Let me start off by saying this, I am not a foodie. I like food – no…I love food. In fact, I love it so much that I rarely judge. So when I’ve traveled to Barcelona, I made damn sure that I ate Tapas anytime I had the chance, but I’m not the type to research or look up the best restaurant or see who has 5 star reviews naa-naa-naa-naa-naa. If it’s tasty or looks tasty, I eat it, therefore I think my opinion on the best Tapas in Barcelona wouldn’t be very helpful. But some people have been blessed with the palette – a sophisticated taste for the finest foods in the land. Luckily, I have my friend Crystal and her husband Isidro who are certified foodies and recently traveled to Barcelona in 2023.

“This is a popular place but for good reason! They close midday and reopen for dinner. We got lucky and finished touring this museum 2 streets away.”

“We got offered standing outside, so we were game and the waitress had her friends eating outside too, so she kept giving us extra plates and they just kept coming!”

“It was a warm summer evening and that whole street was lively.”

“We left with our bellies full and a bit tipsy. The peppers!”

Must Try: Padrón peppers 🌶️ + endless tapas plates + house cava 🍾

“It was so good we went twice! It’s close to El Xampanyet, but it’s way more chill.”

“They have classics and the elevated versions but we stuck to the classics and I still think about the beef tartare!”

Must-try: Beef tartare 🥩 + patatas bravas + Pan de tomate

“Monk Bar, it’s a speakeasy and when you walk in it looks like a regular liquour store and you enter in through the freezer.”

“We went to Paradiso and it’s ranked as one of the best bars in the world – but it was alright. We spent the least time there, we were out walking a lot and tried to see as much as we could but those places were the most memorable.”

Bar / Spot	Address	Phone	Hours	Best Time to Go
El Xampanyet	Carrer de Montcada, 22, 08003 Barcelona	+34 93 319 7003	Mon: 19:00–23:00 Tue–Fri: 12:00–15:30, 19:00–23:00 Sat: 12:00–15:30 Sun: Closed	Arrive right at opening (12 PM or 7 PM) to beat the crowd. Evenings are lively & fun.
Bar de Pla	Carrer de Montcada, 2, 08003 Barcelona	+34 93 268 3003	Mon–Thu: 12:00–23:00 Fri–Sat: 12:00–24:00 Sun: Closed	Go at noon for a calmer vibe. Evenings are buzzy, especially Fri/Sat — expect waits.
Monk Bar	Carrer dels Abaixadors, 10, 08003 Barcelona	+34 933 184 252	Tue–Sat: 18:00–02:00 Sun–Mon: Closed	Best after dinner (9–11 pm) for the speakeasy vibe. Early evening is quieter.
Mariposa Negra	Plaça de les Olles, 4, 08003 Barcelona	(phone not listed)	Daily: 12:00–02:00	Best after dark — the gothic atmosphere shines at night.
Paradiso	Carrer de Rera Palau, 4, 08003 Barcelona	+34 933 607 222	Daily: 15:00–02:00	Arrive at 3 pm to join the virtual queue. Later at night = lively but long waits.

You can’t go to Barcelona or Spain and not try Tapas. In my opinion, it isn’t just about seeing the sights — it’s about tasting them, too. Through Crystal and Isidro’s tapas adventure, it’s clear that Barcelona shines brightest when you follow your stomach (and maybe your cava glass).

If you ever find yourself wandering Barcelona’s streets, take their advice: stop, sip, savor, and let the night lead you.