Where to eat and drink in Barcelona
Barcelona: A city where Gaudí’s architecture isn’t the only thing that will take your breath away. A European city with a vibrant food scene that bursts with fresh flavors, regional specialties, and innovative culinary creations. Washing it all down with world-class wines, from the bubbly Cava to the bold Rioja and up and the lesser-known regions in between (Canary Islands, Priorat, Penedés and Terra Alta).
With so many options, read on to know where to stop on your tapas and wine journey.
Best wine bars in Barcelona
Bar de Pla
Location: El Born
Why we love it: The wine, the food, the staff–everything here is top notch. The curated wine list is predominantly local and lean towards boutique natural-ish winemakers. The tapas are tasty and inventive: Try the mushroom salad with strawberries and wasabi sauce (unreal). Lastly, the knowledgable and friendly staff do an excellent job of recommending glass pours to pair with the mouth-watering cuisine.
Quimet & Quimet
Location: El Poble Sec
Why we love it: A unique atmosphere: Just a hole-in-the-wall stop for mostly locals–no frills, just great food, wine and vermouth. What appears to be a simple bottle store is usually bustling with patrons who know the reputation of the bar. There’s no outside seating here and during popular times, you can expect a wait. However, the quality of both the food and drink here make this destination worth it.
La Vinya del Senyor
Location: El Born
Why we love it: A constantly rotating list of beautifully hand-picked Spanish wines (along with many other regions) by the glass. We had trouble picking which to taste since there were so many goodies. Luckily they offer quarter glass pours to allow for a full flight without overfilling yourself. The interior is cozy but the outside patio, which offers seated and standing room, is the real gem as it overlooks Basilica de Santa Maria del Mar.
Vila Viniteca
Location: El Born
Why we love it: Half wine shop, half wine bar, full excellence. The wine shop is one of the best we’ve been to with an immense selection of local Spanish wines; even small regions like the Canary Islands are well-stocked. The staff is very knowledgable and can help you narrow down your selections. Nextdoor at their bodega, you can taste an array of local wines, paired with delicious Jamon Iberico Bellota and fresh cheeses. Worldwide shipping is offered here or you can have the purchased bottles wrapped for suitcase travel.
Bar Electrictat
Location: Barceloneta
Why we love it: Only steps from the beach, the Barceloneta neighborhood tends to host a lot of touristy restaurants and bars–but this isn’t one of them. Bar Electrictat has an old school vibe, teeming with locals who are there to enjoy the in-house-made vermouth, local wines and tasty tapas. The most unique thing about this bar is that you can order barrel tastings by the glass–something we’ve never seen before. We tried a 2023 Priorat (Granacha) and it was bursting with flavor and tannins; it could benefit from some more time in barrel / bottle, but it was still fun to try.
Dr. Stravinsky
Location: El Born
Why we love it: Not a wine bar but one of the best cocktail bars we’ve been to. Thus, we figured it deserved a place on the list. The wait is worth it as this team has crafted an impressive roster of unique and tasty drinks to pair with the speakeasy-like vibe. After careful examination of the menu, we selected the Nikkei: Yellow Chili-infused Vodka, Cordial Umami, Mango Kombucha and radish sprouts. It was one of the most delicious and interesting drinks we’ve ever tasted–like a spicy matcha green tea.
Don’t miss, our picks for the best wine bars in the world
Best restaurants in Barcelona
Cal Pep
Location: El Born
Why we love it: A classic hangout in the Born neighborhood; its notoriety is duly deserved as the food is spectacular. There are no menus here, as the waiter simply asks what you want at the bar. Classic Catalan dishes are served like pan con tomate, padron peppers, and pulpo. We’ve eaten here five times in the last seven years and can’t get enough. Tip: if your party is less than 4, line up at 7:15pm to secure the first seating at the bar (otherwise you’ll need to line-up and wait for patrons to finish eating). If you have a larger group, call the restaurant and make a reservation for a table in the back.
La Cova Fumada
Location: Barcelonetta
Why we love it: Located right across the plaza from Bar Electrictat is another no-frills tapas bar–but don’t let that deter you from the superb quality. The picante bombillas are one of the best things we’ve ever tried. Second best is their delicious roasted blood sausage, washed down with their homemade vermouth. A perfect stop on the way back from la playa.
Mercado de La Boqueria
Location: La Rambla
Why we love it: Who doesn’t love a good mercado? It’s not just to pick up groceries; many of these vendors sell ready-to-eat versions of their produce. For example, the butcher that sells the delicious Jamon Iberico Bellota will also make a bocadillo version (sandwich) to-go. We’re also quite fond of the olive lady who will grace you with many samples as you make your selection. Our favorite thing to do is get a pouch of manchego cheese with breadsticks and jamon–munching away as you peruse the seemingly endless aisles of sights and aromas.
Ziryab Fusion
Location: El Born
Why we love it: A unique take on tapas to break up the monotony of Spanish cuisine. Ziryab offers Middle Eastern fusion, with plates like lentil risotto, harissa bravas and bacon-wrapped medjool dates. The wine list and vermouth is beautifully curated, balancing the right mix of rarity and value. Furthermore, for those dining with children, they bring by a “magic box” filled with toys to amuse your kiddo during the meal. Little touches like this make this a wonderful stop while roaming around El Born.
El Chigre 1769
Location: El Born
Why we love it: Notice we haven’t been speaking much about the ambiance–that’s because we care more about the food and wine taste above all. But a good dining environment is always nice. The ambiance at El Chigre 1769 is amongst the best with their rustic-hip open kitchen concept. The spicy octopus bombillas are outrageous, as are the braised white asparagus and pulpo a la plancha. Excellent wine by the glass selection and lively staff bring this spot home as one not to miss in the noise of the Born.
Where to stay in Barcelona
Born / Gotico
For the restaurant and nightlife fans. Bar hopping through the twisting, winding streets of the Born y Gotico barrios are one of our favorite experiences. Nowhere else do you get to experience so many excellent restaurants located only a few feet from eachother. Eat, drink, be merry and stay close by so walking home doesn’t take much energy after eating and drinking to your hearts content. If it’s your first time in BCN, we heavily recommend staying here. Heck, we’ve been more than five times and we still enjoy staying here the most!
Eixample
For the art fans and shop-o-holics. This stylish and pristine district boasts wide avenues lined with Gaudí’s architectural masterpieces. Eixample offers a vibrant restaurant scene, upscale shopping, and excellent access to public transportation, making it a great home base.
Barcelonetta
For the beach bums. If your itinerary in Barcelona is beach-heavy, you may want to check out the neighborhood that’s just a stone’s throw away. Add to that the bohemian charm, an array of buzzing restaurants & bars and just a short stroll from the city’s center.
Special thanks to Nicole Muscari “Grape Chic” for the inspiration for this article and a few recommendations! Her blog post can be found here.
