Some London restaurants feel like institutions, and Barrafina is definitely one. This Spanish tapas bar has been a Soho favorite since it opened on Dean Street in 2007, the kind of spot that makes waiting in line worth it.

It brings the lively vibe of a Barcelona or Madrid bar to central London. Their method was simple: no reservations, bar seating only, a marble bar, red leather stools, an open kitchen, and chefs quickly serving up plate after plate of perfect tapas. The result?  Fans who still love it almost two decades later. My family used to live in Spain and they rave about Barrafina being THE tapas place.

Now, Barrafina has several restaurants in Covent Garden, King’s Cross (Coal Drops Yard), and Borough Yards. Each place has the same cool charm but with menus that differ a little. Whether you’re waiting on Dean Street or chilling in a booth in Borough, you still get that same great taste of Spain with a London touch. Plus, you can book a table now if you hate to wait in line!

If you want one tip about Barrafina, it’s this: try a bunch of stuff and share it all. The tapas menu has both classic dishes and specials that change daily, all made with care.

You have to get the croquetas. They’re golden and crunchy on the outside, and melty on the inside. The ideal way to start. Have them with pan con tomate: simple, but really good – toasted bread rubbed with garlic, covered in olive oil, and topped with sweet grated tomato.

The ‘Prawn and Piquillo Pepper’, it’s topped with peppers are usually the most popular things to order. The prawn and pepper one is served with the middle still runny (just how it should be), and the chefs at Barrafina are very proud of that. A tip from me is to save some bread or some potatoes to dip in the runny centre.

The seafood is great here. You can get octopus with capers and ajada sauce, zucchini flower filled with goat’s cheese, or the amazing Arroz de Carabineros, whichis a rich red prawn rice dish loaded with seafood. This one is very filling, so you might want to share!Meat eaters will be happy too: from perfectly cooked Iberian pork to chorizo-stuffed peppers, the plates taste great without being too heavy.

And then there’s dessert. If you have any room left, get the Crema Catalana – Spain’s lighter, citrusy version of crème brûlée. The cinnamon makes it a bit different from a regular crème brûlée. Barrafina also makes a great Basque Cheesecake, which is very popular in London, so you should give that a try as well.

You can’t have a tapas bar without a good drinks menu, and Barrafina has one, with a focus on Spanish drinks. The wines are picked to go well with the food—you’ll find crisp Albariños, rich Riojas, and some surprising bottles that are much better than the usual Spanish reds you find at the store.

Sherry is another thing they do well. You might want a very dry Fino to have with olives, or a sweet Pedro Ximénez to go with dessert. There’s always something that will fit with what you order. And of course, there’s Cava: light, bubbly, and perfect for raising a toast while you share plates of croquetas. If it’s a warm night, there is also sangria that we all know and love and it pairs great with tapas.

Their drinks list makes you want to stick around… one more glass of Verdejo, another plate of croqueta, until you notice it’s almost midnight.

Watching the chefs in the open kitchen flip tortillas, slice jamón, and cook octopus right in front of you is part of what makes it fun. It’s fast-paced, loud, and has a really fun vibe. Yes, waiting in line at Dean Street can be annoying, but that’s part of what Barrafina is known for. Luckily, the other locations take reservations, so you don’t always have to stand in the Soho rain to taste those famous croquetas.

Even though London has tons of tapas restaurants, Barrafina is still one of the best. It feels both relaxed and special, authentic but still very London. Whether you want a quick snack at the bar, a long lunch with friends, or a late-night meal after the theatre, Barrafina is still one of the city’s most reliable, tasty, and fun places to eat.

Multiple locations across London (Dean Street, Drury Lane, Adelaide Street, Coal Drops Yard, Borough Yards). Open daily; Dean Street is walk-in only, others accept reservations.

For more information on Barrafina, see here