Tapas Bars in Barcelona
Tapas in Barcelona: The Best Bars and Restaurants
Eating tapas is one of the best ways to explore Barcelona. From traditional bodegas to more creative spots, we've selected our favorite bars and restaurants for sharing some tapas, a vermouth, or a glass of cava.
Our top picks for tapas in Barcelona, from historic bars to inventive contemporary restaurants.
Our Top Picks
Best Tapas Bars and Restaurants in Barcelona
Traditional bar, vermutería, lively counter, or chef's tapas: Barcelona offers a wide variety of styles. Here is our selection of places where we truly enjoy going to eat tapas.
© Casa Igor
Casa Igor
Restaurant
A Tapas Tavern We Love!
Another charming neighborhood bar we adore. Casa Igor is located just a 7-minute walk from Gaudí's Casa Vicens. Casa Igor defines itself as a Tapas Tavern. You can indeed share tapas with friends while standing at the bar or inside in a cozy room.
Gracia - Carrer del Topazi, 18
www.instagram.com/casa_igor/
© Señora Dolores
Señora Dolores
Restaurant
Fried or Raw Tapas and Natural Wines
In the trendy neighborhood of Sant Antoni, Señora Dolores is a friendly establishment that stands out for its retro-chic ambiance and commitment to quality products, served with a bold twist. Here, everything goes through the fryer or is served raw, offering a dining experience that is both authentic and innovative.
Paralelo / Pueblo Seco - C/ del Marquès de Campo Sagrado, 27
señoradolores.com/
© Senyor Vermut
Senyor Vermut
Café
Tapas and Vermouths
As its name partially suggests, Senyor Vermut is a must-visit spot for tapas and vermouth enthusiasts. This family-run bar, managed by the Miralles, offers an impressive selection of over 40 different vermouths, sure to delight both aficionados and newcomers eager to experience the renowned tradition of enjoying a vermouth before lunch.
Eixample left - C/ de Provença, 85
www.facebook.com/senyorvermut
© Ten’s
Ten's Barcelona
Restaurant
A Culinary Journey Through the Tapas of Ten's
Ten's Tapas, led by the Michelin-starred chef Jordi Cruz, offers a contemporary take on traditional Spanish tapas. The restaurant is renowned for its innovative approach and elegant setting, providing a unique dining experience.
Ciutat Vella - C/ del Rec, 79
tensbarcelona.com/
© Bar del Pla
Bar del Pla
Restaurant
Unforgettable Tapas and Raciones!
This is one of our favorite tapas bars. Located just steps from the Picasso Museum, in the picturesque Carrer de Montcada, Bar del Pla offers tapas, raciones...
El Born - C/ de Montcada, 2
www.bardelpla.cat/
© Colmado Wilmot
Colmado Wilmot
Restaurant
The Best of Catalan Cuisine and Amazing Tapas!!
Tucked away on a corner of a narrow street, not far from the wonderful "Parc del Turó," Colmado Wilmot is a restaurant and tapas bar that immediately intrigues with its pedigree: its chef, Eugeni de Diego, is a former chef at El Bulli.
Sarriá / San Gervasio - C/ de Calvet, 28
colmadowilmot.com/
© Bodega Vidrios y Cristales
Bodega Vidrios y Cristales
Café
Preserves, Wines, and Vermouths
In a stunning building in El Born, the Casa Xifré, Bodega Vidrios y Cristales returns to the roots of the neighborhood bodega, meaning the local bar or cellar...
El Born - Passeig d’Isabel II, 6
sagardigroup.com/en/
© Bar Cañete
Bar Cañete
Restaurant
Classic and Contemporary Catalan Tapas
Bar Cañete: Like many of Barcelona's finest establishments, this trendy yet traditional tapas bar began its journey as a small family business.
El Raval - Carrer de la Unió, 17
www.barcanete.com/
© Bambarol
Bambarol
Restaurant
Chef's Tapas!
Imagine two chefs with extensive experience opening a tapas restaurant you'd want to visit every day: That's Bambarol.
Sarriá / San Gervasio - C/ Santaló, 21
bambarol.cat/
© Barcelona.com
El Xampanyet
Café
One of our all-time favorite tapas bars
This bar has retained the authentic feel of old Barcelona bars ...
Ciutat Vella - Carrer de Montcada, 22
www.instagram.com/el_xampanyet
© Barcelona.com
Quimet & Quimet
Café
Quimet & Quimet is a bar like no other. There are no tables: you eat standing at the counter, enjoying tapas often made with high-quality canned seafood. It's also a wine cellar with hundreds of bottles.
Poble Sec - Poeta Cabanyes, 25
quimetiquimet.com/
© Barcelona.com
Cal Pep
Restaurant
The King of Tapas
Cal Pep is the most famous tapas restaurant in Barcelona. You often have to wait to get in, but this wait will whet your appetite, and it's worth it!
Ciutat Vella - Pl. de les Olles, 8
www.calpep.com/
Which Tapas Bar to Choose in Barcelona?
It all depends on the experience you're looking for.
To capture the atmosphere of Barcelona's old bars, choose El Xampanyet. For slightly more creative tapas, we particularly love Bar del Pla.
If you want to enjoy a typical experience by eating standing at the counter, head to Quimet & Quimet. For a place that's become almost legendary, try Cal Pep.
Senyor Vermut is perfect for pairing tapas with vermouth, while Ten's offers a more gastronomic and contemporary take on tapas.
For even more creative cuisine, Bambarol and Colmado Wilmot are two spots worth checking out.
Bars and Tapas Counters in Pictures
© Barcelona.com
A tapas counter at La Boqueria
© Jordiferrer, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
La Medusa at Mercat del Ninot
© Barcelona.com
La Puntal in El Born
Where to Go Out?
Where to Eat Tapas in Barcelona: A Neighborhood Guide
El Born and Ciutat Vella
El Born is probably one of the easiest areas to spontaneously enjoy a tapas evening.
Bar del Pla and El Xampanyet are located around Carrer de Montcada, while Cal Pep is a bit further down, near the old port.
The Bodega Vidrios y Cristales, on Passeig d’Isabel II, perfectly complements this selection.
El Raval and Sant Antoni
In El Raval, Bar Cañete is a great option to discover classic and contemporary Catalan tapas.
Nearby, in Sant Antoni, Señora Dolores offers a much more modern approach, focusing on fried or raw products and natural wines.
Poble-sec
Quimet & Quimet alone is a good reason to visit Poble-sec.
You eat standing in a tiny cellar surrounded by bottles: it's hard to find anything more typical.
Eixample
In Eixample, Senyor Vermut is an excellent spot to pair tapas with vermouth.
It's also a great choice if you want to step out of the historic center and experience a more local atmosphere.
Gràcia
In Gràcia, Casa Igor perfectly embodies the small neighborhood bar where you can casually share some tapas.
Sarrià – Sant Gervasi
Further from the tourist center, Bambarol and Colmado Wilmot offer a chance to discover another side of Barcelona's gastronomic scene.
Must-Try
What Tapas Should You Order in Barcelona?
If you're trying tapas for the first time, a few classic dishes can already make for an excellent meal to share.
Patatas bravas
Fried potatoes served with a spicy sauce. Almost every bar has its own recipe.
Pa amb tomàquet
Bread rubbed with tomato, olive oil, and salt. Extremely simple and essential in Catalonia.
Croquetas
Creamy inside and crispy outside. Ham, chicken, cod, mushrooms: the recipes vary greatly.
Tortilla
The Spanish omelet with potatoes. Order it as a portion or a small plate to share.
Anchovies and Canned Seafood
Canned seafood is a staple of tapas bars. Good-quality anchovies, mussels, cockles, tuna, and sardines can all make excellent tapas.
Quimet & Quimet specializes in them.
Calamari
Fried or grilled, calamari remains another classic in Barcelona's bars.
Jamón ibérico
A few slices of good Iberian ham, accompanied by pa amb tomàquet, are sometimes all you need to start a perfect tapeo.
A Spanish Tradition
Tapeo: The Best Way to Enjoy Tapas
The tapeo involves hopping from one bar to another rather than staying at the same place all evening.
The idea is simple: order one or two tapas and a drink at the first bar, then move on to another.
In Barcelona, El Born is particularly well-suited for this activity: you can start at El Xampanyet, continue to Bar del Pla, then head down to Cal Pep or Bodega Vidrios y Cristales.
Poble-sec, Sant Antoni, and some areas of the Eixample are also great for an impromptu tapeo.
Our advice: don't order everything at the first stop. A great tapas evening unfolds as you go.
Two Styles
Traditional Tapas or Modern Tapas?
In Barcelona, tapas now come in many different forms.
Traditional Tapas
Patatas bravas, croquettes, tortilla, anchovies, olives, cold cuts, or preserves: these are generally based on simple recipes and quality ingredients.
Places like El Xampanyet, Quimet & Quimet, or Cal Pep embody this tapas bar culture.
Modern Tapas
Some chefs use the tapa format as a playground: new combinations, more sophisticated presentation, unexpected ingredients, and contemporary cooking techniques.
Ten's, Bar del Pla, Bambarol, Colmado Wilmot, or Señora Dolores are great examples of this evolution.
A Bit of History
Where Do Tapas Come From?
The Spanish word tapa means "lid."
The most common explanation is that taverns used to place a slice of bread, cheese, or ham on wine glasses to protect them from dust and insects.
This origin is partly legendary, but it captures the essence of tapas well: a small bite to eat that accompanies a drink.
From the 19th century onwards, this habit gradually became a true social tradition throughout Spain.
Today, tapas range from a simple plate of olives to creations worthy of a gourmet restaurant.
Restaurants in Barcelona
Where to Eat in Barcelona?
Tapas, paellas, seafood, Michelin-starred restaurants, vegetarian or halal cuisine: discover all our top spots for dining in Barcelona.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ: Tapas in Barcelona
To plan your outing, budget approximately €30 to €40 per person excluding drinks for several tapas to share. This estimate varies depending on the venue and the dishes chosen: at Ten’s, the bravas are priced at €9 and the calamari at €14. Seafood and tasting menus require a higher budget.
If you want a table at a specific time, make a reservation when the establishment allows it, especially for a group or on weekends. At Cal Pep, for example, the counter welcomes guests without a reservation, while the indoor dining room can be reserved. For places that don't take reservations, arrive at opening time and be prepared for a possible wait.
For aperitifs, aim for 12 PM to 2 PM. For a tapas meal, the usual times are 1 PM–4 PM and from 8 PM in the evening. Some bars serve continuously, while others close between services: be sure to check the kitchen hours, as they may differ from the bar's.
Tapas are small portions of dishes, often shared at the table or the counter. Pintxos, originating from Basque tradition, are usually individual bites, often served on bread and held together with a skewer. There are also pintxos without bread: the difference mainly lies in the format and culinary tradition.