Tapas Bars in Barcelona: My Picks for the Best Tapas Bars in Barcelona

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On your Barcelona agenda, I’m sure you’ve got Sagrada Família and all of Gaudí’s unforgettable works, taking lazy strolls down the narrow streets, and hitting the sunny beaches. However, the one thing that should be on the top of your list is eating delicious tapas. And since you’re reading this post right now, I know you’re a girl after my own heart and love food as much as I do. You know you’ve got a passion for food when you’re constantly searching for the best eats and thinking about lunch between bites of your morning croissant. Smh.

But I will say, not all tapas are created equal. If you’re looking for a good tapas 101 guide, click here to check out my picks of the most popular tapas to try when traveling in Spain. It’s a good place to start. In Barcelona, you’ll be sure to see tons of places with giant signs or hosts outside attempting to lure you in. The options can seem overwhelming, especially if every place claims to be one of the best tapas bars in Barcelona. Tapas bars can be bustling and busy, making it nerve-wracking for visitors. Some of them are standing-room-only so space is tight and others only have the menu in the local languages which can make it challenging to know what to order.

If you’re looking for help in finding a good tapas bar in Barcelona and want to avoid tourist traps on Las Ramblas, you’ve come to the right place. After living in Barcelona for over three years, I’ve created a list of my personal favorite places to chow down on tapas. In my opinion, a good tapas bar should be unassuming, finger-licking good, and reasonably priced. The places I’ve chosen are a list of both classic and modern bars and are great for solo dining or grabbing a bite with your favorite travel buddy. If you’re looking for some important tips to know BEFORE your trip to Barcelona, check out this post.

Stay until the end because if this guide isn’t enough, I’ve got a shortlist of honorable mentions. So go ahead and take notes. Additionally, star these places on Google Maps and get excited for your trip to Barcelona and the best tapas ever!

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Psst. Looking for for info on Barcelona? I’ve got the posts for you:

• Barcelona Travel Tips: 15 Crucial Things to Know About Barcelona Before You Visit
• A Coffee Lover’s Guide to the Best Coffee Shops in Barcelona
• 33 Fun Things to do in Barcelona

Pan con tomate (Tomato Bread)

Before we dive in, there’s something I need you to know. You’ll see this all over…and it is so delicious. Pan con tomate is a specialty in Catalonia and you’ll find it at just about any of the best tapas bars in Barcelona…or pretty much any bar or restaurant. Every place makes it differently and at some restaurants, they may even bring the ingredients separately in order for you to build it yourself. My favorite way is with coca bread. This bread is thin and crispy. And because this is Catalonia, all the ingredients are fresh and local. Pan con tomate is seriously delicious. I’ve tried recreating this simple dish at home…and it never comes out the same. Get ready because you’ll be filling your belly with tons of this on your trip.

Paco Meralgo

One of the coolest things about Paco Meralgo is that the name is a play on words. It means “para comer algo” which can be translated as “to eat something.” The name is fitting because that’s exactly what you’ll do there. Paco Meralago isn’t your typical tapas bar. It’s modern with bright lighting, high tables, and tons of space. But what sets this place apart is the quality.

The tapas here are top-notch and are sure to hit the spot and satisfy your tapas cravings. They also have main entrees and a fantastic selection of local wines. It’s great for a date, even if that date is you yourself! Full disclosure though, it’s not the cheapest place on this list, but it’s worth every penny. It’s a popular spot in Eixample so I would encourage making a reservation; however, it’s rather large for Barcelona, so walking in isn’t completely out of the question, although you may have to wait.

Must-try Dishes:

• Patas Bravas
• Chicken Croquettes: Croquetas de pollo
• Cuttlefish Croquettes: Croquetas de sepia “Obama”
• Sautéed baby squid with “Santa Pau” beans: Chipirones salteados con judías de Santa Pau
• Chunks of garlic beef filets: Dados de solomillo al ajilo

Quimet i Quimet

Quimet i Quimet is one of the oldest and most respected and best tapas bars in Barcelona. It first opened its doors in 1914 and is now run by the fourth generation of the Quimet family. Lined from floor to ceiling with wine bottles, this gem is small which means you’ll be packed in like sardines. It’s standing room only so try to get there early because there’s always a wait. But what they lack in space they more than make up for in delicious food and speedy service.

Quimet i Quimet specializes in conservas and montaditos. Conservas are food preserved through canning or jarring, so essentially canned foods. But in Spain, conservas are not a quick fix, they are actually considered to be some of the best-canned foods in the world and some may even say they are a bit of a treat. Montaditos are pieces of bread topped with anything from Spanish tortilla to jamón Ibérico. At Quimet i Quimet you’ll find a selection of over 30 montaditos, yummy!

Must-Try Dishes:

• Smoked salmon w/ greek yogurt and truffle honey: Salmon, yogurt y miel trufada
• Shrimp, red pepper, and caviar: Langoustines con piquillo 
• Codfish & olive pate: Bacalao con olivada
• Anchovies and cheese: Anchovies con queso

Bar del Pla

I would bet any amount of money that every Barcelona local has Bar del Pla on their list of the best tapas bars in Barcelona. Tucked away in the heart of El Born, this place has the look and feel of a quintessential tapas bar including pattern tiled floors and high wooden barstools. Bar del Pla has amazing, traditional tapas and Catalan dishes, excellent wine, and an informal, laid-back vibe. It gets bonus points because it’s open all day; a rarity for Barcelona bars. They also serve appetizing, creative dishes that pair well with more traditional plates and their menu changes seasonally. Going here solo is no problem either because the bar has plenty of seating and the bartenders are very friendly. It gets pretty busy so I would suggest calling to make a reservation.

Must-Try Dishes

• Patas Bravas (One of my favorites!)
• Chicken croquettes: Croquetas de pollo
• Un pulpo que es la bomba: Fried octopus bombs
• La coca de Sardina con mango: Sardines and mango on coca bread
• The daily specials are always delicious and worth a shot.

La Pepita

La Pepita is not only one of my personal picks for the best tapas bars in Barcelona but the perfect spot for a long meal with friends. My favorite thing about this family-run restaurant is that they take tradition and add their flair to it. For example, they’ve added a kimchi mayonnaise to their fried calamari and they’ve put a spin on the classic pepito sandwich.

A pepito is a sandwich from Málaga usually made with aged steak. At La Pepita, you’ll find their own version of these sandwiches filled with things like butifarra (Catalan sausage) and blood sausage; they even have vegetarian options as well. The place is cozy and charming and adorned with graffiti and white subway tiles that somehow make you feel right at home. If you arrive and there is a wait, hop next door to their sister bar: La Cava and enjoy a glass of the amazing bubbly while you wait for your table.

Must-Try Dishes

• Eggplant fritters with goat cheese, honey, and apple: Buñuelos de berenjena con queso de cabra, miel y manzana
•  Red Shrimp with garlic sauce and snap peas: Gambas al ajillo
• Grilled artichoke: Alcachofas a la plancha
• Sirloin beef carpaccio: Carpaccio de solomillo

La Xampanyeria (aka Can Paixano)

Okay, so technically this is more of a cava bar than a tapas bar, but it is one of my favorite places in Barcelona and I just can’t bear seeing it left off of this list. La Xampanyeria is no-frills, bare-bones, and down and dirty…and I absolutely LOVE IT! I’m just gonna go ahead and disclose that I’ll probably say how much I love this place at least 5 times in this short blurb, but I can’t help it.

If you’re a vegetarian or cringe at the sight of jamón Iberico hanging from the ceiling, fair warning, this place is probably NOT FOR YOU. La Xampanyeria is kind of like a Barcelona institution where the cava is made of unicorn tears and getting a glass will only cost you €1.50. The sandwiches are so good, they’ll have you doing those annoying audible hmm’s and ahh’s, but this time they’ll be justified.

Must-Try Dishes

• Butifarra Sandwich: Bocadillo (Entrepan) de Butifarra
• Fuet Sandwich: Bocadillo de Fuet
• Bacon and cheese Sandwich: Bocadillo de beicon y queso
• Ham and Cheese plate: jamón y queso

El Xampanyet

Not to be confused with La Xampanyeria, El Xampanyet is another classic. It’s one of the best tapas bars in Barcelona for very good reasons. This is a cozy spot where the cava flows freely. Nestled on the narrow street of Carrer de Montcada, just a short walk from the Picasso Museum, this old-school bar is loud and oozing with character. It’s decked out with colorful tiles and they’re famous for their cava and tapas. They don’t accept reservations and the bar is always full, but inside you’ll find a beautiful mix of tourists and locals. Glasses of house-made cava are only €2.00, so you may just make yourself comfortable for an afternoon of slow snacking.

Must-Try Dishes

• Spanish Omelette with chorizo: Tortilla de patatas y chorizo
• Boquerones en vinagre: Anchovies in vinegar
• Octopus with mashed potatoes: Pulpo

Bar Bormuth

Bar Bormuth is a gorgeous, hip bar in El Born flaunting tapas from all around Spain. It’s fairly new, as it’s only been open since 2013, but once inside it’s easy to see why the bar is so popular. The modern space has minimal design and is a great pit stop after a full day of sightseeing or for a well-needed glass of homemade vermouth. The menu includes patatas mojo picón, a specialty from the Canary Islands, and buñuelos de bacalao from Extremedura. Try to grab a seat outside if the weather permits or at an open table near the window for the best people-watching experience.

Must-Try Dishes

• Patatas “mojo picón”: Potatoes with spicy mojo sauce
• Queso manchego y almendras tostada: Manchego cheese with almonds
• Pimientos padron: Fried green padron peppers
• Buñuelos de bacalao: Codfish fritters
• Grilled eggplant with goat cheese: Berenjena a la plancha con queso de cabra

Bar Lobo

Bar Lobo is cute, chic, and a far cry from a traditional tapas bar, but if you’re near Las Ramblas and don’t want to get sucked into a tourist trap filled with plates of bullshit and broken dreams, head to Bar Lobo. They’ve got modern versions of established tapas, plus new-school pickings like chicken wings and quinoa salad. It’s nestled on a side street off of Las Ramblas and equipped with a welcoming terrace and clean, modern designs. I will warn you that it’s not the cheapest, but the food is really good and the very best alternative to one of those crappy tapas places on Las Ramblas.

Must-Try Dishes

• Fried Small Fish: Pescadito frito
• Grilled artichokes topped with iberian ham: Alcachofas a la plancha con jamón ibérico
• Fried Eggplant with honey: Berenjenas fritas con miel de caña
• Meatballs with Squid and mushrooms: Albondigas con calamar y cetas

Honorable Mentions

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The truth is, Barcelona is filled with tons of incredible tapas bars. Here are a few more that are just as scrumptious and the ones I’ve mentioned in this post.

Which one of these tapas bars are you most excited to try?! Let me know in the comments below! Until next time!