There are so many sub-standard Spanish restaurants in London.  Care must be taken when one selects a place to dine.  Here;s where you should go for some of the best tapas in London:

For phenomenal tapas, there are two places which are in a league of their own.  In both cases, arrive early or be prepared to queue: Jose near London Bridge, is the closest I’ve found to being in Spain.  It’s loud and busy and the food is superb.  The other is Barrafina in Soho.  Tiny with only 23 stools dotted around the bar.  Watch the food being cooked in front of you and enjoy a sherry or two.

I didn’t realise how lucky I was to get a table at 10 Greek Street in Soho until I tried to go back and have failed each time, (I was too hungry to wait 1.5 hours for a table).  Worth going early.  The menu changes every day and the food is excellent.

For more substantial Spanish dishes, look no further than the sensational Cambio de Tercio in South Kesington.  Fabulous wine list and service, and the best patatas bravas is the best I’ve ever eaten.

Copita in Soho looks and feels like somewhere in Spain, a great place for a few glasses of Spanish wine and some tapas.  Morita in Exmouth Market is also very good.

Dehesa (Soho) Opera Tavern (Covent Garden) and Salt Yard (Goodge Street) are part of the same group and serve some delicious Spanish food (I prefer the first two).

Polpo‘s chain of establishments, along with Camino in Kings Cross and Brindisa in London Bridge (and also South Ken, Soho and Shoreditch) are also good.

Iberica in Great Portland Street is tasty, a bit expensive for what it is.