Whether you’re visiting as a couple or with a group of mates, Barcelona is always a good idea. With its beautiful beach, buzzing nightlife, incredible architecture and seriously good tapas, there’s something for everyone. Safe to say, the people who call this place home have got it pretty good.
📝 Drinking; Barcelona has a lot of great cocktail bars. A few of my favourites include Dry Martini, Two Schmucks, Dr. Stravinsky, & Tandem Cocktail Bar. Avoid Sips and Paradiso which are both on the 50 Best list. You can see my Sips review here. For vermut go to Moro Fi. For beer checkout Fàbrica Moritz. For wine head to Bar Brutal or Bar Salvatge.
📝 Beware of pickpockets. Especially on the beach and around Las Ramblas. Don’t keep valuables in your pockets if you’re wearing loose shorts.
📝 Also if you are travelling by boat I recommend using ferryhopper.com to book your tickets.
1. La Cova Fumada
📍Barceloneta. La Cova Fumada is a legendary, family-run tapas bar in Barcelona’s Barceloneta district, founded in 1944. Originally a fishermen’s tavern, it has retained much of its old-fashioned character and traditional Catalan seafood cooking. Its most famous creation is the “bomba”which is a fried ball of mashed potato filled with minced meat, traditionally served with aioli and a spicy sauce. The dish is widely regarded as having originated at La Cova Fumada in the 1950s but can now be found all over the city. Today, the restaurant remains known for fresh seafood and an unpretentious atmosphere. It’s always busy so I recommend going earlier and putting your name down. It’s open for lunch only. Closed Sunday-Tuesday and most of August.
2. El Xampanyet
📍El Born. El Xampanyet is one of Barcelona’s classic old-school tapas bars, tucked into Carrer de Montcada in El Born. Founded in 1929, it remains a family-run institution and has preserved the look and feel of a traditional Barcelona tavern, with colourful tiled walls, marble tables, barrels and vintage details. Its speciality is simple, high-quality traditional food rather than elaborate cooking: particularly Cantabrian anchovies, cured meats, cheeses and small tapas, accompanied by its house sparkling wine or vermouth. Standout dishes for me are the pluma Iberica (Iberico pork neck) with padron, as well as the grilled squid with slow-cooked vegetables. El Xampanyet is as much about the atmosphere as the food—crowded, lively, informal and slightly chaotic, with locals and visitors packed around the bar. It feels like a surviving piece of old Barcelona in an increasingly polished El Born. It’s become incredibly popular in recent years and the queues can get long so be prepared to wait.
3. Bar Canete
📍 El Raval. Bar Cañete is a much-loved modern tapas and seafood bar in Barcelona’s El Raval neighbourhood, close to La Rambla. It has a lively, bustling atmosphere, with a long bar and open kitchen where you can watch the chefs at work. The menu focuses on traditional Catalan and Spanish cooking, particularly fresh seafood, jamón, conservas, croquettes and other classic tapas, with an emphasis on quality ingredients. This is a great bar for a special occasion meal. They also have a private dining area. Service is really good. Make your booking online ahead of time or show-up early to secure a walk-in.
4. Can Paixano
📍Le Barceloneta. Can Paixano, also known locally as La Xampanyeria, is a legendary, tiny Barceloneta cava bar that has been around since 1969. I’ve been going here for fifteen years. Prices have gone up a lot in that time (a bottle of cava used to be around €4 but is now around €11), they’ve introduced a queueing system, there’s more tourists and less locals, but it’s still well worth a visit. They’re famous for their house cava, particularly the rosé, paired with fried sausage and toasted bocadillos. I recommend going for the morcilla, botifarra and chorizo. The experience is a big part of the appeal here. It’s cramped, noisy, fast-moving and wonderfully old-school, with customers often standing shoulder-to-shoulder at the bar. See my reel here.
5. Cal Pep
📍El Born. Cal Pep is one of Barcelona’s most famous tapas bars, tucked away in El Born. Open since 1979, it’s known for its lively, informal atmosphere high quality dishes. Rather than ordering from a conventional menu, diners at the bar are encouraged to put themselves in the hands of the staff, who serve a changing selection based on the freshest fish, seafood and seasonal produce available that day. The bar is the heart of the experience. You sit close to the open cooking area and watch dishes being prepared in front of you. It was even once listed as high as No.31 in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants. Standouts include their famous tortilla, fresh seafood and crème catalana.
6. Lluritu
📍Gràcia. Lluritu is a laid-back seafood restaurant in Gràcia that has built its reputation around exceptionally fresh fish and shellfish cooked simply over a wood-fired grill or griddle. Expect grilled sardines, squid, clams, prawns, mussels, razor clams and seasonal catches, alongside oysters. The house specialty is lorito (the fish the restaurant is named after). It’s only in season from September to March. The fish comes lightly fried and served with a simple side of seasonal vegetables. It’s not cheap due to availability and demand. The atmosphere is casual, lively and distinctly local, rather than polished or formal. The original Gràcia location is small and informal, giving it the feel of a neighbourhood seafood bar rather than a destination restaurant.
7. La Plata
📍El Gotic. A Gothic Quarter favourite since 1945. There are only six items on the menu; fried butifarra sausage pincho, anchovies, tomato salad, olives, pan con tomate and the most popular, pescaditos (small fried fish). The bar is open from 11:00-15:00 and 18:00-23:00 six days a week and always busy. The prices are great, with the fried fish only being €3.50 and beers from €2.50.
8. El Vaso De Oro
📍Barceloneta. Cervecería El Vaso de Oro is a legendary, old-school beer-and-tapas bar in La Barceloneta, operating since 1962. It is a narrow, lively establishment built around a long bar, traditional service and freshly cooked food from the grill. The dish I’m coming here for is the steak and foie gras plate. It’s also topped with caramelised onions and salt. It’s not cheap at €31.50 but it’s big plate so great for sharing or you can ask for a half portions. Other favourite dishes for me include the tuna and padron peppers and the house club sandwich. See reel here.
9. Bar Electricitat
📍Barceloneta. Bar Electricitat is a historic Barceloneta bodega founded in 1908, originally named for an electricity generator in the building that supplied power to part of the neighbourhood. It became a traditional meeting place for fishermen and sailors, and today retains much of its early-20th-century character, including its wooden-and-marble bar, wine barrels, ice refrigerator and wrought-iron modernist doors. It is particularly known for homemade vermouth and traditional tapas, especially its crab-and-potato ensaladilla, bomba de la Barceloneta and bocadillos (sandwiches). See my reel here.
10. Colmado Wilmot
📍Sat Gervasi-Galvany. From ex El Bulli chef, Eugeni de Diego. It’s not in a well visited part of town for a tourist but well worth the fifteen minute drive/cycle from La Rambla. ‘Colmado’ roughly translates to ‘deli’, which is what Colmado Wilmot is – a posh deli which also doubles as a restaurant. I went for the snails, tortilla with txistorra, Albondigas (meatballs) in stroganoff sauce & torrija (a Spanish version of French toast) smothered in a caramel sauce. The tortilla and torrija were must-orders for me.
11. Quimet & Quimet
KSant Antoni. Quimet & Quimet is a tiny, iconic family-run tapas bar in Poble-sec, founded in 1914 and now run by the fourth and fifth generations. Its speciality is conservas (quality tinned seafood), montaditos, tapas and vermouth. The food is deliberately simple in format but often inventive in combinations. Examples include anchovies with loquats, artichokes with anchovies, tuna with roasted pepper, and various seafood preserves. The atmosphere is a major part of the experience. It’s very small, crowded and lively, with customers standing around the bar. It feels more like an old-fashioned Barcelona bodega than a conventional restaurant. They also have a newer second restaurant called Bar Bodega Quimet.
12. Los Caracoles
📍El Gotic. Los Caracoles is one of Barcelona’s great historic restaurants, founded in 1835 in the Gothic Quarter. It began as a small grocery shop and tavern before evolving into a restaurant. Their famous snail dish eventually gave the establishment its current name. The restaurant is known for traditional Catalan cooking. Popular dishes include caracoles (snails), rotisserie chicken, suckling pig, paella, and seafood. Its labyrinth of intimate dining rooms and historic atmosphere are as much part of the experience as the food. You have to walk through the kitchen to get to the dining rooms. Still operated by the Bofarull family, Los Caracoles has become a Barcelona institution and has hosted numerous famous figures, including Salvador Dalí and Robert De Niro.
13. El Quim de la Boqueria
📍 El Raval. El Quim de la Boqueria is a tiny, legendary market bar inside La Boqueria, founded in 1987 by Quim de la Boqueria. It began with just three metres of counter and five stools and gradually became one of Barcelona’s best-known places to eat directly within the market. They cook with the freshest market ingredients, turning them into generous, highly focused Catalan dishes. It is particularly famous for its fried eggs, often paired with baby squid, prawns or other seasonal ingredients, as well as omelettes, seafood, croquettes and market vegetables. Sitting by the counter surrounded by buzz of the market is part of its charm.
14. Tapeo
📍El Born. Tapeo is a modern Catalan tapas restaurant in El Born. They take traditional tapas and market cooking and give them a contemporary, creative touch while keeping the focus firmly on good ingredients and straightforward technique. The menu features generous, shareable dishes built around Catalan flavours, with favourites such as patatas bravas, octopus, croquettes, meats and seasonal produce. The standout item for me here were the Iberico pork ribs.
15. La Bombeta
📍 Barceloneta. La Bombeta is a classic, no-frills Barceloneta tapas bar, particularly famous for the neighbourhood’s signature bombas (potato croquettes filled with meat and served with spicy sauce and allioli). The restaurant has been run by the same owner, María José Otero, for around 40 years, and its closely guarded bomba recipe came from the previous owners. Alongside the bombas, the menu is packed with generous, inexpensive tapas such as calamari, patatas bravas, tortilla, fried fish and morcilla. The atmosphere is busy, traditional and distinctly Barceloneta.
16. Bar Leo
📍Barceloneta. Bar Leo is a legendary Barceloneta neighbourhood bar, founded in 1978. It began as a local meeting place for fishermen, artists, and flamenco musicians. The bar is particularly famous for its connection to flamenco singer Bambino, one of the owners close friends. Its walls are covered with photographs of Bambino, family pictures, religious images, souvenirs and countless personal objects, creating an almost shrine-like atmosphere. Flamenco remains central to the bar’s identity. They have a small menu of food but it’s more about having a drink here.
17. Can Sole
📍Barceloneta. Can Solé is one of La Barceloneta’s great historic seafood restaurants, founded in 1903. It began by feeding fishermen and workers around the port and has evolved into an emblematic restaurant devoted to traditional Catalan seafood. The focus is on fresh seafood and rice dishes. The setting retains a strong sense of its maritime history, including a marble counter and murals.
18. Cerveceria Catalana
📍Eixample. Cerveceria Catalana is a lively, hugely popular tapas bar in Barcelona’s Eixample. It is known for its large selection of classic tapas, montaditos and beers, making it a dependable stop. This place always has queues coming out the door. You can either wait for a table or try and grab a seat by the bar when there’s space. Some of my favourite dishes here is the plate of sautéed mushrooms with egg yolk, filet mignon with foie gras and fried Brie covered in almonds with jam.
19. La Bodega d’en Rafel
📍Sant Antoni. An old-school bar that’s been a Sant Antoni neighbourhood favourite since the 1980s. Except classic tapas dishes, ice cold beers, and house-made vermut. My favourite dish was the chicharrón (crispy pork belly).I love the tiled walls in here too.
20. El Pinotxo Bar
📍 El Raval. Bar Pinotxo is one of Barcelona’s legendary market bars, originally famous for its tiny counter inside La Boqueria. The bar has now moved to Mercat de Sant Antoni, carrying the tradition into a new setting. The cooking remains focused on traditional Catalan dishes and daily market produce, including cap i pota, chickpeas with morcilla, fricandó, stews and the famous eggs with baby squid.📍 El Raval. Bar Pinotxo is one of Barcelona’s legendary market bars, originally famous for its tiny counter inside La Boqueria. The bar has now moved to Mercat de Sant Antoni, carrying the tradition into a new setting. The cooking remains focused on traditional Catalan dishes and daily market produce, including cap i pota, chickpeas with morcilla, fricandó, stews and the famous eggs with baby squid.
21. Bar Del Pla
📍El Born. Bar del Pla is a popular El Born tapas bar combining traditional Catalan cooking with a more contemporary, market-driven approach. It has been established in the neighbourhood for around 14 years and is known for its relaxed, slightly irreverent atmosphere. Popular dishes include canelón, callos and crispy oxtail. The setting—with its vaulted ceiling, wooden furniture and marble bar—adds to the old-Born character, while the cooking makes it more than a traditional tapas stop. Open all day and always lively. They’re known for their good wine selection too.📍El Born. Bar del Pla is a popular El Born tapas bar combining traditional Catalan cooking with a more contemporary, market-driven approach. It has been established in the neighbourhood for around 14 years and is known for its relaxed, slightly irreverent atmosphere. Popular dishes include canelón, callos and crispy oxtail. The setting—with its vaulted ceiling, wooden furniture and marble bar—adds to the old-Born character, while the cooking makes it more than a traditional tapas stop. Open all day and always lively. They’re known for their good wine selection too.
22. Bodega Montferry
📍Sants. Bodega Montferry is a historic Sants neighbourhood bodega dating from 1965, known for preserving the character of a traditional Barcelona bar while giving its food a distinctly modern, creative edge. It was forced to move to its current location in 2022, but deliberately retained the original bodega spirit, including its wine-barrel atmosphere and popular Catalan recipes. The real draw is the excellent bocadillos (sandwiches). Daily sandwich specials and can feature imaginative combinations.📍Sants. Bodega Montferry is a historic Sants neighbourhood bodega dating from 1965, known for preserving the character of a traditional Barcelona bar while giving its food a distinctly modern, creative edge. It was forced to move to its current location in 2022, but deliberately retained the original bodega spirit, including its wine-barrel atmosphere and popular Catalan recipes. The real draw is the excellent bocadillos (sandwiches). Daily sandwich specials and can feature imaginative combinations.
23. El Chigre
📍El Born. El Chigre 1769 is a distinctive El Born/Gothic Quarter tavern that brings together Asturian and Catalan food traditions. The concept is summed up by its description as a cider and vermouth house. The menu combines Asturian cider, Catalan vermouth, local produce and seasonal cooking, with dishes such as chorizo cooked in cider, Cabrales potatoes, Cantabrian anchovies, croquettes, octopus and Asturian cheeses including Gamoneu and Cabrales. The restaurant occupies a historic building dating to 1769.
24. La Mar Salada
📍Barceloneta. La Mar Salada is a long-standing Barceloneta seafood restaurant, established in 1993, with roots in the neighbourhood’s traditional fishing and restaurant culture. It is located on Passeig de Joan de Borbó, close to the port and beach. The kitchen specialises in Catalan cuina marinera—fresh fish, shellfish and, above all, rice dishes and paellas. They combine traditional seafood cooking with more modern techniques and presentations. The restaurant sources fish from the local fish market and balances classic dishes with more inventive creations. Its combination of serious seafood cooking, excellent rice dishes and a relaxed seaside setting has made it a Barceloneta favourite.
25. Bar Brutal
📍Barceloneta. Bar Leo is a legendary Barceloneta neighbourhood bar, founded in 1978. It began as a local meeting place for fishermen, artists, and flamenco musicians. The bar is particularly famous for its connection to flamenco singer Bambino, one of the owners close friends. Its walls are covered with photographs of Bambino, family pictures, religious images, souvenirs and countless personal objects, creating an almost shrine-like atmosphere. Flamenco remains central to the bar’s identity. They have a small menu of food but it’s more about having a drink here.
26. Bar Ramon
A busy, neighborhood bar with a 1950s rock and roll theme. Bar Ramón has been going since 1939. They’re famous for signature dishes like seared foie gras with beef filet on toast, as well as classic tapas like croquettes and gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp). Bar Ramón is a place where you can eat very well on the cheap. Reservations are recommended but can only be made by phone or in person.
27. Bar Jai-ca
📍Barceloneta. Bar Jai-Ca is a classic Barceloneta tapas institution, founded in 1955. It has retained much of its original character and has long served as a social meeting point for local residents, fishermen and local workers. The food is simple, with favourites including fried baby squid, fresh fish, bombas, patatas bravas and, most famously, crispy fried anchovies known as la raspa. I’ve been a few times now and always found the food to be solid but on my most recent visit service was quite rude and slow.
28. Parking Pizza
📍Multiple Locations. Parking Pizza is a Barcelona-born pizzeria founded in 2015, built around two ideas: distinctive industrial spaces and seriously good pizza. The first restaurant occupied a former parking space. The pizzas are handmade with long-fermentation dough, baked in a wood-fired oven and topped with high-quality Italian and Mediterranean ingredients. The style is contemporary rather than strictly traditional Neapolitan, with combinations such as gorgonzola, taleggio and pecorino, or sobrasada, taleggio and thyme. The interiors are a big part of the appeal: bright, open-plan, modern-industrial spaces, open kitchens, communal wooden tables and a large wood oven at the centre.
29. La Pizza Del Born
📍El Born. La Pizza Del Born is a family-run pizzeria in El Born, with its roots going back to 1982, when its founder introduced the concept of selling pizza by the slice in Barcelona. The first El Born location opened in 1999 on Passeig del Born, where it has become a long-standing meeting point for locals, visitors and the city’s Argentine community. Its speciality is Argentine-style, thick-crust pizza (pizza de media masa), served by the slice or as whole pizzas, alongside empanadas. Argentinian style pizza is more breadier and generous with toppings, making it particularly suited to a quick, casual bite. They’re open till 01:00am on weekdays and 03:00am on weekends.
30. Entrepaneria Compá
📍Barceloneta. An Italian sandwich spot in Barceloneta just across the road from Bar Leo. It’s known for hot, pressed focaccia panini. The focaccia is slow-fermented and the sandwiches are pressed hot, so they’re quite substantial rather than a light snack. Get the Diamante if it’s your first visit.
James Dimitri 