From seared cod cheeks in beloved neighbourhood haunts to Butifarra sausage in opulent urban eateries, here are some of the best tapas restaurants to check out in and around Manchester.
Serving seasonally influenced dishes until late, the Manchester branch of the multiple award-winning El Gato Negro adds a modern flourish to classic tapas delicacies with locally sourced ingredients in a refined yet urbane atmosphere.
Winners of countless accolades, including a Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand for seven years in a row, El Gato continues to delight tapas enthusiasts and first-time diners alike with dishes like harissa-spiced chicken thighs, chargrilled octopus and 36-month-aged Jamón Iberico Bellota, as well as a selection of sprawling charcuterie boards and perfectly paired wine options.
One of the city centre’s true hidden gems, family-run El Rincon de Rafa – known simply as ‘Rafa’s’ to its countless die-hard patrons – has spent thirty years serving phenomenally affordable tapas in its achingly traditional hideout, where guests enjoy piles of langoustines, albondigas and croquetas amidst walls of framed football shirts and family portraits.
Nestled in the kink of a backstreet behind Deansgate’s Milton Hall, Rafa’s offers quintessential Spanish social dining at unbeatable prices, with a draught beer line-up to match.
The multi-award-winning La Bandera embodies a bold new era of Spanish culinary excellence with a raft of expertly curated dishes from right across the country, including Pisto con Huevo – a native twist on ratatouille – Canarian red pepper chicken, twice-cooked octopus, Rioja chorizo and more.
Billed as a little corner of Spain in the heart of Chorlton, Beech Road’s deliriously popular Bar San Juan celebrates the lesser-known delights of authentic tapas with a divine array of dishes including fresh chorizo cooked in Galician cider, salt and pepper cod cheeks, roasted pulled lamb leg and wagyu black pudding. You can even grab a one-litre carafe of their homemade sangria to take home.
Situated on Ancoats’ coolest quadrangle, El Gato’s well-established younger sibling utilises the best in both local and continental produce to deliver a delectable Mediterranean-inspired medley featuring salt cod fritters, Gambas Pil Pil, braised ox cheek, mushroom croquetas and much, much more.
Running Tue – Thu all day, Fridays from 12pm – 5pm, and Saturdays 12pm – 4pm, you can enjoy three highlighted dishes for just £20.
Serving North Manchester’s best tapas to fanfare audible from the city centre, revered Whitefield bistro Campo Blanco rivals all the stalwarts and heavy-hitters with a sumptuous small plates menu featuring salt-aged pork, sea bass asturiano, chilli chicken, goat’s cheese bon bons and three-bean quesadillas fritas, served alongside a meticulously chosen yet blissfully long wine list.
Born of passion, knowledge and a dedication to homely tradition, Porta captures the beauty in simplicity with a taut, proudly unpretentious menu featuring some of the best tapas dishes in the region.
Porta operates solely on a walk-in basis, so drop by to snag a table and enjoy flawlessly assembled dishes like Zamorano cheese with quince, air-dried beef Cecina with pickled chillies, Andalusian fried squid and confit rabbit.
While there’s plenty to shout about when it comes to Maricarmen, its wonderful vermouths being one, it’s largely the team’s interactive and lively El Tableo service that leads many to flock to both its original Ancoats and more recently opened Northern Quarter restaurants. Available all day in the NQ and during select hours in Ancoats, varying plates of tapas are brought out and presented to diners, each priced at £3.80, and you can pick and choose what takes your fancy as it comes and goes.
El Kabron is described as the ‘little rebel brother’ of La Bandera, having recently taken over the former Bowlers Cafe space in a prime spot just off Albert Square. Inspired by lively Basque taverns, this is a more casual affair than its older sibling. A big portion of the menu is devoted to pinxtos, traditional bar snacks usually served on skewers, and in true Spanish fashion, if you’re popping in for a drink, the team will serve you a free pinxto with each drink you order. El Kabron also shows La Liga games, which is a lovely touch.
- Words:
- Wolf McFarlane
- Published on:
- Thu 16 Apr 2026
With city centre restaurants in the Northern Quarter and on Deansgate alongside an outpost in Knutsford, renowned tapas joint and award-winning wine importer Evuna reimagines tradition with an exquisitely selected array of small plates charting Spain’s diverse gastronomic topography, from Pan Catalan to Calamares a la Andaluza.