Greater London · England
Tapas Catering in Dalston
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Dalston. We cook from scratch on site, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Work receptions
- Birthday and anniversary parties
- Engagement parties
Tapas catering near Dalston
FAQs for Dalston
Can you cook in Haggerston Park?
Only if the landowner, usually the council, allows it. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Holy Trinity Church?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking generally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Do you come to Dalston?
Yes. We cater across London and the South East, including Dalston. For a quote, send us your details through our quote form.
Can you cook indoors?
Generally we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, because we use gas burners. Some venues have suitable spaces; we will check with you and the venue.
Do you cook tapas on site?
Hot tapas are finished on site and served straight away; cold tapas are laid out as guests arrive.
Do you cook it at the event?
It is. We arrive with everything we need and cook on the day, serving it hot from the pan.
Do we need staff for canapés?
We can provide staff. Canapés need staff to carry them round.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Of course. Canapé tapas with the drinks, or table tapas to share, while the rice is cooking.
Tapas catering in Dalston, cooked live
Many classic tapas are naturally vegetarian, like tortilla and padrón peppers, and some can be gluten-free. Typical bookings include receptions and drinks parties and launches and office parties, serving gambas al ajillo, Manchego with membrillo and tortilla española.
For a London drinks party in Dalston, canapé tapas are easy to serve in a small space. We cook every pan in full view of your guests, so it arrives hot and becomes part of the event.
- Area
- Dalston (E8, N1, N16)
- Region
- Greater London
- Special diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Extras
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Occasions we cook for in Dalston
They’re the classic starter before paella.
We can help if you’re planning any of the following:
- Sharing tapas starters
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Engagement celebrations
- Evening sharing boards
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Holy Trinity Church.
Comparing caterers
- How long the team stays
- Payment terms and deposit
- Travel and parking costs
- Exactly what’s included in the price
What tapas catering costs
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- The number of people
- Your choice of paellas
- Travel, parking and access
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, as there is no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. We will send you a quote.
Details that help
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- Which courses you have in mind
- Where the event is
- A picture of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- Anything your venue supplies
Still deciding on the menu? That is fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we will suggest a menu. Start when you are ready: fill in our quote form.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. We take care of all of it.
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. We’re happy to give you a quote to compare.
Towns and villages near Dalston
What else we do in Dalston
About the dishes
Gambas al ajillo
A favourite with seafood lovers.
Tortilla española
Tortilla is vegetarian and naturally gluten-free.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Ensure dishes are labelled
- Plan more dishes if tapas are the meal
- Decide whether tapas are a starter, canapés or the whole meal
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
Tapas go out to the tables at the start of the meal.
Bar staff and sangria.
Dalston: venues and local tips
Dalston is about 1 mile north-east of Hoxton, in Greater London. From the centre of Dalston to the outskirts, we offer the same service: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. We cook in all 764 towns and villages across Greater London, from the larger towns to small villages.
For guests coming by train, Dalston has its own station, Dalston Junction station. Nearby historic houses include Sutton House (0.9 miles east) and Mansion House (2.4 miles south). Where a historic venue doesn’t allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue.
Tapas catering in E8, N1 and N16 is planned around your venue. Your event could be at a home on Glebe Road, Forest Road and Boleyn Road. Dalston is on the A107 and A1207, which makes it straightforward to bring the equipment. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Kingsland (1 mile west), De Beauvoir Town (1 mile west), Hackney Central (1 mile east), London Fields (1 mile south-east) and Shacklewell (1 mile north). We also cook in nearby towns such as London (3 miles south), City of Westminster (4 miles south-west), Marylebone (4 miles south-west), Kensington (6 miles south-west), Walthamstow (4 miles north-east) and Hampstead (5 miles west).
Nearby you will also find German Hospital (within half a mile north-east) and Montfichet's Tower (2.6 miles south-west). The countryside around Dalston includes Gillespie Park and Ludgate Hill.
- Nearby schools include The Petchey Academy (0.5 miles north) and Kingsland Secondary School (0.5 miles north)
- Local pubs include The Duke Of Richmond Public House (less than half a mile south)
- Local facilities include Hackney (0.7 miles east) and Bishopsgate Institute Special Collections and Archives (1.9 miles south)
Step by step
Your timings come first. If things run behind, we adjust the cooking so it’s served at its best. A summer drinks reception in Dalston has daylight until about 9:20pm at midsummer, ideal for tapas in the garden. In late September, sunset is about 7:05pm; winter receptions, dark by 3:55pm, are better indoors.
- Send us the date, venue and numbers.
- You get a selection and a price.
- We set up and finish hot tapas on site.
- We serve canapés or table tapas.
- We clear our equipment afterwards.
Preparing for the day
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
How to get a price
We quote for each event separately, so the price fits what you actually want. For a quote, send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
Why choose live paella in Dalston?
Crisps and nibbles fill a gap. Tapas make a proper course. Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you only pay for what you want.
Why choose Love Paella in Dalston
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
Take a look at Our prices page Or Our guide to catering costs.
Working with your venue
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we’ll keep you updated on timings and set-up.
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
- 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