Cigala (Bar, Restaurant)

Top 10 things you need to know about Cigala:

1) You can’t resist Spanish food. It brings back memories of much-loved summer holidays, so it’s the perfect excuse to head to Lambs Conduit Street for a little taste of sunshine (without needing a plane ticket).

2) From Monday through to Friday, Cigala attracts a sophisticated crowd. Expect to find this little Spanish restaurant buzzing with long business lunches and professional after-work dinners during the week.

3) Looking for a cheap bite to eat come the weekend? You’re in luck. The London restaurant is at its quietest on Saturday and Sunday, and offers an irresistibly well-priced set menu – ker-ching!

4) For a truly authentic experience, do as the Spanish do: start your evening with a glass of bubbly cava and a bowl of fresh olives, before searching the frequently-changing menu for your tapas fix.

5) There are no specialities here; Cigala promises that every dish on the menu will impress. Not least because many of the traditional ingredients have been specially sourced by owner, Jake Hodges (co-founder of Moro on Exmouth Market) during his regular trips to Valencia.

6) After much drool-inducing deliberation, pick a variety of small plates from the huge tapas selection; the fiesta has begun! Make sure to order the calamares a la plancha, but scoff this one as soon as it lands – it tastes best straight from the grill.

7) Oh, your glass is empty. Better splash the cash on a bottle from the extensive wine list, or if you’re feeling exotic, sample one of the Spanish cocktails. Jake’s Gin Jigger packs a spirit-infused punch!

8) Make time to sample Cigala’s showstopper paella. Go for the classic chicken and chorizo version, which arrives in a steaming dish of Mediterranean-flavoured dreams. Although, it doesn’t have the traditional crisped bottom which you so longed for during the 30-minute wait.

9) Follow this with a scrumptious Spanish dessert. Why? Because you’ve already locked eyes with the ridiculously sinful chocolate and almond tart from across the room, and a serious case of FOMO is about to set in. 3, 2, 1…

10) Time to settle the bill. Your three-course meal doesn’t come cheap, but you depart this charming Bloomsbury spot feeling content and dreaming of your next visit to the sunny climes of Spain. ...read more