Nieves grew up in Bilbao in Spain’s Basque region, learning from an early age about the region’s produce and cuisine. In 1998 Nieves came to London and began work at Simply Nico. In 2003 she joined Sam and Eddie Hart as sous chef ahead at Fino. In 2007 Nieves became the group’s executive chef ahead of the launch of the first Barrafina restaurant on London’s Frith Street. As executive chef for both Fino and Barrafina for ten years, Nieves oversaw the launch of two further Barrafina restaurants (Covent Garden and Adelaide Street) and in 2014 was awarded a Michelin Star for Barrafina Frith Street.

In February 2018 Nieves opened her own restaurant, Sabor on Heddon Street in London, with Jose Etura and in October 2018 the restaurant was awarded its first Michelin star, just eight months after opening.  The restaurant takes diners on a journey around Spain from the tapas bars of Andalucia through to the asadors of Castile and the seafood restaurants of Galicia.

www.saborrestaurants.co.uk

Sabor was awarded a Michelin star in 2018, which it retains today (2023).
● Sabor came 2nd in the first year from opening at The National Restaurant Awards 2018 – Since then Sabor has remained in the Top 15.
● Nieves won the “Chefs Chef of the Year award” at The National Restaurant Awards 2018.
● Nieves featured as one of FT Magazine’s Women of the Year 2019.
● Nieves also listed in CODE Quarterly 100 most influential women in hospitality in 2022 (and since 2019).
● GQ Food & Drink Awards 2019 – Sabor won ‘Best Breakthrough’.
● AA Restaurant of the Year 2018 – Sabor.
● London Evening Standard Progress 1000 in 2018 – London’s most influential tastemakers – Nieves Barragan