Tapas trails: a budget-friendly way to discover Catalan cuisine
If you’re planning a whole meal of tapas, you could just pick a bar and stay there. Tapear (tapas-ing) properly, though, is practically an art form. It doesn’t just involve eating, but also the act of moving from bar to bar. Make the most of one of Barcelona’s many tapas trail events to do it in style, the way the locals do!
The “tapas trail” tradition
Tapas: an original culinary tradition
Traditionally, to “tapear”, you need to spend the evening going from bar to bar, changing scenery and atmosphere with each snack! It’s a fun way to experience plenty of new places in a single night.
An increasing number of tapas bars are joining together to organise tapas trails, which are a budget-friendly way of making new and tasty discoveries.
The tapas trail concept
Tapas trails have been springing up all over Barcelona in recent years. A number of tapas bars, generally from the same quarter, come together to create a temporary, fixed-price tapa + drink offer. Visitors are then free to travel from bar to bar as they like. You’ll get a drink with each tapa, so be pace yourself…
- Note that the promotion doesn’t apply to all tapas, just to one tapa specially selected by the bar.
Tapas trails in Barcelona
“Tapas trails” (rutes de les tapes in Catalan) have been created in several areas of the city. These are occasional events, held one or more times a year – so check the dates to see if anything’s taking place during your stay in Barcelona. Even if there’s nothing on when you’re there, you’ll still find ideas for bars and areas to visit.
1. De tapes per Barcelona
This is the best-known of the tapas trails; unlike the others, it’s a city-wide affair, not limited to one quarter. Almost 70 tapas bars are involved each year, joining in the “best tapa” competition which runs alongside.
- Price: 1 tapa + a small beer = €2.50
When? From June 7 to 17, 2018 (the 2019 dates aren’t published yet)Where?
In the whole city. Below you will find the list of bars classified by neighbourhood:
Eixample Dreta and Sagrada Familia
- Arroz Hofmann
- Andreu Tastets de la Xarcuteria
- Bar Marfil (Hotel Murmuri)
- Barcelona Gourmets
- Casa Angela
- Celler el tros
- Matalaranya
- Pirineu en Boca
- Rovica
- Santa Burg
Eixample Esquerra
- Bodega Joan
- Ca Meua
- Creperia Bretona Le P’ty Mon
- Guito
- L’Escale Bistrot
- La Tunateca Balfegó
- Senyor Vermut
- Telefèric
Gòtic
- El Cafè d’en Víctor
- El Pintor
- El Portalón
- H3
- La Porta Ferrissa
- La Taverna del Bisbe
- La Taverneta Barcelona
- Moka
- Patapas
Raval and Sant Antoni
- A tu Bola
- Azul Frida
- Bar la Masia
- Candela Raval
- Cátedra – Luna Bar
- Cèntric
- Domino Bar by Bierzo
- Els tres bots
- Entretapas Manso
- Hotel Midmost
- La Cabaña de los Ángeles
- La Parra
- La Rouge
- Las Fernández
- Madame Ramen
- Pepa Tomate Parlament
- Pizzes L’Àvia Restaurant
- Robadora
- Tabarlot
- Taverna B. J. 100
- Tootsie
- Udon Raval
Gràcia and Sant Gervasi
- Antúnez
- Cafè del Sol
- Casa Vall
- Kiku Japonés
- La llar de foc
- La llavor dels orígens
- SMS Delície
- Sol de Nit
Born and Barceloneta
- Bubo Bar
- Caballa Canalla
- Casa Nova
- El Born Bar
- El Guindilla Barceloneta
- El Guindilla Born
- El Reloj
- La Pizza del Born
- Les Dues Sicílies (C. Carders)
- Les Dues Sicílies (C. Princesa)
- Navía
- Orígens
- Pasa Tapas
- Santa Maria del Mar
- Udon Born
2. Tapes del Raval summer trail
This tapas trail, held every July, follows exactly the same concept as “De tapes per Barcelona”, but is held in the Raval quarter.
In practical terms, note that all of the bars involved in De tapes per Barcelona and Tapes del Raval give out maps showing all of the participating establishments. Very handy, especially after the first couple of drinks…
- Price: 1 tapa + a small beer = €2.50
3. Tapantoni
Tapantoni is a tapas trail around the Sant Antoni quarter, near Poble Sec. The initiative was launched in 2013 and has gained in popularity year on year. It’s slightly different from the others in that certain cafés also participate, offering sweet tapas and drinks. For more information, see our article on Tapantoni.
- Price: €2-3 for a tapa and a draught beer or glass of wine
- The 2019 edition ran from 10th – 26th May.
4. Pinxu-Panxo (Nou Barris)
Nou Barris, on the very edges of Barcelona, has also followed the tapas trail trend (try saying that with your mouth full). More than 50 venues have adopted the approach, every Thursday night in summer from 7pm – 10pm.
- Price: 1 tapa + 1 drink = €1.95
Sounds promising…
Official Pinxu-Panxo website
You may also like:
- Tapa solidària, an initiative serving food which both tastes and does good, with part of the profits going to support disadvantaged children.
- Top tapas bars around the Rambla Catalunya.
Bon profit
!
