El Pirata of Mayfair

Really liked this tapas spot in Mayfair. For the location, the prices were actually pretty good. The seafood paella was super tasty and definitely worth ordering. The rib-eye was really soft, and the manchego cheese on top just made it even better. The vibe was great too, especially with all the Christmas decorations up. Felt really cosy. Definitely a solid place to grab good tapas in Mayfair without spending a fortune. Would go back.

We had such a wonderful experience here! The atmosphere is lively and authentic, perfect for a night out with friends. The seafood paella was absolutely delicious – rich in flavour, with perfectly cooked rice and generous portions of fresh prawns, squid, and mussels. The tapas were also spot on – the garlic prawns were juicy and fragrant, the patatas bravas had the perfect crisp, and the pan con tomate tasted just like in Spain. Everything paired so well with the sangria, which was refreshing and fruity without being too sweet. Service was friendly and attentive even though the restaurant was busy, and we never felt rushed. Definitely a place I’d love to come back to when craving proper Spanish food in London!

This is super well priced restaurant for Mayfair. The food has been same quality for at least the last 15 years have been going there . The ‘pulpo a la pirata ‘ is absolutely delicious. Very decent wine list with a super ribera del duero section . It is a very good Spanish restaurant! This’s it

Had one of the best tapas in London here! Food was perfectly seasoned and well balanced! Service was immaculate too, will definitely be back!

Amazing Spanish restaurant in Mayfair. 10 mins from Harrods or Bond st super convenient❤️ Had the pepper padron, broken eggs, salad and the lamb skewers. All very authentic and tasty, brought me back to Barcelona☺️ And i must say the the paella here is definitely one of the best i had in London. Perfectly cooked And seasoned.🍷 Another thing i really love is the art pieces on the wall. Looking at the art, sipping my Sangria with such amazing meal. Then take a walk in Hyde Park, it's an experience you can't miss⭐

Such a delightful Spanish restaurant! The warm atmosphere and Mediterranean vibes make you feel instantly welcome. We ordered the seafood paella – every grain of rice was perfectly cooked and packed with flavour, and the seafood was incredibly fresh with a hint of saffron aroma.

Amazing Spanish food! The seafood paella was full of flavour, the grilled octopus was perfectly cooked, and the sangria was fresh and fruity. Great atmosphere, friendly service – can’t wait to come back!

Must come here when in London. Wow!! Wow! Wow!! This restaurant has the most amazing food. The tapas is on point!!! The drinks are unique and delicious. I had a hard time deciding what I wanted to eat. I wanted it all. Started with The Buñuelos de gamas (prawn fritters with garlic alioli) were cooked to perfection. I could eat these every day. I also ordered from the vegetarian portion the alcachofas a la plancha (grilled artichoke with alioli). Spectacular!!! Had the lovely Aceitunas (marinated mixed olives +) which kept me busy in between all the lovely plates coming. And a lovely surprise of the mini bun Chorizo y huevo (chorizo & quail egg on mini bun) was the perfect spice for the pallet. Adult drinks were unique and tasty. Topped it all of with raspberry sorbet! Wow. What a serving. I was well taken care of. Service was impeccable!! Must come !!

We had such an amazing time here - the food/tapas was fantastic, the restaurant felt cozy and had welcoming atmosphere. Highly recommend

We spent the evening sipping on sangria and soaking up the cosy, vibrant atmosphere. The food was delicious — everything was well-prepared and full of flavour. The service was warm and genuinely welcoming, which made the whole experience even more enjoyable. Already looking forward to my next visit — highly recommend!

A friend invited me here for group dining and wow l was seriously impressed! They have the 5J Iberico ham and also tried the cod cheeks, which I’d never had before…super tender! We ended up ordering a bunch of tapas to share and loved every bite. They’ve got a downstairs area with semi private dining space; Service was friendly and fast. Not overly formal, just chill and professional. Definitely coming back,really solid food and proper Spanish hospitality

Stopped by for a quick lunch and had a great experience. The service was excellent—friendly and efficient. I ordered the Iberico pork, which was juicy, tender, and had no gamey taste at all. I also tried the cod cheek the first time, very tasty with the mayonnaise sauce! It would be even better with a slice of lemon on the side. Overall, a lovely meal and I’d definitely come back to try other dishes on the menu

Nestled in the heart of London’s Mayfair district, this Spanish restaurant perfectly blends Mediterranean flair with the vibrancy of London. The décor is elegant, the atmosphere inviting, making it an ideal spot for a memorable meal with friends or a loved one. The pricing here is quite reasonable compared to other high-end dining options in London. With a diverse menu and a splendid selection of Spanish wines, ranging from £30 to £40 per bottle, there’s something for everyone. We particularly relished the garlic tomato bread and grilled green peppers, bursting with flavour. Always bustling with patrons, the lively ambience adds an extra layer of enjoyment to the dining experience. We had a wonderful evening, savouring delicious food that not only satisfied the palate but also offered great value for money. This is definitely a dining destination worth recommending!

I went with my friend yesterday and we loved it! Food was delicious, and well priced for the area but what impressed us the most was the service!! It was simply impeccable, Ilaria and Felipe took great care of us. We will be back for sure!

My wife and I were here with 2 other couples over the Mayday weekend in 2025. I'm not that big a fan of tapas but the food, wine and cocktails were all excellent. Our waiter was very attentive but also funny, every time he came to the table he had a joke. It made for a really enjoyable experience. As a group of six we were tucked away in a little alcove downstairs and it was perfect, as we were less conscious about noise and annoying other customers. We ate in some great restaurants that weekend but all agreed this was the best meal of the trip. 5 ⭐.

The food is amazing and people are so friendly. We had a great night :) There were so many nice staff but I didn’t ask for their names so I will just go for the guy called Bruce. Very very lovely 🥰

My hidden gem Spanish tapas restaurant 🍴, absolutely delicious!!! And it's not expensive!!! My favorite black squid seafood rice in London is here 🦑. Love it at first bite! Each grain of rice is distinct, filled with rich creamy and seafood flavors. The texture of the rice is just right, with a perfect balance of flavors. Highly recommended!

After a stroll in Green Park, my friend and I walked just 3 minutes to this Spanish restaurant for lunch. The ambiance was fantastic, with unique wall decor and beautiful flowers on the door. We ordered two glasses of wine, which were excellent. The tapas were also delicious, and we were very satisfied with our meal.

Delicious tapas in a restaurant with a great vibe. Lovely location in the heart of Mayfair and down a quiet street. Service was very friendly and welcoming. Highlights were the bread with tomatoes, sliders, chilli prawns, and black rice and squid. Wine menu was quite extensive and reasonably priced. Will be going back!

We ordered the padrón peppers and gambas al pil-pil, both prepared in a traditional, classic style. The real surprise highlight was the pork secreto—incredibly tender and juicy, with a lightly crispy grilled exterior and a fragrant herb seasoning that truly elevated the dish.

Great spot in Mayfair for some tasty and good value tapas. Good wine selection and friendly service.

Wonderful place for a small gathering. We ordered 8 tapas and a paella for 4 people. All are very tasty. The paella is especially impressive. Rice is properly cooked and soaked in the juice of chicken and seafood. Very well seasoned. Tapas are good for a small group to share. I would highly recommend the Iberico ham - despite the price, you can really taste the difference. They literally melt in your mouth, leaving a lovely aftertaste. The squid ink rice is also delicious. The rest of the tapas are less impressive but they are all decent. Overall a wonderful tapas place. Will definitely revisit!

Visited here on a Friday evening - it was lively and busy. The restaurant has a beautiful interior and feels cosy and intimate without being cramped. The food was lovely and full of flavour and despite being tapas, the portions were plentiful. Service was quick and staff were always topping up waters and clearing plates. I definitely recommend!

The best Spanish restaurant I’ve ever been. The seafood paella have lots of seafood and isn’t salty. The quality of 5J ham is the best. The Secreto Iberico is the must have dish, highly recommended. Prawn is also tasty.

We visited for the first time, tried the tapas tasting menu (which offers a whole variety of tapas to share for 25£/person) and had a great experience. Service was very quick (which was good, though sometimes it felt slightly rushed as we love "taking our time" when dining!). Food was nicely prepared and presented, and drinks/wines were lovely! So, overall great first experience and we will definitely be back. I would recommend visiting, when around Mayfair area!

Absolutely the most amazing Spanish cuisine in London. I love the place so much I have to say. The black rice is sooo good that I can eat a whole bowl by myself!!! We 2 people ordered 4 tapas and 1 rice, that’s very enough and the price is reasonable. I definitely will go back again with my friends.

I visited El Pirata recently and had a pleasant overall experience. The food was good and nicely presented, though it didn’t quite stand out as exceptional for the area. That said, the atmosphere was warm and lively, which suited the tapas style well. I also ordered a couple of mocktails — Cherry Bomb and La Perla — and both were really good, refreshing, and well balanced. What really made the visit memorable was the staff — they were excellent. Friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming, they made us feel well looked after from start to finish. Their service added a lot to the experience and definitely made the evening more enjoyable. A solid spot in Mayfair with great service, even if the food didn’t completely wow.

Truly exceptional in every way! We were a 4 person party of tapas lovers who had never dined at El Pirata before, and we were all amazed with the whole experience. Very charming, professional and accommodating service; an extensive choice of eats, all of which were delicious; all washed down with a wide choice of great value wines. Bravo El Pirata! We highly recommend and look forward to visiting again.

Paella, iberico pork, prawns, and chorizo were the stars of the show. Good service and not rushed (wasn’t a busy Saturday). Portions are small if tapas only but you will feel full after the paella

Came with friends in the evening for dinner. Most of us had been here before. The restaurant atmosphere is great. Food is tasty and service was attentive. Portion was tapas bite sizes rather than main course. Not recommended dishes to order are the squid rice (a tiny slither of squid as decoration) and the octopus (no full tentacle but only a few slices with potato). Taste and presentation was still good though. Most enjoyed tapas was the prawns and also the fish (to make it a main i would need both plus sides). Recommended... order a seafood paella as this was big enough for one as a main and it is delicious. Prices were consistent with Mayfair. Nice cozy busy restaurant giving romantic vibes.... good for taking a date out or with a group of friends.

Great Spanish tapas restaurant in London. The dishes are simple but tasty. We had croquetas de jamón, cod cheeks skewers (excellent taste), patatas bravas, asparagus, and a crema catalana. The prices are fairly standard for London tapas and the UK in general. The staff was very friendly, attentive and efficient. Pretty solid restaurant if you are looking to enjoy some Spanish food around central London.

Good tapas and sangria, very friendly service. Some of the foods were a bit blant and could have had more flavor (like the patatas bravas). Jamon, shrimps and croquettas were good.

The food was decent. The best dish was the octopus stater with a rich flavor. The paella was not hot unfortunately, and the steak was mid but not bad. Services are great. Went there because of some Chinese influencer's promotions but overall the food was a bit overrated. A little bit pricey, two of us spent around 72 pounds including a jug of sangria.

The service was amazing, Felipe our waiter was spectacular! The food was very good too but the mussels with chorizo weren’t cooked well enough which led to me having a food poisoning, that’s why I’m only giving 2 stars on food. You guys got to be more careful with that situation, I’ve been feeling horrible for the past couple days.

There’s a number of things that we enjoyed about El Pirata, first and foremost the cocktails. Very well made, and land a punch without being overly sweet- unlike most places. The food also tasted great, and we had the opportunity to taste multiple dishes. Unfortunately, as some others have mentioned, it definitely is not value for money. Dishes are small (even if they’re “mains”), and cost a disproportionately high price for what you get. The atmosphere can also use alot of improvement, the upstairs area felt cramped and packed with how it was arranged. During our visit the fire alarm also kept going off, which didnt help… you’d think they’d offer something to the tables impacted as a gratuity? Nop. Nothing. WCs….disgraceful. Needs a thorough renovation asap. In short, good food, but as a restaurant it’s overhyped and not value for money.

Restaurant near to green park, good place to have some tapas from Spain. The food has been served very quickly, normal quality and good variety of dishes and wines/drinks. The price is not too expensive but aligned with the area. Service was good enough but the place looks a little bit older. Mini burger is the best choice and the other dishes are good to feel like you are in Spain.

The restaurant has a pleasant atmosphere and a good selection of tasty dishes. I appreciated the nice touch of having our jackets stored in a cloakroom. However, while some of the staff were friendly, our waitress made us feel rushed and unwelcome, even though the restaurant was nearly empty. For a place of this caliber, that level of service was disappointing, which is why I’ve given a 3-star rating. It’s unfortunate because everything else was enjoyable, but this did affect our experience.

This is the first time I give 2 stars review on a restaurant category We were a group of 3 people who went for early dinner at 4pm. Atmosphere upstairs seems okay but we were sat downstairs with no natural light and very loud when everyone was chatting Food is okay but not worth the money spent due to tapas size portion even for main dish. Nothing stands out, compared with tapas in Spain I’ve had before. The most disappointing part is service. The waitress downstairs made us felt rush, considering the restaurant was less than 50% capacity between 4-5pm We were interrupted a few times when we hadn’t finished Paella and they wanted to clear the table already. Moreover, they brought a card machine over while we hadn’t checked the bill yet. So I need to pay without checking at all I should have believed previous review about being rushed to leave. Not recommend for a mid food quality whilst being charged a big money

Disappointing Experience with Discrimination and Poor Service I had an incredibly disappointing experience at this restaurant. My friend and I were seated at an outdoor table, ready to enjoy our meal. While I was in the restroom, my friend was quietly on a phone call when a couple (Two men) seated behind us rudely complained that she was disturbing their "enjoyment." Despite her politeness, they continued to be inconsiderate. When our food arrived, this couple finished their meal and, being familiar with the manager, received special attention. One of them, dressed in a pink shirt and bald, confronted us accusingly, claiming we were selfishly taking photos and disrupting their time. We were only taking pictures of ourselves, enjoying our moment, and certainly not of them. Their outburst was clearly discriminatory and seemed targeted at us, two women of a different ethnicity, especially when others around were also talking and making noise without any issue from them. Additionally, the restaurant’s location next to the street meant that a garbage truck and a street sweeper passed by multiple times, spreading foul odors and dust onto our food. Despite this, the restaurant staff, including the manager, did nothing to address the situation when we complained. We were eventually moved indoors where a loud party was going on, further ruining our dining experience as party-goers continuously bumped into our chairs and shouted loudly. Again, the restaurant staff did nothing to manage the noise or ensure a pleasant dining atmosphere. To top it all off, when we voiced our concerns to the staff, they failed to offer even a basic apology. The service was incredibly poor, and the discriminatory behavior we experienced was unacceptable. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a respectful and enjoyable dining experience.

I’m really curious whether the good reviews for this restaurant are genuine. When we were waiting for the bill, even the people at the next table felt the prices were too high — maybe it’s just because of the location? The portions were very small. The food tasted fine, but it definitely wasn’t worth the price. What’s worse, the prices on the bill didn’t match the menu. It’s best to double-check when paying — a 15% markup is no small amount. A very disappointing experience overall.