Bar del Pla in Barcelona's Born is the locals' counter on Montcada that draws the chef trade for the modernised tapas and natural-wine pours.
Signature dishes: Beef carpaccio with truffle, Iberico pork cheeks
Must order: The beef carpaccio with truffle and the slow-cooked Iberico cheeks.
Tip: Open daily lunch and dinner; book the bar over the back room. Walk-up after 22:30 is the easier slot.
Address: Carrer de Montcada 2, 08003 Barcelona
Elsa y Fred in Barcelona's Born is the neighbourhood bistro on Rec Comtal that runs Catalan tapas with a vermouth list and a weekend brunch carte.
Signature: Tartare de buey, Vermouth pours
Order: The buey tartare and a glass of the house vermouth.
Tip: The brunch service runs Sat-Sun 11:00-16:00; the weekday menu del dia is the lunchtime deal.
Tapas 24 in Barcelona's Eixample is Carles Abellan's basement counter where the bikini truffle sandwich and the McFoie burger redefined Catalan tapas in 2006.
Signature: McFoie burger, Bikini truffle sandwich
Order: The bikini truffle sandwich and the patatas bravas.
Tip: Open 09:00-midnight daily; no reservations. Aim for 12:30 lunch or 19:30 dinner.
Cerveseria Catalana in Barcelona's Eixample is the all-day tapas counter where every plate sits on the bar in glass cases. Order by pointing at sight.
Signature: Patatas bravas, Pulpo a la gallega
Order: The patatas bravas, the pulpo, the seared foie montadito.
Tip: No reservations; queue forms at 13:00. Get there at 12:30 for a counter seat or skip to 16:30 service.
Casa Leopoldo in Barcelona's Raval, founded 1929 and revived by Romain Fornell, holds the canonical version of cap i pota and the Catalan suquet.
Signature: Cap i pota, Suquet de peix
Order: The cap i pota with chickpeas and the fish suquet for two.
Tip: Closed Sunday dinner and all Monday. Lunch menu del dia is the easier price point.
Elsa y Fred in Barcelona's Born is the neighbourhood bistro on Rec Comtal that runs Catalan tapas with a vermouth list and a weekend brunch carte.
Signature: Tartare de buey, Vermouth pours
Order: The buey tartare and a glass of the house vermouth.
Tip: The brunch service runs Sat-Sun 11:00-16:00; the weekday menu del dia is the lunchtime deal.
Dos Pebrots in Barcelona's Raval is Albert Raurich's Mediterranean-historical bistro: dishes researched from Roman and Phoenician cooking, plated for now.
Signature: Roasted bone marrow, Ancient-grain breads
Order: The bone marrow starter and the wholegrain wood-fired bread.
Tip: Closed Mon-Tue. Lunch is the easier seating; the wine list is short and Catalan.
Pakta in Barcelona's Poble-sec is the Adria brothers' Japanese-Peruvian Nikkei tasting room behind a sliding door near Tickets. Counter seating.
Signature: Tiradito, Nikkei sushi
Order: The full Nikkei tasting menu with the sake pairing.
Tip: Reservations open 2 months out at midnight. Closed Sun-Mon. Counter is the only seating.
