Barcelona tapas bars & restaurants

Barcelona restaurants

The tradition of tapas in Spain goes back centuries. Tapas are small portions of food that are usually served with a drink in bars and restaurants. The origin of the word "tapa" comes from the habit of covering a glass of wine or beer with a slice of bread or cheese to prevent insects from entering the drink ;-)

Tapas became popular in Spain from the 19th century onwards, when people started to have snacks to accompany their drinks. Since then, tapas have become an important part of Spanish culture and are served in many establishments throughout the country.

The best tapas in Barcelona

  • Casa Igor - Barcelona
    Restaurant
    Restaurant

    Casa Igor

    A Taverna de tapes just the way we like them!

    Another little neighbourhood bar just the way we like them. Casa Igor is a 7-minute walk from Gaudí's Casa Vicens. Casa Igor defines itself as a Taverna de tapes. You can share tapas with friends standing at the outside bar or indoors in a small room.

    Gracia - Carrer del Topazi, 18
    www.instagram.com/casa_igor/
  • Señora Dolores - Barcelona
    Restaurant
    Restaurant

    Señora Dolores

    Fried or raw tapas and natural wines

    In the fashionable Sant Antoni district, Señora Dolores is a friendly establishment distinguished by its retro-chic ambience and commitment to quality products, served with a bold twist. Here, everything goes through the fryer or is served raw, offering a gastronomic experience that's both authentic and innovative.

    Paralelo / Pueblo Seco - C/ del Marquès de Campo Sagrado, 27
    xn--seoradolores-bhb.com/
  • Senyor Vermut - Barcelona
    Cafe
    Cafe

    Senyor Vermut

    Tapas and Vermouths

    As the name suggests, Senyor Vermut is a must for tapas and vermouth lovers. This family-run bar, run by the Miralles family, offers an impressive selection of over 40 different vermouths, enough to delight enthusiasts and novices alike eager to discover the famous tradition of drinking a vermut before lunch.

    Eixample left - C/ de Provença, 85
    www.facebook.com/senyorvermut
  • Ten´s Tapas - Barcelona
    Restaurant
    Restaurant

    Ten´s Barcelona

    A Gourmet Journey through Ten's Tapas

    Ten's Tapas, led by Michelin-starred Chef Jordi Cruz, offers a contemporary twist on traditional Spanish tapas. The restaurant is renowned for its innovative approach and elegant setting, providing a unique culinary experience.

    Ciutat Vella - C/ del Rec, 79
    tensbarcelona.com
  • Bar del Pla - Barcelona
    Restaurant
    Restaurant

    Bar del Pla

    Unforgettable tapas and raciones!

    Beware, this is one of our favourite tapas bars. Located just a stone's throw 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 - Barcelona
    Restaurant
    Restaurant

    Colmado Wilmot

    The best of Catalan cuisine and great tapas!

    Tucked away in the corner of an alleyway, not far from the wonderful Parc del Turó, Colmado Wilmot is a restaurant and tapas bar with an intriguing pedigree: its chef Eugeni de Diego is a former El Bulli chef..

    Sarriá / San Gervasio - C/ de Calvet, 28
    colmadowilmot.com/
  • Can Framis - Barcelona
    Restaurant
    Restaurant

    Can Framis

    A beautiful place and very good tapas!

    On the Ronda de Sant Pere, a 10-minute walk from the Picasso Museum, Can Framis by Casa Lolea is a gastronomic gem.

    Eixample right - Ronda de Sant Pere, 70
    www.canframis.com/
  • Bodega Vidrios y Cristales - Barcelona
    Restaurant
    Restaurant

    Bodega Vidrios y Cristales

    Canned foods, wines and vermouths

    In a magnificent building in El Born, the Casa Xifré, the Bodega Vidrios y Cristales returns to the origins of the local bodega, i.e. the bar or the local cellar...

    El Born - Passeig d’Isabel II, 6
    sagardigroup.com/en/
  • Bar Cañete - Barcelona
    Restaurant
    Restaurant

    Bar Cañete

    Classic and contemporary Catalan tapas

    Bar Cañete: Like so many of Barcelona’s best establishments, this traditional yet trendy tapas bar and restaurant entered the world as a small family-run affair. 

    El Raval - Carrer de la Unió, 17
    www.barcanete.com/
  • Bambarol - Barcelona
    Restaurant
    Restaurant

    Bambarol

    Chef’s tapas !

    Imagine two chefs, with professional records as long as their arms, to open a restaurant of tapas where one would like to come every day: It’s Bambarol...

    Sarriá / San Gervasio - C/ Santaló, 21
    bambarol.cat/
  • El Xampanyet
    Restaurant
    Restaurant

    El Xampanyet

    Our favourite tapas bar, unchanging top!

    This bar has conserved the real feeling of Barcelona's old bars...

    Ciutat Vella - Carrer de Montcada, 22
    www.instagram.com/el_xampanyet
  • Quimet & Quimet - Barcelona
    Restaurant
    Restaurant

    Quimet & Quimet

    Quimet & Quimet is a bar unlike any other. There are no tables; you stand up to enjoy all kinds of small tapas, often served straight from high-end tins. It is also a wine cellar with hundreds of bottles.

    Poble Sec - Poeta Cabanyes, 25
    quimetiquimet.com
  • El Quim de la Boqueria - Barcelona
    Restaurant
    Restaurant

    El Quim

    El Quim de la Boqueria is truly a family business...

    Ciutat Vella - La Rambla, 91
    elquimdelaboqueria.com/
  • Cal Pep - Barcelona
    Restaurant
    Restaurant

    Cal Pep

    Cal Pep is Barcelona's best-known tapas restaurant... You often have to wait to get in, but it's worth the wait!

    Ciutat Vella - Pl. de les Olles, 8
    www.calpep.com/
  • La Xampanyeria - Barcelona
    Restaurant
    Restaurant

    La Xampanyeria

    La Xampanyeria is very famous for either tourists and Barcelona citizens!

    Barceloneta - Carrer de la Reina Cristina, 7
    www.canpaixano.com/
  • Cerveseria Catalana - Barcelona
    Restaurant
    Restaurant

    Cervecería Catalana

    Cervecería Catalana one of the best tapas restaurant of the city of Barcelona!!

    Eixample right - Mallorca, 236
    www.laflautagroup.com/
  • Quality products and service: Best Barcelona tapas bars & restaurants

    Barcelona is no exception to the tapas craze. Here, as in the rest of Spain, tapas can consist of a variety of dishes, including seafood, cold cuts, grilled vegetables, croquettes, tortillas, olives, anchovies, fried potatoes, etc.

    In Barcelona, it is common to go out for tapas with friends or family, known as "tapeo". This tradition is particularly popular at the end of the day, when people go out for a drink and some tapas before dinner.

    Not all tapas bars offer the same quality of product. We have selected for you our best addresses so far.

     

    The different styles of tapas in Barcelona

    In Barcelona, tapas come in two main styles: traditional and modern.

     

    > Traditional tapas: These include classics such as patatas bravas, croquettes and tortillas. These dishes are often simple, prepared with local ingredients and served in authentic, sometimes old-fashioned bars.

     

    > Modern tapas: Here, chefs reinvent the classics with creative touches, elegant presentations and unexpected ingredients. These tapas are often found in more sophisticated restaurants, offering a contemporary dining experience.

    Origin of the word Tapas

    The word ‘tapas’ comes from the Spanish ‘tapa’, meaning ‘lid’ or ‘cork’. The most common origin is that, in Andalusian taverns, a piece of bread with cheese or ham was placed on top of wine glasses to protect them from insects or dust. Over time, these edible corks became more elaborate, giving rise to the tapas tradition we know today.

    What is tapeo in Barcelona

    Tapeo’ is a Spanish tradition in which people go from bar to bar to enjoy a variety of tapas and drinks. A perfect aperitif, and therefore a perfect tapeo, starts at a traditional bar to enjoy classics like patatas bravas, then explores a modern bar for innovative tapas. All this while strolling through lively neighbourhoods such as El Born or El Raval.

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