Sam and Sam Clark's Spanish-Moorish restaurant on Exmouth Market has been one of London's most influential restaurants since 1997. The wood-fired oven defines the cooking, which draws from Spain, Morocco, and the Middle East. The yoghurt cake and grilled fish are consistently excellent.
Moro on Exmouth Market in Clerkenwell, London opened in 1997 and has remained one of the city's most influential and most-loved restaurants ever since. Founded by Sam and Sam Clark, who had spent time travelling through Spain, Morocco, and Central Asia before opening the restaurant, Moro introduced London to a style of cooking — wood-fired, intensely spiced, rooted in the cuisines of the Iberian peninsula and North Africa — that was genuinely new to the city at the time. The wood-burning oven and charcoal grill define the cooking. Fish is roasted at high heat in the oven with chermoula or harissa; meats are slow-cooked or charcoal-grilled over wood; vegetables are treated with the same intensity. The yoghurt cake with pistachios and the sherry trifle have been on the dessert menu for so long they have become institutions. The wine list is one of the best collections of Spanish and natural-leaning wines in London. The dining room is warm and unpretentious, with bare tables and the easy noise level of a full restaurant. Exmouth Market itself is a pleasant pedestrianised street with additional cafes and bars. The adjacent Morito tapas bar, also by the Clarks, offers a more casual and walk-in version of the same culinary tradition.
Location
51.5236, -0.1084 View on map
Highlights
- Influential Spanish-Moorish restaurant on Exmouth Market open since 1997
- Wood-burning oven and charcoal grill define a menu drawing from Spain, Morocco, and Central Asia
- Yoghurt cake and sherry trifle are long-standing dessert icons of the London restaurant scene
- Outstanding Spanish wine list with natural and low-intervention producers throughout
- Morito tapas bar next door for a more casual and walk-in version of the same kitchen tradition
Tips for visiting
- Book two to three weeks ahead for weekend evenings — Moro is consistently full.
- The full-plate main courses are more generous than tapas format; ordering to share is worthwhile.
- The Spanish wine list is one of London's deepest — ask the floor team for recommendations.
- Morito next door is walk-in and offers many of the same flavour profiles at lower prices.
- Exmouth Market has a pleasant open-air feel in summer — arrive early for a drink on the street.
Accessibility
Moro is at street level on Exmouth Market with step-free access from the pedestrianised street. The dining room is accessible to wheelchair users. Contact the restaurant when booking to confirm specific table arrangements.
Frequently asked questions
What cuisine does Moro serve?
Moro serves food influenced by Spain, Morocco, and the broader Moorish culinary tradition. The cooking draws from Andalucian, North African, and occasionally Central Asian sources. Wood fire and spice are the two defining elements of the kitchen's character.
Is Moro suitable for vegetarians?
Moro's menu has always included strong vegetable dishes and the North African and Spanish culinary traditions are vegetable-rich. The kitchen handles vegetarian requirements well. Vegan options are more limited but available with advance notice.
What is Morito in relation to Moro?
Morito is a tapas bar at the next-door property on Exmouth Market, operated by the same owners as Moro. It shares the culinary philosophy of the parent restaurant but in a smaller, more casual format with no advance reservations required.