The signature marble bar that you'll find in all the Barrafinas (and our preferred place to sit).
So there's a new Barrafina in town?
There is indeed, which is always a cause for celebration. If you happen to be unfamiliar with the previous Barrafinas, they're by the Harts Group (also behind El Pastor) and serve up some of the very best Spanish tapas in London. It's also predominantly about counter dining - but that changes a little with this latest opening.
Where is it?
You'll find it as part of the latest outpost of the Harts Group empire in Borough. They've taken over a series of Victorian brick railway arches in the Borough Yards development where they also have a Parrillan and a new place to drink, Bar Daskal.
Where's good to meet for a drink first?
Bar Daskal is the obvious choice. It's linked to Barrafina internally, but has its own entrance on Park Street. The Mallorcan-inspired bar serves Estrella on tap along with a short list of cocktails, wines and vermouths.
So this is a different set-up from all the other Barrafinas?
Yes and no. There are 32 spaces to eat up at the counter but there are also a series of tall tables for groups along the side of the restaurant as well as a snug with tables for six, but which can also be booked as a private dining space. It does add a different dynamic to the traditional Barrafina experience - as you can see below...
This gives you a better look at the tables for four along the right-hand side and the 'snug' is through that arch to the right.
What's on the menu?
If you've been to a Barrafina before, you'll know the drill. Chef Director Angel Zapata Martin has come up with a menu that mixes the group's signature Spanish tapas, throwing in some new dishes specific to this location.
We gave quite a few of the new specials a spin, along with some old favourites. Here's what we had:
Torreznos (£8) - a pork belly tapa with a crackling topping.
Cuttlefish croquetas (£8.50) - inky black and studded with bites of cuttlefish, these croquetas were 10/10.
Pimientos de Padrón (£8) - you know that thing when they say 1 in 10 of these is ragingly hot? Well, we managed to order a dish of almost entirely chilli hot peppers. Is it a seasonal thing? Let us know on Twitter, please...
Tortilla de txistorra (£11) - obviously you're going to want to order one of Barrafina's legendary oozy tortillas. Here there are two specials, con camarones (shrimps) and this one made with a paprika-flavoured Basque sausage and an almost-illegally strong aioli.
Mushrooms with Cured Yolk (£17) - clearly inspired by the dish at Ganbara in San Sebastian, this was a much easier way to enjoy the same dish without having to take a flight to northern Spain.
One dish that we wanted to try, but had to admit defeat when it came to ordering because of all the stuff we'd already eaten, was the new Sandwich de butifarro y queso de Mahón con patatas paja. That's a toasted sandwich with black pudding, Mahón cheese and straw potatoes and it's 100% what's going to lure us back here. Photo: @chilli_london
Room for dessert?
Sadly not this time, but if we had, the Bunyols de Vent (aka doughnuts but more colourfully translated as Nun's Farts) would be the one.
Overall thoughts
On a damp, autumnal Tuesday evening, the dining room at Barrafina's new Borough Yards home was humming. Obviously, you know to a degree what you're going to get with any of their restaurants, and the quality here shows just how well they maintain that across the group. Essentially - some of the best tapas in London.
The layout here also makes it particularly good if you're dining with more than one companion - so if you're after something new from the Barrafina experience, head to Borough Yards.
More about Barrafina Borough Yards
Where is it? 2 Dirty Lane, London SE1 9PA
Find out more: Visit their website or follow them on Instagram @barrafinalondon
Hot Dinners ate as guests of Barrafina. Prices are correct at the time of writing.
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Hot Dinners dined as guests of Barrafina. Prices correct at time of publication.
