Bar del Pla — Restaurant in Barcelona

TOURIST TRAP! BEWARE! This is a fast food tourist trap (full of Americans) disguised as a tapas bar. Actually, calling the food here "fast food" is an insult to fast food. Most of the 'rave reviews' are fake.

Bar del Pla offers an unsafe dining experience, deplorable customer service, and below average food. This gaudy, low-quality tourist trap is an insult to anyone seeking genuine tapas. My boyfriend and I made the grave mistake of visiting on October 1st, 2024 after reading what now seem like fabricated rave reviews. We called ahead, thinking a reservation would guarantee a smooth experience—how tragically wrong we were.

From the moment we arrived, the evening was a catastrophe. A chaotic queue greeted us, which we initially mistook as a sign of popularity. The greeter fumbled our reservation because they couldn’t even manage to write my boyfriend’s name correctly, dismissing us until he insisted she check his phone number. This was the universe’s way of telling us to leave, and we should’ve listened!

Once seated at the bar, the nightmare truly began... we were immediately told we'd need to vacate our table in 20-30 minutes for the next reservation before we had even ordered anything. The menu was both shockingly overpriced and pathetically limited, omitting classic tapas starters like olives. We had already been to two other local tapas spots that week—both filled with locals enjoying fantastic food at reasonable prices. Bar de Pla, however, shamelessly exploits clueless tourists by offering subpar dishes at outrageous prices. We ordered three dishes, which arrived with suspicious speed, likely because the kitchen couldn’t be bothered to put any effort into them. The octopus dish was an absolute travesty: rubbery, diced beyond recognition, and buried beneath low-grade meatballs. Charging over €10 for a few pathetic slivers of octopus? That’s not just disappointing—it’s outright theft.

The atmosphere was equally abominable. Harsh, blindingly bright lighting paired with extremely loud music and staff wearing t-shirts emblazoned with vulgar phrases, made it feel more like a grimy dive bar in the worst possible way than a tapas establishment. Adding insult to injury, a North American man at the bar—who had clearly been over-served alcohol—was loudly swearing, slamming the bar with his fists, and yukking it up with the bartender. It felt more like a trashy American chain restaurant than anything remotely connected to Spanish or Catalan culture.

The absence of locals was glaringly obvious—they were smart enough to avoid this tourist circus altogether.

We attempted to salvage the night by focusing on the food, but things only got worse. At one point, a staff member behind the bar dropped a knife onto my lap, which then bounced off and stained my boyfriend’s jeans. The bartender’s nonchalant “not to worry” response was absolutely enraging. No apology, no concern for our safety, just pure indifference. They didn’t care about the customers, only about flipping tables as fast as possible.

When we finally decided to escape and prepared to leave this horror show, the bartender, who carelessly slapped a bottle onto the bar which then splashed sauce onto my boyfriend's shirt, had the nerve to ask if everything was okay. My boyfriend calmly listed the many reasons why it wasn’t, but all we got in return was a dismissive “It is all okay.” Far from it.

To top off this farce, our bill for a small beer, a glass of stale wine, and three disappointing dishes came to an outrageous €48. Later that night, we went to a local spot and had three beers, a liquor, and four delicious, authentic dishes for slightly less than our bill at Bar del Pla. That’s what real tapas should feel like.

Do yourself a favor and steer clear of Bar de Pla!!! Save yourself the time, money, and frustration—this is an overpriced tourist trap that delivers nothing but disappointment. Avoid this pit of despair masquerading as a restaurant...

The Single Best Meal We Had in Barcelona Of all the places my girlfriend and I visited during our eight-day trip to Barcelona, Bar Del Pla was our undisputed favorite—and it wasn't even close. We loved it so much that we went back a second time and would have gone for a third if our schedule had allowed. It is, without a doubt, the one place I would insist you do not miss. Atmosphere The restaurant has a cozy and lively bar-scene atmosphere. It's clearly a place with a passion for natural wine, offering a fantastic selection that was consistently great without being overly funky. One of the most impressive details was the sound-deadening panels on the ceiling. Even when the bar was packed, we could comfortably hold a conversation, which is a thoughtful touch that greatly enhanced the experience. The Food & Drinks Every dish we tried was a standout. The staff recommended their tomato bread, and it was a revelation—perfectly crispy, seasoned with high-quality oil, salt, and garlic, and topped with a fresh tomato spread that was bursting with flavor. The croquettes were delicious, the zucchini flower was amazing, and the cannelloni, with its rich meat and cream filling, is an absolute must-order. The food comes out quickly, and each plate was better than the last. The patatas bravas and sirloin were great as well! Service & Logistics The service was as exceptional as the food. The staff were attentive, friendly, and gave wonderful recommendations that guided us to the best dishes on the menu. As a testament to their hospitality, they even treated our table and the one next to us to a complimentary digestif. The restaurant is always busy, so I highly recommend calling ahead for a reservation. We were lucky to squeeze in during a brief opening, but planning ahead is your best bet to secure a table at this...

For my wife and me, who always travel with a "foodie-first" mindset, this place was truly a special restaurant. Out of our 12-night trip across Spain, this was one of only two places we visited more than once (the other one was in Seville)—which says a lot already.

We first went for a lunch reservation, and we were so impressed with the food, atmosphere, and service that we immediately booked a second visit for later that same day—even though the only available slot was 10:30 PM, which is super late by Korean standards. But we didn’t hesitate and just said, “Let’s go for it!”

One of the highlights of this spot is their genuine passion for NATURAL WINE. The staff wear uniforms with the bold slogan "F* SANGRIA, DRINK NATURAL WINE" printed on the back, and the wine selection lives up to that attitude. Even when ordering by the glass, we got to explore at least 6 different reds and whites. Despite how busy they were, the servers brought 2–3 options over, explained them in detail, and even let us taste each one before deciding—seriously, I’ve never had that kind of experience before. I literally said, “Is this even real?! Viva España!”

The food was overall excellent, with some signature dishes that really stood out. Despite the painful €1 = 1,630 KRW exchange rate, the prices felt totally fair for the quality. The interior is stylish and lively without being overwhelming—a great balance of energy and warmth.

And last but not least, a big shout-out to JUDIT, who took such wonderful care of us both times. I'm leaving this review a bit late, but we were so grateful for her kindness. Thanks to you, our very first day in Barcelona was absolutely perfect.

This restaurant is one I truly recommend. If we ever come back to Barcelona, we’ll definitely return—maybe not just twice, but...