The best tapas bars in Barcelona

What are tapas?

Tapas are small portions of food served in bars and restaurants all over Spain. This tradition
comes from the custom of ‘covering’ (tapar) a glass with a piece of bread or ham to protect it
from dust and insects.
Here are the most authentic tapas bars in Barcelona, organised by neighbourhood, where you
can enjoy the most typical dishes of Catalan gastronomy: Spanish omelette, patatas bravas,
croquettes, the famous Barceloneta bomba, octopus Galician style, battered squid, Iberian ham,
pa amb tomàquet… and much more.

Tapas bars in Barcelona by neighbourhood

Barcelona is a city of neighbourhoods, and each one has its own tapas bars with a distinct
personality. From the maritime tradition of Barceloneta to the century-old wine cellars of Gràcia,
through the modernist corners of Eixample or the medieval alleyways of the Gothic Quarter.
Choose your neighbourhood and discover the most authentic tapas bars in each area.

Tapas bars in Barcelona by neighbourhood

Barcelona is a city of neighbourhoods, and each one has its own tapas bars with a distinct
personality. From the maritime tradition of Barceloneta to the century-old wine cellars of Gràcia,
through the modernist corners of Eixample or the medieval alleyways of the Gothic Quarter.
Choose your neighbourhood and discover the most authentic tapas bars in each area.

Our favourite tapas bars in Barcelona

After years exploring Barcelona’s neighbourhoods, these are the three tapas bars that never let
us down. We recommend them wholeheartedly.

La Esquinica

La Esquinica — The perfect tapas bar

Far from the tourist crowds, in the neighbourhood of Sant Andreu, hides this dream bar. Every single tapa — and we mean every one — is delicious: omelettes, ham, Galician-style octopus, croquettes, prawns… Everything breathes authenticity, from the décor to the smell coming from the kitchen. Without a doubt, our favourite tapas bar in Barcelona.
📍 Pg. de Fabra i Puig, 296 · Nou Barris

La Cova Fumada

La Cova Fumada — The legend of Barceloneta

This tapas bar is pure Barcelona history: this is where the iconic Barceloneta bomba was born, invented by the grandmother of the current owner. You won't find a sign at the door or a flashy menu, but you will find the most emblematic tapa in the city, in the very place where it was created.
📍 Calle del Baluard, 56 · Barceloneta

Bar Tomás

Bar Tomás — The best patatas bravas in Barcelona

In the quiet neighbourhood of Sarrià, far from the tourist areas, Bar Tomás has spent decades as an unmissable pilgrimage for any tapas lover. Their patatas bravas are, beyond any doubt, the best in Barcelona.
📍 Calle Major de Sarrià, 49 · Sarrià

Interactive map of tapas bars in Barcelona

Find all the tapas bars in this guide directly on the map. Click on each marker to see the name
and address of the bar.