Ikibana in Barcelona's Born is the loud Brazil-Japan room on Passeig de Picasso: sushi, sashimi and tropical cocktails in a dark-lit dining loft.
Signature dishes: Ikibana roll, Tuna tataki
Must order: The Ikibana signature roll and a tuna tataki to share.
Tip: Open daily lunch and dinner; book the bar over the table on busy nights.
Address: Passeig de Picasso 32, 08003 Barcelona
Sagardi in Barcelona's Born is the Basque pintxos chain with a charcoal-fired txuleta room in the back: order pintxos by toothpick, count at the end.
Signature: Txuleta steak, Pintxos counter
Order: Six pintxos at the bar, then a shared txuleta in the back.
Tip: No reservations for pintxos. The grill room books out Fri-Sat.
Euskal Etxea in Barcelona's Born is the cultural-centre pintxos bar where the Basque counter runs from 19:00 with cider, txakoli and tortilla toothpicks.
Signature: Pintxos toothpicks, Txakoli pours
Order: Four pintxos and a glass of txakoli poured from height.
Tip: Bar opens 19:00. Closed Sunday-Monday. Pay at the end by toothpick count.
Tapeo in Barcelona's Born is the smaller-room counter on Montcada with a sister to El Xampanyet's vibe and a chalkboard list of daily Catalan plates.
Signature: Patatas bravas, Aged sirloin
Order: Whatever is chalked as today, plus the sirloin tapa.
Tip: Walk-in for the bar; reserve the back table the night before.
El Nacional in Barcelona's Eixample is the Passeig de Gracia food hall: four kitchens around a single bar, all Spanish, all open midday to 01:00.
Signature: Iberian ham, Octopus tapas
Order: Galician octopus from La Llotja and a 3-meat platter at La Paradeta.
Tip: Walk-in for the bar, book the table; open 12:00-01:00 daily.
Paco Meralgo in Barcelona's Eixample is the long-marble-bar tapas room locals send out-of-towners to. Cantabrian anchovies and Iberico are the headlines.
Signature: Anchovies of Cantabria, Iberico ham
Order: Cantabrian anchovies on bread, plus the Iberico ham flight.
Tip: Open daily; book the bar for solo dining, the back room for groups.
Sagardi in Barcelona's Born is the Basque pintxos chain with a charcoal-fired txuleta room in the back: order pintxos by toothpick, count at the end.
Signature: Txuleta steak, Pintxos counter
Order: Six pintxos at the bar, then a shared txuleta in the back.
Tip: No reservations for pintxos. The grill room books out Fri-Sat.
Euskal Etxea in Barcelona's Born is the cultural-centre pintxos bar where the Basque counter runs from 19:00 with cider, txakoli and tortilla toothpicks.
Signature: Pintxos toothpicks, Txakoli pours
Order: Four pintxos and a glass of txakoli poured from height.
Tip: Bar opens 19:00. Closed Sunday-Monday. Pay at the end by toothpick count.
Tapeo in Barcelona's Born is the smaller-room counter on Montcada with a sister to El Xampanyet's vibe and a chalkboard list of daily Catalan plates.
Signature: Patatas bravas, Aged sirloin
Order: Whatever is chalked as today, plus the sirloin tapa.
Tip: Walk-in for the bar; reserve the back table the night before.
Can Paixano in Barcelona's Barceloneta has poured pink cava out of bottle-lined tile walls since 1969. Two euro cava, one euro chorizo bocadillo, standing only.
Signature: Pink cava by the glass, Chorizo bocadillo
Order: Three pink cavas and a chorizo bocadillo. Repeat.
Tip: No reservations, no tables. Bar closes early; arrive before 22:00 to get a corner.
