Hispania — Restaurant in London

You can't go wrong :) I used to eat here regularly, pre-CoViD, and have always loved the food, wines, staff and ambiance. This was my first visit in years ...

I was very pleased to see that the company, menu, execution, service and ambience have all survived the ravages of COVID lockdown - although the front of house staff have pretty much all changed (my best wishes to my old friends, wherever you are!). I notice they are hiring for a CdC - I hope that goes well; meantime, the kitchen seemed to be delivering perfectly for my visit!

Although I'm not sure they mention it anywhere, the menu, though diverse, has an Asturian bent; the executive chef is Asturian, and well accoladed - Sr. Marcos Morán. The building is ideal (from the diners' perspective) - high-ceiling, spacious, cool stone decor - and the ambiance perfect - just as I remembered it.

The food is gorgeous and authentic - I found nothing to question here. Pimientos de Padrón, unusually for the UK - both in my experience, and that of a Gallician friend - included a representative number of picante examples; from one plate, I had two moderately hot and one real scorcher - as hot as I ever recall having. Everything from here-on-down, I think, is Asturian in origin, style or variance (or maybe regionally undifferentiated for the croquettas?) Sr. Móran's (Casa Gerardo, q.v.) bocadillos crujientes de quesos - very light filo pastry sandwiches of slightly sweet creamed cheeses - I think, best interleaved with other dishes, but also a great relevé or finalé - were exactly as I recall; this is not a belly-filler, but a dainty palate-pleaser. Hmm... they may pair well with a Manzanilla as an aperativo. Croquetas de setas - inch-cubed fried cubes of wild-mushroom-béchamel awesomeness, in a fragile crust, are both delightful, and filling. The calamares were about as good as I've found in the UK - I am very picky with this simple dish, but I would still come back here for them.

There too are cold tapas and main dishes - and I don't recall ever trying anything here that didn't impress. There are a number of vegetarian-friendly dishes - but this is not primarily vegetarian cuisine. I'm not sure how much is vegan-friendly, but I imagine the kitchen is used to accommodating most needs.

One word of caution; I found my selection marginally on the salty side by the time I was done - this is exactly as I would expect it, from an authenticity perspective - I ate only tapas, and plenty of it; if you tend to steer clear of salt, talk to your waiter first before digging into a whole table of tapas (in any restaurant!).

The rice pudding (arroz con leche) was perfect - not overly-sweet in the body, with the correct smooth texture and hydration, and a beautiful creme-brulée-style caramel cap.

This house has fantastic wines at decent prices; if you know what you want, you won't be disappointed; if not, ask for advice, and ... you still won't be disappointed. The classic Bodegas Muga special reserve Rioja by the glass was more than satisfying for me, today, and a beautiful G.B. Palo Cortado was the perfect foil to the rice pudding. Unlike most bars and restaurants, Hispania has a well chosen range of sherries - for starters, mains and desserts.

This is not a cheap restaurant, but neither is it expensive for what it is nor for it's location. I trust you will enjoy it as much as I do!

In case they read this - for last night, my thanks to the front-of-house staff, notably Sres. Luis, Tony, who were appropriately friendly, professional, informative, and attentive (notwithstanding my late arrival, pre-whetted whistle, and my occasional non-deliberate confused attempts to speak some mix of Castilian and South-American Spanish, with maybe some Galego and Italian thrown in for good measure, I suspect!). And my thanks - and apologies for presenting unannounced barely before end-of-service - to the kitchen!

I look forward to...

We were refused service on Monday Mar 25.

We, a party of 4 adults and a toddler, entered around 9pm for dinner and asked to see a menu. The hostess promptly handed us one and told us that the kitchen closes at 930. We had plenty of time, we thought. We decided to eat and asked to be seated. She steps back, whispers something to her colleague/boss, he whispers back, she comes back and tells us they cannot serve us because they don’t allow kids under 12. We were obviously surprised because I had been holding my toddler in my arms when we entered and they knew very well that we plan to eat with the baby when they handed us the menu and told us kitchen hours. Mind you, there’s nothing on their door that forbids kids under 12 from eating there. They just made it up on the spot. For some reason, after that little conference with her colleague, they deny us service and blame it on the kid.

Although I do wonder if it was about the kid. A quick scan of the patrons in the restaurant I couldn’t help but notice there was not a single non-white patron. I’m not white, so maybe they thought it will cramp their style? Or maybe it was the toddler and they didn’t like the idea of the (half white) toddler in the middle of these well dressed financiers and bankers.

Either way, we were humiliated in front of everyone, and were refused service.

As international tourists visiting London, this severely soured our experience. I plan to file an official discrimination complaint with the city of London after my trip. In the meantime, I would not recommend this...

We recently visited Hispania, located in the financial district of London City, and I must say it was a delightful experience. As a Spaniard, I often find myself feeling a bit let down by Spanish restaurants abroad, but this was definitely not the case with Hispania. It was refreshing to see a restaurant that not only respects traditional Spanish cuisine but also elevates it with a touch of luxury.

The ambiance is warm and welcoming, offering a perfect balance of privacy and comfort. The interior design, paired with the attentive and professional service, makes you feel genuinely valued as a guest. The staff, including the manager, went above and beyond to ensure our experience was nothing short of excellent.

The food was genuinely delicious. While every dish was well-prepared and flavorful, the mushroom croquettes were a particular highlight—simply exquisite! The menu offers a broad range of authentic Spanish dishes, all prepared with evident care and quality ingredients.

One pleasant surprise was the pricing. Considering the location and the elevated dining experience, the prices were quite reasonable. I left feeling not only satisfied with the food but also pleased with the overall value.

If you’re looking for an authentic Spanish dining experience in London, Hispania is a must-visit. Whether you’re Spanish yourself or simply a lover of good food, this restaurant offers a genuine taste of Spain with a level of service and ambiance that makes you want to return. I’d definitely...