Tapas in Edinburgh, the way we eat it at home

Tapas Tres, also known as Tapas3, is a small, independent Spanish restaurant run by a family. We opened on Howden Street in October 2019, ten minutes’ walk from Queen’s Hall and the Festival Theatre, with one aim that has not changed: to cook the food of Spain properly and serve it with the warmth you would get at home.

The cooking takes from different regions of Spain, and everything is homemade. The carrilleras are slow-cooked with ñora gravy, the croquetas are rolled by hand, and the bravas are cooked three times before they meet the sauce.

How to eat tapas

Tapas are not starters, and nobody gets a plate of their own. The dishes go in the middle of the table and everyone helps themselves. Three or four plates per person is about right. Start with something to pick at while you choose, mix the cold and the hot, the meat, the fish and the vegetables, and if the table is still hungry, order another round. It is the easiest way to try half the menu in one evening.

Not sure where to begin? This is a round we would put down for two people, straight from the full menu.

Paella on Sundays, flamenco now and then

Some Sundays belong to paella. It is cooked for two, started when you order it and brought to the table in the pan. It is not every week, so follow us on Instagram to hear about the next one.

From time to time the room makes space for a flamenco night or a tasting. Those go up on Instagram first, too.

For a birthday, a team dinner or a family get-together, we have a separate room for up to 30 seated or 50 standing: see private dining. Eating meat-free? We keep the vegetarian tapas and vegan tapas on their own pages, and the rest of your questions are probably in our FAQ.