The Five BEST Tapas in Barcelona, Spain (Don't Miss These!)
During our time there, our goal was to find the very best tapas in Barcelona, Spain. Instead of searching for the best restaurants, though, we wanted to find the very best dishes. The ones that are unmissable no matter which tapas restaurants you go to. We were lucky enough to love almost everything we ate, but here are the five best tapas we found that you should try at any restaurant in Barcelona!
1. Patatas Bravas
A list of the best tapas in Barcelona, Spain is not complete without the amazing patatas bravas.
Ever since we were in Argentina last year, I’ve been obsessed with finding good patatas bravas. (It’s because I was so desperately craving flavor in Argentina, and thought that this Spanish dish would satisfy the craving.)
When we got to Barcelona, I went hog wild, eating patatas bravas at every restaurant we went to. They were all very different, with some being delightfully spicy, some enhancing the sweetness of the tomatoes in the sauce, and some bright and sharp with garlicky alioli.
But almost everywhere we went, no matter how different they were, the patatas bravas were amazing. On the rare occasion that we ordered more tapas than we were able to eat, we always polished off the patatas bravas plate and left others behind instead.
2. Bombas
Bombas are one of the most traditional and best tapas in Barcelona, Spain.
Other than papas bravas, my absolute favorites of the tapas we tried in Barcelona, Spain were the bombas! Again, they were dramatically different depending on where we tried them, but they were delicious every single time.
If there’s one dish that I recommend that you try multiple times, it’s this one, because it can vary so much!
These deep-fried potato balls are typically stuffed with meat, but can have various other fillings. The outside is crispy and delicious, the inside is luxuriously flavorful, and they’re basically the best thing ever.
3. Jamón Ibérico
Incredible selection of Iberian Ham, source of pride and one of the best tapas in Barcelona, Spain.
Spain is proud of its Iberian ham, and rightfully so! If you think “ham is ham, what’s the big deal?” I challenge you to do a taste test of various jamón ibérico options side-by-side. (If you’re not already a food snob, though, maybe skip the most expensive ones. They’re delightful, but the price can be astonishing, and it may not be worth it if you won’t really taste and appreciate the difference.)
You’ll find jamón ibérico not only in restaurants, but also at various street stalls, where it’s often sold in cute little cones.
As you eat it, notice not only the delightful flavor, but also how perfectly thinly it’s often sliced! It’s so delicate that it almost feels like it melts in your mouth despite its powerful flavor.
4. Pa Amb Tomàquet (tomato toast)
Tomato toasts are a staple of any tapas bar in Barcelona, Spain.
I don’t think you could miss pa amb tomàquet even if you tried. This tomato-covered toast is served at seemingly every restaurant in Barcelona, Spain (much to my delight).
The tomato flavor is delightfully light and fresh. Instead of being a richly cooked and intense tomato sauce, the topping is made of juicy, ripe, raw tomatoes. You’ll be amazed at how wonderfully the delicate tomato flavors come through when the sauce isn’t cooked!
This bread is typically served as an appetizer, but it’s so good that I could happily eat it as my entire meal.
5. Croquettes
Croquettes make our top five of the best tapas in Barcelona, Spain.
Croquettes are a lot like bombas, so it’s no surprise that they appear on this list! They share the same deep-fried potato coating.
Croquettes tend to be smaller and are often more tubular than the large, round bombas, but the main difference is in the filling. While there are plenty of variations of croquettes, too, the most popular is stuffed with jamón ibérico and cheese. If you thought Spanish ham was delicious on its own, just wait until you try it in this incredible preparation!
As with the other items on this list, these were consistently good at every restaurant we tried in Barcelona.
Bonus: Crema Catalana
After trying the best tapas in Barcelona, Spain, finish it off with the crema Catalana.
I’m including this as a bonus since it’s a dessert rather than a main dish that you’d get at a tapas restaurant, but you absolutely shouldn’t miss it! It’s a bit like a crème brûlée in that it’s a rich, custardy base with a caramelized surface, but it’s made with milk instead of cream and the cooking technique is a bit different. (This isn’t a cooking blog, so I won’t dive too deeply into the details here!)
My absolute favorite versions of crema Catalana involve the use of orange or lemon peel, adding a hint of heavenly citrus flavor. If you love crème brûlée, you’ll absolutely adore this dish.
Pro Tip: Be Careful of Calamari!
When calamari is done well, it can be incredible. When it’s done badly, it’s simultaneously tough and soggy, with a rubbery bite and a bland coating.
If you’re at a good restaurant in Barcelona, absolutely try their calamari. If you’re at a mediocre or budget place, skip it in favor of one of the aforementioned tapas, which are harder to mess up so terribly!