Barrafina Adelaide Street

Barrafina Adelaide Street sits a short walk from Trafalgar Square, its curve-fronted corner site wrapped in windows that pull daylight across a sandy, horseshoe-shaped marble counter. Diners perch on burgundy stools around the counter while chefs work the open kitchen at its centre, plating Spanish tapas to order. It is one of five London Barrafinas and among the more spacious, keeping the group's counter-first format while giving it room to breathe.

The kitchen sends out a daily-changing menu of Spanish small plates, from tortilla and charcuterie to the day's fish and seafood, matched to a Spanish wine list. The counter takes reservations for smaller groups and walk-ins alongside them, so the room holds an easy, sociable buzz through service.

For private events the restaurant has a dedicated private dining room with its own open kitchen, seating between eight and thirty guests or holding up to fifty for a standing reception. Framed by deep red drapes under a domed ceiling, it suits a seated lunch, a milestone dinner or a standing reception.