Galicia

Walk into Galicia and you'll clock the buzzy, unfussy atmosphere straight away — this is the kind of place where locals pile in on a Friday night without fussing about reservations. The menu reads like someone's been to Spain and actually paid attention: patatas bravas that don't skimp on the aioli, jamón that melts on your tongue, and seafood done right rather than fussily plated. It's the sort of restaurant that proves Croydon's High Street has proper substance if you know where to look. You're here for honest cooking and good wine pours at reasonable prices, not Instagram moments.