Best Spanish Restaurants in Chelsea (10011)
6 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: January 2026
Our Top Pick
Salinas
High-volume, long-running Chelsea tapas house with a notably precise kitchen.
Notable Picks
#1
Salinas
8.8
A refined Chelsea standard for modern Spanish cooking, built around meticulous tapas and deeply flavored rice dishes. The room feels grown-up and quietly romantic, and the kitchen’s precision shows most in seafood, jamón-forward bites, and polished seasonal specials.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pulpo con cenizas, Croquetas cremosas, Paella valenciana
What makes it special: High-volume, long-running Chelsea tapas house with a notably precise kitchen.
#2
La Nacional
8.4
A living piece of Little Spain on West 14th, pairing clubby old-guard atmosphere with an ambitious, seafood-leaning menu. Expect classic Madrid and Galician comforts executed with care, plus a wine-and-sangría program that suits long, share-plate dinners.
Must-Try Dishes:
Croquetas caseras, Marisco paella, Tortilla española
What makes it special: Century-old Spanish social club restaurant anchoring Chelsea’s Little Spain legacy.
#3
Boqueria
8.2
A lively Barcelona-style tapas bar where shareable small plates and steady kitchen timing drive repeat visits. The menu hits crowd favorites—crispy potatoes, charred seafood, and house-style paellas—while the upbeat room makes it easy to settle into a long meal.
Must-Try Dishes:
Patatas bravas, Pulpo a la plancha, Paella de mariscos
What makes it special: High-energy tapas destination with strong multi-platform validation.
8.1
Paella-first Spanish cooking with a focused menu that rewards rice lovers. The dining room is warm and bustling, and dishes like smoky socarrat-crusted paellas and robust tapas land with dependable flavor.
Must-Try Dishes:
Paella negra, Gambas al ajillo, Bikini meloso (truffled ham-cheese sandwich)
What makes it special: Chelsea outpost dedicated to paella with reliably crisp socarrat.
Worthy Picks
#5
El Quijote
7.8
A revived Hotel Chelsea landmark that leans into old-world Spanish classics in a richly atmospheric setting. The kitchen stays traditional—think tapas, grilled meats, and paellas—while the bar program and historic décor elevate it into a destination experience.
Must-Try Dishes:
Jamón ibérico & pan con tomate, Croquetas de jamón, Paella mixta
What makes it special: Historic Chelsea Spanish dining room reborn inside Hotel Chelsea.
#6
Café Riazor
7.7
A decades-deep neighborhood Spanish café that keeps things straightforward: comforting Galician staples, generous portions, and a down-to-earth room. It’s the kind of place locals return to for reliable paella, grilled seafood, and unfussy tapas.
Must-Try Dishes:
Paella de la casa, Pulpo a la gallega, Empanada gallega
What makes it special: Long-running, low-fuss Chelsea Spanish spot with real local loyalty.