What’s a legacy? For some, it’s a name etched in history. For others, it’s a recipe passed down, a table set the same way for generations. But for chef Nieves Barragán Mohacho, it’s something she’s building step-by-step.
Today, the Spanish Michelin-starred chef adds a new chapter to London’s dining scene with ‘Legado,’ opening on August 28 in Shoreditch. This is her second venture with JKS Restaurants, but unlike her previous starred restaurant, Sabor, Legado is a more intimate and personal expression of her love for Spain, a cuisine that few outside its borders have the opportunity to experience.
For over two decades, Barragán has translated Spain’s energy from kitchens into Michelin stars – first rising through the ranks at Barrafina and earning her reputation with a star at Sabor. Now she turns inward, bringing to life the lesser-known regional dishes, producers, and culinary rituals that shaped her childhood. “Spain’s food heritage is incredible,” Barragán explains. “However, many dishes I love, I have never seen outside the country and want to bring them and even more to London.”
Legado invites you into its double-height dining room, where London Stock brick merges with sage-green tiles, and sunlight floods through high ceilings. You begin in the Taberna, a bright, welcoming bar and terrace built under a fluted arch that mimics Barcelona’s curves. Tapas, pintxos, and local wines flow into the show kitchen, where counter seating for 16 frames the ovens and the chefs behind them.
The room expands into the main dining area, its intimate nooks nestled within spaciousness and warmed by a double-height wine display and a steel balcony that winks to Bilbao’s industrial heritage. At the heart are two wood-fired ovens built by Hornos Jumaco Maestro, specially flown in from Madrid and crafted in situ. One roasts lechazo lamb from Zamora (IGP), while the other Tabladillo Segovian suckling pig. But each dish is an offering rooted in regional pride and family memory.
Supportive traditions are served everywhere, from Señorío de Montanera jamón Ibérico, a childhood favourite, to Crystal Mediterranean prawns with smoked paprika and Moscatel vinegar, and confit lobster crowned by a perfectly runny Spanish-style egg. Veg-led plates include the two-day Legado Sandwich, a chard, cecina, and smoked cheese assembly deep-fried in breadcrumbs – a fond memory from Barragán’s grandmother’s kitchen. Seasonal highlights like fideuà and apricot sorbet with rosemary-spiked almond milk round out the menu in thoughtful, joyous ways.
The drinks programme flips the script with the 3-Sip Serve: five tiny, ice-free cocktails drawn from Spanish fruits and vegetables, each in bespoke ceramic cups representing different regions. The wine list, holding 150 bins, honours both legends (a vertical of Muga’s Prado Enea, López de Heredia classics) and emerging voices (indigenous varietals, island reds, six gastronomic rosados). Sherry takes its place in the spotlight, with rare en rama selections and Almacenista exclusives from Bodegas Lustau, plus Cava, Corpinnat, Txakoli, and dry Palomino whites rounding out the offerings.
Barragán’s journey from Bilbao to London – where she arrived at 19 without English or French – sparked what would become a relentless love for ingredients and culture. Barrafina and Sabor were steps; Legado is the heart. It is the culmination of her memories, research, and relationships with producers like Señorío and small-scale fishers.
Reservations are open ahead of the opening, with priority access for subscribers to the Legado newsletter. Find out more here.
photography. courtesy of Sam Cornish (profile shots and food imagery), Milo Brown (interiors)
words. Gennaro Costanzo
