THE BEST PAELLA IN LONDON – MADE THE AUTHENTIC SPANISH WAY
At El Pirata, there is nothing more central to what we do. We have been serving traditional Spanish paella in Mayfair since 1994. Both dishes are prepared fresh to order, using short-grain Arroz Bomba rice, Spanish saffron and the highest quality ingredients. Please allow 15 minutes. That is how long a real paella takes.
Our Paella – Valenciana and Marinera
Paella Valenciana – £41 for two
The original. Classic Spanish rice with free-range chicken, cooked with saffron and prepared in the traditional Valencian style. Dry, loose, deeply flavoured, this is paella as it should be; a centrepiece dish, not a side note.
Paella Marinera – £51 for two
Our showstopper. King prawns, mussels, squid and clams, slow-cooked with saffron rice until every grain carries the flavour of the sea. The most ordered dish at El Pirata for a reason. If you visit once, this is what you share.
Both paellas are available across our full menu – including as an add-on to our Express Lunch and as part of our Saturday Lunch and Evening sharing menus. For group bookings and private dining, paella can be incorporated into bespoke party menus – contact dine@elpirata.co.uk for details.
PAELLA IN MAYFAIR – 32 YEARS OF GETTING IT RIGHT
World Paella Day – celebrated on 20 September each year in Valencia – brings together chefs from across the globe to compete for the prestige of making the definitive paella. The requirements are clear: the rice must be dry, loose, whole and full of flavour. No shortcuts. No substitutes. At El Pirata, we have been meeting that standard for over 30 years. We cook our paella to order, every time. We do not reheat and do not rush.
Why the Rice Matters
The rice most commonly recommended for authentic paella is Arroz Bomba, native to the Valencia region – it absorbs liquid while remaining firm and separate. Other short-grain varieties like Calasparra can be used with excellent results. What cannot be used, and what is a reliable indicator of a kitchen that does not take paella seriously, is long-grain rice. It is not absorbent enough and the result is nothing like the real thing. At El Pirata, we have never cut that corner.
RICE WORK, IF YOU CAN GET IT LONDON MAYFAIR TAPAS BAR
And if you’ve ever been served a paella made with long grain rice, you will know that it really doesn’t work: long grain rice simply isn’t absorbent enough, and somebody should have a quiet word with the chef.
Paella Near Green Park | El Pirata of Mayfair, Down Street
If you are looking for where to eat paella in London, El Pirata is at 5–6 Down Street, Mayfair – a 5-minute walk from Green Park Station (Jubilee, Piccadilly and Victoria Lines) and equally close to Hyde Park Corner Station (Piccadilly Line). We are open Tuesday to Saturday, 12pm to 10:45pm.
Paella Valenciana and Paella Marinera have both been on our menu since we opened in 1994. In a city where restaurants come and go within months, that consistency means something. We are not a restaurant that discovered paella recently. We are one that has been making it properly for three decades. Find out more about paella in London.
Book your table online or call us on 020 7491 3810.
