In Barcelona, tapas are small plates you order a few at a time and share, usually standing at a bar or around a small table, often moving between two or three places in one evening. Start with pa amb tomàquet (bread rubbed with tomato), patatas bravas, croquetas and a bomba, add something from the sea, and drink vermouth, cava or a small beer. Locals eat late: lunch is around 2 pm and dinner from about 9 pm.
How tapas work in Barcelona
Tapas culture in Barcelona is a little different from the south of Spain. Here, tapas are rarely free with your drink. You order and pay for each plate. A tapa is a small portion, while a ración is a bigger plate meant for sharing. For two people, three or four plates at each stop is a good start. You can always order more.
You will also see pintxos, a Basque style of small bites on bread, often held together with a toothpick. In some pintxo bars you help yourself from the counter and the staff count your toothpicks at the end.
12 tapas to try
- Pa amb tomàquet. Toasted bread rubbed with ripe tomato, olive oil and salt. Simple and essential.
- Patatas bravas. Fried potatoes with a spicy sauce. In Barcelona they often come with allioli (garlic mayonnaise) as well.
- Bombas. Fried potato balls filled with meat and topped with sauce. They are said to have been invented in the Barceloneta neighborhood.
- Croquetas. Creamy, crunchy croquettes, usually with ham, chicken or salt cod.
- Jamón ibérico. Cured Iberian ham, sliced thin. Worth the splurge at least once.
- Pimientos de Padrón. Small fried green peppers with sea salt. Most are mild, but the odd one is hot.
- Anchovies. Catalonia is proud of its anchovies, especially those from L’Escala on the Costa Brava.
- Escalivada. Smoky roasted eggplant, red peppers and onion, a Catalan classic.
- Gambas al ajillo. Shrimp sizzling in garlic and olive oil. Keep the bread for the oil.
- Pulpo a la gallega. Tender octopus with paprika and olive oil, originally from Galicia.
- Tortilla española. A thick potato omelet, served in wedges.
- Butifarra. Catalan pork sausage, often served with white beans.
What to drink
- Vermouth (vermut). Barcelona’s favorite pre-lunch drink, served over ice with an orange slice and an olive. “Vermouth hour” on weekends, around midday, is a local ritual.
- Cava. Catalonia’s sparkling wine, and very good value here.
- Caña. A small draft beer, perfect for hopping between bars.
- Wine. Ask for a local red or white from Catalan regions such as the Penedès or Priorat.
- Sangría. Popular with visitors and fun on a summer evening, though locals drink it less often.
When to go
Lunch runs from about 1:30 to 4 pm and dinner from about 8:30 pm until late. Many kitchens close between lunch and dinner, but tapas bars often keep serving. If you get hungry at 6 pm, that is the time for a vermouth and a snack, local style.
Where to go
- El Born and the Gothic Quarter. Atmospheric old-town streets packed with small bars. Busy, but great for a first crawl.
- Poble-sec. Carrer de Blai is known for its long row of pintxo bars.
- Barceloneta. The old fishing quarter, good for seafood and bombas.
- Gràcia. Village squares and a more local crowd.
- Sant Antoni. A favorite for vermouth and a younger local scene.
A good rule of thumb: the closer you are to La Rambla, the more carefully you should check a menu before sitting down. Walk a few streets away and prices and quality often improve.
Want someone to pick the bars?
Our tapas walking tour takes about 3 hours with a local guide, in English, from €66 per person. You visit four local stops, each with food and a drink: expect classic tapas and pintxos, jamón, croquettes and seafood bites, with wine, sangría, vermouth or cava, and soft drinks too. Most guests finish comfortably full, so many treat it as dinner or a late lunch.
Tours start every day at 12:30, 16:00 and 19:00, with extra departures on many dates, from Travellers Nest Bar, Carrer de la Boqueria 27, just off La Rambla. Please arrive 10 to 15 minutes early. Vegetarian options are possible at some stops, but vegan, gluten-free and severe allergies cannot be guaranteed on a shared tour, so please tell us before you book. There is free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
If you would rather sit down for the evening, our tapas and flamenco evening combines ten tapas and sangría with a live flamenco show. And if you want to learn to cook Spanish food yourself, see our paella class guide.