Tapas restaurants

El Olivo

4.6 134 reviews Closed 41 The Strand, Exmouth EX8 1AH, United Kingdom

Discover this place

El Olivo, a charming tapas restaurant located at 41 The Strand in Exmouth, has quickly become a local favorite since its inception. With its warm and inviting atmosphere, it’s no surprise that guests rave about their experiences here. The small, popular venue is often booked out, so reservations are highly recommended to secure a table.

Reviewers consistently highlight the exceptional service provided by Ian and the team, who make every diner feel like part of the family. The culinary offerings are a delightful blend of meat, fish, and vegetables, thoughtfully prepared in authentic tapas style. A standout element is the swift yet meticulous execution by the kitchen, praised by diners for delivering delicious dishes at an impressive pace.

For wine lovers, El Olivo’s selection, particularly the house wine from Navara, complements the meal beautifully. Diners such as Bobby and Andy have called it the best dining experience in Exmouth, emphasizing the breathtaking food and the overall enjoyable evenings spent there. Whether you’re a local or just passing through, El Olivo promises a memorable gastronomic adventure that is simply not to be missed.

Photos

Amenities & More

Service options

Dine-in
Delivery

Dining options

Dinner
Dessert
Seating

Amenities

Bar onsite
Restroom

Note: Amenity details are aggregated from verified visits, the venue's website and Google. They may change without notice. We recommend confirming key details (pet policy, accessibility, reservations) directly with El Olivo before visiting.

Reviews for El Olivo

4.6

134 reviews

100%

Review highlights

Based on 134 reviews

El Olivo in Exmouth is widely praised for its authentic Spanish tapas and inviting wine selection, particularly from Navarra. Guests appreciate the intimate and friendly atmosphere, often highlighting the warm, accommodating service even when arriving without a booking. The restaurant’s focus on a balanced menu featuring meat, fish, and vegetable dishes prepared in traditional tapas style is consistently commended. Patrons frequently note the impressive quality and speed of food preparation, with a consensus that the culinary experience stands out in the local dining scene. El Olivo’s popularity and small size make advance reservations advisable, reflecting its strong community appeal and reputation for delivering both excellent food and attentive service.

Andy Tyerman

Jul 12, 2025

Moved to Exmouth at the start of the year and have been working our way through places to eat. This is definitely among the best we have found. Worth booking ahead as it it is small and popular. Friendly service with advice about the food on offer. A good balance of meat, fish and veg all served as they are prepared in proper tapas style. Good house wine from Navara. Will certainly be back.

James Reynolds

May 30, 2025

By chance we managed to get a table on a Friday night, place was obviously fully booked the locals seem to know it or Ian seems to make everyone feel like an old friend. lotta in the kitchen is smashing food out with incredible speed and to an incredible standard. So congratulations lotta and Ian, amazing food and amazing service.

Bobby king

May 17, 2025

Went here last night, and can honestly say the food was breath taking. Couldn’t recommend enough. All four of us who went said it’s without doubt the best food with ever had in Exmouth.

Gemma Larkin

May 07, 2025

Owner very accommodating when we didn't have a booking. Lovely atmosphere, food was incredible, really enjoyable evening!

Berni

Apr 30, 2025

I loved this place. Amazing food. Friendly service and fit us in even tho we hadn't pre-booked. I'll definitely be visiting again next time I'm in Exmouth.

Alan Marriott

Mar 24, 2025

Probably the best dining experience in Exmouth. Having re-discovered El Olivo, the flavours, the service and the atmosphere are all on the mark. Really enjoyed our time there. The variety of georgeous flavours, the presentation and the appropriate attentiveness of our hosts all made for a memorable experience. Highly recommend booking ahead otherwise you may be disappointed.

john lewis

Mar 24, 2025

We visited El Olivo back in March and it was my first real experience with Tapas. Brilliant service by super friendly owners and even more fantastic selection of food! The Duck was exquisite and definitely my favourite out of the selection that day. Book in advance and enjoy your experience. ...

Sarah McGregor

Mar 22, 2025

What a wonderful little restaurant. Blink and you can miss it. Covid measures in place. We chose 3 dishes each and weren't disappointed. We also had a bowl of mixed olives and they were absolutely amazing. We shared a bottle of wine and also had a hot drink each and one portion of baklava. Total meal came to 73. Definitely recommend