Barcelona
The best tapas and restaurants in Barcelona: the bars locals love
Anchovies and house cava in El Born, bombas in Barceloneta and montaditos standing up in Poble-sec. In Barcelona you move from bar to bar, and the evening starts late. Here are the tapas bars and restaurants we recommend, and where to stay.
It is half past nine in the evening, and in Barcelona it is still early. At the counter of a narrow bar in El Born the bartender pours house cava into small glasses, anchovies lie in rows in olive oil, and someone has just ordered a third round of pan con tomate. Nobody is in a hurry. Tapas in Barcelona is not about filling up, but about moving from bar to bar.
The links to the hotels are partner links. If you book through them, Picolo may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Short answer: where to eat the best tapas in Barcelona
Classic El Born: El Xampanyet and Cal Pep.
By the beach: La Cova Fumada in Barceloneta, where the bomba was invented.
Standing and local: Quimet & Quimet in Poble-sec.
The big occasion: Disfrutar, named the World’s Best Restaurant in 2024.
We have checked that every place is open in autumn 2026.
Stay in the food quarters
In El Born: Grand Hotel Central, with a rooftop pool. See rooms at Grand Hotel Central
In Poble-sec: Hotel Brummell, a short walk to Carrer de Blai. See rooms at Hotel Brummell
El Born: tapas for purists
El Xampanyet: anchovies and house cava
One of the city’s best-known old bars, with blue tiles, marble tables and a queue out the door. Order anchovies, pan con tomate and a glass of the slightly sweet house cava.
Good to know: Carrer de Montcada, a minute from the Picasso Museum. Arrive early.
Cal Pep: everything happens at the counter
You sit at the counter and watch the cooks at work, and the food arrives at a pace that suits the bartender more than you. Seafood from the market is what you come for.
Good to know: Plaça de les Olles. Best for: a long, lively dinner.
Cured ham at one of the city’s markets.
Barceloneta, Poble-sec and Raval
La Cova Fumada: birthplace of the bomba
No sign outside, no menu on the wall and a room that has not changed in decades. This is said to be where the bomba was invented, a deep-fried potato ball filled with meat, topped with aioli and hot sauce. It closes when the food runs out.
Good to know: Carrer del Baluard in Barceloneta. Lunch is best.
Quimet & Quimet: standing room since 1914
The family has run the bar for more than a century. It is standing room only, and wine bottles cover the walls from floor to ceiling. The speciality is montaditos, small slices of bread topped with top-quality conserves.
Good to know: Poble-sec. It is small, so arrive early.
Bar Cañete: the modern classic
A long counter and a menu that blends Catalan tradition with modern technique, just off La Rambla.
Good to know: Carrer de la Unió 17 in Raval. Book a table.
Carrer de Blai: the tapas street
In Poble-sec there is a whole street of pintxos bars where you pay per stick. A good, affordable place to start the evening.
The old town and the markets
Bar La Plata: four dishes, that is all
A small bar in the Gothic Quarter with a menu of just four dishes, among them fried small fish. It does not get simpler, and that is exactly the point.
La Boqueria: breakfast at the counter
The city’s most famous market sits halfway along La Rambla. Skip the juice stalls at the entrance, and sit at one of the tapas counters deeper inside the hall instead.
Disfrutar: the world’s best
The chefs behind Disfrutar trained at El Bulli, and the restaurant was named the World’s Best Restaurant in 2024. The tasting menu is long, playful and expensive, and tables are booked far in advance.
Hotel Casa Fuster in Gràcia.
How to eat tapas in Barcelona
Eat late: Lunch is around two, and dinner rarely before half past eight.
Order a little at a time: Start with two or three dishes and order more as you go.
Avoid La Rambla: The bars on the main street are pricier and worse than those in the side streets.
Try the Catalan classics: pan con tomate, patatas bravas, bombas and cava.
Where to stay
Grand Hotel Central: in El Born
An elegant hotel with a rooftop pool, within walking distance of El Xampanyet and Cal Pep.
Book your stay: See rooms at Grand Hotel Central
Hotel Brummell: in Poble-sec
A small design hotel with a pool, a short walk to Quimet & Quimet and Carrer de Blai.
Book your stay: See rooms at Hotel Brummell
Hotel Casa Fuster: in Gràcia
A modernist luxury hotel with a jazz club, in a neighbourhood full of local bars.
Book your stay: See rooms at Hotel Casa Fuster
See every area in our guide to where to stay in Barcelona.
Frequently asked questions about tapas in Barcelona
Where is the best tapas in Barcelona?
In El Born, Barceloneta and Poble-sec. El Xampanyet, Cal Pep, La Cova Fumada and Quimet & Quimet are the classics.
How much do tapas cost in Barcelona?
At the simple bars you can eat well for a modest sum. The best-known counter and seafood places cost more.
When do people eat dinner in Barcelona?
Late. Most people eat dinner from half past eight or nine in the evening.