Elena, from Santander and her team bring you the authentic informal dining of her home area to Glasgow. Choose from our extensive range of portiones (larger than typical UK "tapas") from 3.00 upwards to steak and fantastic paellas. Washed down with carefully selected Spanish wines and beers. Fabulous food and service We were in two minds in dining here based on comments we'd read about poor service and value for money.
But boy are we glad we went anyway. Food was fab the garlic prawns and asparagus where esp fab. 3 dishes each was plenty, I'd say the portions are larger than most Spanish tapas bars. My favourite spot Elena's is great! The atmosphere is fun and inviting but the food is the highlight. My personal favourite dishes are the padron peppers, Garlic and chilli prawns, patatas ali oli, .
But boy are we glad we went anyway. Food was fab the garlic prawns and asparagus where esp fab. 3 dishes each was plenty, I'd say the portions are larger than most Spanish tapas bars. My favourite spot Elena's is great! The atmosphere is fun and inviting but the food is the highlight. My personal favourite dishes are the padron peppers, Garlic and chilli prawns, patatas ali oli, .
Services
Elena's Spanish Bar & Restaurant is one of Glasgow's most exciting authentic Northern Spanish dining venues. Multi-award winning for our Cuisine & Customer Service, we look forward to welcoming you to Elena's where your host, Elena from Santander, and her team will share their passion for authentic Spanish food & drink.
Our extensive menu reflects the wide-ranging cuisine of Cantabria and neighbouring regions of Spain. My hometown of Santander on the Atlantic coast is famous for seafood and here we use Scottish catch in the same way. Scottish beef, pork and lamb we also prepare in our own way. Indulge yourself with one of our scrumptious desserts; real cheesecake, crema Catalana or one of our homemade ice-creams.
I VISITED Elena's on a clammy, rainy, slightly mysterious evening, and felt as if I'd stepped onto the set of a Pedro Almodovar film; Volver, perhaps. The cast - co-proprietors and miscellaneous guests - was already assembled, an animated collection of larger-than-like characters volubly debating big themes of life.
Elena's Spanish Bar & Restaurant is the ideal place to dine and park ahead of your next gig or event at Glasgow's SSE Hydro. We're just a 20 minute walk from the SSE Hydro, Scottish Exhibition & Conference Centre and the Armadillo. Parking can be notoriously hard to come by when you're heading to Glasgow's main event arena, so next time why not park near to Elena's as weekend and evening on street parking is not busy and, even better, it's free!
Reviews (17)
Ana Castano
Jan 21, 2022
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Philip McCluskey
Dec 30, 2021
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We had a great couple of hours at Elena’s today. Service from Andrea was efficient and friendly- as ever. The chilli and tomato sauce with the mussels lifted our spirits on a wet and miserable day.
It’s just such a nice place to sit and chat and the music is different, and all the better for it.
I don’t know of another restaurant in Glasgow that is so friendly and has such great food at a perfectly reasonable price.
Long May it continue!
Phil and Jenny xx
It’s just such a nice place to sit and chat and the music is different, and all the better for it.
I don’t know of another restaurant in Glasgow that is so friendly and has such great food at a perfectly reasonable price.
Long May it continue!
Phil and Jenny xx
Dave Stirling
Dec 29, 2021
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Julie Ross
Nov 21, 2021
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Joe Zhou
Nov 11, 2021
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I have been dining here for a few years now. The food was always very authentic and exceptionally tasty. You can tell that the ingredients are fresh, particularly the seafood dishes - absolutely my favourite! They also have good Spanish wine and cocktails. My favourite restaurant in West end! Cheers guys. 👍☑️👌
Bek Paradzik
Oct 14, 2021
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While the food was tasty, unfortunately the experience was really ruined by fruit flies floating around us all night... Extremely unsanitary and honestly just annoying. One floated into my fiancé's beer and they didn't even replace or comp it. Three stars since the food was good, but I think we are being generous considering how uncomfortable the dining experience was.
Ceitidh Thomson
Oct 10, 2021
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Janette Swanson
Aug 29, 2021
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Truly authentic Spanish food. Everything is made fresh even the ice creams. We chose 2 dishes each some olives and bread and we enjoyed every one. We couldn't pick a favourite. We were given a free tapas which… was a lovely touch. We also tasted a selection of deserts which were fantastic. The service was friendly also. We will return. Highly recommended
Colin Barron
Aug 20, 2021
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Paul Mitchell
Aug 20, 2021
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Rosheen Turner
Aug 07, 2021
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So me and my sister were so excited to try elenas and we were very disappointed.At first on arrival we sat down in the corner of the restaurant, the waitress took our order and was lovely we ordered a coke and a special cocktail. they came at different times receiving one half of the order then the next however the cocktail was lovely. While we were drinking the cocktail we received what I think was potato salad we had no idea as the waiter just placed it down and walked away. During ordering we notice that customers are beginning to leave which leaves just us in the restaurant and a few people
Mark Halliwell
Jul 24, 2021
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I visited this restaurant today for lunch.
Seems all trace and trace and social distancing in place, all staff were wearing masks.
Were given a table outside, service was a bit slow.. but to be fair the restaurant was busy, one of our drinks was forgotten and the staff had to be reminded.
Food did not come out all at once, so we were unable to share and enjoy... which was a shame... as the food was great, hot and enjoyable.
Everywhere seemed clean and tidy, staff were friendly and polite.... would I recommend, yes 100%, will I be revisiting... again yes 100%.
Seems all trace and trace and social distancing in place, all staff were wearing masks.
Were given a table outside, service was a bit slow.. but to be fair the restaurant was busy, one of our drinks was forgotten and the staff had to be reminded.
Food did not come out all at once, so we were unable to share and enjoy... which was a shame... as the food was great, hot and enjoyable.
Everywhere seemed clean and tidy, staff were friendly and polite.... would I recommend, yes 100%, will I be revisiting... again yes 100%.
Felicity
Aug 08, 2019
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I liked everything here. Service was available but unobtrusive and tactful. A complimentary tapas is included and changes daily. The raciónes offered here are larger than tapas. I asked about the dishes from the north and heard the 'Rabas' are Calamari with onions. The adobitos which I think was lightly battered pieces of hake tasted fresh and light. Apparently it's a southern dish. The grilled vegetables were artistically presented. I liked it here enough to stay for pudding. The crema catalana was light and fluffy and I left completely full. Decor here is light, airy and relaxed, neither rustic
David Buchanan
Oct 03, 2018
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Great little spot, service is friendly enough. Bit dated inside and could do with a good scrub and or a lick of paint.
Food selection was very reasonable.
Garlic prawns and bravas good. Bread fresh and tasty, deep fried pork belly was ok.
Not too sure how authentic everthing was as we only had a small meal.
Good selection of wines by the glass too.
Would recommend for sure.
Food selection was very reasonable.
Garlic prawns and bravas good. Bread fresh and tasty, deep fried pork belly was ok.
Not too sure how authentic everthing was as we only had a small meal.
Good selection of wines by the glass too.
Would recommend for sure.
Erika D.
Oct 07, 2016
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Went for dinner with some friends a few months ago, but the experience was not great, even though i have read some good reviews about the place.
The interior is really nice and elegant, with a big bar as well were you can sit and have a drink. There are two rooms, one as soon as you enter in the restaurant with the bar, and then a smaller one just few steps down near the kitchen.
We were a big group of about 10 people, so they accommodated us in the smaller room, joining 3 table - quite of an issue, but we finally manage to sit down. They came and take our drink orders and then we got some time
The interior is really nice and elegant, with a big bar as well were you can sit and have a drink. There are two rooms, one as soon as you enter in the restaurant with the bar, and then a smaller one just few steps down near the kitchen.
We were a big group of about 10 people, so they accommodated us in the smaller room, joining 3 table - quite of an issue, but we finally manage to sit down. They came and take our drink orders and then we got some time
Briony C.
Jul 26, 2016
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Replacing the Grumpy Goat, Elena's seemed to pop up really quickly - it's because not much has changed inside apart from some Spanish flags and a bull design on one on the walls. We decided to pop in for a quick lunch on a Sunday and sat in the main bar area which I prefer to the dining space downstairs which can be a little dark.
They have a set menu for £10 where you get three tapas dishes and dessert or coffee which I think is pretty reasonable. We each ordered our dishes to share - I got the patatas bravas, pork loin and blue cheese croquettes, Graeme ordered ham croquettes, chorizo
They have a set menu for £10 where you get three tapas dishes and dessert or coffee which I think is pretty reasonable. We each ordered our dishes to share - I got the patatas bravas, pork loin and blue cheese croquettes, Graeme ordered ham croquettes, chorizo
Leah M.
Jul 05, 2016
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