Finding this hidden delight came down to a turn of the head. Wandering down to the Young Vic theatre from Blackfriars bridge I saw an obscure street on my left and then spotted Mar Terra, a traditional Spanish tapas restaurant and bar, beaming like a beacon of light at the end of an ally. To stick around in such difficult-to-find surroundings is a testament to its success.
There are plenty of Spanish tapas places in London but they can often be overpriced or poor quality. Mar Terra has a delicious range of authentic tapas made with the freshest ingredients. The décor is unpretentious, with just a few images of pretty Spanish destinations, staff are very attentive and prices are reasonable.
If it’s busy, it’s nice to sit at the broad wooden bar and sip on a sangria before being seated. And the building has a past. It was originally called the ‘Hop Pole’, built in the mid 19th century for the Southern Railway Company and was a pub before it became Mar Terra in 2000.
Details about this spot (Show on map)
Mar Terra | Restaurants (Spanish) | Tortilla £ 3.70
14 Gambia Street | Central | +442079287628
Mon – Fri 12:00 – 23:00 (cold food only 15:00 – 18:00), Sat 17:00 – 23:00
I've been looking for a decent tapas bar in London and this one sounds promising
