Restaurant Brighton's guide to
Spanish and Tapas Restaurants in Brighton
Our top picks
Tapas and Spanish Restaurants in Brighton
Welcome to the vibrant world of tapas in Brighton, where you’ll discover an amazing variety of Spanish culinary delights.
Brighton boasts an impressive array of Spanish restaurants and eateries with Spanish influences, each offering their own unique twist on these small plates of flavour-packed goodness. From traditional tapas joints serving up classics like patatas bravas and albondigas, to modern establishments showcasing innovative interpretations of Spanish cuisine, there is something to satisfy every palate. Even some Brighton pubs have embraced the tapas trend, infusing their menus with delicious bites perfect for sharing. So, grab a group of friends, sip on some sangria, and embark on a tapas adventure in the lively food scene of Brighton.
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Small Plates Brighton
Tapas Brighton
First in our Tapas Brighton round-up. Contemporary and stylish with an exquisite menu of Spanish cuisine, Tinto Taperia is a beautiful Brighton restaurant that’s well placed to win your heart (and stomach). The menu is a delightful mix of traditional tapas favourites and weekly specials that champion seasonal ingredients from local suppliers. What makes them really stand out is their paella, which is made to perfection, fresh to order and simply divine. Drinks here offer Spanish flavour, you’ll find that special attention is paid to fortified wines, Spanish liquors and gins. Tinto Taperia is located in the North Laine, next door to the Theatre Royal and with views of the Pavilion gardens. It also benefits from having street side terraced dining, perfect for sangria under the sun.
The small plates menu at Twisted Lanes Brighton is available from 2pm to 10pm, perfect for pre-theatre or late-night dining. Designed for sharing, it features Spanish and tapas-style dishes like Slow Cooked Short Ribs, Padron Peppers, and Crispy Squid. You can also enjoy cheese and charcuterie haring platters from Great British Charcuterie, baked cheese, hummus plates, and tasty sides. Vegan and vegetarian options are available.
Apiary is not traditional Spanish tapas, but their small plates menu features tapas favourites with a Spanish twist. Enjoy dishes like Padron Peppers, Tiger Prawns, and Leek & Mustard Croquettes. You’ll also find Spanish classics such as manchego cheese and olive tapenade. Apiary is a unique all-day café and bar in Brighton, inspired by bees, honey, and everything from the hive. Owned by passionate beekeepers, their love for bees and honey shines through in the decor, menu, and ambiance.
Enjoy modern British tapas dining at its best at Terre a Terre. This pioneering vegetarian Restaurant has been paving the way for elevated vegetarian dining since 1993 and with consistent excellence and creativity – we can see why they have held their title as restaurant royalty for decades! Terre a Tapas is available as either hot or cold sharing plates and the dishes champion the restaurant’s signature flair of creativity.
Brighton Cookery School is a creative cookery school located right in the very heart of Brighton. Brighton Cookery School offer a wide range of classes to the public throughout the year, each class lasts a minimum of two hours, is professionally taught and ingredients and equipment are all included. One of their classes includes a Spanish tapas cookery class where you will learn to cook your very own Spanish inspired dinner including dishes such as Patatas Bravas, Albondigas and Calamares with garlic and saffron mayonnaise. Check out all their upcoming classes here.
Owned by Spanish wine producers, this lovely little tapas bar and deli shop is hailed by some as ‘the best Tapas in Brighton’. Conveniently located opposite the Corn Exchange at the Brighton Dome and less than a stones thrown to the Theatre Royal it’s a great choice for a pre-theatre meal. Authentic and sweet, it comes with the obligatory red and white checked table cloths which make you forget you’re at home.
Another brainchild of Bodega D Tapa’s owners, Solera D Tapa down the North Laines, describes itself as traditional Spanish cuisine with a contemporary twist. Ideal for large parties who are celebrating it offers an extensive a la carte menu focusing on tapas and platters as well as a simple but thoughtful set menu. Visit their shop too for the finest cheeses, meats and olives the south of Spain has to offer.
This unique Spanish restaurant not only dishes up tasty Spanish cuisine and Tapas, but it also throws in an authentic Spanish Flamenco show while they’re at it! Don’t be under the illusion that these passionate shows are just meant for watching. You’ll be up on the dancefloor with them by the end of the evening!
Casa Don Carlos
Casa Don Carlos in Brighton’s Lanes could not be more authentic even if it was in the heart of Barcelona. Intimate and cosy, it has the classic red and white checked table clothes, bread and olives on the table and a Spanish owner to greet you. With a lively and buzzing atmosphere, sitting shoulder to shoulder with your fellow diners, you feel like you’re on holiday here. Top Tip: Book in advance!
Tapas Hove
The bill of fare at Market Restaurant in Hove and Kitchen Bar is a mixture of supplier driven and inspired tapas and small plates ideal for sharing, aptly presented on the menu under headings ‘Fishmonger’, ‘Butcher’, ‘Greengrocer’ and so on. Their menu includes delights such as; Scallop Carpaccio, Citrus, Rapeseed & Winkle from the Fishmonger, then from the Butcher there’s Beef Cheek, Red Cabbage, Celeriac & Truffle, or from the Greengrocer the Wild Mushroom, Lord of the Hundreds and Hazelnut which sounds tempting!
LatinoAmerica, Hove, was the first Argentinian restaurant to open in East Sussex. The cuisine of South America has strong influences from Italy and Spain. So here you’ll find a good selection of Spanish dishes given the Latin treatment at this popular steak restaurant. Look out for the likes of tender grilled Iberian pork shoulder and criolla sausage and chorizo. All accompanied by a glass of something special from their extensive wine list, all of which are from South America, where many a traditionally Spanish grape has generated new fervour.
The Paris Wine Bar in Hove serves modern British tapas. The menu changes seasonally and generally runs to around 20 plus dishes with daily changing specials. Around three dishes per person is a good rule of thumb. Popular dishes include the 14 day braised pork in a barbeque sauce and the rack of lamb with lentils and savoy cabbage. Drinks-wise they have an extensive quality wine list with many available by the glass, as well as a good selection of beers, spirits and a cocktail menu featuring classics and house signatures.
Q
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A
For traditional authentic tapas in Brighton head to New Road to Tinto Taperia located below the incredible Bar Valentino.Tapas favourites include Pollo al ajillo, albondigas and patatas bravas and you will find a good selection of meat, fish and veg tapas dishes. The award winning vegetarian restaurant Terre á Terre offers Terre á Tapas. Sample dishes include Kentucky Fried Cauliflower, Hushpuppy Plumpkin, and Charred Aubergine Zhuganoush for £23.50 per person.
You can learn to make tapas at Brighton Cookery School. On given dates of the month you can learn to cook Spanish inspired dishes such as Patatas Bravas, Albondigas and Calamares with garlic and saffron mayonnaise.
