La Gamba - Spanish Tapas Bar & Restaurant in Lambeth

A delightful discovery on the Southbank, with a delicious Spanish menu. Friendly staff, pleasant decor and in a great location. Makes a pleasant change from the usual chain restaurants along that stretch of the Southbank.

The restaurant's setting is lovely by the river and ideal for a hot day.Food was a bit hit and miss. The croquetas, patatas bravas and aubergine were nice but the black ink rice came with two prawns and was very overcooked. It was not worth the £32 they charge for it.

The food was ok but not authentic at all. It was all pre-made, bland and mass produced. Very over priced but I guess you’d expect that due to restaurants location. Nice location by the Thames but save your money and eat elsewhere.

Overpriced and under delivered. Trendy little spot with no distinguished flavors - certainly not authentic. The scallops were nice, but I don't think you have to try as hard with seafood. The sangria was also more like some basic punch rather than wine brewed with fruit. This place leans on its location mostly.

Lili was amazing, she brought us a complimentary desert for my friends birthday, so attentive 😊

Excellent food and service. We tried most of the menu with our party of four. Our per person price was high because of our wine choices, including the excellent bottle pictured.

Fantastic set menu with a perfect view. Location location location

We always have excellent service and a great time at La Gamba. It's the perfect place to unwind or have a meal before a show on the Southbank.

Service from all of your staff was superb - congratulations on having people who are engaged and happy at their work!

Food was either overcooked or undercooked. The desserts were both undercooked. Dishes arrived so late, that by the time the next one arrived, the previous dish was done or cold. I left the restaurant feeling disappointed and still hungry. Only saving grace was the wine selection. There are better tapas places in Southwark than this.

Very generous and gourmet tapas.

A Spanish restaurant in central London, on the banks of the Thames. The food is spectacular, superbly prepared, the service is top-notch, and the views are just as impressive.

I went with my family and my 1 year old baby to eat last Sunday afternoon, and we asked to be on the terrace, the first thing the guy who greeted us said was that we had to look "where to leave the stroller so it wouldn't get in the way" MY SON WAS ASLEEP!! It was quite unpleasant to arrive at a place where your child seems to be a problem. He didn't give solutions, he just said that!! I wonder what he wanted me to do? Then I spoke to the table next to me if it bothered them if I left my "child" stroller there and they told me very politely that there was no problem! The food was good, but that kind of customer service makes me simply NEVER want to return to your restaurant! and NEVER RECOMMEND IT! We spent almost £300 in a place where they made me feel like having a baby was a problem!!!

Absolutely awesome! Get the pulps, grilled peppers, eggplant (aubergine),... and basque cheesecake. Kind, but no-nonsense staff. Beautiful and comfortable outdoor seating. Just the perfect meal in every way.

We met here for a team lunch - and had a wonderful time. The food and drinks were delicious, the service was fantastic and it was a lovely day to sit outside.

Great food and service. A bit loud for conversation, but glad they're doing so well.

We came here for a nice dinner. I must say every dish we had it was delicious but the kids pasta.. which was not good and kids didn’t eat.. the restaurant was nice enough to deduct it.. service a bit slow Atmosphere good but tables indoor were a little too close Overall highly recommended

Ordered from the set price (£25) menu for 3 dishes. Wonderful and inventive food with locally sourced ingredients which arrived promptly. We especially enjoyed the croquet de jamon, wild red gambas with bread to mop up the juices, and the mussels. The portion was very large. Recommended.

Fantastic food. Service staff were brilliant they gave us a substitute table until the table we wanted came available. On an extremely busy night. Made us feel like VIP's! Try this place!

The food was tasty and well prepared, with decent portions. We went for the set menu at £25 pp, which offered good quality for the price. The service was friendly and efficient, making for a pleasant experience overall. The only downside was paying £4 for a Coke - a bit steep, even for central London - but otherwise, a solid spot for Spanish tapas.

Soooo yummy. Gamba is a must try. Warm service❤️ Will come back.

southbank hasn't always had the best food options considering its location, but la gamba is an exception. everything we tried was great, highlight was the basque cheesecake

I was really frustrated that I spent £70 on a meal and we were only there for 1 hour. We had lots of lovely food but at the end, once we didn't want tea or coffee or dessert, one of the waiters came up to us and he was apologetic but said the table was needed. I reminded them we have only been here for 1 hour and my mum was still finishing her glass of wine. We were hurried to leave so a walk in could come and have our table (despite us booking and turning up!). The waiter came over with a card machine and didn't even give us the grace of properly reviewing the receipt. Very hurried, rushed and ruined the ambience. What they didn't know as well was I had planned for a friend to surprise my mum and join for some drinks. We ended up going somewhere else!!!!! Also only one anchovy on a starter for 2, really not good.

Fabulous food, fresh, full of flavour and texture. Great service, reflective of the atmosphere of the restaurant and sympathetic of one’s needs

We had a lovely visit to La Gamba. We booked for 5:30pm on a Monday and glad we did. The weather was beautiful so on first appearance it looked busy. We managed to get a table outside, on Southbank but in the shade. It felt like we were on holiday. The sangria was delicious and refreshing. We opted for the £25 set menu and ordered different dishes between us. The cod cheeks were beautiful and the croquets a real star. Being tapas, the plates were small but we enjoyed each of them equally. I wish there was some inclusion of dessert in the set menu as that really upped the final cost. However, the fried bread was perfect and a decent size. I’d definitely go back but will be prepared to spend a little more than expected next time.

We visited on the day of the London marathon for lunch. Am not sure if they were overrun, but the quality and cookery of the seafood was really disappointing. The octopus was over cooked and for £19, for the small portion size, we expected something really good. It was not. The fried anchovies were very oily and the batter was thick. For a tapas restaurant I just expected much better qualify seafood particularly for the price. Some of the vegetable dishes were nice but we really did come for the seafood given it is called La Gamba.

Excellent front of house. Consistently delicious food and cocktails. I love the spicy 'Mama's Margaritas' and the 'gambas' are divine. This is my sixth visit and I order them both each time. Thank you. I have recommended you often and will continue to do so.

Trendy and upbeat meets family owned and operated at this River front restaurant on the Thames. It is a must go to when visiting London for a modern take on true tapas recipes straight from Spain. The aubergine is a must when visiting here. The staff is attentive and inclusive to all nationalities, treating each table like you are a part of their own family when dining here.

Welcoming! Great dishes and friendly staff that cares about good service and even better food. American friendly.

Try the aubergine. It’s the best in town.

We had dinner at La Gamba last night. The employees are very friendly, but I think the prices were very overpriced for the size. The food itself was okay, nothing special. Unfortunately we didn't like the portion size; there was more decoration on the plate than the food itself. However, the sangria blanco was sensational. Personally, I think it's a shame that if you know the principle of tapas and go there, you'll unfortunately be disappointed. Four pieces of fried cod (the size of a pinky/index finger) for £12 I find very unreasonable; The portion wouldn't even satisfy a child.

What a find in the otherwise predictable chain resto pickings of the South Bank. Great chili margaritas, authentic Spanish food with an emphasis on fish (Applebees shop/restos known for their fish sourcing and freshness) and friendly efficient service. I’ve been three times and just rebooked. Never disappoints.

A pleasant Spanish tapas restaurant with an enviable location, a few meters from the London Eye, offering excellent cuisine and equally excellent service. A little piece of Spain in the heart of London. Miguel attended us and made us feel at home. Highly recommended.

Delicious food, friendly staff and great ambience. I’ll be back to enjoy the best tapas that I’ve had for a long time

Lovely place to eat with delicious food looking over the river on a sunny evening

Such good food and drinks - sat outside and the heat lamps worked well! They also brought us blankets when it got cold later on!

Miguel has been a fantastic waiter today! And has been very accommodating, food is great also :)

Had a lovely meal here with my family. Really tasty food, really pleasant surroundings in the restaurant. Highly recommend.

Adrian was the best server I’ve had, honestly so nice and so knowledgeable, he was very attentive and made sure we had everything we needed. Would defo recommend coming here. Especially if Adrian is here !!!!!

Found La Gamba by chance and turns out we were very lucky indeed. Good wine, Great menu and superb service by Paul - personable and sensitive to our needs, you made our evening! Thank you.

This place is a little overrated. The food is okay but it is crazily overpriced for what they serve. In particular, the rib eye was the smallest cut (relative to the price) I've ever seen in a restaurant. The seafood rice quality (it is a paella so why not call it that?) did not live up to its price either. Definitely can find better elsewhere. Service/staff were great and attentive. The atmosphere makes for a nice place to dine in as well.

Zac was our host and he was FAB! Food was delicious and the wine was even better 💃🏼

Amazing food and location. Worth coming to a London for. Lived in Spain for a few years and didn’t eat food as good as this!

Lovely food (although not 100% authentic). Torreja was the star dessert! Great service. Good to sit on the terrace on a sunny day. Look forward to returning!

We had a really delicious pre-concert supper here on a buzzing evening. We mainly chose vegetarian dishes, all of which were extremely fresh and light, and were interesting as well. We were also asked how we liked our tortilla cooked, which we were impressed by at a busy service time . Our service was efficient and friendly and gently humorous, and our bill at the end fairly reflected the quantity and quality of the good and the drinks we enjoyed. Thank you La Gamba.

The service was excellent, as well as the atmosphere and quality. I recommend the ham croquettes, they are exquisite.

Went for lunch but guy on the reservation desk was not welcoming. Offered us bar stool service which I couldn’t take due to sciatica. Then said well in that case we are fully booked. Never said we have a table in an hour which he said to others who walked away before us. We were returning customers sadly.

Fabulous food. For first time after several visits service was not as good. Had to asking 3 times for our wine which eventually arrived after our food. Table location right next to loos although we could have asked to be moved as restaurant was not full.

Really liked this place and did a great job of making you feel like you were in the Mediterranean The prawns were epic and the tomato bread was superb

Gorgeous, just like White Sangria 🥰😍🤩😋

Eva was lovely, food was delicious!!

Very good tapas, but we forgot during a meal that we were in London. The note brought our feet back to earth.

This my 2nd time here. I’ve enjoyed both times. Food’s good, drinks are good. Will return when I visit London again.

Great experience. Celebrated my Mum's 70th Birthday. very accommodating. Staff lovely. Will be back. Thank you

This is the second time I've eaten here - sadly I live outside London otherwise I'd come more often. However it really was a fantastic experience; will definitely come again. Not only was the food and service excellent, the price was also reasonable. Thank you.

One of the best croquet I have ever had outside of Spain.

Great service, food, drink selection and a buzzing atmosphere

My mum and I were just looking for somewhere to have a quick drink in the sun on her birthday and Miguel, the host, was extremely warm, kind and accommodating, even though we didn’t have a reservation and all of the tables in the sun had been booked. The whole team were very welcoming! In the end, Miguel found us a great spot in the sun for some martinis and their Flip to Spain cocktail plus we ordered some of the octopus which was absolutely divine. Will definitely be back :)

It looked like Migel was running the whole resturant by himself. Smashed it and made everyone's night amazing

Miguel was absolutely amazing!!!

Amazing experience! Shoutout to Miguel for being an incredible host!

They bring out the food at the same time, customer service needs to improve!

Miguel was absolutely fantastic! best person ever

Para Bailar La Gamba! This shiny, happy place is a must for any London visit. Go for the sublime sunsets, views of the Thames, delicious vermouth, outstanding pan con tomate (perfection), charcuterie board and whatever takes your fancy. All great, including the charming staff, customers and atmosphere. Loved our sit down meal the first time, still in love the second time, with tapas at bar washed down with lashings of the best vermouth I've tasted and excellent white (and red) rioja. Quality. Vamos!

Restaurants along the South Bank strip tend to be high-key, brash, chain outlets. Such is inevitable-you pay for convenience, reliability and familiarity. To some extent that’s true of LaGamba, a tapas restaurant rather than a tapas bar. What sets it apart is the conviviality created by the caring,efficient staff and attractively presented dishes that were better than expected. Yes, there is better and cheaper tapas elsewhere but not, I venture, in such a hotspot. I hope they can keep the standard up. I will return.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | La Gamba: A Southbank Gem for Tapas & Sunshine La Gamba - where great service meets delicious food, and time seems to slow down just enough for you to truly enjoy it. We indulged in patatas bravas, octopus, chicken thigh, and jamón ibérico, all washed down with plenty of rosé - because, well, why not? Sitting in the glorious spring sunshine, soaking up the lively Southbank atmosphere, it was the kind of meal that just works. The service was excellent, and unlike many London spots, there was no rush to clear the table - just a relaxed, easygoing vibe that lets you savour both the food and the moment. Would I return? Absolutely. Great location, great food, great wine - what’s not to love?

My partner and I booked the bottomless brunch and I didn't have very high expectations as most Spanish restaurants in London leave a lot to be desired. To our surprise the croquettes were delicious, it seemed like I was eating my grandmother's 🥹 the roasted peppers were delicious too and the torrija I won't even tell you. I 100% recommend this restaurant, Miguel treated us great, everyone was super nice.

I can't say anything bad. I never went

Fantastic service and delicious food. will become

I had a great time, i highly recommended it.

Amazing tapas experience! The food was absolutely delicious, full of rich and authentic flavors. A special shoutout to Cody, our server, who was incredibly kind and attentive. He made sure to accommodate my food allergies, which made me feel truly cared for. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming—felt like a little escape to Spain right in the heart of London. I had a fantastic time and will definitely be coming back!

We had a great time at La Gamba restaurant. Cody, our waiter, was very attentive and friendly! Thank you for this moment 😊

Really a Nice Place! Must Visit!

Wish it was closer to home but had a beautiful mean. Energy was very good xx thanks again guys.

Really enjoyed the atmosphere and service here.

Very beautiful food music was great staff was amazing

Really lovely place great service, atmosphere would recommend

Staff were amazing and friendly. Food was absolutely exquisite. Have spent a lot of time in Spain and it's unbelievable how authentic and devine their food is. What an absolute little hidden gem. Definitely recommend this place. Until the next time 😋

Visited this place on the basis of the google reviews, atmosphere inside was very luxurious. Staff was very very polite and recommended me a dish that I want again. Food was excellent. If you are local you should defo try this!

Excellent service food is amazing and value for money

Incredible food❤️ Great Atmosphere ❤️

Amazing atmosphere and food was incredible

Had a very nice time here, meal was good and customer service was superb

Amazing food great service really polite staff and food did not take long to come out! Would definitely go back again.

Lovely restaurant, nice serves,would recommend to visit

It's a really delicious tapas restaurant. The food is all delicious, and even more delicious with a variety of drinks, including wine and sanglia. MIGUEL was so kind and I could enjoy a comfortable meal. Thanks to this staff, the restaurant became even better and I would love to visit again.

Excellent atmosphere, food was amazing . Everthing was perfect .

Our server Zak made the whole dining experience fun and memorable! The food was out of this world delicious! Would definitely recommend, reasonably priced and excellent all round dining experience 😀

It was just fine, nothing special and expensive for what it was.

Blown away! I was not expecting such great food, excellent staff and a great view. The whole team should be really proud of what they achieved on a really busy day. Bravo, La Gamba. 👌🏼

Go for the cheesecake and bread pudding! They were 10/10! The tapas generally didn’t taste too fresh, and I probably wouldn’t go back for any of those dishes (and we tried probably 80% of the set menu options). But the desserts were delicious.

We received a warm welcome on arrival. All the staff were delightful: friendly, helpful and professional. The food arrived promptly and was delicious. Last month, I had lunch there with my daughter and daughter in law. When I took my husband last night, he was equally impressed. Thank you.

Always great service and delicious food made better with the small plates menu,

great place great service and friendly staff wonderful food would recommend to anyone.

Great tapas and very nice service. It is a bit noisy in the restaurant and the tables were relatively small. Therefore the ambience is only 4*.

Everything was good except the gambas. Of 4, two were fresh, 1 was stale and one was so-so. I had to spit out the stale one. We actually told the waitress. Nothing was done except me getting £5 off at the end. Hence overall pretty average. At £100 for two people, feels a bit much.

Great food, and lovely staff. Very impressed with the set menu and the ambience! Recommend !

Great service and delicious food. Nice to find an independent family run business in the hustle of the area.

Very pleasant tapas bar, wonderful service and grat location

Class place for food with great service