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Best Tapas Bars & Restaurants in Barcelona
Barcelona is full of so many fantastic tapas bars and restaurants. It can be hard sometimes deciding which ones to visit. We’ve selected only the very finest, creating a list of the best tapas in Barcelona.
Go through the list below, which includes the must try dish of each place, map locations and website links, to find your next tapas destination in Barcelona.
Where to find the Best Tapas in Barcelona
1. Tapeo del Born
A modern tapas bar in the Born neighbourhood, run by a motivated team, passionate about food and quality ingredients. Exciting and well presented tapas dishes feature in this sophisticated venue, where it’s quality over quantity. It can get very busy, but that’s not surprising considering it’s one of the best tapas restaurants in Barcelona. They also have another venue in Gracia.
2. Comtal
A Barcelona institution that’s been serving excellent tapas since 1997. It’s corner location is at the foot of the pleasant Rambla de Catalunya (not to be confused with the tourist hotspot ‘La Rambla’ a few streets away), where they have plenty of outside tables. There’s often queues of locals and well informed tourists waiting to try some of the best tapas in Barcelona. Reasonable prices considering the high quality of dishes.
3. Bar Alegria
The next venue to feature in our list of the best tapas in Barcelona is a restaurant with a lot of history. Founded in 1899, Bar Alegria is a tapas bar that has long been serving the local community with quality dishes. There’s outside seating, live music and a vintage décor. The façade, which looks quite French in style, has recently been refurbished. It still keeps it’s classic look, but now even more refreshed.
4. Cal Pep
A traditional corner bar, also in the Born area of Barcelona, that was the inspiration for the London MICHELIN Star restaurant Barrafina. Fresh sea food tapas is the main order of the day at Cal Pep. However, there is a good selection of non seafood options as well. Bar seating available at the front and for groups of 4 or larger, table service at the back. Note, prices are slightly more for the back room.
5. Bar Mut
Bar Mut is a long established tapas bar in the upmarket Gracia neighbourhood, famous for serving the best tapas in Barcelona. The emphasize being on the best of the best top quality ingredients. Dishes are written on a blackboard above the bar. Not cheap, but you get what you pay for. They also have an extensive wine list.
6. Cerveceria Catalana
Now on to one of the most highly regarded places for tapas in Barcelona, and one of my absolute favourites. Cerveceria Catalana was the first top quality tapas restaurant that really stood out for me. Other people clearly agree, as there’s almost always long queues of locals and tourists waiting to get a table. The wait is more than worth it though for the large selection of different tapas dishes like the garlic prawns, chicken with cured ham croquettes or one of the best Spanish omelettes you’re likely to get anywhere.
7. Bar del Pla
An authentic Catalan tapas bar in the heart of the Born neighbourhood. Top quality dishes and wines in a relaxed and old-school environment. Popular with locals and tourists alike.
8. Quimet & Quimet
A cosy tapas bar, boasting over 500 bottles of wine, with a long history in the Poble Sec area of Barcelona. Run by four generations of the same family since 1914, they serve sandwiches and tapas of the highest quality, including lots of fresh fish. Standing room only, and it does get crowded at times, so for the best tapas experience arrive at midday when it opens for lunch or 6pm for evening service.
9. Bar Cañete
If you’re looking for the best tapas bar in Barcelona, you can’t go far wrong with Cañete. A modern restaurant serving classic dishes in a well designed space with plenty of bar stool seating at the front and separate dining areas at the back. Many quality tapas dishes to choose from, like the ‘Barceloneta’s bomba’ (spicy meat ball) or the lobster croqueta, but also specials like the paella of the day.
10. La Flauta
Since first moving to Barcelona, I always wondered about this restaurant with huge queues of locals forming at the door. After my first visit inside I could see why it’s so popular and regarded as one of the best places for tapas in Barcelona. An extensive selection of Catalan and Spanish dishes done really well. Over the years I’ve returned many times and brought numerous visitors here.
11. Bar del Pi
A snug little tapas bar close to the church of Santa Maria del Pi, in the heart of the Gothic Quarter. Founded in 1927, they serve a number of traditional dishes. And it is one of the best places in the city to try the Catalan created ‘bomba‘, a deep-fried ball of mashed potato and meat. It’s one of the must try dishes of Barcelona.
12. Restaurante Casa Varela 1986
This corner restaurant, that has been around since the 80’s, has been turned into one of the best dining locations in the whole of the greater Barcelona area. For a number of years the creativity and flavours of the food have constantly been evolving. They came through the pandemic strong (mainly by selling rice dishes to take away). After acquiring the building next door and doing a total refurbishment, it now has a setting equal to it’s high level of cuisine. Read my interview with the owner Toni here.
13. Bodega La Puntual
A traditional tavern in the old town neighbourhood of Born. A narrow bar at the front, which opens up to a much larger seating area with high ceilings at the back. Classic tapas and local dishes are served, including some good cheeses, incredible ibérico hams alongside vermouth and an extensive wine list.
14. El Xampanyet
Just a few doors down from La Puntual, is El Xampanyet, another restaurant worthy of our list of the best tapas in Barcelona. It’s an old-school tapas bar that makes you feel like you’re really living a Barcelona food adventure. Hanging hams from the ceiling, shelves stacked with bottles of wine. In this cosy tavern they offer classic tapas and Catalan dishes as you would expect in such a venue.
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See my full list of the other best restaurants in Barcelona here.