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SpanishBorn
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. Priced at €€.
OrderThe beef carpaccio with truffle and the slow-cooked Iberico cheeks.
TipOpen daily lunch and dinner; book the bar over the back room. Walk-up after 22:30 is the easier slot.
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Catalan TapasEixample
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.
OrderThe bikini truffle sandwich and the patatas bravas.
TipOpen 09:00-midnight daily; no reservations. Aim for 12:30 lunch or 19:30 dinner.
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Catalan TapasEixample
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.
OrderThe patatas bravas, the pulpo, the seared foie montadito.
TipNo reservations; queue forms at 13:00. Get there at 12:30 for a counter seat or skip to 16:30 service.
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Catalan ClassicRaval
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.
OrderThe cap i pota with chickpeas and the fish suquet for two.
TipClosed Sunday dinner and all Monday. Lunch menu del dia is the easier price point.
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SpanishBorn
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.
OrderThe buey tartare and a glass of the house vermouth.
TipThe brunch service runs Sat-Sun 11:00-16:00; the weekday menu del dia is the lunchtime deal.
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MediterraneanRaval
Dos Pebrots in Barcelona's Raval is Albert Raurich's Mediterranean-historical bistro: dishes researched from Roman and Phoenician cooking, plated for now.
OrderThe bone marrow starter and the wholegrain wood-fired bread.
TipClosed Mon-Tue. Lunch is the easier seating; the wine list is short and Catalan.