A Tapas Food Trip Adventure in Barcelona

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Tapas Food Trip in Barcelona, Spain

No visit to Barcelona will ever be complete without a visit to any of the tapas bars that are scattered along this vibrant region of Spain. It is practically dinner to a lot of the locals, best enjoyed with beers, some refreshing sangria, or a bottle of Cava, the bubbly white wine that proudly comes from this country.

Tapas basically started out as a means for customers to cover sherry glasses to keep fruit flies from lingering near the sweet smelling aperitif. It started off as bread, then slowly, a salty viand is topped in it to get tapas bar patrons ordering more drinks. From there, different tapas variations just spun out depending on the influences of any trading or invading nations near a certain region of Spain.

These are just one of the few tapas bars that were worth mentioning during the 2013 Euro Trip. There may be better somewhere out there, but if you end up near some of these places, you cannot go wrong with these selections:

 

In Passeig De Gracia: Tapas 24

This one was recommended by a couple who has been here and said that this is a must stop place. One of the best finds in Barcelona!

Shopping Around Passeig de Gracia Barcelona Spain-5246

So Passeig de Gracia is that long avenue where boutiques from various fashion brands captivate and seduce tourists, mostly those of the female species. So for those guys who are left in the entrances all shopped out, this can be a haven.

Take note: Go here early (like 11-11:30am). The place can get packed really fast. And if during peak tourist season, it may be near impossible.

 

 

 

Tapas 24 Tapas Bar 269 Diputaccio, Barcelona, Spain-5270

Tapas 24 Tapas Bar 269 Diputaccio, Barcelona, Spain-5267

Tapas 24 Tapas Bar 269 Diputaccio, Barcelona, Spain-5256Β Tapas 24 Tapas Bar 269 Diputaccio, Barcelona, Spain-5247

But once you get a seat, the casual, somewhat youthful vibe is relaxing (or noisy. Depends on how you see it). The menu will be in an envelope that holds your utensils and in a blackboard that holds the tapas for the day which the staff will gladly explain to you.

Partner your tapas with some toasted bread with tomatoes and olive oil. This helps in nullifying the sometimes salty/savory tastes of the tapas, like this Fideus A La Cassola (9.80 Euros): a little sizzling stew of short noodles, blood sausage, and spanish chorizo. This was fantastic topped over the bread and then finished off with a sip of some cava sangria.

Tapas 24 Tapas Bar 269 Diputaccio, Barcelona, Spain-5252Β Tapas 24 Tapas Bar 269 Diputaccio, Barcelona, Spain-5263

 

And for indulgence? It has to be the McFoie Burger (9.50 Euros)

Tapas 24 Tapas Bar 269 Diputaccio, Barcelona, Spain-5260

It’s pretty much what you expect of a tapas where the inspiration would be those burgers filled with foie gras (Lusso Greenbelt 5 and DB Bistro Moderne much?) Indulgence in every bite. Savor each and every morsel because these things are not as large as your usual burgers, and somewhat expensive, too. But eating is a social thing where you will have a better time experiencing this with some companions, or just chatting away with the chefs in the open kitchen.

 

In La Rambla: L’ Opera Tapas Bar and Restaurant:

Walking Along Las Ramblas Barcelona Spain-5158

Ah yes. La Rambla. That famous commercial walkway lined with trinkets, sunshine, trees, and other peddlers of different wares. Be careful here. Snatchers abound.

After walking around and seeing all the shops, have a seat outside L’ Opera tapas Bar and Restaurant. This is one of the oldest restaurants in the area, and their tapas selections have made sure to keep customers coming back all the time.

L' Opera Tapas Bar Las Ramblas Barcelona Spain-5204

Their Tapas Platters are somewhat cheaper considering the high tourist traffic of the area (24.00 Euros for a five selection platter). This particular platter has some mushrooms in olive oil, croquetas, potatoes with hot sauce, Albondigas (Spanish meatballs in tomato sauce), and a slice of Spanish omelette called torta.

L' Opera Tapas Bar Las Ramblas Barcelona Spain-5199

It’s no Tapas 24, but those meatballs and croquetas are comfort food under the Catalan sun while sipping on… you guessed it. More sangria. Red wine or Cava, pick your fancy. The goblets are huge, and do not attempt to drink this in less than 30 minutes. You will feel the consequences (Our experience with Beso Cucina Vinoteka should serve as a warning).

 

In Rambla de Poblenou: La Tertulia:

This area served as home base during the trip, and all because the budget hotels are here (and surprisingly, very large rooms. More of that in another post.)

UPDATE: Here’s the hotel we are talking about: Confortel Hotel)

Now this is a part of Barcelona that is not as crowded as La Rambla, and you have a beach just 15 minutes away! So there is a cool breeze to match your lovely sun (especially during spring. This place is fabulous for people watching! ), and then a nice, seat in one of the tapas bars along the main road: La Tertulia:

This one has to be the best value-for-money places. Check this picture from the very first Postcard in Barcelona:

  • Jamon Iberico: 9.50 Euros
  • Calamares Fritos: 7.10 Euros
  • Abondigas: 4.60 Euros for about 4 pieces (great value)
  • One bottle of Rose wine: 6.00 Euros (Hell yeah! 6.00 Euros in Rome or Paris just gets you a third of a bottle)
  • Bread with tomatoes and olive oil: practically unlimited

So for less than 30.00 Euros, you can have a luxurious lunch, watch the world go by, and get buzzed as well. (Ok, so you can get stuffed even with just 5.00 Euros by heading out to some bakery nearby, but you don’t do it “Like A Boss” style)

Detour: You can also go to a shop here that sells mostly iberico ham called Enrique Tomas. They’re ubiquitous in Barcelona, and they sell all sorts of ham. Have about 100 grams of iberico bellota (this is pig fed with wild acorns) sliced and buy some bread from the nearby grocery you will find yourself in iberico ham heaven for less than 15.00 Euros.

 

Sigarra Tapas Bar Rambla de Pobleneau Barcelona Spain-5121Hidden near Rambla De Poblenou: Sigarra:

Come night time, Rambla de Pobleneau lights up, and the people begin gravitating towards this place like moths to a flame. But for those looking out of this area and are brave enough to go through some of the somewhat seedy alleyways (This is very reminiscent of taking that dark alleyway to Bar Stories Singapore), you might find this tapas bar concept: Sigarra.

 

 

Sigarra Tapas Bar Rambla de Pobleneau Barcelona Spain-5122

Sigarra is a tapas bar/deli that churns out its own creations of tapas, but does it in a conveyor belt style.

There is always the debate on whether the stuff on conveyor belt style restaurants are any good (this is very much a debate on sushi restaurants), but the good thing here is that you can see which ones are fresh since the kitchen is open, and from there you can figure out which ones have freshly come out to ride the belt.

Sigarra Tapas Bar Rambla de Pobleneau Barcelona Spain-5137

You can still order on demand, and a tapas plate ranges somewhere from 5.00 Euros to 9.00 Euros, depending on what is on the plate. After your meal, the staff count the number of plates on your table, and hand you the bill.

Pastas with crunchy iberico ham, chorizos, some tomatoes stuffed with duck meat, and… is that a risotto? These are fabulous morsels. They even have a dessert of yoghurt with some strawberries.

Sigarra Tapas Bar Rambla de Pobleneau Barcelona Spain-5123 Sigarra Tapas Bar Rambla de Pobleneau Barcelona Spain-5127 Sigarra Tapas Bar Rambla de Pobleneau Barcelona Spain-5128 Sigarra Tapas Bar Rambla de Pobleneau Barcelona Spain-5130

Sigarra Tapas Bar Rambla de Pobleneau Barcelona Spain-5136

Sigarra Tapas Bar Rambla de Pobleneau Barcelona Spain-5131

Upon reflection, yoghurt in the western world seems dense and sour. This is actually very reminiscent of the yoghurt in the Mad Greek Cafe in Barstow. The yoghurt in the Middle East and the Far East region of the world seems more viscous but with a sweeter taste.

As long as you are in Barcelona (or in Spain for that matter), there’s no denying that the tapas eating culture will definitely get you hooked.

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12 comments

  1. Did you bring home some Iberico ham? πŸ™‚

    • lynne says:

      We bought 3 different hams. It made it on board the ferry (along with 2 bottles of wine) and up to the next country, Italy. The food on the boat wasn’t really spectacular so bringing food with us was a brilliant plan. We finished it all off in Rome. πŸ˜€

  2. Ughh! All these food look soooo good! I’m slowly falling in love with Spanish cuisine, especially tapas. Hope I can go on a food trip in Barcelona too in the future πŸ™‚

    • rftreyes says:

      Yeah it would be great to hve it in Barcelona, but there should be some great Spanish tapas also here in Manila πŸ™‚ There’s an eat all you can tapas buffet somewhere in the Fort strip. If I remember it right, Michy has it in her blog. Check it out πŸ™‚

  3. […] Strangely, not much salmon taste on this one. Loved the concept of turning it into croquettas, though. Very reminiscent of Spanish food trips! […]

  4. Melissa says:

    I used to live in Barcelona and this great post makes me nostalgic. Cava + Patatas Bravas was one of my almost-daily staples back then. πŸ™‚

    • rftreyes says:

      Barcelona is awesome πŸ˜€ ! We’d like to stay there longer to discover more of the city, if not eat more of the food. πŸ™‚

  5. […] aΒ Tapas Food trip in Barcelona, having more tapas bars in the metro is a welcome […]

  6. […] Tapas food trip around Barcelona was just unforgettable. Various tapas, various wines, and various dining experiences that makes for […]

  7. […] for sitting outside and having some tapas over your wine of choice as you see the world go […]

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