Sizzling tapas, bold flavours, and a touch of flamenco flair — Spanish cuisine brings the fiesta to Hong Kong’s food scene. While “Spanish cuisine” is an umbrella term for multiple cuisines in the Mediterranean region, one of the most common international imports are tapas which embody the communal spirit of Spanish food culture, where the dining table is a focal point of chatting and sharing food. From traditional dishes like paella and simply dressed sharing dishes of seafood and cured meats to inventive fusion fare, here we’ll whisk you away on a tantalizing tour of our favourite tapas bars and Spanish eateries in Hong Kong.
22 Ships — Central
This Spanish restaurant that has been on Hong Kong’s wine-and-dine scene since 2012 recently moved to a new location in the bustling PMQ, but its name still pays homage to its original Wan Chai address. Helmed by Madrid-born chef Antonio Oviedo, the 22 Ships menu still has the same same quality tapas and social drinks that put it on the city’s culinary map, along with some new sharing dishes that diners can enjoy in their three dining areas and outdoor terraces. Their star dish is the Marmitako, a modern Spanish mackerel dish inspired by a traditional Basque fish stew. And the good news is that they now take reservations and accept walk-ins at their casual Bodega table.
Price range: $$$$
Signature dish: Marmitako
Location: S109-S113, Block A, PMQ, Central
Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook | +852 2555 0722
Bàrbar — Wan Chai
Bàrbar is a casual Spanish wine and tapas bar. Under the direction of the same minds that birthed Pica Pica, it boasts the most extensive selection of Spanish wines by the glass in Hong Kong. The name comes from the combination of open kitchen tapas bar and intimate four-seater wine bar, where diners can appreciate the communal spirit of Spanish food culture with a theatrical touch. Bàrbar features a Josper grill, a grill-oven invented in Barcelona that reaches exceptionally high temperatures, forming a delightful crust on meat and seafood while retaining the natural juices.
Price range: $$$
Signature dish: Black Seafood Paella
Location: 9 Ship Street, Wanchai, Hong Kong, Wan Chai
Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook | +852 2810 0008
Pica Pica — Sheung Wan
Watch the trams chug past Pica Pica from its buzzy location right beside the historic Western Market. The convivial atmosphere in this modern Spanish eatery and relatively lower prices compared to other Spanish restaurants on Hong Kong Island make reservations absolutely necessary (that is, if you want a table; seats at the kitchen counter or bar are by walk-in only). Pica was awarded the “Restaurants from Spain Certification” which honours international restaurants with authentic Spanish produce and cuisine. The Black Paella with squid ink (from HK$120) and the braised beef cheek in the form of succulent Carrilleras (HK$168) are must-tries.
Price range: $$$
Signature dish: Carrilleras
Location: G/F, Shop G & H Kai Tak Commercial Building, 317-321 Des Voeux Rd Central, Sheung Wan
Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook | +852 2811 9880
Nuevo Tapas Bar — Central
What do you get when you pair a cocktail lounge with a fusion tapas bar? Nuevo, a restobar located in Lan Kwai Fong, showcases regional Spanish cuisine with some Asian twists in such dishes as the Pan Fried Crab cake with Sea Urchin Sauce. Traditional tapas such as the Spanish Tomato Bread and Padron Peppers are also done well. Given the location in the bar district, you couldn’t really leave without trying one of the tipples — among their signature cocktails (named after gemstones), the gin-based Amber is a great option.
Price range: $$$
Signature dish: Pan Fried Crab cake with Sea Urchin Sauce
Location: G/F, Winner Building Block B, 8-16 Wing Wah Lane, Central
Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook | +852 9080 5271
The Optimist — Wan Chai
For an authentic Northern Spanish dining experience in a sophisticated setting, put The Optimist in your calendar. Formed by coasts, the North of Spain is known for its love of incorporating octopus and pintxos (snacks held together with toothpicks). The three-storey asador (restaurant specialising in roasted meats) is decorated so you feel like you’re in a trendy bar in Barcelona. Besides the main plates of traditional charcoal grilled picaña, pluma, and garden vegetables (HK$145 onwards), the Spanish Charcuterie (HK$270) packed with four types of meats along with manchego cheese, olives and pickles is an editor favourite. On the tapas side of things, the Broken Eggs (priced from HK$140) is also receommended.
Price range: $$$
Signature dish: Spanish Charcuterie
Location: 39 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai
Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook | +852 2433 3324
Rústico — Lai Chi Kok
One of the rare destinations to savour Spanish cuisine in Kowloon, Rústico is a cosy hideaway in Lai Chi Kok offering Catalan cuisine amidst rustic interiors. The Catalonia community of 7.5 million in Spain has a distinct culinary tradition which stands out for utilising ingredients sourced from the Mediterranean coast, with standout dishes such as tomato bread and arròs negre with black-coloured rice cooked in seafood broth. Rústico’s repertoire of dry-aged meats, tapas, and slow-cooked proteins are far from what you’d expect to find in this area. Menu highlights include Piquillo Peppers Stuffed with Codfish (HK$148), callos (HK$158), a beef tripe and chickpea stew, and of course, paellas of the seafood and land-roaming variety.
Price range: $$$
Signature dish: Collos con Garbanzos al Estilo Tradicional
Location: Shop G01, G/F, D2 Place One, 9 Cheung Yee Street, Lai Chi Kok
Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook | +852 2743 4511
Olé Spanish Restaurant — Central
Spanish native Carmelo Lopez has brought a touch of his upbringing to Central’s Ice Street. Open since 1998, Olé has the ambiance of a family-owned restaurant and the service and food of a fine dining restaurant. On offer are all the classic tapas you would expect, as well as what is likely the most extensive paella menu in the city (all of which are baked on a stone oven). As far as mains, the suckling pig prepared and served in the Segovian manner (HK$850 for half pig), is absolutely stand-out. The nightly live guitar music is a nice touch for special occasions.
Price range: $$$$
Signature dish: Slow Roasted Suckling Pig in the Segovia Way
Location: 1/F, Shun Ho Tower, 24-30 Ice House Street, Central
Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook | +852 2523 8624
Quiero Más — Central
From the F&B group behind hugely successful Indian restaurant Gaylord is Quiero Más, a ‘Mod-Med’ or Modern Mediterranean restaurant. Chef Alex Fargas, previously of Michelin-starred restaurants in his home country of Spain before leading La Paloma as chef-owner, takes a little bit of Italy, a little bit of Greece, and a lot of Spain to put together an unapologetic menu of Spanish dishes made with Southern European ingredients. The contemporary 3,000 square foot space is separated into a classy dining room and cocktail lounge. With the awesome cityviews you’d expect from the 20th floor setting, the offerings of weekend brunch and extensive drinks menu make this an excellent weekend hangout. Expect to pay around HK$400-600 per person.
Price range: $$$$
Signature dish: Paella Barcelona
Location: 20/F, MM8 Tower, 2-8 Wellington Street, Central
Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook | +852 2383 0268
La Barra Tapas — Cheung Sha Wan
Recently opened in 2022, La Barra Tapas is a Spanish tapas restaurant in the unassuming neighbourhood of Cheung Sha Wan. With a robust menu of classic tapas, paellas, and grilled meats and seafood, this restaurant seating just around 20 is our number one recommendation for a cost-effective tapas restaurant in Hong Kong. In particular, we recommend the Fideuà De Pescado (HK$168), a dish which is similar to paella but made with short pasta noodles instead of rice. The churros served with dreamy melted dark chocolate sauce and vanilla ice cream (HK$78) are the perfect way to end a meal at this local gem.
Price range: $$$
Signature dish: Fideuà De Pescado
Location: Shop A, 512, 518 Fuk Wing Street, Cheung Sha Wan
Contact: Instagram | Facebook | +852 4625 7950
Calle Ocho — Causeway Bay
Meaning ‘Eighth Street’ as a reference to the eatery’s address, Calle Ocho should be your go-to Causeway Bay spot for not only delicious Spanish fare (Charcuterie, sharing plates, paella — they have it all) and some of the best examples of Spanish wines, but just fantastic decoration. The two-storey restaurant located beside the northwest corner of Victoria Park is modelled after Los Austrias, the oldest neighbourhood in Madrid housing 16th and 17th century buildings. If you’re visiting for the first time, the Zarzuela Seafood Stew (HK$330) and Squid a la Plancha (HK$170) are must-tries.
Price range: $$$
Signature dish: Zarzuela Seafood Stew
Location: Fashion Walk, 8 Cleveland Street, Causeway Bay
Contact: Website| Instagram | Facebook | +852 2638 8895
El Cid Spanish Restaurant — Tsim Sha Tsui
El Cid is a stylish wine bar and Spanish tapas restaurant located on Tsim Sha Tsui’s dynamic Knutsford Terrace, serving a delightful array of tapas (with a great selection of vegetarian tapas), refreshing soups, paellas (the Meat Paella of your choice with half of a roast chicken (HK$400) is a nice departure from seafood-focused paellas), and comforting Spanish mains. Established in 1992, the dimly-lit and intimate setting is perfect for a romantic evening with a glass of vino Español. As far as pricepoint, you can expect to pay HK$600 per person for dinner.
Price range: $$$$
Signature dish: Meat Paella
Location: G/F, 14 Knutsford Terrace, Tsim Sha Tsui
Contact: Website | Facebook | +852 2312 1898
El Vaso de Oro — Sheung Wan
Inspired by the legendary Barcelona bar, El Vaso de Oro located in the budding neighbourhood of PoHo offers a wonderfully authentic Spanish experience. The menu features classic Spanish dishes like Pickled Mussels (HK$78) and Cured Cheese marinated in excellent olive oil (HK$88). (Fun fact: Spain is the largest producer of olive oil worldwide!) El Vaso de Oro is a small space with almost exclusively bar seating. This bustling spot is ideal for a casual night out with friends, soaking in the atmosphere reminiscent of a night in Spain’s lively streets. Expect to pay up to HK$300 per person.
Price range: $$$
Signature dish: Arroz Caldoso de Estofado de Buey
Location: 44 Sai Street, Sheung Wan
Contact: Instagram | +852 2506 2518 or WhatsApp +852 5993 5958
La Paloma — Sai Ying Pun
La Paloma opened in 2015 and is headed by Alex Fargas, who brings his extensive expertise from his time at the Hofmann Hospitality School, and stints at restaurants in native Spain, Beijing, Dubai. After heading Fofo by el Willy in Hong Kong, Fargas decided to open his own restaurant in the 852, which specialises in traditional cooking, though you will find some innovative twists on classics on the La Paloma menu as well. The infinitely Instagrammable Hamburguesa de Rubia Gallega — mini burgers packed with dry-aged Iberian Rubia Gallega beef — immediately comes to mind. If you’re in the SYP neighbourhood, try their lunch set starting at HK$198 that allows you to choose two tapas, a main and tea or coffee, with the option of adding a starter and dessert. Their weekend brunch menu (HK$298 per person) has an all-you-can-eat paella in squid ink, seafood, chicken, pork, and vegetarian options— perfect for cheat day!
Price range: $$$
Signature dish: Hamburguesa de Rubia Gallega
Location: 1/F, 189 Queen’s Road West, Sai Ying Pun
Contact: Website|Instagram | Facebook | +852 2291 6161
Dale Candela — Lamma Island
This friendly-neighbourhood Spanish restaurant has been around since 2017, and serves up yummy dishes like Sobrassada (HK$90), a raw cured sausage from the Balearic Islands, and Patatas Brava (HK$50). When in Lamma, you have to try seafood, and you can’t go wrong with Dale Candela’s Galician-Style Octopus (HK$185). You’ll also find dishes from other cuisines, like the Peruvian Yellow Fin Tiradito (HK$150) and Moroccan-Style Chicken Skewers with Couscuos (HK$120). Don’t forget to check out their extensive drinks menu!
Price range: $$
Signature dish: Galician-Style Octopus
Location: 23 Yung Shue Wan, Lamma Island
Contact: Instagram | Facebook | +852 9831 4074
Tapa Room — Causeway Bay, Kwun Tong
Looking for a place to catch up with friends after work? Head to Tapa Room, which serves tapas and pintxos — small snacks usually had as an appetiser with drinks. The menu has a range of dishes featuring favourites such as broken egg, jamon Iberico, and patron peppers. But we highly recommend the Mojito Lamb Pintxos (HK$118) — a feast for the eyes as much as it is for the tastebuds, and the Octopus Carpaccio (HK$118). If you prefer a night in, you can also place a takeaway order on their website.
Price range: $$$
Signature dish: Mojito Lamb Pintxos
Location: Shop B, G/F, Jet Foil Mansion, 415-421 Jaffe Road (Causeway Bay) | Shop G02, G/F, Manulife Place, 348 Kwun Tong Road (Kwun Tong)
Contact: Website |Instagram | Facebook | +852 2881 8877 (Causeway Bay) | +852 2866 7755 (Kwun Tong)
Cuecha — Central
This trendy restaurant is named after Madrid’s city centre district, home to most of the Spanish capital’s tapas bars and restaurants. So it’s hardly surprising that its menu captures the essence of Spain’s after-hours scene. The menu, curated by chef Jordi Vallés Claverol, features Spanish Nibbles like the Ibérico Ham Croquettes (HK$70 for 2 pieces) and the Sobrasada Bikini (HK$130) — spread chorizo and cheese in a butter toasted sandwich with truffle honey, as well as Hearty Classics like the Spinach Canélon (HK$170) — a decadent mix of spinach and manchego cheese in a pasta roll and fan favourite Broken Eggs (HK$140). If you want a little something of everything, we suggest the tasting menu (HK$580).
Price range: $$$
Signature dish: Spinach Canélon
Location: 8-10 Gough Street, Central
Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook | +852 2703 0810
Want to explore all the cuisines that Hong Kong has to offer? Read our guides about:
- Best Cantonese restaurants in Hong Kong
- Best Thai restaurants in Hong Kong
- Best Japanese restaurants in Hong Kong
- Best Korean BBQ restaurants in Hong Kong
- Best Italian restaurants in Hong Kong
- Best Burger restaurants in Hong Kong
Which are the best Spanish restaurants in Hong Kong?
The best Spanish restaurants in Hong Kong are 22 Ships, Pica Pica, and Olé Spanish Restaurant.
Which Spanish restaurants serve paella?
Most Spanish restaurants serve paella, but the most innovative versions are at La Paloma, Bàrbar, and Quiero Más.
Where can I find the best tapas in Hong Kong?
Several Spanish restaurants in Hong Kong serve tapas. Tapa Room has tapas and pintxos on their menu, Nuevo Tapas has a wide variety of traditional and Asian-inspired tapas, and La Barras Tapas serves wallet-friendly tapas.
Header image credits: rfranca via Canva