(15 St Botolph Street, (Entrance at 1 Middlesex Street) in London, United Kingdom)

This gorgeous, vivacious restaurant is a City favourite, and not just among worker bees yearning to ...buzz away to the Spanish sunshine. There's fun in the air - the splendid yellows, reds and blues of the decor, the vivid flavours on the plates, the unusual and intriguing wine list, and the jostling sociability of the smart waitstaff all add up to a hugely enjoyable mix. This branch of Barcelona takes advantage of its site in a shiny office block to let the huge plate glass windows shed sunlight on all within. The ground floor offers both bar and table service, and is a terrific place to meet up at lunch or after work and sample some of the excellent - and rare - Spanish wines and bubblies. The mezzanine level is guarded by a Gaudi-inspired mosaic lizard and decorated with flamenco and toreador costumes. You can stick to your favourites from the menu, like chorizo, patatas bravas, and paella, or you can close your eyes and point and be delighted by the culinary adventure. You may discover rare Iberian ham or broad bean stew with black pudding. Save room for the excellent cheeses. Opening hours: Mon - Fri 11am - 11pm [moreless]

(481 Lordship Lane, Dulwich in London, United Kingdom)

Barcelona has 'aficion' - that means passion and knowledge and, in bullfighting, what makes you get ...into the ring with an irritable herbivore. The space that houses this Barcelona, the third in a continuing series, was once a pharmacy. It still has its funky antique dispensing cabinets, but is also kitted out in Barcelona's inimitable sunny style, including tiling, vivid hues, and the trademark lizard, inspired by a Gaudi mad masterpiece. The Conservatory areas are extremely popular, but then so is the whole restaurant. As it's a short five minute walk from Dulwich village, it's full of professional types, but it's located in a residential area which brings in scads of happy families reliving the cuisine of their latest Spanish holiday. Hora Loca is a madly good deal - we have our own little aficion for the jugs of sangria. The tapas include many familiar favourites as well as specialities from all the regions of Spain. Try dishes like the Andalusian pork and bean stew with chorizo, Galician-style octopus, and Catalan grilled peppers, onions and aubergines. The Spanish wine list is a treat. Opening hours: Mon - Thurs 5pm - 12amFri - Sat 12pm - 12amSun 12pm - 11pm [moreless]

(24 Lime Street in London, United Kingdom)

Barcelona V is fifth in a chain of popular Spanish restaurants founded by father and son team, Marti...n and David Dalmau. The group’s tag line is ‘the authentic taste of Spain in London’ – which happily seems to be the case. This City venture is a brightly-painted basement room on Lime Street near Leadenhall Market and Lloyds of London. Orange wall edges are decorated with colourful, swirling mosaic tile work featuring the trademark lizard. Feast on an aromatic wealth of mouthwatering tapas – tender beef meat balls, Mediterranean prawns, deep-fried baby calamares, paella, patatas bravas – they’re all on the menu. Plenty of vegetarian dishes. Excellent home made crema Catalana, and a fantastic selection of Spanish wines listed by denominación de origen. Real Spanish vibe. Opening hours: Mon - Fri 11am - 11pm [moreless]

(13 Well Court (Off Bow Lane) in London, United Kingdom)

Spanish passion is everywhere in the Barcelona, from the vivid colours, to the intense flavours, to... the attention to detail, to the happy hubbub of diners and drinkers giving themselves over to pleasure. There's a mad mosaic Gaudi-esque lizard over the Cava Bar, a terrific meeting and drinking space that features a winning selection of Spanish bubblies (nb: Happy Hour isn't called Hora Loca for nothing). Then the same sort of wandering mosaic path guides you downstairs to the large, cheerful dining room. Choose a zillion tapas and share them with mates, or pick carefully and respect Dr Atkins - either way you'll find dishes skillfully prepared and with a touch of sunny inspiration that will set your palate aglow. Try favourites like chorizo or paella or go for rarer Iberian ham or broad bean stew with black pudding. Wash it all down with lovely sangria or one of the brilliant wines from the all-Spanish list. Disco Thursday and Friday evenings. Opening hours: Mon - Fri 11am - 11pm [moreless]

(3 Varnisher's Yard , Regent Quarter in London, United Kingdom)

The acclaimed menu at Camino, meaning 'path' in Spanish, will take you on a gastronomic journey acro...ss Spain. The stylish restaurant, found in the Regent Quarter - King's Cross, has been a labour of love for restaurateur and Hispanophile Richard Bigg. The menu is a clever combination of regional dishes and killer cocktails, and the vast, industrial space is a fusion of converted-warehouse-chic and rustic Spanish furniture. Vibrant Banksy-esque murals fill the walls, and the restaurant is flooded with natural light from a glass dome skylight. During the day Camino is filled with creative types from local fashion houses and design agencies, and by night the bar fills up with advertising honchos and locals. Please note - this restaurant does not take toptable bookings in the evenings. Opening hours: Mon - Fri 12pm - 3pm & 6:30pm - 11pmSat 6:30pm - 11pmSun 12pm - 4pm Camino means 'path' or 'road' in Spanish. [moreless]

(54 Lambs Conduit Street, Russell Square in London, United Kingdom)

Truly lovely bright and breezy Spanish restaurant. Very friendly staff and atmosphere. Robust flav...ours served with a lightness of touch sum up this modern eatery which would be equally suitable for a mid-week business lunch as for a romantic dinner or Sunday lunch en famille. A credit card is required to reserve a table of six diners or above, if there is availability - this is simply to secure your booking, absolutely no money will be charged to the card except in the case of late cancellations. A fee of £10 per person will be charged for a cancellation within 24 hours or a no show Opening hours: Mon- Fri: 12pm-3pm, 6pm -10.45pm . Sun: 12pm-9.30pm [moreless]

(3 Turnberry Quay in London, United Kingdom)

The Mediterranean it may not be, but El Faro has good views. When the weather’s not nice enough to s...it on the leafy terrace, large windows in the main restaurant allow generous views of the Docklands. The saliva-enducing Spanish menu is widely acknowledged to be authentic, like the management. Fish and seafood for dishes like paella are delivered daily from Billingsgate, while meats and delicatessen delicacies such as cerdo iberico come direct from Spain. Sold by weight, the T bone steak deserves a medal. A first floor function room fits 45 to 150 guests. El Faro provide a delicious roast suckling pig which is flown in weekly from Segovia; slow roasted for 24hrs it melts in the mouth - go now! Please note for big parties deposits will not be refunded if there is a cancellation. Opening hours: Mon - Sat 12pm - 3:30pm & 6pm - 11pmSun 12pm - 3:30pm [moreless]

(55 Charterhouse Street in London, United Kingdom)

About Ortega restaurant in London we can only say this: skip the flight to Spain and cab over to Smi...thfield instead where this brilliant cantina-style tapas bar is waiting. With all the warm colours of the Iberian sunshine and the sleek modern design of Spanish style, Ortega is the perfect spot to while away the hours, relaxing and sharing platters of tapas, Spanish beers, sangrias and Latin wines while waves of salsa and flamenco wash over you. Signature dishes must surely be the favourite chicken skewers, garlic prawns and garlic bread, though you might tuck into a paella or linger over a crema catalana. Brilliantly laid-back atmosphere. Please note to avoid disappointment we recomend that bookings are made a week in advance. Opening hours: Mon - Fri 12pm - 11pmSat 6pm - 2amSun 5pm - 11pm [moreless]

(8 Great Newport Street in London, United Kingdom)

Neighbour to The Photographers Gallery on the cusp of Covent Garden and Soho, Salvador and Amanda is... the latest blissed-out bar from the reliably funky Breakfast Group. Calling itself as a Bar Y Tapas Y Fiesta (that's snacks and Balearic beats until the toddler hours to you and me), it offers a distinctive rustic, 'Real Spain' inspired interior by Paul Daly of Elbow Rooms and Lab fame. Naturally, it's packed to the sombreros with young professionals, but it isn't at all pretentious - a glance at the large bull-fight posters tell you that. In keeping with the general feel, classic Spanish tapas such as mini de pepito concebolla (steak and onion in toasted roll) form the backbone of the menu. But read on - the descriptions tell your tastebuds all they need to know: clams in sherry with ham, spider crab tortilla, paella croquettes... Should you find out who Salvador and Amanda are, do let us know. We think they must be a pretty cool pair. Please Note: tables will only be held for 30 minutes. Two sittings on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings: 5pm and 9pm. Parties of 10 or more will be asked to order from a set menu.Last orders for food is 10pm every day. Opening hours: Mon - Thurs 5pm - 2am, Fri 5pm - 3am & Sat 4pm - 3am [moreless]

(Hombre de Palo, 7 7 in Toledo, Spain)

Located in Toledo, one of the most emblematic cities of Spain, part of the World Heritage and the ca...pital of the Holy Roman Empire of Carlos V. Our restaurant is located in a Jewish house from the 14th-15th century, close to the Primada Cathedral of Toledo, in the old quarter known as Judería Mayor, where Jewish families of that time chose to live. Our restaurant was opened in 1979 by our parents, Adolfo and Julita. These days we carry on the work they started. The restaurant has been extended several times to increase capacity. At the moment it has 4 dining rooms with a capacity of 80 covers: The Veronica Room, The Hombre de Palo Room, The Granada Room and the Main Room. The last room features art in the New-Mudejar style that dates from the same time as the house. This art was discovered by our parents while they were renovating, concealed behind a roof of plaster and reed. The roof served to protect the art over the centuries and keep it in perfect condition. The art is registered by the Toledo School of Surveyors as one of the finest preserved pieces in the city. Our restaurant also has a large wine cellar, located in the Jewish caves that date back to the 9th century. Here, we have 44,000 bottles of wine from 1,850 different references. This cellar serves to complement the cuisine, which is based on top-quality fresh produce from the region. We add very little to these products, in the belief that their own natural flavours should not be disguised. We also place special emphasis on regional products and game, giving them the treatment that their flavours are worthy of. The saffron, cheese, honey, garlic and other products from Castilla-La Mancha become essential ingredients in our cooking, which focuses heavily on olive oil. Sample Wine selection: number of wines on the chart: 1850 white wine (house): Pago del Ama Chardonay 2001 red wine (house): Marqués de Griñon Dominio de Valdepusa Cabernet Sauvignon 1996 special white wine: Pago del Ama Colección 2002. Emeritus 1997. Pago del Ama Syram 2002 special red wine: Pago del Ama Chardonay 2002 Sample Specialties: cuisine/cooking: Regional haute cuisine speciality one: Loin of venison, Manchego cheese and a Syram reduction speciality two: Pan-cooked sole, aromatic herbs served with a pea sauce [moreless]