I’ve been going to Barrafina for years and it has yet to disappoint me. My most recent visit took me to their Coal Drop’s Yard branch (there are now four in total, all bar this King’s Cross outpost located in Central London).
Their no reservations policy (except private dining) does not deter people, so expect to always be met with long queues. If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. My most recent visit saw me queue for an hour.
In that time, we consumed rather a lot of wine, munched on bread and olives. By the time, we sat down we were famished.
I always go for the Padron Peppers.
Crisp Fried Squid, Ink Sauce Espelette Alli Oli was the next on the order list followed swiftly by Patatas Bravísimas.
Their tortilla is runny and fabulous and always on my must order list.
To round things off, I went for the fish of the day which happened to be a beautiful turbot; feeling greedy, I ordered it and ate it all by myself and to be honest, it was just too much, so don’t be like me and be glutton, spread the love.
The look and feel at Barrafina restaurants is uniform: counter dining, zinc tops and red leather stools.
Service wise, it’s all a bit fraught as they try to attend to many hungry mouths. Orders can be forgotten especially when you’re waiting in the queue but that’s sort of the nature of this kind of restaurant, so you kind of have to grin and bear it.
If you’re looking for a safe choice in London, to dine out with a pal or lover, that’s always buzzy, then you’d be hard pressed to find a more consistent joint.
K A N N D I D 
Consistently Good . Tapas
I’ve been going to Barrafina for years and it has yet to disappoint me.
My most recent visit took me to their Coal Drop’s Yard branch (there are now four in total, all bar this King’s Cross outpost located in Central London).
Their no reservations policy (except private dining) does not deter people, so expect to always be met with long queues. If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. My most recent visit saw me queue for an hour.
In that time, we consumed rather a lot of wine, munched on bread and olives. By the time, we sat down we were famished.
I always go for the Padron Peppers.
Crisp Fried Squid, Ink Sauce Espelette Alli Oli was the next on the order list followed swiftly by Patatas Bravísimas.
Their tortilla is runny and fabulous and always on my must order list.
To round things off, I went for the fish of the day which happened to be a beautiful turbot; feeling greedy, I ordered it and ate it all by myself and to be honest, it was just too much, so don’t be like me and be glutton, spread the love.
The look and feel at Barrafina restaurants is uniform: counter dining, zinc tops and red leather stools.
Service wise, it’s all a bit fraught as they try to attend to many hungry mouths. Orders can be forgotten especially when you’re waiting in the queue but that’s sort of the nature of this kind of restaurant, so you kind of have to grin and bear it.
If you’re looking for a safe choice in London, to dine out with a pal or lover, that’s always buzzy, then you’d be hard pressed to find a more consistent joint.
BASIC OR BOUGIE? In Betweener
SERVICE Is a little fraught
TRY The Tortilla
BEST FOR Catch Ups, Solo Dining
VIBE Is Buzzy (Fri dinner)
GROUPS c.4 ppl max
GOOD TO KNOW Open Sun | c.£45 (dinner)
Bagley Walk, Kings Cross, N1C 4AB
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Open Mon – Sun