Maitea in Barcelona's Gracia is the long-running Basque pintxos counter with a back-room txuleta-fire grill, popular for the after-work tapeo turn.
Signature dishes: Pintxos counter, Txuleton
Must order: Six pintxos and a Rioja Crianza by the glass.
Tip: Bar pintxos walk-up; book the grill room ahead. Closed Sunday and bank holidays.
Address: Carrer de Casanova 155, 08036 Barcelona
La Llavor dels Origens in Barcelona's Born is the regional-Catalan room: fideua, butifarra, the deep-cut menu of Catalan dishes for diners ready to commit.
Signature: Fideua, Catalan butifarra
Order: The fideua with squid, and the butifarra with white beans.
Tip: Closed Sunday dinner. The 14 euro weekday lunch is the easier price point.
Semproniana in Barcelona's Eixample is Ada Parellada's family-run Catalan creative room since 1993: the crema catalana sandwich and Iberian carpaccio are signature.
Signature: Crema catalana sandwich, Iberian carpaccio
Order: The crema catalana sandwich for dessert; Iberian carpaccio to start.
Tip: Lunch carte is the price point; book Friday or Saturday a week ahead.
Cera 23 in Barcelona's Raval is the locals' modern-Catalan room: the volcano black rice arrives at the table flaming, the tuna tartare is the back-up order.
Signature: Volcano black rice, Tuna tartare
Order: The volcano black rice for two; the tuna tartare to start.
Tip: Closed Sunday; the early sitting at 20:00 walks in easier than 22:00.
Els Tres Tombs in Barcelona's Sant Antoni is the canonical neighbourhood vermouth-and-tapas counter, named for the Sant Antoni Three Kings procession.
Signature: House vermouth, Patatas bravas
Order: Vermouth on tap with bravas; tortilla espanyola as the next round.
Tip: Open weekday breakfasts and Sunday vermouth lunchtime; cash easier than card.
Fabrica Moritz in Barcelona's Sant Antoni is the Jean-Nouvel-restored brewery-brasserie with house Moritz on tap and a 35-strong tapas list.
Signature: House Moritz pours, Catalan tapas board
Order: The signature Moritz Epidor and a tapas board for two.
Tip: Open 09:00-01:00 daily; the basement bar takes walk-ins on busy nights.
Ramen-Ya Hiro in Barcelona's Eixample is the locals' tonkotsu counter where the pork broth simmers 12 hours and the queue starts forming at 13:30.
Signature: Tonkotsu ramen, Gyoza
Order: The tonkotsu ramen with chashu pork and a side of gyoza.
Tip: No reservations; queue forms before 13:30 for the lunch turn. Closed Monday all day.
