Indeed during our recent Barcelona visit it was quite a tapas affair. Tapas is a name used for a small plate of food. Also, sometimes it is referred to as small portions, snacks, or appetizers. These plates can include almost any food, from nuts or olives, to vegetables, fish, meat, and dessert. Typically you will find tapas at restaurants serving Spanish food, bars, and restaurants serving only tapas. When offered as a pre-lunch option tapas are commonly referred to as a Vermut, and are most commonly served with vermouth of course. Usually tapas start appearing at bars around 6 pm, given dinner starts much later in Spain. Tapas has also become a dinner option, with some restaurants specializing in only tapas.
If you are looking for tapas in Barcelona there are many recommended lists online. Usually, before I arrive, I come up with a list of restaurants to visit. In the case of the tapas bar Vinitus however, it was a suggestion of the hotel where we stayed.
Vinitus
After venturing out on a cold, wet February night I was surprised to see a long lineup to get a table. It was at least a 30-60 minute wait before we were seated.
Tapas are commonly enjoyed with beer or wine, or other drinks. For our first visit we ordered a cava.
Typically you order a number of plates to be shared. On that evening we sampled the following tapas:
Vinitus became a place we dined at least two more times during our stay. From their extensive menu here are some of the tapas that we enjoyed.
We also ordered dessert tapas. Oh YES, there was chocolate involved.
Amongst the Spanish wines on their wine list we choose a Verdejo. Ever since visiting Ruedo DO I have a been drawn to this dry white wine.
La Charla, Verdejo Rueda DO 2016
We enjoyed our tapas adventures at Vinitus. I am not surprised that this restaurant gets good reviews.
Can Cisa, Bar Brutal
Bar Brutal's wine bar Can Cisa is known for its tasty tapas and natural wines, with the majority of their wine offerings being biodynamic and organic.
Given we arrived at Can Cisa too late for lunch so we ordered some cheese.
Since it was between lunch and dinner menus they offered us the following tapas plates.
We enjoyed the tapas with wines from DO Montsant, DOQ Priorat and DO Conca de Barberá.
1. Joan D'Anguera, Planella DO Montsant 2015
2. Terroir Al Límit Soc. Lda.,Vi de Vil de Torroja DOQ Priorat 2016
3. Coll de Sabater, DO Conca de Barberá 2011
It was indeed a great afternoon tapas affair at Can Cisa wine bar. Bar Brutal also has a wine shop, a restaurant.
Monvinic
Monvinic with its top reviews, was on our must visit wine bar list. I was glad to discover that it was just around the corner from our hotel when we went on a rainy February evening. We were warmly received by the receptionist who greeted us, and pointed us towards the wine bar, next to the restaurant.
The wine bar offers an extensive digital list of wines from around the world. Even though they offer an extensive list of international wines we explored their Spanish wines. Our decision was to explore a Mencía wine from Bierzo DO, Akilia Villa San Lorenzo 2015.
Cellarer
Our outing to the Cellarer Wine Bar turned into quite a tapas affair with some delightful Spanish wines (see earlier post on Bacelona's wine bars).
We tried some of Cellarer's tapa offerings.
Now, let's take a closer look at the tapas.
It was a delightful tapas outing at Cellarer.
Beyond Tapas
We rounded out our tapas outings with visits to charming Barcelona restaurants. After a failed attempt to visit to Zona D'ombra, a wine bar, in the old medieval Jewish quarter we popped into the nearby Restaurant La Cassola for lunch.
We ordered two options from their daily menu and were not disappointed. Of course do not be surprised if your lunch begin with some small bites, or tapas.
Later wandering through the Gothic quarter we discovered Los Caracoles, which was founded in 1835.
It you are looking for restaurants with historic charm Barcelona is the place. We had lunch at Can Culleretes, Barcelona's oldest restaurant, founded in 1786.
For lunch John ordered a fish plate.
John absolutely loved this dish. While this restaurant is fabulous for fish lovers it has very limited offerings for vegetarians.
The wine we choose from their wine list was a Torres Coronas Crianza 2015. In such an historic restaurant it seemed fitting to try a wine from one of the most established wine houses in Spain, which was founded in 1870.
There is lots of history details at Can Culleretes to admire during your dining experience. Yes, even here you will find tapas, such as Pan con Tomate, to enjoy before lunch, or dinner. For dessert we had flan.
It was indeed fun to explore Barcelona's other dining options.
February was absolutely perfect timing for a tapas affair in Barcelona. We loved the tapas, foodie, and wine bar discoveries we made during our Barcelona stay. After leaving Barcelona we traveled onto Costa Daurada where we visited the DO Tarragona, DO Conca de Barberá, DO Montsant, and DOQ Priorat wine appellations. I invite you to join me in my explorations in Barcelona and elsewhere at Spaswinefood.
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| Tapas Time, Barcelona © Spaswinefood |
Vinitus
After venturing out on a cold, wet February night I was surprised to see a long lineup to get a table. It was at least a 30-60 minute wait before we were seated.
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| Tapas, Vinitus, Barcelona © Spaswinefood |
Raimat, Cava Brut Nature Chardonnay/Xarel.Lo NV
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Cava Brut Nature Chardonnay/Xarel.Lo © Spaswinefood |
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| Patatas Bravas, Vinitus © Spaswinefood |
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| Octopus Tapas, Vinitus © Spaswinefood |
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| Cuttlefish, Vinitus © Spaswinefood |
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| Grilled Veggies, Vinitus © Spaswinefood |
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| Pan con Tomate, Vinitus © Spaswinefood |
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| Tuna Tapas, Vinitus © Spaswinefood |
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| Omelet Española, Vinitus © Spaswinefood |
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| Grilled Mushrooms and Veggies, Vinitus © Spaswinefood |
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| Hint of Chocolate, Vinitus © Spaswinefood |
La Charla, Verdejo Rueda DO 2016
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| La Charla, Verdejo Rueda DO 2016 © Spaswinefood |
Can Cisa, Bar Brutal
Bar Brutal's wine bar Can Cisa is known for its tasty tapas and natural wines, with the majority of their wine offerings being biodynamic and organic.
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| Can Cisa, Bar Brutal, Barcelona © Spaswinefood |
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| Cheese Plate, Can Cisa © Spaswinefood |
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| Afternoon Plate © Spaswinefood |
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| Veggie Version of Afternoon Plate, Can Cisa © Spaswinefood |
1. Joan D'Anguera, Planella DO Montsant 2015
2. Terroir Al Límit Soc. Lda.,Vi de Vil de Torroja DOQ Priorat 2016
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| Planella DO Montsant 2015, and Vi de Vil de Torroja DOQ Priorat 2016 © Spaswinefood |
3. Coll de Sabater, DO Conca de Barberá 2011
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| Coll de Sabater, DO Conca de Barberá 2011 © Spaswinefood |
Monvinic
Monvinic with its top reviews, was on our must visit wine bar list. I was glad to discover that it was just around the corner from our hotel when we went on a rainy February evening. We were warmly received by the receptionist who greeted us, and pointed us towards the wine bar, next to the restaurant.
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| Monvinic, Barcelona © Spaswinefood |
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Akilia Villa San Lorenzo © Spaswinefood
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We also tasted some familiar Spanish wines, a Rueda DO Verdejo, and an Emporda DO Tronat (a Merlot, Granache, and Sarah blend).
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| Monvinic Wine Bar in Red and White © Spaswinefood |
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La Charla Verdejo Rueda DO, Tronat Emporda DO 2015 © Spaswinefood
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We ordered some Anchoas (anchovies), Pan con Tomate (bread with olive oil and tomato), and alcachofa (artichokes) tapas to accompany these wines.
It was a delightful evening with tapas and wine. I have read that their restaurant is quite good. We did plan to return for dinner, but ran out of time. They also offer lunch specials, which also sound exciting to me.
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| A Tapas Affair, Monvinic © Spaswinefood |
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| Alcachofa Tapas, Monvinic © Spaswinefood |
Cellarer
Our outing to the Cellarer Wine Bar turned into quite a tapas affair with some delightful Spanish wines (see earlier post on Bacelona's wine bars).
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| Cellarer Wine Bar, Barcelona © Spaswinefood |
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| Time for Tapas, Cellarer Wine Bar © Spaswinefood |
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| Empanadas, Cellarer Wine Bar © Spaswinefood |
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| Meat & Potato Tapas, Cellarer Wine Bar © Spaswinefood |
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| Veggie Tapas, Cellarer Wine Bar © Spaswinefood |
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| More Tapa Delights, Cellarer Wine Bar © Spaswinefood |
Beyond Tapas
We rounded out our tapas outings with visits to charming Barcelona restaurants. After a failed attempt to visit to Zona D'ombra, a wine bar, in the old medieval Jewish quarter we popped into the nearby Restaurant La Cassola for lunch.
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| Restaurant La Cassola © Spaswinefood |
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| Waiting for Lunch, Restaurant La Cassola © Spaswinefood |
Later wandering through the Gothic quarter we discovered Los Caracoles, which was founded in 1835.
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| Los Caracoles © Spaswinefood |
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| Lunch, Can Culleretes © Spaswinefood |
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| Fish Platter, Can Culleretes © Spaswinefood |
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| Baked Pasta, Can Culleretes © Spaswinefood |
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| Torres Coronas Crianza 2015 © Spaswinefood |
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| Casa Culleretes Restaurant © Spaswinefood |
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| Admiring History, Can Culleretes © Spaswinefood |
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| Remembering Can Culleretes © Spaswinefood |
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