A tiny, warmly atmospheric Richmond tapas bar with excellent repeat-visit feedback, strong drinks and generally good food, but book ahead and approach the most expensive sharing boards cautiously.
Number 29 Tapas Bar delivers solid food quality anchored by standout dishes like meatballs, prawns, and the aubergine bake, paired with attentive service that keeps diners engaged. The rustic, intimate setting with its distinctive snug corner creates genuine local appeal, though occasional consistency dips and space comfort concerns prevent a higher grade. Strong repeat-visitor loyalty reflects dependable execution across the core tapas experience.
Number 29 is a genuinely tiny Richmond stop: cosy, quirky and often busy enough that the bar becomes the backup plan. Reviewers describe a warm, lively room, friendly staff and a drinks list that gives the place a distinctive pub-meets-tapas personality; the window seats are a particular local favourite. One representative experience is a pre-theatre pint followed by hot tapas and well-kept ale, while repeat visitors return whenever they are in town. The cooking is best understood as accessible Spanish-style sharing food with a few British and Mediterranean detours, rather than a strict regional showcase. Meatballs, garlic mushrooms, haggis in creamy sauce, prawns, Canarian potatoes and the aubergine bake attract the most affection. Most diners find the food delicious and reliable, but two detailed critics found the sharing board poor value and some dishes bland or insufficiently fresh. Choose individual tapas if you want to control both quality and spend. Families can manage here, especially with the vegetarian board, houmous, bread, potatoes, mushrooms, peppers and cheese-topped bake offering approachable choices. However, this is a small, intimate bar rather than a spacious family restaurant, and there is no dedicated children's menu in the supplied information. Dogs were welcomed by at least one daytime reviewer, though seating rules should be confirmed on arrival.
Area vibe: Historic market town hub with independent shops, cafes, and tourist footfall.
Safety: Generally safe with good evening lighting, though quieter late at night outside peak tourist season.
What's nearby: Near Richmond Castle, cobbled High Street, local shops, pubs, and bus links to surrounding villages.
Start with the praised meatballs, garlic mushrooms, prawns, or Canarian potatoes, but think twice before committing to a sharing board.
Book ahead and budget carefully, because the tiny room fills quickly and some portions and sharing boards may not feel generous for the price.
Vegetarian and vegan diners have several dedicated tapas, while gluten-free choices include Greek salad and olives with feta.