El Pirata is a Spanish tapas restaurant on Down Street in Mayfair, open since 1994.
About El Pirata
Located on Down Street since 1994, El Pirata is a Spanish tapas restaurant with a Madrileño soul and thirty years of history behind it. Hand-carved Jamón Ibérico, homemade croquetas, paella made from scratch, and a wine list built over three decades. Proudly independent, warmly run, and still exactly what it was the day it opened.
The Express Lunch is two or three tapas chosen from a list of thirteen, served with bread and alioli. Padrón peppers from Galicia, triple-cooked patatas bravas, tortilla with caramelised onion and croquetas of Iberian ham share the list with gambas al pil-pil in olive oil, garlic and dried chilli, chorizo cooked in cider, fried aubergine with honey and blue cheese, and meatballs in tomato sauce over potato purée.
A glass of beer, Sauvignon Blanc or Tempranillo can be added for £5, and churros con chocolate caliente for £7.50.
On the El Pirata set menu
From the Express Lunch menu we hold, read from El Pirata’s own menu. Dishes change with the seasons, so treat these as the shape of it rather than a promise.
Tapas (choose two or three)
- Pimientos de Padrón, small green peppers from Galicia
- Patatas bravas, triple-cooked potatoes with brava sauce and garlic alioli
- Tortilla Española, Spanish omelette with potatoes and caramelised onion
- Champiñones al ajillo, mushrooms with garlic, chilli and breadcrumbs
- Chorizo a la sidra, Spanish sausage cooked in cider with onions
- Pollo al ajillo, pan-fried chicken with white wine, garlic and chilli
- Coliflor asada con romesco y almendras, roasted cauliflower with romesco and hazelnuts
- Croquetas de jamón, Iberian ham croquettes
- Boquerones en vinagre, anchovies in vinegar
- Berenjena frita con miel y queso azul, fried aubergine with honey and blue cheese
- Mini bun chorizo y huevo, chorizo and quail egg mini bun
- Gambas al pil-pil, prawns in olive oil, garlic and dried hot chilli peppers
- Albóndigas en salsa de tomate con parmentier de patata, meatballs in tomato sauce with potato purée
Nearest stations to El Pirata
- Green Park 5 min walk
- Hyde Park Corner 5 min walk
Where is El Pirata
- Tue–Sat
- 12pm–10.30pm
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FAQ
How much is the set menu at El Pirata?
The set menu at El Pirata is £17.50-£23.50 for 2-3 courses. The price is the same on every day the set menu is served (Tue–Fri), and it is set by El Pirata directly, not by All Set.
When is the El Pirata set menu served?
El Pirata serves its set menu lunch, between 12pm to 4pm. The set menu runs on the following days: Tue–Fri.
Is the El Pirata set menu the same food as the à la carte?
Yes. The El Pirata set menu comes from the same kitchen as the à la carte, using the same ingredients. The set menu offers a tighter selection, typically 2-3 courses, at a flat price.
How do I book the set menu at El Pirata?
Book directly with El Pirata via the "Book a table" button above (it links to El Pirata's own reservation system). On All Set, every booking is direct with the restaurant, and All Set takes no commission.
Last updated: 17 September 2026