Tapas – Bottle Street

July 16, 2018July 16, 2018

Quimet y Quimet

Apparently the tiny, no seats, Quimet y Quimet is in every tourist guide. This may be because it is something special, but I’m not 100% sold. That’s not to say the tapas they create from behind the miniscule bar is not good – some of it is even great – but because it’s in every tourist guide, the crowd is almost entirely tourists (including this boy, I guess), and the atmosphere can seem somewhat lacking. I had Chinese tourists drinking Coke and screwing up their noses at some of the food, and even an American couple who arrived wheeling suitcases in. My advice? Pop in for a bite and a drink or two, and head off for a proper meal elsewhere.

Poeta Cabanyes 25

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July 16, 2018July 16, 2018

Sucursal Aceitera

Another new addition to the burgeoning bar scene in Parlament (even if the address is Comte Borrell – it’s on the corner), Sucursal offers the expected tapas standards done well, alongside some more imaginative fare, and a focus on organic produce. With a good selection of wines by the glass and lovely big windows that are opened up on nice days it is one of Parlament’s better tapas bets.

Comte Borrell, 36

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May 31, 2016

Bar Lobo

Bar Lobo is just off La Rambla, and not too far into deepest, darkest El Raval, so you know there are going to be tourists. Still, it’s also on the local radar.

We’ve got a love/maybe-not-quite-love relationship with the place. When it is on, it can be great, and for us the trigger point is how busy they are: If you have to wait for a table – no bookings here – we’d suggest somewhere else, because the systems fall apart a bit when the place is full.

That said, if you avoid the plentiful deep fried menu items, there are some real gems – the tuna tataki is really quite fabulous, for instance.

Opt for indoor seating – because the place is full of tourists, the square in front sees a constant flow of buskers.

Carrer del Pintor Fortuny, 3,

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May 30, 2016June 1, 2016

Bodega 1900

Sister to Tickets, just across the road, Bodega 1900 offers a more traditional take on tapas. It leans fairly heavily on the ingredients, and they stand up too. Service is excellent. It’s only a small room, so book ahead.

Carrer de Tamarit, 91

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May 30, 2016August 6, 2018

Palosanto

With seating for a maximum of 20 diners, it can be hard to get a table at Palosanto – it doesn’t help that they only have a couple of tables for more than two. What must be the world’s smallest kitchen turns out some pretty decent burgers, along with some more traditional tapas fare, alongside a few more unusual dishes such as the rather nice artichoke salad with tuna.

Rambla del Raval, 26

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May 30, 2016May 30, 2016

El Dinamic de Bcn

Hugely popular with a young crowd, El Dinamic can be a tricky place to find a table. Never mind – Lando is less popular for no particular reason I can tell, and is right next door. The space barely hides its warehouse origins, and the wait staff are too busy growing their beards to actually serve anybody, though when they do get around to it there are some nice tapas bites to be had here and a selection of local craft beers.

Passatge de Pere Calders, 4

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January 4, 2016May 31, 2016

El Magatzem

Okay, you’re in tourist-central down in Port Vell, but you may as well make the most of it. El Magatzem occupies a spot in the sun on the Barcelonetta side of the Museu d’Història de Catalunya, and is a pretty good place to sit in the sun and soak up the atmosphere.

The food’s actually pretty good too – which possibly makes it a stand-out in this area – but the location wins it here. Watch for busy days – service is excellent for the most part, but if the tables are full, it all becomes a bit haphazard.

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Placa Pau Vila, 1

January 4, 2016May 31, 2016

Bar del Pla

A traditional-looking tapas joint that doesn’t look vastly different from the rest with it’s unassuming facade, but one that raises the food to a higher level.

You’re not coming here for the décor, and what is it with the floodlit restaurants in this town? But it is worth the (probable) wait for a seat.

There’s a little experimentation in the kitchen, but largely it’s the standards done really well. They may not be described very accurately on the menu either: the “fried small fish” turned out to be more like a fisherman’s platter, and bloody good too.

Bar del Pla packed with locals, so that’s a good sign, and definitely worth a stop if you’re in the El Born district (on the same street as the Picasso Museum, but far enough away not to be completely overrun with tourists).

Book ahead, or be prepared to wait.

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Calle Montcada, 2

January 4, 2016May 31, 2016

Suculent The Tavern

Suculent The Tavern, is the tapas bar, while the restaurant is two doors down.

The arroz with rabbit and black pudding is superb, and the fried octopus, and the anchovy too.

The menu is in Catalan, so you’re going to need help from the friendly wait-staff to order. Half of it was unavailable when we visited, plus the menu changes seasonally, so maybe none of our recommendations are available any more! Easy to rack-up a sit-down dinner type bill though.

Rambla del Raval, 39

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January 4, 2016May 30, 2016

Lando

In the up-and-coming Parliament Street area near Mercat St Antoni, Lando is a decent enough offering. Tapas includes anchovies with roasted capsicum, kale and cod croquettes, and “Spanish omelette and…” (spoiler alert – when we went it was mushrooms).

Good service, and a decent enough space – which should be even better on long summer nights with the front open onto the quiet side street – though it is disappointingly brightly lit.

Passage Pere Calders, 6

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