Bar La Plata

Tapas · Barri Gòtic, Barcelona · €€

Awards: Repsol Solete

Open since 1945

Tiny standing counter on Carrer de la Mercè since 1945 — bulk wine, chupito glasses, four pinchos (fried fish, anchovy, butifarra, tomato salad). Ferran Adrià's favorite aperitivo bar; among Europe's best small bars per The Guardian 2025.

The Delekta Review

Open since 1945, founded by a barman remembered locally as Pepito; the eightieth anniversary was marked in November 2025 with a giveaway of 100 kg of fried fish, 1,100 beers, and 60 litres of vermouth Ferran Adrià has repeatedly cited Bar La Plata as his favourite aperitivo bar in Barcelona; Jamie Oliver featured the bar on his television programme; Bono is among the regulars The Guardian named it among Europe's best small bars in 2025

A short list of pinchos and tapas — sources cite four to seven items depending on the year, with pescaíto frito and the anchovy and butifarra pinchos as the constants Drinks are house wine drawn from three barrels (red, white, rosé) into chupito-style glasses, plus Perucchi vermouth and beer; no menu card is printed

Pescaíto frito — small fried fish, the signature Pincho de anchoa — vinegared anchovy on bread Pincho de butifarra — Catalan sausage on bread Tomato-and-onion salad with olives Pa amb tomàquet Cucurucho de pescaíto — fried-fish cone for the terrace stools

Tiny narrow space; most patrons stand at the counter, with six tables and a few barrel-stool terrace seats making up the rest of the room Locals and tourists share the room shoulder-to-shoulder; the standing-room density is part of the Mercè-corner character, not an obstacle to it

Quoted in

“The triumph of simplicity.” — Macarfi

What the critics say

Visit

Address
Carrer de la Mercè, 28, Ciutat Vella, 08002 Barcelona, Spain
Phone
+34 611 64 76 88
Website
barlaplata.com

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