Paris has some really good Spanish restaurants and our roundup has the lowdown on where to find the best spots! Our inside guide has spots that have been tried and tested and features only restaurants that we genuinely like. So read on and discover the best eating spots serving up genuine Spanish food in the capital.
Spanish food is awesome and one of my personal favourite cuisines. From Madrid, to the Balearic Islands and to Saint-Sebastian, I’ve been lucky enough to enjoy some incredible Spanish regional cuisine. It’s always a highlight of going on holiday to Spain, eating incredible, cheap tapas made by passionate chefs.
If you’re in Paris and are looking for some great Spanish food then read on. But if you’re looking for “French Tapas” then check out out Tapas Paris guide. This guide covers our favourite spots to try ‘tapassiettes – a blend of words meaning small sharing plates.
Where to find the best Spanish food in Paris
There’s a surprising amount of really good restaurants in Paris serving up quality food inspired from regional Spanish cuisine. Absent from many social media apps, these restaurants are hard to find amongst a myriad of particularly average dining spots. Our list has our favourite, tried and tested restaurants with awesome Spanish food. Listed in no particular order.
Les Caves Saint Gilles
Les Caves Saint Gilles is a great all day tapas bar located on the East side of Le Marais. Serving food non-stop every day of the week, it’s a reliable spot to get a drink and some food when exploring the Marais.
Their food revolves around the classics – croquettas (chorizo, salted cod, chicken, beef versions), tortilla, padron peppers and of course fried calamari. Their croquettas are genuinely good – I’d go as far as saying better than most than I’ve tried in Spain. They’re served with caramelised onions seasoned with a hefty dose of sherry vinegar – delicious. On the drinks side they’ve got a white and cava based sangria and a small selection of Spanish beers.
What to know before you visit
- Open every day from midday to midnight
- Food served non-stop all day
- You’ll need to reserve for dinner at weekends
Address: 4 Rue Saint-Gilles, 75003
Tel: 01 48 87 22 62
Website: https://www.cavessaintgilles.com
Galerna
Over in the 20th arrondissement near the Gambetta metro station lies a cracking Spanish & Mexican influenced restaurant. I first discovered Galerna when I moved to the area and it did not disappoint. Their super high-tech yet small kitchen has a view into the intimate, minimal dining space and in the summer, they have a small terrace outside.
During weeknights they offer a menu of classic and Spanish tapas (small to medium sharing plates) with some South American (predominately Mexican) influences. The wine list is awesome and has some cracking bottles of natural wine from across Spain. Note that this really isn’t a casual tapas bar to grab a small plate with a glass of wine.
What to know before you visit
- Closed on weekends
- Open for lunch and dinner
- Tapas are served for dinner only
- You can reserve online
Address: 7 Rue du Cher, 75020
Tel: 09 81 29 27 12
Website: https://www.galerna.fr
La Penela
La Penela is an awesome Spanish restaurant specialising in Galician cuisine in the 9th arrondissement. Originally started in Galicia, the brand now has restaurants across Spain in Madrid and Barcelona and they’ve imported their concept into Paris.
The food, as you would imagine, focuses a lot on fish and seafood of which Galician cuisine is known for. Clams, octopus, razor clams are cooked simply with a focus on the quality of the ingredients. It’s a smart, higher end restaurant with prices to match (unfortunately!). Worth a visit for a special occasion if you want to enjoy some quality Galician food.
What to know before you visit
- Closed on Mondays
- Open for lunch and dinner
- You can reserve online
Address: 7 Rue de la Boule Rouge, 75009
Tel: 09 73 89 08 63
Website: https://www.lapenela.com/fr/paris-fr/
La Noceria
Bang in the centre of Paris near the Sentier metro and the bustling rue Montorgueil lies a super Basque style tapas restaurant – La Noceria. The inside of the restaurant is very inviting with warm lighting combined with green accented walls, it makes for a very intimate and friendly atmosphere.
Their menu is split into group of sharing plates with mains, platters and Pintxos. The sharing plates include the classics (croquetas, padron peppers and tortilla) alongside more larger plates that can be ordered as mains (sous vide octopus, Côte de Boeuf and Secreto Iberico). The platters include cheese and Spanish charcuterie and are perfect for apéro for a large group. Finally their Pintxos (Basque tapas) are really good and they have a decent selection.
What to know before you visit
- Open every day until 2am (midnight on Sundays and Mondays)
- You can reserve online
Address: 58 Rue d’Aboukir, 75002
Tel: 01 53 40 81 67
Website: https://www.lanoceria.com/en/
Amagat
Behind the Père Lachaise cemetery in a tiny secluded street you’ll find Amagat – a great modern Spanish dining spot. Sister restaurant to Caché (featured in our Best Italian Restaurants Paris guide), they’ve got the same laid back, effortlessly cool approach to the interior decoration in the warm dining space.
Their menu doesn’t stray too far from the classic tapas that you would find in Spain. There are small modern twists such as their croquettas which are spiced up with jalapeños and a good dose of cheese. Padron peppers are fried and well done and their tortilla are made with piquillo peppers – a nice touch. The added addition of their indoor BBQ really gives a great touch to their limited grilled meat and fish on offer.
What to know before you visit
- Closed Mondays and Tuesdays
- Only open for dinner
- You can reserve online – you’ll need to reserve in advance for weekends
Address: 23 Villa Riberolle, 75020
Tel: 06 19 37 71 31
Website: https://www.amagatparis.fr/en/
A Nosa Casa Galicia
At the very northern tip of the city, just above Montmartre, is a tiny, authentic Galician tapas bar. It is, admittedly, a bit far out from the centre but if you’re visiting the majestic Sacre-Cœur, it’s only a 20 minute walk away. Once you arrive to the modest bar (which is only open on weekends), you’ll be greeted by a friendly atmosphere in a simple, small bar space.
The menu is as authentic as it gets and probably one of the cheapest Spanish tapas menus in the city. There are all the classics and lots of great Galician specialities such as octopus (Polbo á feira) and fried small fish. Genuinely a great spot if you fancy simple, unfussy food in friendly and local atmosphere.
What to know before you visit
- Only open Friday – Sunday
Address: 91 Rue du Ruisseau, 75018
Tel: 01 83 96 42 08
Bodega Potxolo
Specialising in Basque Country style tapas, Bodega Potxolo is an awesome tapas bar in the 11th district. Located on the rue de la Forge Royale just next to A La Banane Ivoirienne and the Red House. The super relaxed atmosphere is very reminiscent of the awesome Pintxos bars in Saint Sebastian and the owner is super friendly.
The food is great and relatively well priced (standard prices for Paris). You’ll get a generous portion of fried Padron peppers for €9 and a melty Tortilla for €8. Their roasted red peppers are must try if you and perfect with their house Sangria. The only downside is that the only open at 7pm so don’t expect late afternoon drinks and food.
What to know before you visit
- Closed Sundays and Mondays
- Only open for dinner
- You can reserve online
Address: 7 Rue de la Forge Royale, 75011
Tel: 01 43 72 24 60
Website: https://bodegapotxolo.fr/en/
