Bars
Discover the best places to drink in Catalonia's capital. Reviews of bars, pubs and tapas bars in Barcelona
The 20 best bars in Barcelona you can't miss
Barcelona boasts such an immense offering of bars that deciding where to meet for a drink can be a daunting task. To lend a hand, whether your tipple is wine, beer, vermouth, or a cocktail, we’ve come up with this list of the 20 best bars in Barcelona
Recommended bars and pubs
Ohla Chillout terrace at Ohla Barcelona
Much like the name implies, this is the spot to grab a drink and chill out under the sun with a stunning view of the city. Whether it...
Barcelona's best tapas bars
Quimet i Quimet
Packed to the rafters with dusty bottles of wine, this classic but minuscule bar makes up for in tapas what it lacks in space. The specialities are 'conservas' (shellfish preserved in tins), which aren't always to non-Spanish tastes, but the 'montaditos' (sculpted tapas served on bread) are spectacular. Try salmon sashimi with cream cheese, honey and soy, or cod, passata and black olive pâté. Get there early for any chance of a surface on which to put your drink.
El 58
Poblenou needed a creative and youthful tapas bar that didn’t play bait and switch. El 58 serves a quality product with some imaginative recipes like the langostine and sweet chilli brochette. A big draw is the great value for money, seen in plates like the grilled prawns; while the phenomenal patatas bravas are a tribute to and variation of those from the now-defunct Bohèmic. El 58 is quite the pleasant spot and boasts a splendid interior courtyard.
La Esquinica
Think of it not as a trek to the less-than-central neighbourhood of Nou Barris, but as a quest; queues outside are testament to the great value of the tapas. On especially busy nights you'll be asked to take a number, supermarket-style. Waiters will advise first-timers to start with 'chocos' (tender battered squid rings), patatas bravas with alioli, 'llonganissa' sausage and 'tigres' (stuffed mussels). After that, the world is your oyster, cockle or clam.
