absolutely brilliant place , great food and super atmosphere!

Lovely happy place goog staff

Paella and pan catana were both gorgeous, soup was quite oily and not that friendly service but great place in general

It always a pleasure to come here. Authentic spanish restaurant. Really recommended.

The food and sangria were delicious! Such a beautiful tapas place

Nice service, always. High value for food and their service. These are lamb chops and oxtails. Also ordered meatballs, I love all the sauce they used, may because some of sauce contains wine, but can’t taste in my mouth.

A fantastic dining experience. We could not fault the food or the service. Every dish was flavourful and you got a very good portion for the price. Our personal favourites were the croquettes and meatballs, however, the olives were also great. Very, very reasonable prices for high quality food. Please excuse the mess my friend left on the table in the photo!

Really authentic, big menu and the food was amazing. The seabass tapas was incredible, as was the paella. The atmosphere is so warm and lively, definitely going to become a regular spot from now on!

Excellent food and service. Lovely atmosphere. We were advised on the number of dishes to have but ordered too many dishes, which wasn't a problem. All delicious 😋

Food was basic but authentic, tasty and good portion, service was not existent beyond the minimum. Would have had another drink and a dessert but were offered neither

Very bad experience. We just randomly walked into this restaurant. The decoration inside was very old and very dark. It was our first time to this restaurant and we had never been there before, so we didn't know to make a reservation. No one came to serve us, so we thought we could sit in an empty seat. A lady walked towards me and my friend very seriously, took us to the entrance, pointed at a sign on a very inconspicuous table and said "Wait here for someone to take you to your seat". She pointed and said word by word, as if we didn't understand English. Then she left very impatiently and left us like that. There were only a few tables full when we went there, so it was hard not to doubt whether someone really reserved the seat we sat in, and we are Chinese, it was hard not to doubt that this lady discriminated against Asians. There was racial discrimination. If you also want to experience such bad service, come to this restaurant!

Seafood rice has an authentic taste, with fresh squid and shrimp. Beef coccyx meat is stewed soft and tender, and the fried potatoes are crispy and ffragran.

Amazing tapas feels like mini Spain beautiful atmosphere

Best Tapas in Mcr or even the north west, its the closest thing I have to being in Spain without going to the airport. Its homely in its atmosphere, food is great.

I recently had an incredible dining experience at this restaurant! The food was absolutely delicious, with authentic Spanish flavors that really took me back to my travels in Spain. The atmosphere was cozy and vibrant, making it the perfect place to enjoy a meal. During our dinner, a tiny fly accidentally landed on one of the dishes we had just finished. I casually mentioned it to the server, not expecting much, but to my surprise, they went above and beyond. They immediately replaced the dish with a brand-new one, even though we had already eaten most of it. This kind of attention to detail and care for their customers really impressed me! I want to especially thank the staff for their professionalism and kindness. It made the entire experience even more memorable. I will definitely be returning soon and recommending this place to all my friends!

Never changes fab place happy memories

Quiet on arrival but soon got busy Waitress was lovely

A fantastic place with Spanish Tapas. Beautiful food with superb service apart from one head waiter who walked around with his nose in the air looking down on customers.

El Rincon de Rafa is iconic in Manchester, with good reason. While many restaurants around it have come and gone, El Rincon de Rafa has stayed, and after visiting, I am not surprised why. ●The atmopshere is amazing. Calm, seductive, warm and happy. You walk in and it's hard to not be taken in by the authenticity and history of El Rincon. ●The food, excellent. One of the best Tapas in Manchester. Vying for first place in my books. Definitely want to come back and try everything on the menu. ●Prices were more than reasonable. ●Only downsides were the manager at the front desk whom took us to our table was polite, but seemed to be having a hard day, he was unhappy, and didn't smile... whereas the waitress we had was super bubbly and made up for it. Must have been a long lunch time rush for him? The restaurant is functionally clean, however you can't help but notice the cobwebs when you look up. Could do with a deep clean once every so often. However, would that stop me? Heck no. Overall, I'd highly recommend booking for the food and charm. I certainly will be back.

Service was really fast. We loved the rabo de toro (oxtail) the huevos rotos were good the calamari needed more seasoning and the prawns only tasted of beer they didn’t reduce the beer enough time as it was bitter. However we still enjoyed our experience.

authentic food, fish was melt in the mouth and paella was so creamy! I’ve had paella from another restaurant on deansgate for £20pp and it was nowhere near as nice

Go there! Fantastic tapas and service, Thanks!

Wow, erm, the food was large portions, low quality. Everything was sub par except for the staff. This place has seen better days

It’s a nice spot but sadly the bland food and presentation really lets it down. It’s like the chef doesn’t care. Sorry. 😅

Always lovely all round! 👍🏼☺️ Gorgeous food everytime! Thank you 🥰

Title: **A Spanish Culinary Delight in Manchester** Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you're looking for an authentic Spanish dining experience in Manchester, look no further. This restaurant offers a delightful array of **tasty dishes**, all prepared on the premises with the utmost care and attention to detail. The food is not only delicious but also **reasonably priced**, making it a great choice for both casual dinners and special occasions. The service is top-notch, with staff who are attentive, friendly, and always ready to enhance your dining experience. One of the standout dishes is the **paella**. It's a must-try for anyone visiting the restaurant. Be prepared to wait a bit, as it is cooked at the time of ordering to ensure the freshest and most flavorful experience. But trust me, the wait is absolutely worth it. The flavors are rich and well-balanced, and the portion size is generous. In conclusion, this Spanish restaurant in Manchester comes **highly recommended**. Whether you're a fan of Spanish cuisine or looking to try something new, this place is sure to impress. Buen Apetito!

Great way to catch up with friends and our food was delicious

This is the first time I have visited Manchester. I wanted to find Spanish food for my family as they hadn't tried this before. Happy to find this place as their dishes are the real original Spanish taste! Very Delicious! Service is good too! Really enjoyed the meal and will come back again and recommend this place to my friends!

Just always excellent. It's a proper Spanish bar, not a Spanish themed. Welcoming and authentic.

Cannot believe this absolute treasure tucked away on a back street and I've only just come across it. Like going on holiday to Spain for an hour and coming back rejuvenated

Food is mediocre, service is really bad

Very nice, worth a visit. I ordered a medium papilla, calamari, and very delicious tapas. The service is excellent

Very authentic Spanish food, lovely staff and delicious wine options!

An institution and one of the best tapas places in town. You're instantly in Spain once you land at the bottom of the steps. Food is great, staff lovely. The whole vibe is great.

Amazing food with generous portions, impeccable service with a fast turnaround on your food. Some slightly worn fittings don't stop this from being a 5 star rating every time I visit.

I’ve been coming here for over 20 years best tapas best service and fabulous atmosphere. An absolute institution,

Great tapas, good service. We had 5 tapas between 2 of us and shared a dessert. The flavours and atmosphere were authentic and took us back to holidays in Spain. We loved it & would recommend it to anyone who enjoys real Spanish food.

Best Spanish restaurant in Manchester. Super cheap and very well designed

never written a review on google but this place was too good! it’s the best quality spanish food i have tried outside of spain, the croquettes and paella were amazing. i speak spanish and so did some of the waitresses who were very kind. the place is spacious and nicely decorated, making it feel like a proper spanish bar/restaurant. can’t wait to go back and try the other tapas!!

Opened 1994 and still.going strong. Give the restaurant a visit. Just Ace.

My family took me here for my 70th birthday and I was thrilled with the whole experience. The very warm welcome when we arrived along with the very quick service. The staff are all amazing 👏. The Tapas was so delicious and plentiful and the Sangria ( we had 4 or 5 large jugs) was the best I'v ever tasted. We shall be back soon. PS. Thankyou for the birthday cake which was delicious. Xxx

Us: “Hello, Do you have a ‘walk in’ for 4?” ERdR: “Sorry, we’re fully booked.” Us: “No worries, another time hopefully.” Exit the restaurant. EDrD: (chasing us down the street) “We’ve had a cancellation. Come back.” We’re so glad we walked slowly. What an awesome place/staff/menu. THE Best 🇪🇸 restaurant outside of 🇪🇸😊😎🐯

Lovely authentic tapas restaurant. Food highlights were the prawns & then chorizo & white bean stew. Will definitely be back to try their paella!

Been today food and service excellent as usual, best tapas in Manchester prices very reasonable for the portions you get will be back soon

Authentic atmosphere, high quality food and friendly, efficient service

Not been to El Rincon for a few years but wanted somewhere on a December Saturday lunch time to meet friends & eat. Our friends had never been before but we were looked after well and the food & drink were excellent. Will return!

As always , Superb , atmosphere, service. Just quality 👌. John McGarrigle

This place is great. Ive been in Manchester 15 years and never knew it was here. Great Spanish 🇪🇸 food worth hunting out. Be bold and go. You wont be disappointed. We had the set tapas. It was great.

Great authentic Spanish restaurant serving lovely tapas.

Lovely, authentic tapas restaurant. Went as a couple, 4pm on a weekday, had booked ahead but would have been OK to walk in at that time, a few tables occupied. Nice open bar & restaurant area. Staff were very welcoming & food great. Asked for some bread and aioli as like to start with this, didn't spot it on the menu but waitress provided for us. This plus 5 tapas was plenty for us.

Another fantastic experience at Rafas . Great food , authentic Spanish experience and the staff are all very helpful and smiley .

Not that too authentic... Average food and is pricey

Excellent and very tasty, well-prepared fresh food, very attentive service, great selection of Spanish lagers - try the Malaga Victoria - authentic atmosphere. We'll be coming back to taste the wines. Highly recommended!

Absolutely the best Spanish restaurant in the north west, the food is outstanding, service second to none.

This place is immense. It was my second visit and it never fails to impress. I ate alone so only got to sample four dishes today but last time I was in a group and everything these people cook is amazing. Proper Spanish food. Cooked a traditional Spanish way. It’s awesome. My favourite dish was the chorizo which is a full sausage cut up. Delicious! The prawns had plenty of flavour and made me think I was on the coast. The bravas was a hearty portion and a good texture. Lastly the ham croquettes were soft on the breadcrumb and succulent inside. Place is a must if you like tapas. The service is old school and friendly. The music and atmosphere great for somewhere underground. Great for kids and families and groups. I’ll definitely go again.

Great atmosphere in this traditional restaurant

Saturday night so should be peak but disappointing all around. Service-excruciatingly laughingly bad. We asked for house white and got red, asked for orange and lemonade and got a shandy. Food- as we were a group we HAD to have the set menu which was a joke! Each dish has one per person - one meatball, one bruschetta slice etc. no choice. Laughingly small portions and overcooked and over salted. But couldn’t complain as serving staff nowhere to be seen. Cleanliness- this place is old and has the air of ‘seen much better days’ but that is no excuse for being dirty. Sticky tables, shelf next to my head dirty with crumbs of I don’t know what and then the toilets. I could have cried. Dirty, tissue on the floors, smelly and a hand dryer that was on for 10 seconds then had to wait 20 seconds for another go. This place is living on its nostalgic reputation which is why my family booked this place, but this can only last so long… it desperately needs updating and deep cleaning with an overhaul of the menu along with significantly improving accessibility.