The 23 Best Barcelona Tapas Restaurants for 2024 (by a local) (original) (raw)

Keep reading to discover the best bars and restaurants for dining on tapas in Barcelona, the dishes you can’t leave the city without trying, and some selected tours for the informed foodie. Written by a local. Que aproveche!

History of Tapas: A Kingly Tradition

There’s nothing more synonymous with Spanish cuisine than tapas, the tradition of eating small dishes as an appetiser, snack or in combination to form a main meal of the day.

In fact the influence of this tradition can be seen in restaurants all around the world, as small plates and tasting dishes have become global food trend.

As a style of eating it certainly has its advantages… after all, what could be better than mixing and matching all the glorious taste sensations of the diverse regions of Spain for supper?

…what could be better than mixing and matching all the glorious taste sensations of the diverse regions of Spain for supper?

The word ‘tapa’ in Spanish means ‘lid’, and the ‘s’ simply denominates its plural form. There are many cited origins for the tradition of eating tapas, and how they got their name, with the most romantic featuring King Alfonso X in a starring role. The King, also known as Alfonso the Wise, was gallivanting around his kingdom many moons ago, when he decided to visit an inn and duly ordered a beer. The innkeeper served this refreshing pint of ale with a small complimentary dish of food on top of the glass.

Legend has it tapas started as a kingly beer snack…

The King thought it was such a good idea that he ordered all inns throughout Spain to serve food with any alcoholic drink by decree of law. A great legend, although perhaps a more probable origin is that these ‘lids’ were a custom used by Andalusian folk, in the sweltering south, to keep the flies off their sweet sherry.

Whatever the truth of the matter, the custom is widespread across the country and it’s inevitable that you’ll encounter tapas menus on your visit. To help you make sense of this intriguing gastronomic phenomenon we’ve compiled a list of typical dishes from Spain and Catalonia below, followed by a guide to some of the best tapas bars and restaurants in Barcelona – plus some suggested food tours for those that want to go further.

19 Tapas Dishes (incl. Must-trys!)

Tapas is such an integral part of Spanish culture that almost every rudimentary bar will have some basic offerings on the counter, whilst many restaurants have a tapas menu or specialise solely in the saucer-sized snacks. There are far too many to list in one article, but here are some of the classic dishes you can expect to find in any traditional-style bar in Barcelona… naturally we’ve included many of our faves. Unfortunately for more ethical eaters, virtually all feature meat or seafood, so vegans may have to look away now!

Aceitunas

Olives! The Spaniards, including the Catalans, are mad about olives, and if there’s only one tapa available it’s sure to be aceitunas as they can be casually noshed with a copa de vino or a small beer. Some delicious Spanish varieties include manzanillas, arbequinas and empeltres.

Albondigas

Meatballs! Not the most elegant dish on this list, although depending on the restaurant they can be raised to out of the ordinary by some clever uses of spices and sauces.

Bacalao

Cod is a mainstay of Catalan cuisine and so naturally enough available in tapas form. Well-salted and usually served on bread with tomatoes. Sometimes you might see it Aragonese or Navarran style in an ajoarriero stew (pictured).

Bomba (must-try!)

A fat ball of mashed potato stuffed with meat, cheese or veg and covered in bread crumbs, La Bomba is the classic dish of the Barceloneta district, so be sure to pop into a bar and try one when you’re on your way back from the beach. Usually spicy.

Boquerones en vinagre

Prepared well these are simply divine. Fresh filleted anchovies in vinegar. Some joints clearly just pull them out of a tin however…

Calamares

To the uncultured eater, calamares resemble onion rings, but are in fact circles of squid in batter. Chewy but delicious, and best with a squeeze of lemon. If you don’t like batter, look out for calamares a la plancha, ie. grilled (even better IMHO).

Chipirones (must-try!)

Baby squid battered and fried, these little critters make look disgusting but they might just be Barcelona Life’s favourite traditional tapa. Best drizzled with a squeeze of lemon and digested at a chiringuito (beach bar) somewhere on the Costa Brava.

Chorizo al vino (must-try!)

An editorial fave, and no wonder if you consider that a) Spanish cured sausage is the best in the world b) what could be better than adding a slosh of red wine?! In some parts of Spain you can also try chorizo al sidra, or sausage cooked in cider!

Croquetas (must-try!)

Another clasico, croquetas – as you might have guessed – are stuffed potato croquettes, similar to the aforementioned bombas. You normally buy them by the unit, and they go great with a beer. Some modern tapas bars serve them with innovative fillings like calamari or seasonal mushrooms.

Ensaladilla rusa

‘Russian salad’ is a firm favourite in Spain, and typically one of the only tapas with a high vegetable count – so good for balancing all those meat dishes. Potatoes, eggs and mayonnaise are the main ingredients with beans, carrots and chopped gherkins common additions. (Not a personal fave if I’m being honest!).

Jamon Iberico (must-try!)

Spain’s legendary ham, made from acorn-fed pigs, hardly needs introducing. Delicious dry and salty slivers that melt in the mouth. Never cheap, but always worth it.

Mejillones (must-try!)

Mussels… they might be “al vapor” that is to say steamed, or “a la marinera” in the sailor’s style (with onion, garlic and tomato), or “rellenos” ie. stuffed. And probably a million other variations!

Morcilla (must-try!)

This dark, suspicious looking meat dish divides opinion… it’s the Spanish version of blood pudding. Sometimes its served on its own, other times with patatas bravas, eggs or in stuffed peppers. Our verdict – it’s freaking delicious!

Pa amb tomaquet (must-try!)

A remarkably simple dish that occupies a place in all true Catalans’ hearts, pa amb tomaquet (or pan con tomate in Spanish) is simply rustic bread rubbed with tomato flesh and sprinkled with salt, olive oil and perhaps garlic. It can be served as an accompaniment to a meal or often with cod or ham as a tapa.

Patatas bravas (must-try!)

Chunks of potato chips served with spicy mayonnaise, this decidedly unhealthy snack is an essential side plate for any meal in Spain. Virtually every tapas restaurant in Barcelona serves their own take on them. The quality typically varies between ‘good’ and ‘unbelievably tasty!’

Pimientos del Padron

Pimientos are peppers, whilst Padron is the region in Galicia where these particular thumb-sized fruits come from. Fried in oil and salted, the urban myth goes that one in five is incredibly spicy. We’ve eaten at least 5,000 though and yet to find one that produced more than mild tongue tingling heat.

Pinchos

A typically Basque dish (known as ‘pintxo’ in its region of origin), the pincho, or ‘spike’, is snack skewered on a toothpick and served on a slice of bread. Almost anything can be used to make a pincho, and a bit like tapas themselves they are a form of eating rather than a recipe. The best place to eat them in Barcelona is definitely along Carrer Blai in the hip district of Poble Sec where dozens of pintxo bars have set up shop… these days it’s quite fashionable to do a pincho crawl on any given day of the week.

Pulpo Gallego (must-try!)

Another dish hailing from Spain’s seafood capital, Galicia, pulpo gallego is boiled octopus seasoned with olive oil, salt and paprika. Usually one of the more expensive tapas on any given menu, few regret the extra few euros.

Tortilla

Not to be confused with Mexican tortilla, Spanish tortilla is not a thin flatbread but a fat omelette made with egg, potato and onion. It’s the type of dish that can vary from ordinary to heavenly – usually the latter if homemade by your Spanish friend’s mum.

There are plenty more delicious varieties of tapas served up in bars around Spain, and we’ll add even more munch-worthy morsels next time we update this page. (If you can’t wait check out Wikipedia’s entry for more common dishes).

We’ve mostly focused on the classics that you might find in any neighbourhood joint, but an increasing number of modern, hip and fancy places are adding their own creations to menus across the city… so our advice is just be adventurous! We’ve ordered some of the best dishes of our lives without having the foggiest clue what they were before they arrived on the table.

Keep reading to find out our favourite tapas restaurants in the city…

…article continues after photo.