Cigala

Cigala is a small neighbourhood Spanish restaurant found at 54 Lamb's Conduit Street in London’s Bloomsbury area. At such a location, Cigala is frequented by legal and publishing professionals. Celebrities are (not) spotted there having incognito drinks and tapas. Virginia Woolf and E. M. Forster would go there if they weren’t otherwise occupied. But why? Cigala isn’t flashy. And that’s it – Cigala discreetly offers some of the most authentic Spanish food around, made using the best ingredients, often imported directly from Spain. Then there’s the wine.

Cigala’s owner is also Cigala’s chef. Jake Hodges, formerly of Moro in Clerkenwell, has created a haven for lovers of authentic Spanish food and wine that is modest in manner. An unostentatious oasis in the heart of busy Bloomsbury, Cigala is a haven for the media types (and, yes, celebrities) who frequent the area. But don’t make the mistake of thinking that Cigala is exclusively for London’s elite. Far from it, Cigala’s affordable prices means that at 54 Lamb's Conduit Street, infamous tapas, paella and more are well within reach.

The incredibly well-researched, informative wine list is a strong contender for being the most extensive Spanish selection around Bloomsbury or indeed in London. At Cigala’a 54 Lamb's Conduit Street premises, lesser-known Spanish whites are lined up against the reds you’d expect – plus a handful you wouldn’t – and the list runs through to cava, sherries, rosado, brandies and liqueurs. Deserving of our thanks, Cigala has also efficiently whiled away the years developing an in-house list of Spanish cocktails, should the wine selection prove just too intimidating.