Barcelona has thousands of restaurants spread across the city. We have put together a list of the best tapas in Barcelona and our favourite local restaurants to help you truly experience the beautiful dishes the city has to offer.
Want to get the full experience of tapas tasting? Join our Tapas Food Tour and visit the most authentic, quality tapas bars and restaurants with local food expert guides.
Want to dine like a local? Head to Bar del Pla, a tapas bar that prides itself on being a casual, cosy place, ideal for meeting up with friends. The majority of their ingredients are sourced locally, and their daily specials are created depending on what is available at the market that day. Bar del Pla, located nearby our favorite sustainable hotels in Barcelona, also has an amazing selection of wines. Let them recommend you the best pairing with your tapas.
Do yourself a favour and check out this restaurant’s manifesto before tucking into the most flavorful vegetarian tapas in Barcelona. Located in the Gothic Quarter this restaurant is the perfect hideaway from the twisty streets and the Spanish heat. Part of KM0 Slow Food Barcelona, they source their produce from local suppliers and sometimes from their very own vegetable garden. Trust us, as meat eaters, once you try the patatas bravas you won’t be thinking of chorizo for a while!
Santa Gula is a beautifully decorated restaurant hidden amongst the many plazas in Gracia. The Chef prides himself on using local, seasonal ingredients to create authentic Mediterranean recipes, with hints of international influences. Santa Gula also offers uninterrupted service all day, we love coming here after a day enjoying top things to do in Barcelona for a refreshing drink and a delicious Spanish meal.
Somorrostro knows fresh food. Based in Barceloneta they source their ingredients not only from local suppliers but also from their own organic and biodynamic vegetable garden. They work with local livestock farmers and only use fish bought fresh from the Barceloneta fish market. The menu is updated weekly depending on what seasonal produce is available, we always look forward to being surprised by the seasonal menu. Head over to this excellent tapas restaurant and find out more about the Slow Food Movement. We’re sure Somorrostro’s dishes should be part of the list of best tapas in Barcelona.
Lo Pinyol
This Catalan bodega has stayed true to traditional architecture and design, you can still see the markings on the floor of this renovated piso. Nestled in between trendy Gracia and bustling Eixample, the prices are very affordable. Make sure you sip on a glass of traditional vermut to wash down the tasty tapas. Here’s a top tip, if you’re exploring the city on your own, take a book with you, and if you finish it while you are there, you can always swap it for another in their library located in the back of the restaurant.
If it’s authenticity you are after, you can’t get any better than this family-run tapas bar located off the beaten track near La Barceloneta. Opened in 1944, the restaurant’s decoration is a real time warp. Legend has it the bomba was invented by the current owner’s grandmother, who can still sometimes be seen in the kitchen. Complement the deep fried, potato bomb with a variety of seriously fresh seafood and you’ll definitely be back for seconds. Cova Fumada is the epitome of the relaxed Spanish lifestyle and is very, very casual.
If you have had your fair share of traditional Spanish food, La Mundana is the place to go for a very different tapas experience. The menu is made up of creative dishes with influences from all over the world, from France to Japan. Why not pair your modern tapas with one of the 14 traditional Vermuts on offer? Reservations are recommended, not only is it a cozy place it was voted by the readers of El Periodico as the best restaurant in Barcelona in 2016.
This is the perfect tapas restaurant to drop into while exploring the picturesque Born neighborhood. The decoration has achieved an incredible balance between historic Spanish architecture and modern design. Their tapas continue this theme, with a menu of traditional recipes with unique, modern twists. Offering outstanding service, Santagustina is a beautifully tranquil restaurant in the middle of the city where you will find some of the best tapas in Barcelona.
Conclusion
There are many more tapas bars and restaurants in Barcelona but those one are, at the moment, our all-time favorites. What do you think of our selection? Do you know of a place that should be making it to this list? Let us know in the comments!
How to cook the best tapas in Barcelona?
If you are left feeling inspired after trying the best tapas in Barcelona, why not learn to make traditional dishes at our Catalan Cooking Class. We only use the best locally sourced organic ingredients in our beautiful kitchen. Come along and take the flavors of Barcelona back to your friends and family along with memories of a unique experience with a passioned local chef.