The 27th of March marks National Paella Day. In celebration of this delicious Spanish dish, discover the best spots to enjoy some succulent Spanish food.
The 27th of March marks National Paella Day, a day of celebration for the truly delicious Spanish dish. We’re big fans of the tasty rice-based meal, but where are the best spots in the UK to enjoy some succulent Spanish food like paella?
We’ve taken a look at the reviews for Spanish and tapas restaurants across the UK and Ireland, and identified some of the most popular spots for paella. We’ve revealed the top 10 based on their average ratings on Google Review, and their percentage of 5 star reviews and 4 star reviews on Tripadvisor.
Without further ado, online casino Betway put together recommendations for the best places to spend National Spanish Paella Day.
The most popular paella spots in the UK
The top spot for paella in the UK on our list is El Rincon in Bristol. Boasting an impressive 4.8 out of 5 average review on Google Reviews and plenty of positive feedback on TripAdvisor, if you’re in the Bristol area then El Rincon is the place to be. This charming Spanish bar on the thriving North Street in Southville is the oldest Spanish bar in Bristol, with a cosy atmosphere and regular live music to enjoy.
Second on our ranking is tapas3 in Edinburgh, the first of a few paella spots in the Scottish capital. This warm and unfussy tapas restaurant on Howden Street has an average Google rating of 4.7, and 90% of their TripAdvisor ratings are 5 stars. Tapas3 boasts a great range of tapas options, with imported Spanish craft beers on draught. And if you want to work up an appetite, then you can always try a flamenco dance class or workshop courtesy of Alba Flamenca.
Third on the list is Salt House Tapas in Liverpool, with an average Google Review rating of 4.6 and over 2,800 TripAdvisor reviews, with more than 80% of those being four or five-star reviews. This tapas restaurant is on Hanover Street in Liverpool, and is housed within the historic Church House, a beautifully refurbished Grade II listed building.
In fourth, we find another Scottish pick: Malaga Tapas in Glasgow, with an average 4.6 rating on Google Reviews and plenty of positive TripAdvisor reviews from happy customers, with over 76% five-star ratings. This family-run gem has expanded from their original location to three restaurants across Glasgow, in Pollokshields, Clarkston and Bearsden. This vibrant pick showcases the best in Spanish cuisine, and boasts a range of paellas, from a traditional Valencian-style dish to seafood or vegetarian options, alongside plenty of delicious tapas bites.
In fifth place is ViDa by Lorentes in Nottingham, which boasts a 4.7 average Google Review rating and overwhelmingly positive TripAdvisor reviews, with just shy of 86% of all reviewers granting this restaurant five stars. This traditional and authentic Spanish tapas joint can be found in a cosy dining room underground at Plumptre Street, in the heart of the Lace Market.
In sixth place, we find another Liverpool pick: La Finca Eivissa, a lively Spanish bar specialising in delicious tapas and cocktails on Back Colquitt Street. With an average Google Review rating of 4.6 and 88% of their TripAdvisor reviews rating them five stars, La Finca Eivissa brings a taste of the Ibizan life to Liverpool.
The seventh spot on our ranking goes to Rico Libre in Birmingham, which offers tasty tapas, with an average Google Review rating of 4.5 and 81% five-star ratings on TripAdvisor. This restaurant is located in Birmingham’s iconic Custard Factory, and it’s a must-visit for paella fans – in fact, every Thursday night is Paella Night, dedicated to the delicious dish from 5pm until late.
The last two paella picks on our list both hail from Edinburgh: La Casa and La Sal, both with positive reviews from plenty of happy tapas fans.
La Casa is run by a young family with a passion for delicious Mediterranean food, and as their name – ‘the house’ – suggests, their light and open restaurant on Dalry Road and in Leith feel as welcoming as a Spanish living room, complete with jazz nights on Mondays and a vibrant menu of mezze and tapas favourites.
La Sal is an exciting Spanish restaurant right in the heart of Edinburgh, just a few minutes from Waverly Station. Voted the best Mediterranean establishment in the Scotland Food Awards 2014, La Sal is a top spot for paella, with options including a seasonal vegetable option and a ‘de Carne’ dish with chicken and pork loin.
The top paella spots in Ireland
Of course, Ireland doesn’t have to miss out on the delicious delights of National Paella Day. According to our research, there are plenty of top spots for paella, which only just missed out on making our top ten.
First up is Las Tapas de Lola in Dublin, located on the buzzy Wexford Street, with an average Google rating of 4.6 and more than 80% of their reviews are glowing four and five stars. Say ‘sláinte’ with sangria – thanks to its Irish-Spanish co-owners, this tapas restaurant offers the best of both worlds, with plenty of typical Dublin fun to be had alongside delicious Spanish sharing dishes.
There’s also EDŌ Restaurant in Belfast, which earned a Bib Gourmand from the Michelin Guide in 2023. Offering a contemporary Spanish dining experience in the heart of Belfast, this iconic restaurant boasts an average Google Review rating of 4.6 and more than 80% four and five star reviews on TripAdvisor.
Fun facts about paella
· Originally, paella was a lunchtime meal for farm labourers, made with ingredients that could be found nearby in the field like tomatoes and onions. Every worker would bring their own wooden spoon, and the dish would be eaten straight from the pan.
· That pan is what gives the dish its name, too – ‘la paella’ is the name of the wide, shallow pan that paella is still traditionally cooked in.
· The undisputed home of Paella is Valencia in Eastern Spain, and a ‘Paella Valenciana’ differs slightly from the standard preparation of the dish, with traditional Valencian paella containing chicken, rabbit, and sometimes snails.
· The largest paella in the world was made by the Valencian company Galbis, taking 80 chefs and a 21-meter diameter pan. The huge paella fed 110,000 people in Moratalaz in Madrid – which broke the previous record set by the same group in 1992.
No matter whether you choose to head to one of the locations mentioned in on our list, cook a pan of paella at home, or support your favourite local Spanish restaurant, celebrate National Paella Day your way. And if you feel like all this talk of food has you hungry for a bet, then make sure you check out our sports betting options, and find more fun ideas and insights over on the Betway blog.
