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This spot just around the corner from the Liceu opera house is one of Barcelona's best tapas restaurants, with a long bar overlooking the burners and part of the kitchen that leads down to the 20-seat communal tasting table at the end of the room. Specialists in Ibérico products, they serve obscure cuts of Ibérico pork, such as pluma ibérica and secreto ibérico (nuggets of meat found on the inside of the shoulder blade and much-prized by Ibérico fanatics), though the real highlight of the menu is the market-fresh seafood that ranges from oysters, to grilled baby scallops and house special dishes like the baby squid (chipirones) with white Santa Pau beans.
Known For
- Boisterous atmosphere
- Superb tapas
- Fresh seafood
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If you're looking for a calm respite in which to enjoy a mid-morning coffee or a laid-back lunch, you can't beat a patio table at this café in the lush gardens of Casa de la Misericòrdia (a former orphanage), replete with palm trees, ferns, moss, and a small waterfall that mutes the street noise. In the evening, twinkling lights add a touch of romance to the already magical space.
d'Elisabets 6, 08001, Spain
Known For
- Good croissants
- Quiet surroundings
- Romantic ambience in the evening
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Specializing in Catalan bar food and local, organic, biodynamic, and natural wine, this sometimes-rowdy bar may not look like much from the outside but the hordes of people waiting to be seated give it away. Top choices include the mushroom carpaccio with wasabi vinaigrette and strawberries, the black squid-ink croquettes and the spicy patatas bravas.
Known For
- Catalan natural wines
- Excellent tapas
- Totally on-trend despite the old-school appearance
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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Just above Diagonal, this elegant retro space serves first-rate products ranging from wild sea bass to the best Ibérico hams. Crowded, noisy, chaotic, delicious—it's everything a great tapas bar or restaurant should be. The wine selections and range of dishes proposed on the chalkboard behind the bar are creative and traditional and the service is superb. The name is a play on the word vermut (vermouth), which, not so long ago, was about as close to tapas as Barcelona was apt to get. The menu changes with the seasons, but staples include the solomillo with seasonal mushrooms (or foie gras when mushrooms aren't in season) and the utterly decadent lobster with egg and brandy. Don't let the friendly and casual feel of the place lull you into thinking that la cuenta (the check) will be anything but sobering. Entrepanes Diaz, directly opposite, is a spin-off that serves more humble (and more sensibly priced) snacks and sandwiches in a similarly elegant style.
Pau Claris 192, 08037, Spain
Known For
- Upmarket tapas
- Great wine list
- Snacks at nearby spin-off Entrepanes Diaz
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
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Set in a charming Moderniste space dating back to 1892, this bar hits the perfect balance of quality, price, service, and ambiance. The menu mixes classic dishes like deep-fried calamari and spicy patatas bravas, with house specials like the steak tartare.
Known For
- Omelet with black pudding and mushrooms
- Sunny terrace
- Moderniste interior
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No reservations
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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It's has been in a permanent feeding frenzy for more than 30 years, intensified by hordes of tourists, but this loud, hectic bar manages to keep delivering the very highest quality tapas, year-in and year-out. Be prepared to wait up to an hour for a place at the counter; reservations for the tables in the tiny back room and on the outdoor terrace are accepted, but the counter is where the action is.
Pl. de les Olles 8, 08003, Spain
Known For
- Excellent fish fry
- Delicious tortilla de patatas
- Lively counter scene
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and 3 wks in Aug. No lunch Mon.
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For a cool pick-me-up on a hot Barcelona afternoon, you can't beat the seasonal, locally sourced, Italian-style ice cream from DeLaCrem. Expect classics like vanilla, chocolate, and dulce de leche as well as more unconventional combinations like mandarin and orange blossom yogurt, pear and Parmesan, or pumpkin and toasted butter. There are vegan options, too.
Enric Granados 15, 08007, Spain
Known For
- Italian-style ice cream
- Unconventional flavors
- Pumpkin and toasted butter gelato
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A favorite with visiting gourmands, this often overcrowded little counter serves some of the best beer and tapas in town. The house-brewed artisanal draft beer—named after the Fort family who owns and runs the bar—is drawn and served with loving care by veteran, epauletted waiters who have it down to a fine art.
Known For
- Old-school service
- Stand-up dining
- Beef fillet is a favorite
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If you're looking to freshen up after a long, sweaty day of sightseeing, this artisanal Italian-owned gelateria is just the ticket. In addition to a broad range of dairy-based flavors, there are plant-based options and fresh-fruit sorbets, plus gluten-free cones. The vegan dark chocolate gelato is a particular favorite. Open every night until midnight.
Pla de Palau 4, 08003, Spain
Known For
- Italian-style gelato
- Dairy-free options, like vegan dark chocolate
- Open until midnight
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Don't be distracted by the graffitied walls and highly Instagrammable dishes: the innovative tapas at La Pepita lives up to the hipster hype. The room is dominated by long marble-topped bar—there are only a handful of tables in the narrow space—so it’s best for couples or small groups.
Còrsega 343, 08037, Spain
Known For
- Spanish fried eggs and potatoes with foie gras
- Shrimp croquetas
- Popcorn-topped ice cream
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Top-notch coffee, homemade pastries and cakes, and healthy fare like avocado toast make this organic café a particularly bustling spot at breakfast. For lunch or a casual dinner, there's a long list of panini sandwiches, as well as excellent quiches and Italian-inspired salads.
Pl. de la Vila de Gràcia 8, 08012, Spain
Known For
- Terrace seating right on the plaza
- Great coffee
- Healthy menu
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This is a strong contender for the crown of Barcelona’s best bistro, where chef Toni Romero turns out Catalan tapas and dishes that have roots in rustic classics but reach high modern standards of execution. The name is a twist on the Catalan sucar lent (to dip slowly), and excellent bread is duly provided to soak up the sauces, which you won't want to let go to waste.
Rambla del Raval 45, 08001, Spain
Known For
- Tasting menu with seasonal dishes
- Must-try steak tartare on marrow bone
- Caviar section on menu
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sat. and Sun., Reservations essential
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Specializing in San Sebastián's favorite dishes, this Basque restaurant has only one drawback: a table is hard to score unless you call well in advance. A good backup plan, though, is the tapas served at the first-come, first-served bar.
València 169, 08011, Spain
Known For
- Basque pintxos
- Convivial tavern atmosphere
- Hospitable service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun., 2 wks in Jan., 2 wks at Easter, and 3 wks in Aug. No dinner Sun., Reservations essential
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This Poblenou bakery’s ever-changing selection of delectable homemade cakes, tarts, and cookies—including many vegan and gluten-free options—hits the sweet spot. The Saturday-only brunch features savory egg sandwiches served on house-baked brioche buns.
Known For
- English- and Australian-style baked goods
- Seasonal specialties
- Saturday brunch
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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$ | El Raval |
Fresh, falafel-like balls of meat, fish, and vegetables in unique, mouthwatering combinations are prepared with laser-sharp focus by the Israeli chef helming A Tu Bola. Everything from the harissa (spicy chili paste) to the hummus is made by hand, elevating the standard far beyond that of typical street food in the surrounding Raval. Be prepared to wait for a seat in the small eating area and follow the staff's advice on portion sizes when ordering from the mix-and-match menu.
Hospital 78, Barcelona, Catalonia, 08001, Spain
Known For
- Quality street food
- Quick snacks
- Amazing chocolate ball dessert
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations not accepted
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$ | La Rambla |
Started by two sisters, Marisol and Sofía, Artisa is a one-stop-shop for coffee, cakes, juices, and sandwiches, with a few outdoor and indoor tables. It's the perfect place for a light bite or a snack while sight-seeing.
Colom 2, Barcelona, Catalonia, 08002, Spain
Known For
- Good coffee
- Cozy inside
- Everything is house-made or sourced from local artisan providers
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$$ | Sant Antoni |
Alegria translates as "joy" and nothing is more joyful than finding a sunny spot on Alegria's popular patio for a glass of iced vermút and a tapa of spicy patatas bravas or the famous truffled ham and cheese toastie. Vermouth culture is all about bar hopping from place to place until you are full (and tipsy) and suddenly realize the sun set a long time ago and you have no idea what time it is—nor do you care. Sant Antoni is full of vermouth bars just like this and Bar Alegria is a great place to kick things off.
Comte Borrell, 133, Barcelona, Catalonia, 08015, Spain
Known For
- Popular vermouth spot
- Delicious tapas
- Sunny patio
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$ | Barceloneta |
Don’t let the slightly dingy atmosphere dissuade you; this Barceloneta bar serves reliably good tapas and an excellent house vermouth, making it a local favorite since its founding in 1908. The best seats are out on the plaza-fronting terrace.
Sant Carles 15, Barcelona, Catalonia, 08003, Spain
Known For
- Ensaladilla rusa (Russian potato salad with tuna)
- House vermouth and by-the-barrel wines
- Affordable tapas
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No dinner Sun.
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Despite its location just off La Rambla, Bar Lobo’s outdoor terrace overlooks a charming and usually quiet square, plus it's open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The menu covers all the bases: coffee, juice, wine, cocktails, traditional Catalan and Spanish tapas, and Western mains.
Pintor Fortuny 3, 08001, Spain
Known For
- Great terrace
- Busy brunch
- Casual tapas
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$ | Eixample |
Always a popular place to hang out and watch barcelonins kill some time, this lively café has hosted everyone from local poets to King Felipe. The tapas are nothing special but the sandwiches are excellent and the beer is cold. Plus, this old-fashioned bar de toda la vida (everyday bar), with its long counter and jumble of tables, is open 365 days a year.
París 187, Barcelona, Catalonia, 08036, Spain
Known For
- Open every day of the year
- Superior sandwiches
- Old-fashioned bar
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Weekdays 7 am–2 am, weekends 10 am–3 am