LOCATION

Run by José Pizarro, José is a tapas bar in Bermondsey which is an area filled to the brim with restaurants, many of which I have yet to sample. José has a more formal dining restaurant – Pizarro – also in Bermondsey and another one in Broadgate Circle, near Liverpool Street. The Fashion and Textile Museum is close by, so you could make a day trip to the area and even check out Maltby Street Market for some sweet treats afterwards, if it’s open.

THE SPACE

It’s a fairly dinky little space with the kitchen the focal point of this tapas bar. There aren’t many seats, so expect a bit of a wait, if there is more than one of you. The wall of the kitchen and the front of the bar are decorated with tiles; the rest of the wall surface is exposed brick and lights hang down from the thick wooden beams. The overall look is quite dark and moody, which appealed to me.

FOOD & SERVICE

Had a tasty tortilla and some excellent croquettes here.  It’s a proper tapas bar, barrels and all, so don’t be put off by the lack of seats; stake your ground, order a sherry and stand whilst you dine on some delicious small plates. The service was professional but the waitress who was attending to me didn’t speak brilliant English, which at times caused confusion but her manager was always at hand to help. Very keen to return and I’d like to check out, Jose’s other spots.

VIBE

The vibe is pretty low key and intimate and with the dark look and feel, it’s a good spot to go on a casual date.

MOOLAH

As I was popping in for a quick snack, I only ordered x2 tapas which came to £12 but if you have a proper meal here, I reckon c.£35 would cover you for a few tapas and vino.

RATING

8.5/10

Cuisine: Spanish

Avg Cost Incl.Glass of Vino: £26-35 [££]

Address: 104 Bermondsey Street, Bermondsey, London SE1 3UB

Tube:  London Bridge (10 mins walk)

Reservations: No

Hours:  Open Mon-Sat Noon-10:15 Sun Noon-5:15pm

Phone: N/A

http://www.josepizarro.com/jose-tapas-bar

LAST VISITED AUGUST 2015

Cover image from londonfoodfreak.com