Last week I posted the „Tapas Test“. Some of you wanted to hear more about some Tapas bars in Barcelona, where to go. I’ll try to answer this, but my last visit to Barcelona was about 3 years ago and some can have changed meantime. The question often comes up for „what is a good Tapas Bar in Barcelona? Answer: all are good, or all are bad. It depends on your own personal demand and standard of lifestyle. Tapas is philosophy and lifestyle !

      Left: Seafood plate at Barcentral in Barcelonas La Boqueria market. Right: Just in case one doesn’t like seafood – then have some Jamon Iberico.  No further comments needed, right ?

Barcelona.

The culinary scene in Barcelona is dominated by contemporary Catalan cuisine. The city has a huge variety of high end restaurants where food is treated as a combination of science and art. The city’s restaurants are at the cutting edge of world cuisine, discovering new culinary techniques and creating new dishes every day.

  The Christopher Columbus monument in Barcelona. At harbor side and only a few blocks from the Hotel Barcelona Universal.  Everything in easy walking distance.

Barcelona also has classic restaurants that serve more traditional Spanish dishes like Paella and Pisto, a Spanish ratatouille. The best slice of Spanish cuisine is however not found in fancy restaurants, but in the local markets and Tapas bars of Barcelona. The local La Boqueria market is arguably one of the best fresh food markets in the world.

           La Boqueria Barcelona. Click on pics to supersize.

You can find anything from sheep’s head to lobster in this market. Of course, the Tapas bars are the real culinary attractions of Barcelona. Each bar has their own specialties that they serve up to patrons, who sit sipping on cold beers, chatting about the day’s events. Fresh fish, fried potatoes and cured meats are what Spanish food is all about.

Some of my favorite Tapas Bars in Barcelona. Wish we had some in Uruguay !

Quimet y Quimet.

  Over 100 years a Tapas Bar in Barcelona.

This quaint tapas spot should be a MUST SEE. This bar is loved by locals and tourists equally. Located in the quirky El Poble-Sec neighborhood of Barcelona, is renowned for its scrumptious montaditos – bite-sized, baguette-style snacks filled with the tastiest ingredients from Spain. If you’re not sure what to order, the chef can even choose for you based on your drink order. With a standing room only, Quimet is a great place to grab a drink, some great tapas and catch up with friends.

  
Quimet pics are courtesy of Quimet.

First time I visited Quimet y Quimet, I stayed at the Hotel Barcelona Universal. A hotel I also can recommend, because it is around 80, –euro a night for a 4 1/2 star quality right in the center of the city, about 4 blocks from the Columbus monument and harbor . And the Quimet is just a walking block across the road, the Boqueria market about 5 blocks away. Plus dozens and dozens of others.

El Xampanyet.

                           Pictures by Xampanyet.

Located near the Picasso Museum, this tapas bar is very popular with the locals of Barcelona due to its sensational food and exceptional house cava. This old-school, authentic Catalan joint is renowned for its fantastic service . It’s a very casual family run tapas spot popular with tourist and locals. Xampanyet is the homemade sparkling white wine (cava) they serve, which has become the restaurant signature.

El Quim de la Boqueria.

     Quim Marquez on the left. He started with a 3meter bar and 5 stools. Pictures by El Quim.

My third tip to you will be the tapas Bar aEl Quim at the famous Barcelona food market. El Quim is the perfect pit stop during a trip to La Boqueria – the world renowned and Barcelona’s most famous food market. Absorb the market’s unique atmosphere from your bar stool while the chef, Quim, whips-up some authentic, Catalan tapas as he has been doing in the same market since 1987. Quim Marquez has created a small culinary paradise ranging from varied gambas, foie gras, xipirons to a fantastic variety of wines. A perfect place to chill out for a few hours and enjoy life.

  This is an idea about how many Tapas Bars one can find in Barcelona. Reality – to many – there is one on every corner and you have to make your own choice. If you ask a local, which is the best one, everyone will give you a different answer.

Hi everyone, I hope that will give a small introduction of what to find in Barcelona.  Good luck with searching and culinary fun with working through thousands of dishes. Enjoy ! Down here (the guardian) not the very newest article, but a nice and short overview of Barcelona Tapas Bars – and at the end of the article a lot of additional tips to Barcelona:

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/jun/08/top-10-tapas-bars-barcelona