Greater London · England
Tapas Catering in Crystal Palace
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella for events in Crystal Palace and across Greater London.
- Tapas before paella
- Cocktail parties
- Office parties and launches
Tapas catering in Crystal Palace
Tapas catering in Crystal Palace, cooked live
Many classic tapas are naturally vegetarian, such as tortilla, bravas and padrón peppers, and several can be made gluten-free. Typical bookings include engagement celebrations and tapas and paella menus, with gambas al ajillo, Serrano ham and croquetas.
Canapé tapas suit smaller London spaces in Crystal Palace. We cook every pan in full view of your guests, so the food is hot, fresh and part of the occasion.
- Where
- Crystal Palace (SE19, SE20, SE26)
- County
- Greater London
- Special diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Also available
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
What’s in the pans
Patatas bravas
Always popular and usually vegetarian.
Tortilla española
A thick potato and egg omelette cut into bites.
Questions from Crystal Palace
Can you cook in Crystal Palace Park?
Only if the landowner, usually the council, allows it. Ask them first, and we’ll send any information they need.
Is parking a problem for events in Crystal Palace?
It can be, so tell us about parking bays, permits or a driveway. We’ll plan unloading around it.
How much does tapas catering cost in Crystal Palace?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Tell us about your event and we’ll send a quote.
Do you have vegetarian tapas?
Many tapas are naturally vegetarian, like tortilla and padrón peppers. Each dish is labelled.
Do you cater for young children?
Of course. A simple chicken paella is usually popular with children. Include children in your numbers.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes, always. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, in front of your guests.
Who clears up?
Our cooking area is packed away and left clean. Ask us about table clearing if you need it.
Do you cater in Crystal Palace?
We do. We cook at events in Crystal Palace and across Greater London. Tell us your date and we’ll check availability.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it is in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
How it works
We cook over gas burners in wide, shallow pans. We need a level, ventilated spot, which we agree with you beforehand. Evening receptions in Crystal Palace stay light until about 8:50pm in late May and 9:20pm in late June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and how you want the tapas served.
- We put together a tapas selection and a quote.
- On the day, we set up and prepare the hot tapas there.
- Canapés go round with the drinks, or table tapas go out to share.
- We clear away our equipment when service is finished.
Preparing for the day
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Tell us when you want to eat
Get a quote
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. When you’re ready, fill in our quote form.
Planning help
Planners, venues and businesses
Hosting a party at home? Send a picture of the space and tell us about parking, and we’ll let you know if live paella is a good fit.
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
Diets, allergies and planning
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To get it right:
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
- Collect dietary needs
- Canapés need staff to serve
- Pair tapas with sangria, cava or sherry
Afterwards, we clear away.
Waiting staff for canapés.
Planning a tapas spread in Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace is about 2 miles north-east of Thornton Heath, in Greater London. Wherever your event is in the SE19 area, we can cook for your guests. We cook in 764 places in Greater London, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for London, about 6 miles away.
If you’re looking at a historic venue around Crystal Palace, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. Guests travelling by rail: Crystal Palace has its own station, Crystal Palace station.
For tapas catering in SE19, SE20 and SE26, we plan around your venue. That could mean an event in a garden on Tudor Road, Colby Road and Church Road. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Anerley (1 mile south), Penge (1 mile south-east), Gipsy Hill (1 mile west), Upper Norwood (1 mile west) and Sydenham (1 mile north-east). Further out, we also cater in London (6 miles north), City of Westminster (7 miles north-west), Marylebone (7 miles north-west), Kensington (8 miles north-west), St Pancras (8 miles north) and Shoreditch (7 miles north).
Other landmarks nearby include Crystal Palace Museum (under half a mile west) and St Leonard's (2.7 miles west). The countryside around Crystal Palace includes Dulwich Upper Wood and Knight's Hill.
- Nearby schools include Paxton Primary School (0.5 miles west) and Sydenham High School (0.6 miles north-east)
- Nearby, you will find The Grape & Grain pub (under half a mile west)
Before you choose a spot
No two venues are the same, so we will ask about yours when you contact us. Generally, we look for:
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- Space to finish hot dishes
- Room for a tapas table
Crystal Palace is in London, within the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and parking can be tight: let us know about permits, bays or off-street parking.
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think before you book.
On the menu in Crystal Palace
- Serrano ham
- Gambas al ajillo
- Albóndigas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Chorizo in red wine
- Olives & bread
- Tortilla española
- Patatas bravas
- Croquetas
- Padrón peppers
Places near Crystal Palace
More for events in Crystal Palace
How we price tapas catering
There are no hidden charges: the price is based on:
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Distance and access to the venue
- Waiting and bar staff
- Your choice of paellas
Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, as there is no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. Ask us for a quote.
What we need to know
When you contact us, it helps to tell us:
- The date and rough timings
- The venue or postcode
- Roughly how many adults and children
- The courses you’d like
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we will confirm whether we are available that day.
Occasions we cook for in Crystal Palace
They make a perfect starter before paella.
Here are some of the events we cook for in Crystal Palace and Greater London:
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Evening sharing boards
- Launches and office parties
- Cocktail parties
After a ceremony at a church such as St Paul's, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
Comparing caterers
- The venue requirements
- Whether VAT is included
- Staff numbers and hours
- The deposit and payment dates
- Cooked live in giant pans at your event
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options
- Paella, tapas, canapés and desserts
- Sangria, bar staff, crockery and waiting staff