5 Tapas You Can Only Find in Barcelona—PLUS How to Eat Like a Local

AFAR

Eating tapas is essential when traveling anywhere in Spain, and especially in Barcelona. Join Barcelona resident, Claudia Cardia, as she shows us 5 must-eat tapas dishes you can only find in Barcelona, and local tips for ordering and eating tapas—without looking like a tourist.  Read more here:  ---- CONNECT WITH AFAR Afar.com is a digital and print magazine that publishes travel tips, guides, news, and stories: https://www.afar.com  Get updates on the latest articles, travel news, and more from AFAR by signing up for the AFAR newsletter: https://afar.com/newsletters  Follow AFAR on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AfarMedia Follow AFAR on Twitter: https://twitter.com/afarmedia Follow AFAR on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afarmedia Follow AFAR on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/afarmedia  ---- CREDITS  Claudia Cardia - Video Editor Jessie Beck - AFAR Producer Elizabeth See - Designer Sarika Bansal - Editorial Director Michelle Heimerman - Photo Editor  FOOTAGE / PHOTOGRAPHY Claudia Cardia  CHAPTERS 00:00 What is tapas? 01:07 Typical Barcelona tapas to try 03:12 How to eat and order tapas

Transcript

00:00 (upbeat music)

00:02 - Hola, we're in Barcelona, where I live,

00:07 and I wanna bring you around to eat some tapas,

00:09 specifically from Barcelona and Catalonia,

00:11 that you might not find in the rest of Spain.

00:14 So join me as I show you how to eat and drink like a local.

00:17 (upbeat music)

00:20 Spanish tapas are now known globally.

00:28 You can find them hot or cold,

00:29 eat one as an appetizer, or try lots of them

00:32 and make it a full meal.

00:33 There are classics you can get everywhere,

00:37 like tortilla, patatas bravas, fried calamari,

00:40 and then the more regional ones

00:42 that vary from city to city,

00:44 depending on what the local area has to offer.

00:47 But some of my favorite tapas to eat here in Barcelona

00:50 are the ones you can't find in the rest of Spain.

00:53 You can choose from the menu,

00:55 but make sure to take a look at the glass window,

00:58 where they show the daily preparations,

00:59 and you can tell the weather what you'd like.

01:02 These are the most typical tapas

01:04 you should try in Barcelona.

01:05 This small dish was supposedly invented here

01:10 at La Cueva Fomada, in the neighborhood of Barceloneta.

01:14 It's basically a big croqueta, filled with potatoes and meat.

01:17 It comes with aioli and some spicy sauce.

01:20 Yes, they are snails.

01:24 These are a staple of Catalan cuisine,

01:26 strongly influenced by their French neighbors.

01:29 There is no better place to eat them

01:31 than Tabernaca Margarit, in the neighborhood of Poblacet.

01:34 Tonight we are at Tabernaca Margarit,

01:43 in the neighborhood of Poblacet,

01:45 and while we wait for our table,

01:47 they told us to get a small glass

01:49 and choose between a selection of wine.

01:52 We have some red and some white wine,

01:55 so we'll be happy while we wait.

01:57 (upbeat music)

02:00 It does sound like a strange combination,

02:09 but eggplant and honey are a match made in heaven.

02:12 You can find one of my favorites at Bodega Fermin,

02:15 in the Barceloneta.

02:16 In this old-school bodega,

02:17 you can also try their own homemade vermouth.

02:24 This dish consists of the calf's head and foot,

02:27 cooked slowly for a very long time,

02:30 until they melt in your mouth

02:31 and are absolutely full of flavor.

02:34 I know that some of you might draw the line here,

02:36 but trust me, you want to try this.

02:38 Bodega de Rafael is the perfect place to try this dish,

02:42 a rustic bodega that has probably served the same dishes

02:45 for the past 50 years.

02:46 Tortilla is a classic in all of Spain,

02:51 not only Barcelona, but this is an honorable mention

02:54 I want to add to my list.

02:56 El Champagnet makes the most amazing tortilla de bacalao,

03:00 a creative spin on a classic tortilla

03:02 with cod and crispy fried potatoes.

03:04 Next time you go to a tapas bar in Barcelona,

03:11 here are a few tips to keep in mind.

03:14 The first thing to know is that in Barcelona,

03:16 tapas do not come free with your drink order,

03:18 which is pretty common in the rest of Spain.

03:20 But do not worry, they are usually pretty cheap,

03:23 and you can keep ordering until you're full

03:24 or you've had too many drinks.

03:26 Drinks are an important part of the tapas ritual.

03:29 At El Champagnet, they're famous for their cava,

03:32 but you can never go wrong with a night-cold beer.

03:35 You will notice Spanish people often order a caña,

03:39 the small beer, because they know the heat

03:41 is gonna warm up their beer quickly.

03:43 So they'll rather keep ordering small ones

03:45 than get a big one and drink it warm.

03:47 Lastly, do not expect the service to be prompt

03:50 and quick as in the US.

03:52 Tips are not expected here,

03:54 and staff won't check your table every few minutes.

03:57 Enjoy the calmer rhythm of life

03:59 and the relaxed Spanish lifestyle.

04:01 Take your time for a good meal.

04:04 (upbeat music)

04:06 (upbeat music)

04:09 (upbeat music)

04:11 you

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