Combining traditional Spanish food with an authentic atmosphere, this is almost as good as being in Spain.

The Venue
A two-minute stroll from Putney mainline station, Destino is an unlikely looking place. It appears to be very small for a start – and its nearest neighbours seem to be mostly estate agents. Once inside, however, there are two floors (ground and basement) with plenty of small tables, a lot of customers (most of them regulars) and incredibly friendly and cheerful staff.

The Atmosphere
A perfect mix of relaxed and formal, Destino manages to deliver a proper taste of Spain. The interior has a fairly contemporary and airy feel that you wouldn’t expect from the outside - but the real key to this restaurants success is the exceptionally friendly staff and the very Spanish welcome.

The Food
In two words, pretty amazing. On top of an impressive selection of authentic Spanish main courses, there is a tapas selection that goes far beyond the usual pub options. This is about more than fried squid and Spanish ham (although these are on there too) – here you’ll find an excellent choice of creative meat, fish and vegetable dishes too. The garlic prawns seem to have both more garlic and more prawn than elsewhere. While the pork dish literally melts in your mouth (according to the staff this is due to the cut – but the hours of preparation and cooking must surely have a lot to do with it too). And to wash it all down, there’s a cheese plate that will suit every palette – including smoked, strong or mild Spanish cheeses. This is all delivered the Spanish way – as it’s ready, making it even more tempting to keep adding to your order.

The Drink
The small wine selection has some lovely bottles on it – including a great rioja, along with all the usual spirits, soft drinks and, of course, coffee.

The Last Word
This is somewhere to make your regular, regardless of where you live in the capital.

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