5 Best Spanish Restaurants in Singapore for Tapas and More

Written by Sarah Ong | June 26, 2024

Image: Esquina

1. Binomio

Image: Binomio

Best for

• Authentic paella
• Business meals

Prices

S$100++ per pax

Address

20 Craig Road
#01-02 Craig Place
Singapore 089692

Phone

+65 6557 0547

Opening hours

Mon to Fri 12:00 - 14:00, 18:00 – 22:30
Sat 18:00 – 22:30

Website

Binomio

Want to know how the real Spanish food looks and tastes like? Head to Binomio for a mind-blowing culinary experience. Serving authentic Spanish cuisine, Binomio is one of the best Spanish restaurants in Singapore.

True to its name (meaning duo in Spanish), it brings together two concepts in one restaurant – a tapas bar in front and fine dining at the back. Intrigued?

Highlights:

An interesting blend of casual tapas bar and fine dining restaurant: This unique two-in-one combination is a total knock-out. Both sections have their own dazzling menus. If you want to sample a bit of everything, sit at the tapas bar in front. Want a more formal dining experience? Head to the elegant dining room at the back. And nothing can prevent you from enjoying both places in one visit.
Tapas bar with varieties of scrumptious Spanish bites: Binomio’s tapas bar is really popular among trendy people for its lively atmosphere and fabulous variety of appetizers. There are more than 30 delicious tapas dishes on offer. While they are equally good, the mushroom croquettes are a true standout.
Authentic paella at its finest: When it comes to paella, Binomio gives you a real taste without flying to Spain. Try the classical chicken and seafood paella or the famous squid ink paella with clams and calamari. Delicious, moist, and fragrant.
Set lunch menu at S$47 is a good value for money: An ideal place for business lunches where an elegant setting and good service complement the food perfectly. At this price, you will have a three-course meal (starter, main, and dessert) with coffee or tea. And those items are some of the beautiful ones you can see on its a la carte menus.

MENU:

The tapas counter menu has stunning selections of

Iberian Cold cuts & Cheese (S$8-S$45)
Tapas (S$8-S$24)
Desserts (S$12-S$18)

The fine dining menu is split into

Iberian Cold Cut & Spanish Cheese (S$8-S$45)
Tapas (S$27-S$45)
Paellas (S$68-S$76)
Main Courses (S$42-S$136)

The lunch set menu features a decent selection of

Starters (S$16)
Mains (S$24)
Desserts (S$7)

ATMOSPHERE: The casual tapas bar, with 20 seats, is a great setting to chill out with friends. The formal but warm and elegant fine dining area is there for enjoying a lavish Spanish spread.

2. Esquina

Image: Esquine

Best for

The finest tapas

Prices

S$75++ per pax

Address

16 Jiak Chuan Road, Singapore 089267

Phone

+65 6222 1616

Opening hours

Tue to Sat lunch 12:00 - 14:30
Tue to Thu dinner 18:00 - 22:30
Fri & Sat dinner 18:00 - 23:00

Website

Esquina

If you judge a Spanish restaurant by your tapas dining experience, then Esquina could be considered one of the best Spanish restaurants in Singapore.

Founded by Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton, Esquina is known for its upmarket version of a tapas bar, which combines modern Iberian-inspired dishes with Asian spices, accompanied by a good selection of wines.

Highlights:

Haute-cuisine tapas: At Esquina, the tapas look exceptionally creative with the way the chefs have prepared them. You can clearly see the high level of cooking done to those bite-size tapas dishes, and this alone is the remarkable highlight that sets Esquina apart from other tapas bars in the country.
Bespoke set lunch and dinner menus: As Esquina does have a variety of dinner and lunch set menus, you will have lots of options to explore. In fact, you could have a taste of certain dishes that are not available on a la carte or other pre-fixed menus. For example, a bunch of canapes is only made ready upon the arrival of supperclub diners. With this, you could say that each menu at Esquina is custom-made in accordance with the appetite of its customers.
Watch the chefs in action: Marvel at the chefs and cooks from the open-kitchen bar as they work wonders on your food. At the bar, there is enough space between the chefs and the diners to encourage interaction and camaraderie, especially if ever you are curious to know their secrets to make exceptional tapas dishes. The chefs would also cater to special requests like creating a vegetarian version of the Spanish breakfast.
Private, quiet, and elegant dining room upstairs: Esquina 2.0, that is. Located upstairs of the restaurant, you can get a hold of this lovely place and try its bespoke tasting menus by reserving a private dinner. It is capable of seating 25 persons and is arranged with a long dining table, which definitely calls for a cozy feast.

MENU: Esquina features a small seasonal menu with a selection of

snacks (over 10 options) – S$7 to S$22
from soil – S$16 to S$20
from sea – S$12 to S$45
from land – S$34 to S$108
and desserts – S$16 to S$18

RECOMMENDED DISHES

Iberico Pork & Foie Gras Burger
George Bank Seared Scallops with Duck Green Curry
Ox Cheek and Tongue
Confit Squid and Chorizo Paella
Roasted Landes Duck Breast
Basil Sorbet with Black Pepper Meringue

AMBIANCE: Nestled at the corner of a quaint neighborhood in Chinatown, Esquina has a historic vibe to it. Inside is a narrow array of bar tools right in front of an open kitchen where guests can have traditional tapas style of eating. Two main chefs are spearheading the front whom you could have a meaningful discussion about food with. As Esquina is a small tapas bar, fast-paced moments tend to get very rowdy but perhaps dining upstairs might provide a more private space.

3. FOC

Image: FOC

Best for

Catalonian-inspired food

Prices

S$75++ per pax

Address

40 HongKong Street
Singapore 059679

Phone

+65 6100 4040

Opening hours

Tue to Sat 12:00 - 23:59
Sun 18:00 - 23:59

Website

FOC

FOC is a buzzing, open-kitchen-style Spanish restaurant serving food inspired by Barcelona. Although FOC is known for its high-quality and innovative food, it’s equally famous for its cocktails, making it a complete dining experience that satisfies one’s taste buds and leaves them craving for more.

Highlights:

A conceptual restaurant, the brainchild of Michelin Star Chef: FOC started in 2014 when Michelin Star Chef Nandu Jubany combined forces with local fans of Spanish, particularly, Barcelonian food.
Open kitchen and bar for an immersive dining experience: The restaurant’s lively open kitchen and bar create a vibrant, buzzing atmosphere that enthralls diners. You can see the chefs putting in the work and cooking dishes right in front of you.
Eclectic dishes with innovative, picture-worthy plating: The restaurant boasts a diverse menu with creative dishes plated gorgeously with incredible attention to detail. They serve some of the best-looking tapas you’ll find anywhere. Every plate is super Instagrammable!
Designer cocktails celebrating Catalonian produce: Tapas are incomplete without drinks and FOC does it right. To complement its Catalonian-inspired dishes, it provides special house blends using the same flavors as the produce from the Spanish region. It’s also a celebration of the cocktail culture of Barcelona.

MENU:

The a la carte menu features tapas, farm-fresh veggies, seafood, meat, paellas with rice, cheese, and desserts.
A special tasting menu is also available for dinner on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
The bar menu includes cocktails with special house blends and a wide selection of vodka, gin, whiskey, rum, beers, and wines from Spain and other parts of the world.

MUST-TRIES:

Blue Belly Shrimp Crispy Tacos
Smoked Cantabrico Anchovies on Charcoal Brioche
Ibérico Ham
Josper-Grilled Leek
Charcoal-Grilled Octopus & Pork Jowl with Jerusalem Artichokes
Roasted Baby Lamb Shoulder
Basque Cheesecake

PRICES:

Tapas/Starters: S$9 to S$30
Vegetarian: S$14 to S$20
Meat: S$20 to S$34
Paellas & Rice: S$38
Desserts: S$12 to S$28
Cocktails: S$20 to S$25

AMBIENCE: FOC has a very casual environment where their motto, ‘Fine Fun Food,’ reflects in their ambiance. It has a modern feel with wooden furnishing and hints of Spanish heritage with Cabezudos-like ceiling lights and decorations. The restaurant has a bustling atmosphere with chefs and bartenders working side-by-side.

4. Pura Brasa

Image: Pura Brasa

Best for

Grilled Spanish-inspired dishes

Prices

S$65

Address

5 Wallich Street
#01-16 Guoco Tower
Singapore 078883

Phone

+65 6386 9678

Opening hours

Daily 12:00 - 23:00

Website

Pura Brasa

Pura Brasa, a renowned restaurant chain from Spain, was brought to life by the professional charcoal oven brand, Josper. Its Singapore location at Guoco Tower marks the brand’s first venture outside of Spain, offering an exquisite selection of tapas and grilled Spanish-inspired dishes to fans of Spanish cuisine.

Highlights:

Grilled cooking at its finest with Josper technology: Pura Brasa has a menu focused on grilled food. From the classic Spanish suckling pig to the all too ubiquitous hamburgers, many items on the menu are fired by Josper ovens, rendering great flavor and succulent texture.
Some of the best Spanish Tapas in town: Pura Brasa does tapas right, offering both classic and modern choices for guests to share and enjoy with drinks. There’s a lot of grilling involved for tapas, from grilled chicken wings to asparagus.
Main course for sharing, including slow-cooked and grilled pork ribs: The sharing at Pura Brasa continues after tapas, as guests can also share the hearty portions of some of the mains. The sharing mains include the signature Spanish suckling pig, Wagyu Tomahawk steak, and Spanish pork ribs (slow-cooked first for 20 hours, then grilled in Josper oven).

MENU: Pura Brasa’s menu offers several food categories, including tapas, paellas, salads, meats, hamburgers, fish, pasta, and pizza. They also serve cocktails and Spanish beers that go well with all the grilled food.

MUST-TRIES:

Patatas “Bravas” sauce
Grilled Mussels
Charcoal Seafood Paella
Spanish Style Assortment Cheeses
Grilled Octopus Leg with Potato Truffle Purree
Josper Grilled Chicken
Spanish Suckling Pig
Spanish Pork Ribs

PRICES:

Tapas: S$9 to S$25
Salads: S$15 to S$23
Mains: S$25 to S$70
Meats: S$20 to S$50
Hamburgers: S$24 to S$26
Paellas: S$36 to S$60
Seafood: S$26 to S$36

AMBIENCE: Pura Brasa is located in the vibrant and historic Tanjong Pagar. The restaurant provides both indoor and outdoor dining options, accommodating over 100 diners. With a casual and relaxed atmosphere, the decor and furnishings embrace the restaurant’s Spanish roots. You’ll find high wooden chairs, brick walls, and a bull statue at the entrance, giving you a clear idea of what to expect at this establishment.

5. Olivia Restaurant & Lounge

Image: Olivia Restaurant & Lounge

Loved for

Contemporary Spanish

Prices

S$90++ per pax

Address

55 Keong Saik Road
#01-#03
Singapore 089158

Phone

+65 6221 0522

Opening hours

Tue to Thu 12:00 - 14:00, 18:00 - 22:30
Fri to Sat 12:00 - 14:30, 18:00 - 22:30

Website

Olivia Restaurant & Lounge

Olivia Restaurant & Lounge is owned and run by award-winning chef Alain Devahive. The restaurant brings the flavors and essence of Barcelona, with a menu deeply influenced by Catalan and Mediterranean cuisines. The chef and proprietor have poured decades of culinary experience into the menu, creating complex flavors using classic ingredients.

Highlights:

Contemporary Spanish dishes with flair: Chef Alain takes Spanish classics to the next level using his gastronomic knowledge and experience. He carefully designed the menu to accommodate various flavor palettes and dietary needs. There is a decent amount of vegetarian/vegan dishes to choose from.
Off-menu items for those who want to experiment: While the food choices at this eatery are quite diverse, the actual variety exceeds the paper menu. You can also enjoy dishes from their secret menu that are often daring and experimental. These dishes may just be the perfect choice for adventurous foodies.
Meat lover’s heaven with exquisite beef and pork dishes: If you’re a beef or pork aficionado, you’ll love the menu at this restaurant. From Iberico ham dry-aged for 48 months to Angus beef tenderloin steak tartare, there are plenty of options using premium-quality red meat.

MENU:

The food menu offers appetizers to start with and then two main course lists. It’s essentially an a la carte menu with three-course suggestions.
There’s also a set brunch menu with appetizers, a choice of main dishes, a choice of Sunday dishes, and a choice of dessert. You can also add free-flowing champagne or wine.
The wine menu boasts a large selection of wines sourced mainly from Spain and France.
The drinks menu offers plenty of choices for those in the mood for cocktails or spirits.

MUST-TRIES:

Spherical Olives
Jamon Iberico de Belotta
Lobster-Avacado
Tenderloin Steak Tartare with Smoked Caviar
Black Rice with Carabineros
Iberico Suckling Pig
Secreto Iberico Pork
Olivia’s Creamy Homemade Cheesecake

PRICES:

Starters: S$1.5 to S$22
Mains: S$23 to S$98
Desserts: S$15 to S$36
Wine: Glasses from S$19/Bottles from S$110
Cocktails from S$25

AMBIENCE: Olivia Restaurant & Lounge has been designed by Lázaro Rosa-Violán of Lázaro Rosa-Violán Studio in Barcelona. The interior is bright yet calm, complete with beautiful decor and hints of Mediterranean, like wicker chairs and cool oceanic color accents. The look and feel of the restaurant are further bolstered with the cool tunes by Dj Null.