Tapas: Barcelona's Little Plates
A guide to eating tapas in Barcelona, from patatas bravas and jamón to croquettes and pan con tomate, with tips on how to order and where to go.
Tapas: Small Plates, Big Flavors
Tapas are small plates of food, served in bars and restaurants across Spain, and they are the best way to eat in Barcelona. The idea is to share several dishes among friends, ordering a few at a time and moving from bar to bar, with a glass of wine, vermouth or beer. In Barcelona, tapas have a Catalan twist, with local ingredients such as seafood, cured meats and tomato bread appearing alongside Spanish classics. The result is a relaxed, social way to eat that suits the city's late dinners.
The classic tapas include patatas bravas, fried potato cubes with a spicy tomato sauce and garlic aioli, croquetas, creamy fried croquettes filled with ham or cod, and pimientos de Padrón, small green peppers fried in olive oil and salt, where a few are hot. Pan con tomate, or pa amb tomàquet, is Catalan bread rubbed with ripe tomato, garlic and olive oil, and it accompanies almost every meal. Add jamón ibérico, thin slices of cured ham, tortilla española, a thick potato omelette, and seafood such as anchovies and grilled prawns.
How to Order Tapas
| Step | What to Do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Order two or three dishes to start, then add more as you go, rather than ordering everything at once |
| 2 | Share everything: tapas are made to be passed around the table or bar |
| 3 | Ask about the specials (platos del día) on the chalkboard, which are usually the freshest |
| 4 | Pair with vermouth, cava, a caña (small draft beer) or a glass of local wine |
Where to Try Tapas in Barcelona
The best tapas bars are away from Las Ramblas. Look in El Born, Gràcia, Poble-sec and the Eixample for places with a crowd of locals and a short menu. Carrer de Blai in Poble-sec is famous for its cheap pintxos, tapas on bread held together with a toothpick, which you pay for by counting the sticks. The Mercat de la Boqueria has counters serving fresh tapas, though they are pricier. A typical tapas dinner costs roughly €20 to €35 per person, depending on how much you order and drink.
Start eating after 8:30 p.m. if you want a local atmosphere, since many tapas bars are quiet until then. If a place has pictures of the food outside or a tout on the pavement, walk on.
