WHAT CAN YOU
EXPECT HERE?

The price of the tour is clearly not cheap, but it is in the middle of what is generally offered. Others start with EUR 105 and it can go even higher.

We met at 6 p.m. on a Saturday at Placa Jaume I in the Gotico. There were 3 groups with approx. 12 people per group starting at the same time. I found the group size to be ok. But it shouldn’t be more.

6 p.m. is not the Spanish time to eat – but tapas are usually just a “snack” before the Spaniards go to eat around 9.30 p.m. (or later).

The two restaurants that we visited were therefore still relatively empty and not necessarily frequented by locals. The two bars, on the other hand, were also filled with Catalans.

1. STOP
PLA B RESTAURANT

The Pla B restaurant (Google rating 4.4) is tucked away in a side street that I have never visited. In other cities you might even consider not going down a side street like this – but in Barcelona, you generally don’t have to.

Here, we all eyed each other – because food tours are there to get into conversation with people. Don’t be afraid to be asked or dare to ask the other person questions! No fear of contact, please!

The Restaurant offered us 3 tapas, a cava and water. Unfortunately, that was the only restaurant that offered water as standard.

First, we got a humus (price on the menu: 8.40 euros), which was mixed with basil and looked gorgeous green. This was quickly followed by the famous “patatas bravas” (price on the menu: 6.90 euros) and a special croquette per person (price on the menu: 2 for 6.10 euros)

The Spanish croquettes are not simple potato croquettes like we know them from Germany. No, they have different flavors. While the standard croquettes have jamón (ham), pollo (chicken) or bacalao (fish) fillings, this one is made with a special Spanish cheese (Idiazabal cheese from the Basque Country) and almonds.

2. STOP
BAR VIDRIOS Y CRISTALES

I didn’t know the Vidrios y Cristales bar (4.4 Google rating) in the Barceloneta district either! With its wine barrels and the decoration, it is really quaint! I like that!

It is a so-called bodega (a wine bar/wine tavern), which in this case even specializes in wines and “Vermouth”. Plus, it’s one of those canned bars in Barcelona! Yes, you heard that right: canned goods. You’d probably scorn that in other countries, but it’s a popular type of eatery here.

But don’t worry – it’s not all canned. At least not our 4 tapas. And the Vermouth was a welcome change too, although I have to say it’s not among the best I’ve tried.

“Vermouth” or wormwood is a wine infused with spices and herbs. The wormwood herb is the namesake. “Vermouth” is drunk here as an apéritif and is very popular. To classify: the famous Italian Martini (white, black, red) is also a Vermouth. In Spain, however, the black one (“tinto”) is mainly drunk.

We also had the following tapas: in addition to the pa amb tomàquet that I describe to you in the typical food article, there was “tortilla“, pastries filled with a “mushroom stew” and a surprise that you had to guess while eating. That’s why I won’t tell you what’s behind the fourth tapas plate.

3. STOP
BAR LA PLATA

The Bar La Plata (4.6th on Google) is unique. Where to start?

• Established in 1945, the bar is one of the most authentic bars in town.
• The decor with the typical tiles, the wine barrels and everything around it is just great.
• Only 4 tapas are offered, and that since the founding year (!). Fried small fish, anchovies on a piece of baguette, butifarra sausage on baguette, tomatoes with onions (as a salad) and again pan con tomate, but that doesn’t count as number 5, ok!
• The operator is a little rascal. Sympathetic, but also washed with all waters. Check your bill at the end… He wanted to charge me more (whether purposely because German was spoken at the time, I’ll leave it open), but I was given a bottle of Vermouth as compensation.
• Daniel Brühl (the german Actor) is a fan and friend of the operator and probably checks in here regularly. In his Barcelona documentary, you can also see him visiting the bar. And Bono was seen here, too!

We didn’t make it into the bar on the food tour – it was too crowded. But we ate the delicious fried fish (my absolute favorite tapa in Spain – I always order it!) and made something very special.

Fortunately, after two bars, you know each other a little better because now we have shared the white wine in an exceptional way. With a porrón! A porrón is a so-called beak jug – you don’t touch anything while drinking, and so you can conveniently pass the jug around. This is traditionally found in Catalonia, Aragon and Valencia.

Tip for the inexperienced: don’t try it with red wine!

4. STOP
RESTAURANT LA TINAJA

The restaurant/bodega La Tinaja (4.6 on Google) is in the hip Born district, but it’s very quaint. The restaurant was opened in an old horse stable, and you can see that on the walls and the decoration.

Here, we sat down again very relaxed at a large table and one tapa followed the next! There was also a red wine on the table.

Cheese platters, sausage and ham were served, along with pan con tomate, beans with squid rings, cocas with vegetables and feta cheese, and finally a chistorra sausage. Here you got really full.

For dessert, there was even a small “Crema Catalana”. The Catalan form of crème brûlée.

But here you also noticed that a glass of water would be nice and when I asked if you could get some red wine, the only answer was that you had to buy it additionally. I guess I was spoiled by the food tour in Rome, where the wine just flowed!

The tour also had to end fairly quickly and on time here, as some of the participants had booked the Flamenco show as well. We don’t… so it was time to say “adiós”!

TOUR 2
FOOD LOVER TOUR

I will be visiting this tour soon, but before that, I can feed you with some information.

Why did I choose this tour?
I wanted to try a lunchtime tour because there are families with children who want to do something like this. Additionally, I really liked their video with authentic music.

The key data:

Lunchtime tour

Price: EUR 55 per person
Number of Tapas: 10 – 12
Number of Drinks: Alcoholic beverages such as wine and Cava included
Number of Stops: 5, 4 of them probably in a typical Catalan market hall – Mercat del Ninot
Duration: 2.5 hours
Neighborhood: Eixample Izquierda (left Eixample) or in Catalan, “Esquerra de l’Eixample”