Barcelona is a city filled with culture, history, tapas and mucha sangria. What more can you ask for? Famous for essentials like la bomba and pan con tomato, below is a list of my favorite must-try spots. Side note — local business owners travel out of town in the summer, so make sure the restaurant is open before arrival.
La Cava/La Pepita: If you don’t go here, did you even go to Barcelona? A next-door sister restaurant and bar, and fairly busy! Leave your name for dinner reservations at La Pepita then head over to La Cava for a bowl of olives and a few pitchers of sangria until your table is ready. Once sat, I can 10000% recommend ordering the calamari (we ordered it twice), as well as their burrata, marinated sea bass with strawberries, foie gras with potatoes and egg, red shrimp, and croquettes with prosciutto. It’s a win, win because you’ll leave drunk + full = happy.
El Quim De La Boqueria: Named after the man himself, Quim, this gem is found inside Mercado de La Boqueria. A kiosk type restaurant with stools wrapped all the way around. It’s normal to see people hovering around others waiting to be sat. The food is SO worth the wait. The staff is extremely friendly, including Quim (who greeted us with rosé) and his son, Yuri. No doubt everything is drool-worthy but my favorite dishes include the assorted wild mushrooms sautéed in port wine, prawns in garlic, oxtail risotto, homemade croquettes, and baby octopus.
Canete: I cannot stop raving about this place. No wonder it won 1st place for “Best Tapas.” When I say everything, I mean EVERYTHING is delicious. Hidden in a small alley, the aesthetic inside is super cute and the food is to die for. Let’s jump right into what you must order…just show your waiter this list: cod fritters, lobster croquettes, steak with foie gras, pan con tomate, octopus, la bomba, burrata, tuna tartar, and shrimp in garlic. F*ck your diet (note on the back of their menu), you’re coming here to EAT. As for dessert, order a tiramisu to yourself, you’re not going to want to share. Their carrot cake is exceptional too.
Vinutus: Here for the tapas, once again! A common spot for tourists and locals, so arrive early to put your name down. Pro-Tip: Order pitchers of sangrias while you wait (common theme of the trip). You can’t leave this place without trying their cod with honey, cabreaos (basically fries with a delicious garlic sauce, and 3 soft poached eggs mixed together, YUM), and the bread pudding. Thank me later.
Ciudad Condal: A popular and crowded tapas bar in the city. This spot is great to check out (for sangria) after visiting Casa Batllo, it’s walking distance. Some dishes are a hit or miss, but it’s safe to say their sangrias are tasty, will get you buzzed, and the mini hamburgers are game changing. I was also a fan of the fried brie and jamon.
Bookmarked for next time:
- Bar Ramon
- Tickets
- Tapas 24
- Brunch & Cake
- Quimet & Quimet
This list of tips and tricks will guide and feed you through the city of Barcelona. If you have any questions, additional stops and recommendations, share them with us. Until then, adios!
Check out the behind the scenes of all my adventures and meals on both my Instagram highlights in Barcelona: @shabbysmalls & @shotbysmalls.
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