A cosy, lively Spanish tapas restaurant with excellent paella, croquetas and hospitality for most diners, though occasional reports of uneven dishes, bill handling and value warrant sensible expectations.
ViDa by Lorentes delivers solid food quality anchored by standout paella and fresh tapas, supported by attentive service that consistently impresses diners. The atmospheric basement setting in Lace Market works particularly well for pre-show dining and special occasions. What keeps it from the very top tier is occasional inconsistency in execution and a space that, while charming, doesn't quite reach destination-level appeal.
ViDa by Lorentes is a tucked-away Spanish restaurant in a cosy basement near Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena. The atmosphere is warm and increasingly lively as the room fills, with reviewers describing the descent downstairs as a little trip to Spain; service is usually personal, friendly and well paced. It is an especially natural fit for pre-show meals, celebrations and groups happy to share. The kitchen focuses on recognisable Spanish cooking rather than experimental fine dining: tapas, cured ham, croquetas, tortilla, seafood and several paellas. Paella, honey-glazed chorizo, croquetas, patatas bravas and the tenderstem with romesco are the recurring crowd-pleasers, while the current menu gives vegetarians and vegans more choice than the meat-heavy sections initially suggest. A few diners have encountered bland, salty or overcooked dishes, so the very high praise should be balanced against some historical inconsistency. Families can make it work, particularly by sharing familiar items such as patatas bravas, croquetas, tortilla, chicken-and-chorizo, plain rice-based paella or churros. There is no children’s menu shown, and the tapas format requires choosing several plates, so picky eaters may need advance planning; the comfortable, informal atmosphere and vegetable options nevertheless make it more family-suitable than a formal destination restaurant.
Area vibe: Busy university and retail-focused city centre with historic sites and nightlife.
Safety: Generally safe with good foot traffic in evenings though pockets around nightlife can be rowdy late at night.
What's nearby: Close to the Lace Market, Nottingham Playhouse, tram stops, bars, and clustered restaurants on Stoney Street and surrounding lanes.
Crowd-pleasing tapas include honey-glazed chorizo, croquetas and patatas bravas, while the paellas make the meal more substantial.
Plan around a 20-35 minute paella wait and a lively basement atmosphere, while keeping in mind that value and service can be uneven.
Descending into the cosy basement feels like a small trip to Spain, with the room growing livelier as dinner progresses.