Harden's survey result
Summary
This veteran (est. 1994) tapas bar (in a side street near Piccadilly and Green Park) has long been a top pick for a jolly and affordable meal in Mayfair. The cooking is mostly “good” (if not at the gourmet end of the spectrum), and “it’s great for business lunches”. The pirate himself, Johnny Depp, is among the many famous faces that have passed through its doors over the years.
Summary
This “bustling” spot, tucked away in a Mayfair side street near Piccadilly and Green Park, is a “perennial favourite” (“great for a gossipy catch-up!”) on account of its “fun, welcoming” atmosphere and prices that are notably kind for the area. Over its three decades it has attracted a long list of swashbuckling guests, ranging from Johnny Depp to Fred Sirieix.
Summary
A “buzzy” atmosphere and “decent wine list” are strengths of this “reliable, traditional Spanish tapas bar”; and prices that represent “great value for Mayfair” have helped sustain the jolly venue from its founding decades before the current vogue for Hispanic cuisine. Notable fans include Fred Sirieix and Caribbean pirate Johnny Depp.
Summary
This old-school tapas bar tucked away in Mayfair boasts an “interesting wine list, attentive staff and fun atmosphere”. There’s a “good selection of dishes – nothing spectacular, but a pretty decent effort across hot and cold tapas”. It’s “not particularly cheap” by most standards, but in this part of London prices are often astronomical. The most famous pirate of modern times, Johnny Depp, has apparently swung by for a tapa or two.
For 34 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at El Pirata?
5-6 Down St, London, W1J 7AQ
Restaurant details
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £35.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £5.00 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Service | 13.50% |
5-6 Down St, London, W1J 7AQ
Opening hours
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | 12 pm‑10:45 pm |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑10:45 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑10:45 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑10:45 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑10:45 pm |
| Sunday | CLOSED |
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