Enjoy the best tapas on your visit to Barcelona! The tapas culture is vibrant in the city, where restaurants, bars, and terraces offer these delightful shared dishes.
But what tapas should you order in Barcelona? The city offers a wide array of traditional dishes and recipes to explore. At Lugaris, we’ll guide you through the best tapas in Barcelona, showcasing the rich diversity of Catalan cuisine. Bon appétit!
Patatas bravas
Let’s start with a Barcelona classic: patatas bravas. These are fried potatoes cut into squares and served with a spicy sauce alongside a milder one, often aioli. The combination of these flavors is irresistible, making it a perfect way to begin your culinary adventure in Barcelona.
Where to try patatas bravas in Barcelona:
La Cova Fumada: This authentic locale is one of the best tapas bars in the Barceloneta neighborhood and is renowned for its homemade patatas bravas.
Pimientos de padrón
If you’re unsure what tapas to order in Barcelona, we suggest a spectacular veggie and vegan option: pimientos de Padrón. These are small green peppers fried and seasoned with salt. The twist is that some of them are spicy, so get ready for a surprise!
Where to try pimientos de padrón in Barcelona:
El Xampanyet: Located in the lively Born neighborhood, this traditional tapas bar offers an excellent selection of dishes, including delicious pimientos de Padrón.
Pa amb tomàquet (Bread with Tomato)
Simplicity at its best. Pa amb tomàquet, or bread with tomato in Catalan, consists of a slice of toasted bread rubbed with fresh tomato. This seemingly straightforward combination reveals the delightful flavors of the Mediterranean. In Barcelona, it is typically served with olive oil and a pinch of salt, making it an ideal complement to tapas or charcuterie.
Where to try pa amb tomàquet in Barcelona:
In any bar or restaurant in Barcelona, you’ll find pan con tomate, a very typical and popular dish among Catalans. However, if we have to choose one establishment, we recommend Bar del Pla. Located in the heart of the Gothic Quarter, this bar is known for its excellent pan con tomate and traditional Catalan cuisine.
Jamón Ibérico
Another must-try tapa in Barcelona is Jamón Ibérico. Known as one of Spain’s finest delicacies, Jamón Ibérico is a staple on any tapas table. Its distinctive flavor and delicate texture offer an unforgettable sensory experience you won’t want to miss.
Where to try Jamón Ibérico in Barcelona:
Jamón Experience: Specializing in Jamón Ibérico, this venue offers a wide variety of options to enjoy this delicacy in the heart of the city.
Tortilla de Patatas
This potato omelet is a classic found in almost every tapas bar in Barcelona. Made with eggs, potatoes, and onions, this delight is perfect to satisfy any craving. Try tortilla while observing Barcelona’s traditions and customs during your next visit.
Where to try tortilla de patatas in Barcelona:
Bar Mut: Known for its signature cuisine and excellent wine selection, this bar is the perfect place to try a delicious tortilla de patatas and other Mediterranean dishes.
Calamares a la Romana
Do you love seafood? Then you can’t miss calamares a la romana. These squid rings are battered and fried to achieve a crispy exterior and a tender interior, making them a true delight!
Where to try calamares a la romana in Barcelona:
Quimet & Quimet: This unique tapas bar, known as one of the best Catalan restaurants in Barcelona, is famous for its creative montaditos and excellent seafood selection, including calamares a la romana.
Croquetas
How could we forget croquetas? These are a must-have on any table with friends or family. Croquetas are small béchamel balls mixed with ingredients such as ham, chicken, cod, or mushrooms, then breaded and fried. They pair perfectly with a cold beer.
Where to eat croquetas in Barcelona:
El Quim de la Boqueria: Located inside the famous Boqueria Market, this restaurant offers a wide variety of tapas and Catalan dishes, and their croquetas are very popular.
Boquerones en Vinagre
For fish lovers, boquerones en vinagre are an excellent option. These anchovy fillets marinated in vinegar are refreshing, delicious, and a staple on Barcelona tables.
Where to try boquerones en vinagre in Barcelona:
Bar Cañete: Situated in the Raval neighborhood, this traditional-style restaurant is famous for its fresh fish dishes, including delicious boquerones en vinagre. El Raval is very close to Avinguda Paral-lel, one of the city’s nightlife centers, so it’s an ideal place to start the night and then go for a drink ;).
Escalivada
This Catalan delight consists of grilled vegetables, mainly eggplants, peppers, and onions. The vegetables are grilled or roasted until tender, then peeled and cut into strips. It’s served cold with a drizzle of olive oil and garlic.
Where to try escalivada in Barcelona:
Bar del Pla: A tapas bar in the Born neighborhood, Bar del Pla is renowned for its excellent selection of traditional Catalan dishes. Alongside its delicious tapas and cheeses, it offers a spectacular escalivada, made with fresh vegetables roasted to perfection and seasoned with extra virgin olive oil and a hint of garlic.
Gambas al Ajillo
Gambas al ajillo is another must-try tapa in Barcelona. This Mediterranean classic consists of fresh shrimp cooked with garlic, chili, and olive oil. The garlic and chili provide an intense and spicy flavor, while the olive oil adds richness to the shrimp.
Where to try gambas al ajillo in Barcelona:
Bar Pinotxo: A tapas bar inside the Boqueria Market, the garlic prawns are a standout option. Made with fresh prawns, garlic, chili, and olive oil, these prawns are bursting with flavor, making them the perfect addition to an unforgettable culinary experience in Barcelona. Additionally, you can enjoy the market’s authentic atmosphere and lively hustle and bustle while savoring this delicacy.
Sepia a la Plancha
Grilled cuttlefish is a simple but delicious dish known for its soft flavor and texture. It’s grilled until tender and served with a drizzle of lemon and a touch of fresh parsley.
Where to eat sepia a la plancha in Barcelona:
La Bombeta: A tapas bar in La Barceloneta renowned for its authentic Catalan cuisine, one of the standout dishes is the grilled cuttlefish. This dish is expertly prepared to highlight its natural flavor and tender texture. Alongside the grilled cuttlefish, La Bombeta offers a variety of other Catalan tapas and dishes, as well as an excellent selection of wines and beers to complement your meal. Discover the best beach bars in Barcelona at La Bombeta.
Now that you know what tapas to order in Barcelona, it’s time to start your gastronomic tour!
Our apartments in Barcelona
Since 2010, Lugaris Apartaments has been offering you the best holiday rental flats in Barcelona, perfect for a family holiday, with friends or as a couple, or for medium-term stays.
You can choose between apartments near the beach in Barcelona, at Lugaris Beach, with sea views, 2 swimming pools (one for adults and one for children) and capacity for up to 6 people, and the Lugaris Rambla flats, located on the Rambla de Poblenou and just 300 m from Bogatell beach, with a balcony or terrace of up to 22 m2 and ideal for couples or families and groups of up to 5 people. All our luxury flats in Barcelona are air-conditioned and equipped with all the appliances, furniture and bed linen you will need during your stay. They also have satellite TV and free high-speed Wi-Fi connection, as well as a safe and a 24-hour private security service.
What’s more, when you make your booking, you can reserve many other additional services: international press in your flat, parking space, transfer service to and from Barcelona airport, bicycle hire, supermarket shopping, museum, sports and show tickets, babysitting service and much more.
For more information, contact Lugaris Apartments without obligation.
