El Sol Tapas Bar & Restaurant in Canterbury

Great place with amazing tasty food and great friendly staff , a must to try.

Service was attentive and good. Unfortunately, food was very poor. Padron peppers had a strange flavour to them which tasted like old oil. Pan con tomate tasted like it was out of a jar/tin & similarly patatas bravas sauce tasted very much like an anglicised version of the authentic sauce. The Santiago tart was a rare bright spot - it tasted freshly baked and was very good.

Can only do one paella at a time so if someone else orders you need to wait 90 minutes! And it's a Spanish restaurant!

What can I say except perfect!! Every dish was flavoursome and cooked to perfection. What an amazing chef!! Staff are outstanding and just a fine place to dine. Would highly recommended family friendly and staff so polite and couldn’t attended to us quick enough.

The paella was perfectly cooked, bursting with authentic flavours, and the tapas were delicious. The cosy atmosphere made it feel warm and inviting, perfect for a relaxed meal with friends or family. The service was outstanding—attentive, friendly, and made us feel welcome. If you’re looking for delicious Spanish cuisine with top-notch service in a charming setting, this is the place to go.

We hadn't booked anywhere and it was Christmas Day. Found this lovely restaurant where we were welcomed warmly. Food was excellent. Staff efficient and friendly. Decor was bright and fresh and watching how well the tables were cleaned when diners left was heartening. Definitely recommend and we will return next time we are in the area. Many thanks!

This restaurant is great with lovely Tapas and a very cosy feel. Really enjoyed the octopus, the chorizo and fab padron peppers. Took 1 star off as when it's busy, it's a bit tight for space. Our table on 15th November was right next to the bar area where everyone waits for their table. Try the food though!

Yesterday I took my Japanese students to El Sol in Canterbury as a part of multicultural cuisine experience. Excellent service, delicious food for reasonable price!! Especially Big thanks to the waitress Sasha for her competence and help with the menu as well as warm and friendly welcoming us. We truly enjoyed our lunch and I'll definitely recommend El Sol to my friends.

Great place and the food was really nice

The food was SO good. Great to try lots of small plates. Everything was good.

Food was absolutely delicious! Full of flavour! Quick and friendly service. Will definitely be going again

Wonderful restaurant. Atmosphere was bubbly and the decor lovely. Staff were friendly and helpful and the food was wonderful.

Gorgeous food (a bit too salty for me though) and great service. I will definitely go back!

Had a great meal here! Enjoyed the empanadas, potatoes bravas, and stuffed calamari (our favourite). The lovely server made excellent recommendations. The olives were divine!

15th November. Arrived for lunch and found a hidden gem, food was fantastic, and great selection, and the member of staff named Ben was really friendly and went above and beyond to help.

Very friendly local restaurant. Excellent choice of interesting tapas dishes all at reasonable prices. Wine choice a little limited but something for most pockets and tastes. Excellent service and lovely atmosphere

Super wonderful delicious lunch with gorgeous hostess- make our lunch experience extremely impressive - definitely will go there for more different tapas. The tapas are unbelievably tasty !!! Must go there and try them all

A little disappointed with the food. Red flag when you see humous and halloumi on a Spanish restaurant menu. Patatas Bravas were soggy and burnt, chorizo sauce was far too vinegary. Crème Catalan was an ice cream rather than a traditional custard. That said, the service was attentive and it was fairly good value.

Lovely, friendly attentive staff who were very helpful. Food came out at good times that you were not rushed but also had time to finish the previous dishes. The food itself was to an incredible standard everything was delicious will be 100% coming back on our next visit to Canterbury.

Fantastic food - I love tapas and this was some of the best chorizo I’ve had! Sauce on the mussels delicious, great chicken. Squeezed in some excellent desserts including ice cream with fruit too.

Visited here for a family meal on a busy Saturday evening and it was just fab. Food was tasty, hot and reasonably priced. Staff were so busy but this didn't affect their outstanding service and everything arrived promptly. Great location in the centre of Canterbury. Recommended.

We went early evening midweek and it was almost full by 7pm. Suitable for couples, families with children, and small groups. Good choice of tapas dishes, which arrive as and when they are cooked. Friendly staff and nice atmosphere.

Food was very good. Quirky decor. Went at lunchtime and we were the only people there so lacked atmosphere.

Incredible food, excellent wine, and great atmosphere. Everything was fresh, hot, and full of flavor. Merito brandy was the perfect cap on this meal of octopus, jamon iberico, picanha, chorizo, olives, and tomatoes. This was a truly special evening.

Beautiful Spanish tapas, all of which was just as tasty as we have had travelling round Spain. Light batter on the calamari and so tender, pulpo was delicious and the fried Manchego cheese was perfect. A lovely place for a meal while wandering round Canterbury.

We visited on a cold midday evening in March and were blown away by the warm welcome, amazing choice and really delicious food. Clearly a lot of love has gone into designing to restaurant and menu- which certainly brought a bit of Sol into our hearts and we had an amazing meal. It’s so special that we booked to visit again for our anniversary, though unfortunately one of us was unwell. However as they deliver we were able to enjoy the food in the comfort of our own home, which was a wonderful suprise and made it a really special evening. We will definitely be back to visit in person- it’s worth it for the delicious battered manchego alone! Plenty of scrummy choices even for two Vegetarians like ourselves.

Rosie was phenomenal, absolutely amazing food, and atmosphere. I will definitely be back remembered the party from two months previous. Absolutely amazing

My brother and I stopped by here during our visit to Canterbury, and I was impressed with the quality of the food! The boquerones were exactly like you would get in Spain, and the octopus was tender. The service was excellent - major thanks to Rosie and Phil for their kindness and attention!

Such a great find! Never been to Canterbury before and we didn’t have a clue where to eat. We spotted El Sol and went in to see if they had a table for 2. The young lad was very helpful, even though they were busy he managed to fit us in, so pleased he did as the food was delicious! If you’re in Canterbury and wondering where to eat definitely give Él Sol a try… can’t fault it, the food, service and atmosphere was such a lovely experience. The staff were so welcoming and very happy to help. Él Sol please can you open up a restaurant in Surrey!

Date night took us to El Sol, we were not disappointed. Lovely fresh food, fast service, Staff were fantastic and I hope they are recognised by their bosses as being stand out individuals who are a welcoming front for the business.

Was a spare of the moment visit to grab some food and a drink before an event. What a great choice. A nice small venue, nicely laid out. Classic tapas dishes along some less so. Each dish came out when ready and was lovely. Only had a glass of the Merlot which is nice, it is Merlot so a simple easy option. Had Beetroot hummus, chorizo sausage, hallumi fries and classic croquettes. It was quiet on a Thursday at 7pm, but picked up whilst we were there. Staff were good and easy to get when we wanted get more of a side. Will certainly visit again.

2nd visit here, better than first time. Can recommend the baby ribs, heavenly

Great food, excellent service. Big thank you to Rosie who helped guide us through the menu and recommended some superb dishes.

We had a lovely dinner there on Sunday evening, the servers were all very nice and helpful (especially Vania!!), and when we visited a couple months ago the manager Ben was extremely lovely too! The food is always very gery tasty with good portion sizes for a good price. I recommend people try the manchego, it was so good we ordered a second portion this time! You also get free olives and bread as you arrive, which is a nice extra

We had booked this twice somehow, the restaurant phoned to make sure we only needed the one booking which was very considerate we thought. The restaurant feels very authentic inside and the service was very good. You can either order your food all in one go or just order dishes as and when you want them, we did the later and they come out as and when they’re cooked so it really breaks the meal up and is a nice way to eat. The Octopus was very nice, well cooked and a nice size, all the other dishes we had were very nice, with their own sauces rather than a generic sauce for everything. 👍🏼 Would definitely recommend trying this restaurant if you’re in Canterbury

We came here last night and the food was brilliant. We were seated by Ben and served by Rosie and Ben. Great food, great service.

Food was delicious the atmosphere were lovely staff were very friendly and helpful lovely cocktails thank for the good time

Really wouldn't bother. Thought it would be a nice place based on other reviews but severely disappointed. Shown into little side room that was like being in a toilet. Echoey tiled room with uncomfortable chairs that was so loud with all other people talking to be heard over each other. Starter of Olives and bread have to be seen to be believed. Wish I'd taken picture. Was the tiniest little oval of bread with two olives on a plate. Looked pathetic. Disinterested waitress who couldn't answer any of our questions. Food was not good and took ages to arrive. Ordered a selection of small plates. One turned up and we just prodded at it not wanting to start thinking the others were on the way...nope! Was like a starter and rest turned up long after. Stodgy food and bill came to over fifty quid even without alcoholic drinks. Not even sure what to say about them. The non alcoholic beer was only 10p less than the normal booze and was over a fiver for small bottle. Avoid the place. Reviews are wrong or written by idiots.

Good decor and tasty enough, if not too authentic food. Prices were not overly expensive, with generous portion sizes on most items. A real shame the paella is not served at weekends, as this is not made clear on the menu and is what we came in for. The staff were attentive and friendly, aside from one, a young lady at the bar, who I presume was the shift manager. She rudely barked at several staff members, in what could only be described as a reverse Fawlty Towers. She bellowed at and gestured rudley at staff who were undeserving of such treatment. She was nothing but a bully, which ruined our experience and I feel very sorry for the young staff involved.

Lovely sitting outside the food was outstanding and the service was incredible thanks Elsol for looking after us will definitely be back again

The restaurant is great the stuff are very welcoming and friendly the food so delicious definitely will be back again.

We were looking for a lovely alfresco dinner on a beautiful balmy summers eve in Canterbury and El Sol certainly hit the spot. We enjoyed delicious authentic tapas especially the stuffed squid and wine and our very attentive, knowledgable waitress Angelica. Thanks our evening was perfec

Angelica just made our night, what a star 🌟

Lovely late lunch sitting outside. The meal was high quality, especially the octopus and steak. Rosie our waitress provided friendly and attentive service. Thoroughly recommend.

This could easily have been the best restaurant experience in years. When our order did turn up eventually, we sampled the most delicious tapas at great value since my days in Spain 10 years ago. The atmosphere was amazing and bustling. Sadly, although our order was taken, we were forgotten about for over 30mins. The table next to us arrived 15 minutes after us and were served within minutes with food that looked like the one we had ordered . Our neighbour did express surprise at the speed of service and did inform the waitress he hadn’t ordered some of the items to which she replied - hush, don’t worry; just enjoy. At no time did she seem to spot our desperately empty table and we eventually had to walk to the bar asking to be served. To summarise, gorgeous food and atmosphere, spoilt by poor service.

Perfect tapas, unexpected in the UK! Also many gluten free options. Service was fast and hospitable. Highly recommended

Food was very good staff also brilliant.

Ate a later lunch here after a very long journey to Canterbury. The food was great and the staff lovely, including the excellent Sasha who remembered me the following day when I returned and was thoughtful and attentive. I only put 4 stars for atmosphere because I sat outside as the weather was pleasant so I can’t comment on the atmosphere inside.

Amazing food. Rosie was friendly, professional and made sure we had a lovely evening. Thank you we will be back for sure

Rosie was absolutely fantastic, absolute pleasure, will definitely be coming back

OVERVIEW Worth a visit for the menu favourites! PLUS + A menu favourite “pulpo” (squid) and the cheesecake are respectively the best I have ever had in a restaurant so far; both at a 5* level. + I find myself going back to this restaurant for the “pulpo” a top seller. This tenderised grilled squid was cooked to perfection in a citrussy, rich, and flavourful “chefs’ secret sauce,” which was oily but nearly impossible to recreate at home, accompanied by an herby hearty fava puree. I find this dish went very well with the spinach & chickpea side. + Although oddly filled with raisins, the cheesecake tasted like “worth the trip to Grandmas just for the cheesecake!” The piquant fresh mango coulis complemented the rich, mouthwatering cheesecake, which had the most scrumptious biscuit base. + The freshness of the vegetables at this restaurant was of top quality. + Complimentary olives and bread starter; the olives were of top-grade fresh but soaked in a unique appetising “Taste the Difference” brine. The most perfect complementary starter! + Very good staff service. I would like to put Asa, Phil and Vania in the spotlight; they were always welcoming and genuine friendly. Furthermore, Phil personally makes sure my personalised order was prepared to the highest standard, and Asa’s menu recommendations lived up to expectations and were based on genuine advice rather than formality. + They accommodate meal alterations. + Walk-in availability (However, pre-booking is advised on Friday evenings as the inside dining area is usually fully booked.). + Excellent value-for-money menu! Satisfied the greedy eater; you could order 3-4 tapas and sides, including a desert, for around £25. + Restaurant interior and music played complimented the type of cuisine served. MINUS - The menu favourites upheld the reputation of the restaurant, as half of the menu items were basic and bland, i.e., gambas al ajilo (king prawns) were sautéed in garlic and chilli only. Similarly, the padron peppers and croquetas de jamon were also basic and could be served as sides instead of tapas. - Although excellent in taste and flavour, the pulpo and spinach & chickpeas were both overwhelmingly oily. - The costillitas were overpoweringly sweet as they were mothered in apple and bbq sauce. - The restaurants could benefit from a quick, hassle-free table QR code payment method, i.e., the "Sunday" payments app. ORDERS HISTORY Tapas: * Pulpo * Gambas Al Ajilo * Costillitas Sides: * Spinach & Chickpeas * Tomato and Onion Salad Dessert: * Tarta De Queso Con Mango

Fantastic food and great service from Asa. Will be returning again shortly. Recommended for all occasions. 👌🏻 We asked Asa to serve items of his recommendation and choosing so we could relax and enjoy the evening and every dish was perfect. Thank you Asa

Best tapas I have had in the UK!

This place would get 6 stars if I could. Everything was great.

We were visiting canterbury for a few days & celebrated my Mum's 75th at El Sol, a large group of 16 including special needs kids ... the staff coped with us brilliantly. The food was great & our waitress was so patient, as they were busy & we had a large group they called their sister restaurant and the manager from over there came and helped out, he was great as well. BUT my BIGGGGGEST praise has to go to Sasha who managed to track me down two weeeks later to let me know that I had left my purse, with all my bank cards & drivers licence in the restaurant. She was so lovely & went completely out of her way to get my purse back to me. Such a lovely lady & I couldnt be more grateful. Thank you

El Sol is a fantastic find near the cathedral, offering a cozy yet vibrant atmosphere. The paella is a must-try—worth the wait and absolutely delicious. The tapas were also top-notch, showcasing a variety of traditional Spanish flavors. The service was outstanding, with friendly and attentive staff who made the experience even better. Whether you're nearby or just passing through, El Sol is well worth a visit.

Love love love. I would eat at El Sol every day. The food is ridiculously tasty. My family and I chose 2 dishes each and shared them. We couldn't decide which was our favourite because we loved them all so much.

Lovely little piece of Spain in Canterbury, bit pricey on the beer, but food was delicious, recommended, but take fat wallet if you are a family!!

Great food the best thing about the place

I booked a table for a birthday lunch with my wife. The waiter showed us to our table and promptly served us 2 glasses of Cava which I had requested when making my booking. The food was excellent. On requesting my bill I noticed the waiter had forgotten to put the 2 glasses of Cava on it. I brought this to the managers attention to be informed they were complementary as the lunch was a birthday meal for my wife. We will without doubt be recommending this Tapas bar to family and friends. Looking forward to our next visit. .

This was one of the best meals I've eaten in years. Great service, amazing tasting food and a nice atmosphere.we were serves by the supervisor Ali,he was very attractive and helpful Would highly recommend!

My family and I loved this restaurant. Had such a cool atmosphere, food was amazing (I recommend the ojo de la costilla), props to chefs!! The service especially was fantastic; my waitress Sophia was so friendly and helpful. Very much recommend!!

I came with a friend who works here as she’d recommended it and it didn’t disappoint. We had calamari with an amazing sauce (I’d never had calamari before and it was delicious), we also had some thin steak pieces which were very rich in flavour (I didn’t catch the name of it😂) The young lady cocktail is lovely as well though I’m curious about the other cocktails they do but Ill definitely find out in the future

I recently had a dinner with friends at a Spanish tapas restaurant. From the moment I walked in, the ambiance transported me to the heart of Spain, with its warm decor and vibrant atmosphere. The tapas menu was a delightful journey through a variety of flavors and textures. We really enjoyed it. A highlight of the evening was the stunning lavender cocktail, expertly crafted by Sasha. Thank you so much for our wonderful food and excellent service :)

Lovely Al fresco meal! All the food was beautiful, came quickly and service was professional 😊 I had been recommended a couple of times to this establishment and definitely was not disappointed 👏 Thank you so much for a lovely evening, will definitely be back!

Lovely food and great service. It felt like you were in Spain eating authentic tapas. We went here for our anniversary date and we put on a single table. The waiter recognised due to the busy service our table wasnt private enough so moved us to a better table without us asking. The food came and was amazing. Recommend most of the menu and tried a lot of it especially the ribs and beef. Great wine selection. Lovely evening and great atmosphere. Highly recommend.

We went to El Sol and had a great experience. The waiters were all lovely and very efficient. The food was flavourful, however was very expensive. For instance we paid £8 for 3 croquetas. The calamari was very tasty as well as the picanha. All in all had a very positive experience.

Everything amazing. Lovely Tay thank you for everything! You were great! Thank to your manager too. Perfect service

Had an amazing meal - food was great the octopus especially! And we had a really wonderful friendly waitress call Tay . She was so welcoming and caring and ensured we had ordered enough food . She really made the experience. So with great staff like Yay and superb food this was a win win … if we were locals we would go back as regulars - th xxx no you Tay xx

Lovely restaurant and welcoming atmosphere. Service was great, even though it was busy. The waitress, Rosie, was knowledgeable and her recommendations were spot on, the peppers, Halloumi and chicken were all delicious. Would definitely recommend.

Really good value for the quality of the food, as well as Rosie’s service. Don’t miss the churros with chocolate for the dessert.

Delicious Tapas. The waiter helped answer our questions. Nicely decorated

Everything 10/10 preserves the Spanish essence while in England. Vania helped us, she was very friendly and also spoke Spanish, everything was perfect.

A little piece of Spain tucked away next to Canterbury Cathedral. Lovely food, very nice service, and an atmosphere reminiscent of Iberia itself. Even on a rainy English night, my colleagues and I were nearly fooled into thinking we were in Valencia or Sevilla. Strong recommend!

We were recommended this tapas bar, but as soon as we walked in, it didn't feel right. Only 25% of the tables were full, yet it seemed under pressure. Our order took approximately 15 minutes to be taken, the drinks arrived after the food, and the food wasn't hot and was of very poor quality. None of the food seemed authentic, it wasn't pleasant to eat, and we wanted to leave before the last tapas was served. The manager kindly reduced the bill by half, although we were happy to pay the full price. We wouldn't recommend or return, unfortunately. It's a shame, as it has such high reviews; we must have had a bad experience.

Delicious tapas, good service and vibe.

The service and food here is top of the game, super tender, flavourful beef and octopus. Best churros I have ever had too. The design and atmosphere of the restaurant feels warming. Many thanks to the waiter, Asa, for providing brilliant service for us and the chef does wonders.

I had an exquisite late lunch at El Sol, Very welcoming; 'Jesus looking' man with a friendly smile greeted me. My waiter, Asa was, smart, polite brought some olives and bread, explained what things on the menu were clearly when I queried a few things. Attentive, but didn't linger, I never felt rushed. I had a delightful cocktail 🍸 alongside halloumi, and octopus tapas; it was flavourful and 'real' made from fresh ingredients proper top nosh! The chef came by which I was glad about because of wanted to let him know how impressed I was at how the octopus was cooked 😋 perfect texture how it should be; but rarely is. Oh and the decor is so wonderful there is so much to look at inside and out! 🌺🌼🌺🌼 Thanks for a delicious meal, great service and atmosphere. 😊

Great tapas place in Canterbury! Enjoyed the steak, the squid, the croquetas and the beetroot hummus!

We went for lunch. We order a sharing tapas. Is perfect for a couple. Additional we order extra chips. They have dessert menu but we finished so full that we had to skip it. There was a young man and a young lady who served us in a very nice manner. The place is gorgeous, nicely decorated. The food amazing! The tapas were amazing! Highly recommended!

Great staff, friendly and fast. Family restaurant, since 2 years with original cuisine, very well seasoned. Large vegi paella, authentic tapas, fine grilled pepperoni. Had space with a large electric wheelchair. Places inside and outside. Toilet for wheelchair 1 level, rather narrow.

Great food, Great service! i recommend this restaurant

Found ourselves unexpectedly in Canterbury and happened upon this little gem by pure chance. The food, service and atmosphere is just perfection! The only negative is that I live 3 hours away so won't get to eat at this amazing place again!

This was one of the best meals I've eaten in years. Great service, amazing tasting food and a nice atmosphere. Would highly recommend!

It's cheaper to fly to Spain and eat real authentic delicious Spanish food and you'll get normal portion sizes... As long as you eat where locals do. This place is crazy expensive, provides small portions, and the food doesn't taste that good. And veg comes burnt. I'm off to Spain. 👋

Very nice food and super friendly staff, the manager and waitress were super nice with us. Food was delicious, very well presented too

Authentic Spanish tapas, we really enjoyed the food and service was attentive. Can’t fault El Sol! Will definitely return when in Canterbury next time.

The food was very, very good for what you find in England. I ordered the Picanha, which I was extremely excited for due to never seeing this cut of beef anywhere else, however when it came to the actual portion, I was severely disappointed. 3 little slices no thicker than my pinky finger were presented to me. For the price I paid it was a ridiculous asking price. Overall, nice restaurant, fantastic taste, but the servings were ridiculously small.

We have eaten quite a lot of tapas in our life, mainly in Spain. In El SOL Tapas Bar & Restaurant the tapas were among the best we ate so far. We loved the Empanadas and the Pimentos de Padron.

Such a great tapas bar! 10/10 service (shout out to Lydia for such great customer service!) 10/10 for the food (we had the patatas bravas, tortilla, chorizo de la casa, meat empanadas and chocolate and orange sponge cake. Would highly reccomend all of these dishes 👌

Wonderful experience, the food is delicious, the staff is really professional.

Nice tapas bar tucked away from the main high street of Canterbury. Food is good and drinks are great value. Staff aren’t the best and can be busy due to it also being a hotel, but overall a nice little bar and the ability to sit outside is very nice in spring/summer and makes it feel more authentic

Great service and the food was pretty good

Nice atmosphere, good food, sweet night.

We had 4 tapas and Alhambra beer, and the highlight was the beer. Tapas size were below average, and the flavours were "meh".

Loved the atmosphere and every single dish was perfectly prepared, the padron peppers were phenomenal, manchego fritos and halloumi croquettes were the highlight for me. Went with a couple of friends for a birthday lunch and would highly recommend! Friendly and helpful staff, great service. We even got a mango cheescake for desert which was divine :) Thankyou so much for the lovely experience!

Some of the best tapas in Canterbury surely but some of the best food I have ever had! We got many dishes and each was better than the rest. The calamari and octopus were so fresh and flavourful, as was the veg collection. Tasty, smooth sangria that wasn't watered down. They brought out me the dessert I wanted to try as it was my birthday. Very sweet. The atmosphere feels like you're in a quaint spot in Barcelona. Could not fault a thing. 100% would travel to Canterbury to eat here again! Thank you for a wonderful birthday dinner El Sol! ❤️

Fantastic tapas place. All the classics, but some more unusual ones too. Delicious & great service.

Been frequenting this place multiple times because it is honestly one of the best restaurants to eat at in Canterbury. Located conveniently in the city centre, this is Spanish tapas done right. You have a good range across the menu, including vegetarian options, and would recommend 5-6 dishes shared between 3-4 people. It’s just right and worth every penny. Food is absolutely delicious all around, especially finishing off with their freshly made churros! Staff are attentive and friendly, service is smooth running and the interiors are beautifully done. If you’re in Canterbury, drop by El Sol!

Great food and service. Highly recommend empanadas and manchego.