Bar del Pla is a traditional-looking tapas joint that doesn’t seem vastly different from the rest with its unassuming facade, but one that raises the food to a higher level.
You’re not coming here for the décor, and what is it with the floodlit restaurants in this town? But it is worth the (probable) wait for a seat here.
There’s a little experimentation in the kitchen, but largely Bar del Pla is all about the standards done really well. They may not be described very accurately on the menu either: the “fried small fish” turned out to be more like a fisherman’s platter, and very good too.
Menu descriptions are pretty basic, but almost everything that comes out is excellent. And the wait staff really know their wines – and there a lot on offer.
Bar del Pla packed with locals, so that’s a good sign, and definitely worth traveling to El Born to visit. It may be on the same street as the Picasso Museum, but it’s a world away in atmosphere.
Bar del Pla is at the top of my recommendations in Barcelona for this style of dining, and everyone I’ve recommended it to has loved it.
Book ahead, or be prepared to wait.
Calle Montcada, 2
Click here for more of the best dining in Barcelona