Can it be nearly 10 years already since Barrafina first opened its doors.

Yes, it was January 2007 that this phenomenal homage to Barcelona’s Cal Pep beamed down into Soho. The brainchild of Sam and Eddie Hart, they had the advantage of heritage (their mother was born in Mallorca) in their search to bring some genuine Spanish verve to the then-prevailing dire state of UK tapas bars.

And now, as part of the continual destruction and creation of the London restaurant scene, as the Frith Street original closes – the victim of a decision to redevelop the site – a new branch opens, and it will now become necessary to queue up in a different place (just around the corner on Dean Street). The new version is slightly larger (now 29 seats) and now occupies much of the ground floor of Quo Vadis (also owned by the Harts).

The menu includes many of the old faves from the original site, and as a reporter in the latest 2017 survey comments: “everything is bloomin’ marvellous and fresh, but anything out of the sea most especially so.”

It opens today.

BARRAFINA
26-27 Dean Street
London W1D 4SL