Nieves grew up in Bilbao, Spain’s Basque region, learning about the region’s produce and cuisine from an early age. She regularly accompanied her mother, a passionate home cook, to the market, learning the value of fresh ingredients and traditional cooking.

Initially studying graphic design in Bilbao, Nieves worked in kitchens to support herself and realised her deep connection to food. In 1998, at 19, she moved to London without a job or English skills but secured a Kitchen Porter role at Simply Nico. Her dedication saw her rise through the ranks, mastering professional techniques and embracing London’s diverse culinary scene.

In 2003, she became Sous Chef at Fino, a Spanish restaurant in Soho. Fino was a hit, and by 2006, Nieves became head chef, refining menus with flavours from her childhood. Barrafina followed in 2007, earning a Michelin star in 2013. She later oversaw four locations.

By 2018, Nieves launched her first solo restaurant with JKS Restaurants, Sabor, on Heddon Street. Located near Piccadilly Circus, Sabor expanded beyond tapas to celebrate Spanish cuisine. The restaurant quickly became a cherished destination, cementing Nieves’s legacy in London’s culinary scene. Sabor earned it’s Michelin star in 2018.

Nieves will be opening her second restaurant, Legado, in August 2025. Legado, meaning ‘legacy’, is a nod to Nieves’ personal journey and a celebration of Spain’s diverse regional food cultures. Moving beyond the familiar of Sabor, her one Michelin star restaurant in London, Legado will explore ingredients, dishes and dining traditions from across the country, drawing inspiration from the lively tabancos of Cádiz and Jerez, the whole-animal cookery of Castilla y León’s grand asadors, the seafood-rich restaurants along Galicia’s coastline, and the hearty stews of Asturias.