The Best Tapas in Barcelona: how to find them
If you really want to savour the best tapas in Barcelona, the first thing you really should is booking a private Barcelona tour with BrightSide Tours. There is no better way than cruising the city on a beautiful sidecar motorcycle with your private guide pointing out the very best places in town to experience the tastiest tapas.
Amongst the great Barcelona experiences you can choose from, since you’re craving great food, we have something that might be just for you: The Tapas & Sunset Barcelona Foodie Tour.
Tengo Hambre! “I´m hungry” in Spanish. Maybe one of the most common phrases you´re going to hear in Spain. And it makes sense. Spain is amongst the most popular foodie destinations worldwide. With over 260.000 bars and restaurants, it’s not easy to choose and find the best tapas bar during your stay in Spain. We’ll help you find yours in Barcelona.
Our favorite food temples to taste the best tapas in Barcelona.
Are you more into avant-garde high end restaurants or prefer a more casual atmosphere with finger food tapas? Because from the luxury experience to the hole-in-the-wall, you can find great food for any budget.
Continue reading to explore on your own your next foodie heaven in Barcelona. And since you are a foodie, we present you the bespoke Half Day Barcelona Wine Tasting & Winery Tour at a premium family ran vineyard, just 30m away from Barcelona.
BAR CAÑETE
One of the favorite tapas places of the best Spanish chefs. A classic for Spanish tapas nearby La Rambla, in the former 5 th district of Barcelona, the Raval neighborhood. As its owner, states tapas is a way of living and something that should be experienced sitting on a bar. There, you will be able to try specialties from all over the country: from the typical Bocata de calamares (calamari sandwich), to the traditional callos (stewed intestines), clams, oysters or deep-fried fish. Their motto could not be clearer: F*** your diet!
BAR LA PLATA
An all times classic, full of tradition and character and totally worth the experience. This tiny place by the old harbor has a simple menu, just few options, Botifarra (catalan sausage), deep-fried fish, and salad, all watered with some house wines. Simple and effective, but don’t be fooled – it’s been a regular stop for celebrities and world famous chefs like Anthony Bourdain, Jamie Oliver or Ferran Adrià . If something works, why would you change it?
QUIMET & QUIMET
Perhaps, Quimet & Quimet is one of the most famous bodegas that offers the best tapas in Barcelona. A really small place where, probably, you’ll will have to use your primary instinct and fight to make a bit of room for you or just to get to the bar. Don’t worry! It will worth the effort thanks to its owner and nice selections of cured meats tinned seafood and smoked fishes. The door to step into the bodegas’s world and one of our #1 suggestions for the real vermut experience in Barcelona!
CIUDAD CONDAL
A life-vest, always opened to welcome you and stuff your belly with montaditos (or pinchos or pintxos) and classic Spanish tapas. Opened form 10AM to 12:00PM, this a place you can always count on.
If you show up by the average Spanish lunch or dinner time, you’ll probably need to wait for 20/30 minutes. They don’t make reservations, but the waiting is always quicker than announced and worth it!
They have a sibling few blocks far, on the way up to Diagonal Av., Cervecería Catalana.
TAPAS 24
Carles Abellán, a former chef of the first period of El Bulli, is a prestigious chef from Barcelona. While he was running his famed Comerç 24, (a Michelin star restaurant), he started Tapas 24.
That is contemporary tapas place where he serves all time classic tapas, in a laid back atmosphere. Another never disappointing choice if you are wandering by Passeig de Gràcia, nearby Casa Batlló and the Block of Discord, known amongst many other specialities for its award winning Ensaladilla Rusa. Some say, the best in Spain…
PACO MERALGO
Its name could be literally translated as “Mr. Toeat something.” This is a contemporary tavern that gathers all the best of the Spanish culinary tradition, offering specialties from all over the country like the open pranws omelette or the typical Catalan surf & turf baby squids with Santa Pau white beans. Also, ask for the daily seafood specialty, you will never have a bad tapas experience here.
EL VASO DE ORO
This traditional tapas bar has been serving some of the best tapas in Barceloneta neighborhood for more than 50 years. It is also known as one of the finest places to enjoy a caña (draft beer glass) by the old harbor, or maybe in the entire city.
Conclusion: The Best Tapas in Barcelona
Important notice: we can’t honestly say these are the best tapas in Barcelona, nobody can. Tapas is an experience that goes beyond food. It’s about sharing life over a table and celebrating friendship, love and happiness. But these are definitively on our A-list.
There are so so many places in Barcelona where you will find amazing tapas (and quite a few tourist traps too), so anywhere you are in town, just ask the locals. You are sure to have some great tapas a short stroll away. Or book a Barcelona sidecar tour with BrightSide Tours and a local guide, to make sure you don’t miss any of the great stuff in town.
