A proper trip to Barcelona will involve admiring the city’s stunning architecture and experiencing its vibrant culture, as well as exploring its renowned tapas scene.
Tapas are small dishes, often bite-sized portions, shared among diners. They are a cornerstone of Spain’s culinary identity, and you will find countless tapas bars in Barcelona serving traditional tapas or more sophisticated, chef-crafted creations.
In this article, I tell you where to find the best tapas in Barcelona so that you can taste the best this incredible city has to offer. Whether you’re eating tapas for the first time or are a die-hard Spanish foodie, here’s our pick of the best tapas bars in Barcelona.
Tapas or Pintxos? The main difference is that tapas are served on a plate and can be eaten with cutlery, while pintxos (or pinchos) are served in skewers and toothpicks.
Enjoy the Best Tapas in Barcelona with a Guided Tour
A Barcelona tapas tour is a great way to combine culture with these culinary delights, taste delicious recipes, add new tapas bars to your list, and meet new people! Usually, each tapas tour is concentrated around one neighborhood.
- Authentic tapas crawl (3 hours, Poble Sec neighborhood)
- Wine and tapas tour (4 hours, Eixample neighborhood)
- Evening walking tour in the Gaudi area with tapas (4 hours, Eixample neighborhood)
- Tapas walking tour with food, wine, and history (3 hours, Gothic neighborhood)
- El Born /Gothic quarter wine and tapas tour (3,5 hours, Gothic /Born neighborhood)
- La Barceloneta tapas food tour (3 hours, La Barceloneta neighborhood)
Best Tapas Bars in Barcelona
Here are the best tapas places in Barcelona, with a Barcelona tapas map to find them!
Click here to view the map on Google My Maps
1. Alcoba Azul
Located in the heart of the Gothic Quarter, this bar and restaurant is perfect for tasting tasty tapas and sipping great cocktails in a cozy venue. Thanks to the stone walls, wooden tables, and soft lighting, the ambiance has a ‘homely’ feel.
At Alcoba Azul, you will find an extensive menu with dishes based on simple recipes reinvented by the chef. So expect to eat a variety of classic tapas, all enriched with exceptional ingredients, from pistachios to fresh goat cheese.
All the produce used in the dishes comes from Catalonia and the Spanish region of Extremadura, where the restaurant staff comes from. Make sure to try their selection of Iberian cold cuts and cheeses, their patatas acordeón, and stuffed peppers with goat cheese and rose jam.
Address: Carrer de Salomó ben Adret, Barcelona. Opening times: every day from 12 p.m. to 01 a.m.
2. Cal Pep
This renowned tapas bar in the El Born neighborhood is a popular hangout spot among the locals.
Cal Pep‘s menu offers an exciting selection of tapas, with the seafood being particularly delicious. Try the razor clams and grilled monkfish. However, the top tapa choice is their tortilla with chorizo sausage, which is said to be one of the best in Barcelona.
For the whole Cal Pep experience, you’ll want a seat at the bar! However, prepare to be in line for a while, as everyone wants to do the same. If queuing is not your jam, you can book your table in the bar’s formal dining room or outdoor terrace.
Address: 8 Plaça de les Olles, Barcelona. Opening times: Monday (from 19:30 to 11:30 p.m.), Tuesday through Friday (from 13 to 11:30 p.m.), and Saturday (from 13:15 to 11:30 p.m.).
3. Elsa y Fred
You will find Elsa y Fred in the trendy neighborhood of El Born. This family-owned gastro-bar has a surprising mix of French decor and a New York vibe. The menu is equally astonishing, offering traditional Spanish dishes prepared with an international twist.
For many, Elsa y Fred is the best tapas bar in Barcelona, a place where all the food is 100% homemade, and there’s an outstanding relationship between quality and price.
Among their signature tapas are the patatas bravas (the house specialty), tuna tartare, grilled octopus, and baby squid. Treat yourself to freshly baked tarts and cakes, and don’t miss out on their house-made vermouth.
Address: 11 Carrer del Rec Comtal, Barcelona. Opening times: every day from 9 a.m. to 1 a.m.
4. Tapas 2254
In the central neighborhood of Eixample, Tapas 2254 offers innovative tapas in a hipster venue.
The menu is cosmopolitan, and the tapas offered are inspired by Spanish, Italian, and French flavors and ingredients, representing the life journey of the owner and chef, Nuncio Cona.
The name of this tapas bar in Barcelona pays tribute to Cona’s trip by Vespa from Italy to Spain, passing through France – there are 2254 kilometers between Palermo and Barcelona.
Embark on this multi-country journey yourself by tasting the restaurant’s well-prepared tapas, including the deep-fried calamari Andalusian style, baby octopus alla Palermitana, and olives filled with Campari.
Address: 335 Carrer Consell de Cent, Barcelona. Opening times: from Monday to Thursday, Sunday from 1 p.m. to midnight, and Friday and Saturday from 1 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.
5. La Pepita
This small bar-restaurant with a cozy atmosphere is one of the best spots to enjoy tapas in the Gràcia neighborhood.
La Pepita opened its doors in 2010 and quickly became a local favorite hangout spot. The tasty tapas served at this informal family-run restaurant are both classical and a revisitation of traditional Spanish cuisine recipes.
Skimming through the menu, you will see how original their dishes are! Among the top tapas to taste are the smoked eggplant fritters, the sea bass ceviche, and marinated beef skewer.
Something else to try at La Pepita is the classic ‘Pepito,’ a hot veal sandwich that gave the restaurant its name. As with their tapas, the Pepitos served at the restaurant are modernized to accommodate all tastes.
Address: 343 Carrer Còrsega, Barcelona. Opening times: open every day from 7 p.m. to midnight.
6. El 58
In the Poblenou neighborhood, you will find El 58. Renowned for serving some of the best tapas in Barcelona, this restaurant is an excellent choice if you want to take a gastronomic break.
The long list of tapas to choose from is written on a blackboard and presented to your table by the waiter. It includes both classic and contemporary dishes. The menu changes seasonally, but among the house’s staples are Andalusian fried squid, croquettes, patatas bravas, and fideuà.
This restaurant is incredibly popular among locals, so show up earlier to avoid queues, as El 58 doesn’t accept reservations. Stepping inside, you will be surrounded by the typical Barcelona ceramics and red bricks that create a typical ambiance.
Address: 58 Rambla del Poblenou, Barcelona. Opening times: Monday through Friday for lunch (from 1 to 3:30 p.m.) and dinner (from 8 to 10:30 p.m.).
7. L’Atelier De Blai
For a different meal experience, head to L’Atelier de Blai. This well-known restaurant in Poble Sec, the neighborhood at the foot of Montjuïc, offers classic tapas and pintxos.
At L’atelier de Blai, you can get delicious pintxos for a cheap price! The pintxos are usually displayed at the bar, so once you’re seated, you will need to get up, grab a tray, and choose the mouth-watering pintxos.
Common pintxos include angulas a la bilbaína (baby eels), potato croquettes, and the classic Gilda (a skewer with pepper, Cantabrian anchovies, and a manzanilla olive).
Address: 38 Carrer de Blai, Barcelona. Opening times: Wednesday and Thursday from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Sunday until midnight, and Sunday until 12:30 a.m.
8. Bodega Fermín
A cool tapas bar in La Barceloneta, this spot used to be a ‘bodega’ (a winery or wine cellar), and partially still is: you can show up with a bottle and fill it with wine straight from the barrel!
Bodega Fermín is indeed the perfect bar to quench your thirst. They have an excellent selection of wines and craft beer, including one produced by themselves, La Rosa del Fermín.
The quality beers and wines pair perfectly with the tapas and pintxos on the menu. From traditional pinchos like Banderilla and Gilda to classic tapas like their superb pa amb tomàquet and grilled eggplant with goat cheese and onion chutney, you will surely enjoy your meal at Bodega Fermín.
Address: 18 Carrer de Sant Carles, Barcelona Opening times: Sunday through Thursday from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. and Friday and Saturday from 12 p.m. to 1 a.m.
And there you have it, where to find the best tapas in Barcelona. What tapas bar tempts you most for your next treat?
