We present you a list with the best spots to eat tapas and pintxos in Barcelona
The tapas culture in Barcelona includes traditional Catalan and Spanish dishes, as well as the most avant-garde culinary proposals, with options that meet everyone’s taste and budget. We reviewed the best tapas spots in the city.
Quimet i Quimet
Address: Carrer del Poeta Cabanyes, 25
Telephone: 934 42 31 42
A classic Tapas Bar that maintains its essence since its opening in 1914. Its small size is not an impediment to offer a wide and delicious variety of cheeses, smoked products and Mediterranean tapas. You can’t miss the “montaditos” (sculpted tapas served on bread) made with artichokes, cheese and caviar, swordfish with dried tomato, salmon with yogurt and truffled honey, sturgeon with caviar, cecina, chipirones (fried baby squid) and a long etcetera.
In addition, the cellar of this place includes an extensive catalog of excellent wines, vermouth and house beers.
Cova Fumada
Address: Carrer del Baluard, 56
Telephone: 932 21 40 61
Founded in 1945 as a tavern for fishermen, it gained fame and reputation by inventing for more than six decades the famous “Bomba de la Barceloneta” (a stuffed battered potato) that became one of the local dishes par excellence of Barcelona.
Its fresh seafood, fish from the market and the wide offer of traditional tapas – from codfish to “cap-i-pota” (tripe in sauce), grilled squid, prawns or stewed chickpeas – make La Cova Fumada a living legend of the city’s maritime quarter.
Ciutat Comtal
Address: Rambla de Catalunya, 18
Telephone: 933 181 99
Ideal to regain strength after a nice walk on Las Ramblas (the restaurant is located about 15 minutes walk from the hotel).
Everything is freshly cooked in front of you in a place where you can taste excellent tapas of ham and tortilla de patatas, always fresh fish and seafood, meats and vegetables of prime quality (special mention to the chipirones and the montaditos of sirloin) paired with a wide choice of imported beers.
Apart from its exquisite food, its classic wooden decoration is one of its attractions. Ciutat Comtal receives every day, almost at any time of the day, both intrepid tourists and local gourmets. The place is (almost) always overflowing and it is very likely that you have to wait before getting a table or sit in its wide bar.
Its perfect location, fast and efficient service and very reasonable prices (from 15 euros) will make the wait worth it.
Samsara
Address: Carrer de Terol, 6
Telephone: 932 85 36 88
An exotic touch to the tapas offer in Barcelona. They offer not only the traditional tapas, like patatas bravas or calçots but also Asian-inspired dishes and original proposals like the mushrooms cannelloni, duck breast roll-ups with provolone and pine nuts, asparagus lollipops with romesco or battered prawns in kikos over parmesan cream.
Everything in a design place where bars and stools have been replaced by pufs and low tables and where you can enjoy a pleasant and relaxed atmosphere.
O’Retorno
Address: Compte d’urgell, 168
Telephone: 934531104
Don’t be fooled by its modest appearance. The quality and the size of the portions that serve O’Retorno make it the best Galician Tapas Bar of all Barcelona. It is a gift to the palate where you can’t miss the traditional Galician octopus. But it goes far beyond: huge tapas of hake, cuttlefish or lacón (a dried ham product from Galicia) and more than 30 wines to choose from with good value for money. As most of the good bars and restaurants it is usually very busy, so it is recommended to book in advance.
Tickets Bar
Address: Avinguda Paral·lel, 164
Telephone: 932 924 250
An original and attractive proposal with the signature of two pairs of brothers and chefs of great prestige in the world of gastronomy: the Adrià brothers’ (Albert and the well-known and mediatic Ferran Adrià) and the Iglesias brothers’ (Juan Carlos, Borja and Pedro).
In the Tickets Bar you can live a real gastronomic spectacle, thanks to its decoration that reflect the spirit of theaters and cabarets (the restaurant is located in el Paralelo, surrounded by theaters) and the fusion between traditional tapas and the most creative and innovative proposals.
A new culinary concept that fuses author cuisine with tapas like the spherical olives, tomato tartare, Pork Molletes, ravioli or liquid of Payoyo.
They only accept reservations via Internet: www.ticketsbar.es and the reservations can be made with three months in advance.
El Quim de la Boquería
Address: Mercado de La Boqueria, La Rambla, 91
Telephone: 933 01 98 10
A classic among classics. Visiting El Quim de la Boquería will allow you to know the beautiful Mercat de la Boquería and taste some of the best tapas in Barcelona while you enjoy one of the most important gastronomic markets in Europe.
The products of its dishes come directly from the market stalls around it, and that shows in its excellent quality. Fish, rabo de toro (oxtail), callos (tripe in sauce), meatballs, eggs with almost everything you can imagine (mushrooms, squid, foie gras …) are just some of the proposals of this place located less than 10 minutes walk from the hotel.
La esquinica
Address: Paseo de Fabra i Puig, 296. Barcelona
Telephone: 933 582 519
Away from the tourist area, la Esquinica brings to Barcelona the best from the tasty Aragonese gastronomy.
Its menu has more than 50 tapas with portions of a good-sized, such as calamares a la romana (Fried squid), chipirones (fried baby squid), fried fish, longaniza de Aragón (a Spanish sausage), grilled clams, ham from Teruel, pork scratchings, cod, homemade croquettes, patatas bravas and a long Etc. of exquisite proposals.
They don’t take reservations and you will probably have to take a number and wait a while before you immerse yourself in this authentic culinary paradise.
The best tapas spots in carrer Blai
If you are looking for a spot with a great atmosphere and tapas of a good price, carrer Blai is your best choice. This pedestrian street in the Poble Sec neighborhood (known for its bohemian, artistic and multicultural atmosphere) has some of the most affordable bars, taverns and restaurants in the city. Spots such as Blai Tonight, la Koska Taverna or la Bodegueta del Poble Sec will offer you a wide assortment of tapas and pintxos for only 1 or 3 euros that invite you to make “tapas tour” until you hold your legs.
These are just some of the best tapas bars and restaurants in Barcelona, in a list where we could have perfectly include places like Polleria Fontana (Carrer de Sant Lluís, 9), Tapas 24 (Carrer de la Diputació, 269) Xampanyet (Carrer de Montcada, 22), Cal Pep (Plaça de les Olles, 8) and many more.
Do not hesitate to ask our staff for advice or make your own gastronomic suggestions if you visit any of these places. We will be happy to help you and get your opinion!
