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 dishes: McFoie burger, Bikini truffle sandwich
Must 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.
Address: Carrer de la Diputació 269, 08007 Barcelona
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.
Mont Bar in Barcelona's Eixample is Iván Castro's tapas-counter-with-a-Michelin-star: tasting plates over a wooden bar with an obsessive natural-wine list.
Signature: Tasting menu, Iberico pluma
Order: Whichever tasting menu they call; the wine pairing is the move.
Tip: Counter seats book 4 weeks ahead. Tue-Sat dinner only. Closed Sun-Mon.
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.
Mont Bar in Barcelona's Eixample is Iván Castro's tapas-counter-with-a-Michelin-star: tasting plates over a wooden bar with an obsessive natural-wine list.
Signature: Tasting menu, Iberico pluma
Order: Whichever tasting menu they call; the wine pairing is the move.
Tip: Counter seats book 4 weeks ahead. Tue-Sat dinner only. Closed Sun-Mon.
