The Best Tapas In Manchester UK

Searching for the sunshine in Manchester? Head to one of the city’s excellent Spanish restaurants to sample their delicious tapas menus, sip a glass of Sangria and pretend you’re on the Costa del Sol. Even if the weather is miserable, you can’t help but imagine you’re on the continent when eating authentic Spanish grub. Here are the six best places to eat tapas in Manchester.

1. Evuna, Northern Quarter

Bar, Restaurant, Tapas, Spanish, Vegetarian, Seafood

Although there’s also a branch on Deansgate, we recommend visiting the Evuna in the heart of the Northern Quarter. Showcasing something a little different to the rest of the cuisine available in the hipster hub, Evuna offers a variety of traditional tapas dishes boasting a variety of meat, seafood and vegetarian dishes. Selecting which dishes to sample can get pricy, but there are two different banquet options available for groups. They also offer a comprehensive selection of Spanish wines.

2. El Gato Negro, City Centre

Restaurant, Tapas, Spanish, Seafood

This outstanding Spanish restaurant opened last year to critical acclaim, relocating from its original home in Ripponden. Both the bar or restaurant menu offer a diverse range of traditional Spanish dishes with the choice of a variety of smaller plates designed to be shared or larger main courses. If it’s tapas you’re after, the bar menu offers everything from charcuteries to patatas bravas, but for a special occasion why not consider sharing a selection of larger seafood dishes from the main menu. Accompany your meal with a glass of sherry or cava from the diverse drinks menu.

3. La Bandera, City Centre

Restaurant, Spanish, Contemporary

This discreet restaurant may not look as impressive as the other big hitters in the city centre, but its authentic menu has certainly caught the eye of Manchester’s resident Spanish footballers. The tapas menu is just the right length, offering a variety of options without becoming overwhelming and with several ‘dish of the day’ options providing variety for future visits. A large proportion of the menu is reserved for seafood options such as prawns, squid and octopus, making this the ideal option for seafood lovers.

5. El Rincon De Rafa, Deansgate

Bar, Restaurant, Tapas, Spanish

It may be tucked away down a steep staircase on a small side street, but El Rincon is many Mancunian’s best kept secret. This authentic Spanish tapas bar is cavern-like, opening up underground to a large bustling room that serves delicious tapas and copious amounts of wine. Frequent visitors flock here for the paella and the seafood, but there’s a varied menu of other options to choose from. They also often show Spanish football matches, if that’s your thing.

6. Bar San Juan, Chorlton

Restaurant, Bar, Spanish, Tapas, Mediterranean, Vegetarian

One of the most authentic tapas bars in Manchester, Bar San Juan may only be small but it definitely packs a punch. Located on the bustling Beech Road in Chorlton, you may have to wait a while to grab a table as this popular tapas bar is always busy and doesn’t take bookings, but it is well worth the wait. The tapas is affordable, delicious and varied, offering tastes from all across Spain. On sunny days, there’s nowhere better to sit than at one of San Juan’s outdoor tables, sipping a pint of San Miguel and feasting on tapas.

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