Four of the Best Ways to Taste Tapas in Barcelona
When you’re exploring everything Barcelona has to offer, from the beaches of Barceloneta to the moody medieval Gothic Quarter to Gaudí’s architectural masterpieces, you’re bound to get hungry. And there’s no better way to fuel up than with tapas. Easy to share and almost a shortcut to exploring the capital of Catalonia herself, tapas can be found on every corner of this beautiful city.
But finding the best tapas in Barcelona? That takes a little more work. We’ve uncovered four of the top tapas experiences in the city, from a beachy rooftop bar to an Asian-Catalan fusion hotspot to a unique tour where you can discover Spain’s culinary and cultural heritage.
TAPAS ON A TERRACE
If you crave tapas with a view, check out Chiringuito, set atop trendy design hotel Casa Bonay in the city’s Eixample district. Decorated in a beachy style, with rattan furnishings, floral cushions, and tropical plants, it’s a locals’ favorite and a great spot to enjoy tapas al fresco. Summer is especially lively, when the outdoor grill is fired up and barbecue fans flock here for the stellar grilled specialties. Try the sliced steak with chimichurri, the charred octopus topped with black-olive mayo, or butifarra, a traditional Catalan spiced pork sausage. Prices are extremely reasonable, so be sure to order plenty—after all, you’re sharing! You can also sample a nice variety of local and regional wines by the glass, including a divine natural orange wine hailing from Valencia.
TIME-HONORED TAPAS
Yes, it’s in every guidebook, and no, there are no reservations so there’s always a line, but there’s a good reason why Quimet y Quimet should be tops on your tapas to-do list. More than a century old, this cozy bar in the Poble Sec neighborhood is famous for its dizzying array of tapas and its authentic, old-timey atmosphere. All the tapas here are served cold (there is no kitchen) and nearly all the ingredients—from fish to clams to asparagus—come from cans. But don’t let this deter you: Spanish conservas (tinned food) is actually of the best quality. Along with a long list of affordable tapas, Quimet & Quimet offers montaditos (basically, tapas served atop slices of bread), with a variety of creative combinations like salmon, yogurt, and truffled honey—its most popular montadito. There’s only space for about 20 people in the bar and it’s standing-room-only, so it’s best to visit on the early side and plan for a full dinner elsewhere.
TAPAS WITH A TWIST
Every visitor to Barcelona knows about La Boqueria, the venerable market just off La Rambla. But bypass the crowds of tourists posing for Instagram in front of fruit and fish stands and you’ll find a hidden gem, tucked beneath the market’s porticos. With just eight seats positioned at a bar facing the open kitchen, Direkte Boqueria is a marvelously intimate way to experience tapas. And these aren’t your average tapas: Chef Arnau Muñío, who studied under Michelin-star chef Carles Abellan, leads a team that turns out a wonderfully inventive fusion of Catalan recipes and Mediterranean ingredients prepared with an Asian flair. Tasting menus of seven or 10 dishes, plus two desserts, are continually changing—depending on what’s in season. Maybe it’s Mediterranean tuna tartare in a pickled mustard-pineapple salsa sprinkled with mushrooms plucked in the nearby Pyrenees. Or a sweet-and-earthy confection of cauliflower, vanilla, and sticky toffee sprinkled with black sesame seeds. You can pair these jewel-like dishes with an outstanding selection of Spanish natural and biodynamic wines by the glass. Be sure to make reservations at this tiny, popular spot well in advance.
NOT-YOUR-TYPICAL TAPAS TOUR
There are plenty of tapas tours in Barcelona, but few offer the kind of unique excursion that the one from The Paella Club does. Its “Taste of Spain” walking tour not only lets you taste traditional tapas from around the country but also delves into the heritage of Spanish food and drink. Tours (limited to eight people) start in the ancient Raval district at The Paella Club cooking school, where you’ll have a glass of sparkling cava and sample various tapas. Next, you’ll descend beneath a thousand-year-old monastery to learn about the culture of vermouth—one of Spain’s most popular drinks—accompanied by classic tapas like Manchego cheese, sausage, and Iberico ham. It’s followed by stops in the medieval Gothic Quarter, where you’ll sample tapas from northern Spain: known as pintxos, ingredients are stacked high atop a piece of bread and secured with a toothpick. You’ll end your tour in the historic El Born district, with a private dinner held in an atmospheric stone cellar featuring a three-course traditional dinner that highlights the best of what Spain has to offer.