Right now Lindsey shares suggestions for a free self-guided tapas tour in Barcelona’s buzzing Poble Sec neighborhood. This 5-stop tour is a neighborhood expertise that each foodie in Barcelona ought to attempt!
A tapas crawl in Barcelona is not like that of almost every other main metropolis in Spain. Few, if any, different Spanish locations have managed to mix such a variety of culinary influences into one fascinating, scrumptious gastronomic scene.
In fact, you’ve got obtained the standard Catalan fare that is been loved by Barcelona households for hundreds of years. However the area’s location on Spain’s northern border signifies that French influences are additionally fairly widespread in trendy Catalan delicacies.
Inner migration inside Spain has introduced culinary inspiration from so far as Andalusia. And Barcelona’s worldwide enchantment has resulted in an inflow of gastronomic delights from world wide.
The end result: an exquisite, fascinating, various eating scene that makes a self-guided tapas crawl in Barcelona all however needed. And the Poble Sec neighborhood makes a very good setting for doing simply that.
This historic neighborhood on the foot of Montjuïc hill has gained notoriety for its fabulous gastro scene. From old style bars and bodegas to eclectic trendy fusion spots, Poble Sec has all of it.
The Greatest Free Self-Guided Tapas Tour in Barcelona
Able to discover? Listed below are 5 spots for a free self-guided tapas tour in Barcelona to get you began.
Word: whereas the route is free, we estimate you will spend anyplace from €40 to €70 per particular person, relying on how many individuals are in your group (the extra individuals, the extra sharing!) and the way a lot you wish to eat and drink!
1. Quimet & Quimet
When it first opened its doorways in 1914, Quimet & Quimet (Carrer del Poeta Cabanyes, 25) was little greater than a humble wine store.
The unique proprietor, Quim, offered the wine he produced himself within the foothills of the Montserrat vary exterior Barcelona. With the wine, prospects may anticipate a small tapa, normally within the type of high-quality canned items.
4 generations—every additionally named Quim—later, little has modified. The place is sort of completely standing-room solely, with partitions lined in wine bottles and colourful tins of connoisseur conservas (canned items).
What makes this place so nice, nonetheless, is how they’ve tailored to Barcelona’s altering culinary scene with out shedding their coronary heart.
Right now, Quimet & Quimet serves up among the most modern tapas this aspect of Avinguda del Paral·lel with the identical Catalan hospitality and dedication to high quality that is saved them going sturdy for greater than a century.
What to order: You’ll be able to’t go incorrect with the salmon montadito (small sandwich) topped with yogurt and truffled honey. Wash it down with a glass of vermouth.
Estimated value: €6–7 for a montadito and the home vermouth.
Be taught Extra: This is why Spain’s canned items are of such wonderful high quality—you will by no means take a look at a can of tuna or anchovies the identical method once more!
2. La Chana
What if I instructed you it was potential to get pleasure from conventional Andalusian meals proper within the coronary heart of Poble Sec? Imagine it or not, you’ll be able to. La Chana (Carrer del Poeta Cabanyes, 8), will whisk you away to Cádiz, proprietor Natalia’s hometown.
Following within the footsteps of numerous different Andalusians who made their technique to Barcelona, she opened the bar as a technique to share southern Spain’s tradition and delicacies with residents of her adopted metropolis.
Right here, you’ll be able to nibble on conventional Andalusian tapas paired with wines from Córdoba, Cádiz, Almería, and Málaga provinces.
What units La Chana aside, although, is its refreshing, trendy vibe. Reasonably than the soulful sounds of flamenco music generally performed in Andalusian bars, the soundtrack right here is sort of completely rock ‘n’ roll.
The contemporary, trendy environment mixed with the standard Andalusian bites we all know and love make this spot a should on any self-guided tapas tour in Barcelona.
What to order: You’ll be able to’t get far more andaluz than cazón en adobo—fried dogfish marinated in a tasty spice mix—with a glass of crisp manzanilla sherry.
Estimated value: €7–10 for a tapa and a drink.
3. Blai 9
Pintxos bars are a dime a dozen in Barcelona. The Basque Nation‘s reply to tapas has gained recognition within the Catalan capital, leading to a slew of bars serving them all around the metropolis. Sadly, most of them lean towards the touristy aspect, and the standard is not all the time nice.
Blai 9 (Carrer de Blai, 9) is an exception. The colourful, ingenious array of pintxos modifications each day in an effort to focus on the freshest elements obtainable. Simply take into account that they could look a bit completely different than the Basque pintxos you is perhaps conversant in.
Whereas the customary toothpick continues to be there to carry every little thing in place, the standard bread base is usually forgone in favor of different elements (like pancakes and nachos) so as to add selection. All the pieces comes superbly offered with beautiful consideration to element.
What to order: You may by no means have the identical factor twice at Blai 9 due to their altering menu, so it is laborious to suggest one particular pintxo. Nonetheless, it is fairly laborious to go incorrect right here—something you get is certain to be good!
To drink, go along with a zurito, a small serving of beer that is simply sufficient to accompany a single pintxo.
Estimated value: €4–5 for a pintxo and a small beer.
4. Palo Cortao
One other fabulous spot that attracts closely on influences from southern Spain, Palo Cortao (Carrer Nou de la Rambla, 174) superbly brings collectively Andalusian and Catalan delicacies and tradition.
The title of this place comes from the palo cortado number of sherry. True to its Andalusian heritage, the title of the restaurant is spelled in the best way that it is usually pronounced within the southern dialect, eliminating the d.
Their dishes are trendy whereas staying true to their roots, and every little thing is ready to order from scratch with love. Their wine record can also be unsurprisingly wonderful, that includes a good collection of Andalusian and Catalan varieties.
What to order: The rabo de toro estofado (stewed bull tail) is to die for, and pairs superbly with a strong crimson wine.
Estimated value: €22 for the rabo de toro and a glass of wine.
See Additionally: Get the whole information to consuming in Barcelona!
5. Casa Xica
Rounding out your free self-guided tapas tour in Barcelona is likely one of the most fun Catalan-Asian fusion spots within the metropolis. Run by a Catalan couple who’ve lived and traveled extensively in Asia, Casa Xica (Carrer de la França Xica, 20) masterfully brings regional flavors to life with contemporary, native elements.
It is no secret that the fusion development has made waves in Barcelona in recent times. Nonetheless, few locations have managed to drag it off in addition to this one. Positioned in a comfy previous home, the restaurant itself is pleasant and alluring—a sense that is mirrored in each certainly one of their fastidiously ready dishes.
What to order: You’ll be able to’t go incorrect with the bao with glazed pork and pickles. To drink, go along with certainly one of their wonderful pure wines.
Estimated value: €10–20 for a dish and a drink.
Craving Extra Tapas?
A self-guided tapas tour in Barcelona is a good way to get the lay of the land and begin discovering this metropolis’s incredible mix of cuisines. However navigating the meals scene right here will be difficult for newcomers, particularly when there’s seemingly a low-quality vacationer lure for each genuine gem.
To be sure you go to not one of the former and loads of the latter, Devour’s Tapas & Wine Tour is a should. Alongside the best way, you will get loads of insider foodie information that can make navigating Barcelona’s busy bars and eating places a chunk of cake all through the remainder of your journey!
See Additionally: Try our suggestions for a foodie strolling tour in Barcelona’s Eixample district!
Self-Guided Tapas Tour of Barcelona FAQs
There are nice tapas bars throughout Barcelona, however the Poble Sec neighborhood is a very good place for a self-guided tapas tour. That is the place you will discover a number of of our favourite spots, in addition to Carrer de Blai—among the finest streets in Barcelona for a tapas crawl.
Tapas aren’t normally free in Barcelona, the best way they’re in another Spanish cities. You may usually get a small snack or aperitivo whenever you order a drink, however you are unlikely to obtain bigger tapas totally free until you particularly search out locations which are identified for this.
Sure! Lots of Barcelona’s greatest sights and coolest neighborhoods are inside straightforward strolling distance of one another, and the town is filled with pedestrian-friendly streets. The truth is, we predict strolling round is one of the simplest ways to discover this unimaginable metropolis—particularly if you wish to hop between completely different eating places and tapas bars alongside the best way.
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