Tapas are a very popular style to serve food that many people around the world know about. While most people claim they know what tapas are, they might not fully understand their significance based on their origins. Tapas in the United States mean a very different thing than they do in Spain, where they originated. The word “tapas” come from the Spanish verb tapar, which means “to cover“. 
Back in the 19th century, tapas were served with your drink for the purpose of keeping out the bugs. A small plate would be placed on top of your drink, and a small portion of food would be placed on that plate. Based on this history, tapas were generally served to you for free, but as the concept evolved into something that appealed to tourists, now many places in Spain do not offer tapas for free with your drink. From a business standpoint, tapas were also a way to increase sales for a restaurant. The traditional tapas was a thinly sliced piece of bread with a piece of meat on top. This meat was usually a salty piece of meat which increases ones thirst, thus making them more inclined to order more drinks for themselves. Very smart of a business to do if you ask me!
While the origin of tapas comes from the need to cover a drink for preservation, there are many different stories and tales that have come about as an explanation of the birth of the food. One tale that I find very interesting is the one about King Alfonso X of Castile. It is said that the King was very ill at one time and because of this, could only consume foods in small amounts paired with wine. After doing this, his condition improved and he got better. Since the method of eating small plates with wine was seen to be so successful, the King proclaimed that alcohol could not be served without food.
As I mentioned before, tapas means a very different thing in the United States. Coming from America, I always had the perception that tapas was just a way to serve a dinner. To me, it meant small plates that you share with others over a meal. While it is a similar concept that derived from its origins, in Spain tapas are not seen as a meal. The other difference comes from the cost as a tapas meal in the states can be pretty pricey, while in Spain it is very affordable.
Since I did not have much knowledge on tapas and their origins before coming into Spain, I decided to attend a tapas workshop to increase my knowledge. This workshop allowed me the opportunity to not only learn about the history, but also get my first hands on experience making actual tapas.
At the workshop I was placed at station number 2 to make Tuna Stuffed Piquillo peppers. At the station with me was another student named Hannah Zuckerman. Below you can find an interview of her experience making the tapas and what her favorite part about the workshop was.
Take a look at all of the amazing tapas made by students in CEA. In the picture you can find some popular tapas dishes including Gazpacho, Calamari, the Spanish Omelette, Garlic Bread, the Tuna Stuffed Peppers explained before, and Deviled Eggs.
Below you can also find a short video showing the process of how a similar tapas dish is made. As you can see it is quick and easy for any beginner cook to make. This dish follows the format of what a traditional tapa would look like with a small dish on top of a piece of bread.
Another student that attended the tapas workshop was Kristen Koff. She dives in to her experience at this workshop with all the new things she learned and why she would recommend this experience to anyone interested in learning more about Spanish tapas.
As Kristen mentioned, there are three sizes of tapas dishes that we were taught about in the workshop. These sizes include the tapa size, which is the smallest serving, the media ración which is a more sharable size, and the ración which is closer to the size of a main dish.
After attending the workshop, I was even more intrigued with tapas and wanted to learn more. With so many tapas available in Barcelona, it was important to learn some basic dishes that wouldn’t disappoint.
While this video helps you with what to order, the more important question is where to order from. After doing some research, I have put together a list of the top 5 tapas bars in Barcelona that you MUST visit.
Located in Raval, this place holds the number one spot as it is talked about by both locals and tourists. It has a reputation of being a local joint but still serves tourist in the earlier hours. They offer a variety of traditional tapas and they get their ingredients fresh from Catalan markets.
As you can see, people have great things to say about this restaurant!
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The second on the list is Jai-Ca located in the Barceloneta neighborhood. This is the place to go if you love seafood. They offer three different kinds of fried squid along with dishes such as steamed mussels, clams, fried anchovies, or other meat options.
One spot that will most likely spark in most people’s mind when asked about best tapas is Bar del Pla. This place is an amazing mixture of great service, high quality food, good wine, and an atmosphere you can definitely vibe with. Some of the best sellers on their menu include the squid-ink croquettes, or the mushroom carpaccio with wasabi vinaigrette.
This place, located in the Born neighborhood, is a little different than others suggested, but definitely worth a try! When you arrive it is normal to find long lines of locals waiting at the door and when walking into this restaurant you will not get a traditional menu, so it is up to you to give your waiter some creative freedom. Recommended dishes at Cal Pep include clams and ham and the combo of calamares.
This restaurant is so good that even famous people like Edward Weeks come in and stop by. He has nothing but good things to say about this establishment!
Another well recommended restaurant is Quimet y Quimet restaurant located in the neighborhood of Poble Sec. This places holds some history as it is still run by a family with roots going as far back as 1914. With generations of food stashed into the menu, this tapas spot is sure to impress.
While you can’t go wrong with any tapas spot in Barcelona, these spots are sure to give you great food with an authentic experience. Hopefully after learning more about what tapas is and where you can find the best dishes, you will be more inclined to come visit Spain. In the end it doesn’t matter how nice the restaurant looks, what matters more is the authentic experience and great tasting food!
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