Gastronomy is a fundamental element of Catalan culture, and one of the most recognised expressions of this culinary richness is tapas. Every year, on 29 June, Catalonia joins in the worldwide celebration of World Tapas Day, an event that highlights the importance of this iconic dish in the region. During this day, locals and visitors alike have the opportunity to enjoy a wide variety of delicious tapas, while immersing themselves in the vibrant Catalan culture.
If you don’t want to miss out, with Shuttle2Sun‘s affordable and sustainable shared transfer services and private transfer services you can transfer from Barcelona Airport, Barcelona Port, Reus Airport, Girona Airport and Camp de Tarragona AVE train station.
Tapas
Tapas have their roots in the tradition of sharing small portions of food among friends and family. Around Spain, this custom has evolved to become an integral part of the regional dining experience, and Catalonia is no exception. Catalan tapas are renowned for their diversity and creativity, having a wide range of flavours, from classics such as tortilla de patatas or croquettes, to more innovative options that combine local ingredients with modern culinary techniques.
Beyond their function as a culinary delight, tapas play a crucial role in Catalan social culture. Tapas encourage conversation, as they are shared among friends and family around a table. This style of eating fosters a relaxed and festive atmosphere, where food is enjoyed slowly, and company is celebrated. In addition, tapas allow diners to try a variety of dishes, discovering new flavours and ingredients, which may not be used in traditional dishes.
World Tapas Day
The potato omelette, croquettes, patatas bravas, Andalusian-style squid… Do we need more reasons for a World Tapa Day? Take advantage of this day to celebrate Catalan culinary culture and promote the excellence of its tapas around Costa Dorada, Barcelona and Costa Brava. During this day, some of the restaurants and bars throughout Catalonia offer special promotions and tasting menus, allowing diners to enjoy a wide selection of tapas at affordable prices. In addition, themed events, tapas competitions and gastronomy-related activities are organised to engage the community and attract food lovers from far and wide.
The richness and diversity of local ingredients are reflected in Catalan tapas. From the Mediterranean coast to the mountainous interior, each region of Catalonia brings its own distinctive flavours and products. In Barcelona, for example, it is possible to find seafood tapas that include fresh seafood such as prawns, mussels or octopus. On the Costa Brava in northern Catalonia, tapas can be influenced by Mediterranean and French culinary traditions, with ingredients such as local cheese or Iberian ham.
Looking for somewhere to sit by the sea and eat some tapas? Don’t worry because you can do so in most of the bars and restaurants. You can choose the one with the menu that suits you best. Just in case, we bring you some of the most popular restaurants known for their delicious tapas on Costa Dorada, Barcelona or Costa Brava.
Best places to eat tapas on Costa Dorada
In Cambrils, just 25 minutes from the AVE Camp de Tarragona train station, you can find plenty of high quality restaurants to enjoy tapas with your friends or family. For example, El Pòsit, located in the port of Cambrils, stands out for its delicious tapas. You can also accompany them with rice dishes, cocktails and different types of seafood and fish. All their products use local ingredients to provide high quality and sustainable cuisine that respects the environment.
If you are visiting Reus and are looking for a tapas place to eat, we recommend the Museu del Vermut. This restaurant is a modernist building with modern and Mediterranean cuisine with traditional tapas to offer you an exquisite gastronomic experience in the city of vermouth. In addition, the restaurant is decorated with hundreds of bottles of vermouth in a large open courtyard, and also has a large exhibition of vermouth-related items. You can discover its extensive collection of more than 6000 items, 1800 bottles, 400 posters, 3000 labels and hundreds of advertising objects related to vermouth. What’s more, you can easily travel to this town thanks to Reus airport, which is just 10 minutes from the centre.
In Salou, just a few streets from the beach, you’ll find the Taberna del Áncora, with its traditional recipes based on market and kilometre 0 ingredients and products. You can sit on its quiet terrace surrounded by plants and palm trees while you enjoy its magnificent tapas. We recommend booking in advance, as it is very difficult to get a table without a reservation, especially in high season.
Best places to eat tapas in Barcelona
Barcelona is full of restaurants and tapas bars. If you want our recommendation, we recommend you to go to La Plata bar, chosen as the best tapas bar in Barcelona according to Time Out magazine. It is an authentic and traditional bar that offers the same tapas with which it opened in 1945. They also serve great quality vermouth and are experts in tapas using ingredients from the sea. We recommend the fried blue fish, the tomato, onion and olive salad, and the black pudding skewer. It’s also in the heart of the Gothic Quarter, so if you fancy discovering the neighbourhood before or after you go to the restaurant, we have an article dedicated to the Gothic Quarter.
Best places to eat tapas on Costa Brava
On Costa Brava, you’ll find a paradise of gourmet restaurants combining sea and gastronomy. La Cala Jóncols, a restaurant located in Roses, will awaken all your senses while you try its dishes on its spectacular terrace overlooking the sea. The restaurant is located between beautiful coves and its menu varies depending on the time of year, with seasonal products from the garden, the sea and the farmyard. Its cuisine has been awarded the G’O seal (gastronomy of origin) and they also have different activities and experiences, from wine tasting to boat trips, scuba diving and kayak routes. You can travel with Shuttle2Sun from Girona airport to this amazing restaurant.
We’ve got our stomachs in knots, have you? There are plenty of restaurants all over Catalonia that cooks delicious tapas in addition to our recommendations. So, don’t wait any longer and come and try the tapas with Shuttle2Sun‘s low-cost and cheap private transfer services and shared transfer services. We offer transfers from Barcelona airport, Barcelona port, Reus airport, Girona airport and AVE Camp de Tarragona train station.
