9 Best Tapas Barcelona Has to Offer | Where to Find the Best Tapas in Barcelona, Spain

Are you looking for some of the most delicious tapas that Barcelona has to offer? You couldn’t have found a better destination!

Because of the incredible amount of variety that can be found there, Barcelona is often regarded as one of the top places in all of Spain for tapas. It might be difficult to know where to begin, since many locations provide overpriced, touristy versions that you should try to avoid.

For the purpose of compiling this list of the top tapas in Barcelona, I have collaborated with a few friends who are as passionate about food and travel and asked them to share their recommendations with you. Our list features tapas restaurants serving a wide range of Spanish cuisine, from traditional to fusion tapas, as well as tapas on a budget to luxury tapas in a restaurant with a Michelin star. There is something to satisfy the cravings of even the most discerning tapas fan.

During your time in Barcelona, be sure not to skip out on the following events, as they will help you get a better sense of the city and its culture:

• Sagrada Familia: Skip-the-Ticket-Line Guided Tour & Ticket
• Barcelona: Flamenco Show at City Hall Theater
• Hop-On Hop-Off Barcelona City Tour 1 or 2 Day
• Barcelona: Park Güell Admission Ticket

9 Best Tapas Barcelona Has to Offer

Bar Celta Pulperia

Carrer de la Princesa, 50 // +34 933 15 15 10

Claire, who writes the blog Tales of a Backpacker, gives her seal of approval.

Bar Celta Pulperia is without a doubt the best spot in Barcelona to have seafood tapas, in my opinion.

You might be excused for assuming that this establishment was some kind of dive pub considering its location in the back alleyways of the Gothic Quarter. On the other hand, the mouthwatering aromas that are escaping through the door tell a different tale. After you have found a seat (it’s possible that you’ll have to share a table since this place is really basic), a waiter will promptly ask for your order. The one and only menu that we have is printed on the wall right next to the front door. Checking around the bar, where there are rows of tantalizing foods waiting to be ordered, is the greatest approach to choose what to put on your plate.

The Galician octopus, also known as pulpo gallego, is the house speciality, and it is not to be missed. The soft and meaty octopus is served sliced, with a large amount of sea salt and paprika sprinkled on top.

Do not forget to get bread with tomato, a traditional dish in Catalonia, to sop up any excess liquids left over from the tapas dishes, especially the razor clams, cod fritters, and calamari. If seafood isn’t your thing, they also provide a delicious Spanish omelet, padron peppers, and garlic mushrooms, all of which are worthy alternatives. Be sure to wash down each of these courses with generous quantities of beer or wine. Delicious!!

Ziryab Fusion Tapas Bar

Carrer dels Ases 16 // +34 932 68 17 74

When I’m in Barcelona, one of my favorite places to get tapas with a modern Mediterranean twist is Ziryab. Traditional tapas can be found all around Spain, but I like the tapas at Ziryab.

In the Old Medieval Town of Barcelona, the inviting restaurant may be found tucked away along a twisting lane not far from the Picasso Museum. Traditional tapas are reimagined by Ziryab as dishes infused with tastes from the Mediterranean. The final product is a lighter, healthier take on some of your favorite tapas dishes on the menu.

My personal favorite is the puff pastry stuffed with blue cheese, rosemary, and chestnuts in the winter.

or the variant on the traditional Catalan dish pan con tomate known as the pan tomaquet, which is made with cured Bellota ham.

Can Paixano (La Xampanyeria)

Carrer de la Reina Cristina, 7 // +34 933 10 08 39

Jonathan, from “Everybody Hates a Tourist,” gives his recommendation.

In Barcelona, the majority of tapas restaurants are famous mostly for the tapas they serve rather than the cocktails they sell. But Can Paixano (La Xampanyeria) completely reverses the expected outcome.

The cava selection at the bar is particularly well-known for its low prices and high quality. However, guests of this cozy bar in Barceloneta, which is located just across from the Gothic Quarter, may take comfort in the fact that their cava will go swimmingly with an excellent range of straightforward tapas.

The menu at Can Paixano is not very extensive, and there are no cutting-edge culinary creations to be found here. You will discover robust foods that are the perfect complement to all of the cava that is provided.

Small sandwiches and freshly grilled sausages are some of the tapas dishes that come highly recommended.

Can Paixano is a quaint little bar that often sees a crush of people, including both tourists and locals. Get as close as you can, get a bottle (or just a glass!) of cava and some grilled meat, and ditch the notion that you need your own personal space in order to meet new people. It’s a classic Barcelona experience.

Disfrutar

Carrer de Villarroel, 163 // +34 933 48 68 96

Recommendation provided by Mar, who runs the Once in a Lifetime Journey website.

One of the tapas restaurants in Barcelona with the most unique atmosphere is called Disfrutar. Disfrutar is a restaurant that has been granted two Michelin stars. It was founded by three of the head chefs who worked at elBulli, which has been ranked as the greatest restaurant in the world for several years in a row. Tapas are little plates of food that are served in small portions.

The menu has a variety of meals that are presented in the tapas format, which consists of tiny individual amounts often served on sharing plates. The molecular cuisine that was pioneered at elBulli was carried over by the chefs, who not only made it more approachable but also made it just as intriguing. This is what sets them apart from other restaurants.

Be prepared for spheres, foams, gimmicks, and wonderful tastes that frequently portray the dishes of a Catalan childhood or recreate elBulli’s legendary recipes — for example, the spherical olives that are created in a molecular kitchen but appear precisely like the genuine thing.

When in Barcelona, you really must pay a visit to this location. They also offer menus that start at less than one hundred euros, which is a remarkable deal for a restaurant that has been awarded two Michelin stars and has one of the most highly regarded cooking teams in the whole world.

Cuidad Condal

Rambla de Catalunya, 18 // +34 933 18 19 97

Nicole, from “Wandering With a Dromomaniac,” highly recommends this book.

Even at twelve in the morning, there is a lot of activity at Cuidad Condol.

The wait time is normally between one and two hours, unless you wish to stand behind the people who are dining at the bar and wait for them to finish their meals.

Seating at the bar is on a first-come, first-serve basis, so patrons will often order drinks while hovering behind others who are already sat there and urging them to vacate their spot. Although there are many different sitting choices, the seating at the bar is by far the most desirable.

It’s a bit more chaotic than it is out on the floor, but if you sit at the bar, you can see the wait staff pick up food from the glass case behind the bar and pass it through a small opening to the cooks working in the kitchen behind them, who then take it to different clients. Additionally, the wait staff is continuously bringing out enormous cast iron skillets that are brimming with seafood paella, which they then use to serve individual customers.

Their tapas collection is among the greatest in Barcelona, and some of the most popular items on the menu include grilled cuttlefish, fried little fish, grilled artichoke, and, of course, paella.

La Esquinica

Passeig de Fabra i Puig, 296 // +34 933 58 25 19

Gábor of Surfing the Planet has given his recommendation.

It is possible to enjoy wonderful culinary experiences in the heart of Barcelona, but the areas that are slightly far from the touristy core area are where you will find the most genuine tapas establishments.

The neighborhood of Horta is home to La Esquinica, which is regarded as one of the most traditional and well-liked spots for residents to have a tapas meal.

When it first opened, La Esquinica was a little family eatery tucked away on a side street in the neighborhood. However, when word spread about how good the food was, the restaurant expanded into a larger space on Fabra I Puig Street, which is one of the most popular thoroughfares in the area.

Food of a high standard can be found in the convivial setting of this pub, which is owned by proprietors with roots in the Aragon region. The patatas bravas and the fried shellfish they serve are really delicious. Even on weekdays, if you arrive in Spain at dinnertime, you may anticipate lines of locals waiting in restaurants.

The fact that this establishment caters to the community rather than tourists has allowed them to keep their rates at a reasonable level in spite of their success.

La Tasqueta de Blai

Carrer de Blai, 17 // +34 931 73 05 61

When we were in Barcelona for a ladies’ weekend, we asked the staff at our hostel for a suggestion for a tapas restaurant, and they suggested we eat at La Tasqueta.

When we arrived, it was immediately clear to us why this was the case; La Tasqueta, which is situated on a street that is entirely pedestrianized, looks precisely what you would envision a tapas restaurant to appear. The atmosphere inside is friendly and relaxed, with talk and laughter permeating the space, tapas line the bar, and sangria standing by, waiting to be poured.

It seems that both residents and visitors frequented the location often. Even though there was a large line to get in, we were able to obtain a seat at the bar just in front of where they served the tapas.

At La Tasqueta, the tapas are presented in a buffet-style arrangement; all you have to do is choose the items you want, and the waiter will figure out how much you owe based on the remaining toothpicks in your plate after you’re done eating.

I enjoyed everything I ate, but if I had to choose a favorite item, it would have to be the crostini with the brie, the prosciutto, and the zucchini. In point of fact, I like it so much that I decided to start preparing it on my own at home.

Taller de Tapas 

Multiple Locations // +34 934 87 48 42

Clemens, from the Travelers Archive, gives his recommendation.

Even though it’s part of a larger tapas chain in Barcelona, Taller de Tapas manages to retain all of its unique allure. My favorite shop is on Rambla de Catalunya. It has an ideal location on a street that is bordered with trees, is in close proximity to stores and pubs, and is the ideal place to have the last drink of the day.

Taller de Tapas is known for providing one-of-a-kind tapas at prices that are quite affordable. When I arrived here for the very first time, I found the costs to be somewhat surprising. Even after looking all throughout Barcelona, I haven’t been able to get tapas at a lower price anyplace.

This is one of those restaurants where you could sit here for hours and hours, eating everything that’s on the menu, and washing down the scrumptious meal with some excellent wine from the region. If you want to get a feel for what tapas are like in Barcelona, this will be an absolutely unforgettable experience for you.

They have an excellent selection of both hot and cold tapas, in addition to the traditional Catalan bites of bread served with either a spread or cheese, depending on the day’s menu offerings. Pimentos and dates wrapped in bacon were among my favorites since they were so flavorful.

Carrer Blai

Mike, from 197 Travel Stamps, recommends this product.

When in Barcelona, Carrer Blai is the street to go to if you want to sample a variety of tapas.

You won’t just find one restaurant here; rather, you’ll discover a whole street filled with pubs and restaurants serving tapas. The majority of establishments here provide pinchos, which are little tapas that are served on a piece of bread and are kept together with a skewer. You are presented with an empty plate as soon as you enter the eateries, and you are free to help yourself to as many pinchos as you wish. Your final bill will be determined by the total number of skewers served on your dish.

I would suggest that you sample just one or two pinchos at each restaurant in order to get the most out of the extensive selection of tapas bars.

The price per unit begins at 1 euro. Even since Blai 9, Taberna Blai Tonight, and La Tasqueta del Blai are among of the most well-known restaurants on Carrer Blai, you really can’t go wrong with any of the other options. My go-to choice for a pincho is a piece of bread topped with sausage and an egg from a quail.

It is customary for residents of Barcelona to have a glass of vermouth with their tapas; you should give this combination a go.

Planning your trip to Barcelona? Click here to check out this itinerary detailing how to spend 3 days in Barcelona!

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These are the best tapas Barcelona has to offer! Which do you most want to try? Let me know in the comments section below!

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FAQs

What is the most popular tapas in Barcelona?

La bomba. The bomba is a fried potato croquette loaded with minced beef and covered with both the alioli and the bravas sauce that are traditionally served with patatas bravas. It is widely considered to be one of the most popular tapas in Barcelona. This mouthwatering Catalan tapa has its origins in the historic area of Barceloneta, which was home to the city’s fisherman in the past.

What are the most popular tapas?

The 10 most popular Spanish tapas you need to try

• Jamon Serrano. …
• Tortilla Española (Spanish Omelette) …
• Boquerones en Vinagre. …
• Albondigas en Salsa. …
• Patatas Bravas. …
• Croquetas (Croquettes) …
• Spinach with Chickpeas, sometimes referred to as Espinacas with Garbanzos…
• Calamares fritos (Fried Squid Rings)