Bar Jai-Ca — Restaurant in Barcelona

What a bad experience!!! This morning me and my family have decided to have a local breakfast in this famous bar. We have ordered 3 drinks and 3 sandwiches (bocadillos). The first one with french omelette came in about 10 minutes. And then we were waiting and waiting… I have to note, that they have not been busy, it was really quiet. About 10 minutes later, just about when I was going to complain, the waiter started to look for our food. We could clearly see and notice, that there was a mistake - either it hasn’t been order or the chef has forgotten to make… No explanation, no apollogy… After another 10 minutes the cold one with ibérico ham has arrived. Nothing said, like there was nothing happening. It took another 10 or more minutes to bring the last one with Brie, ham and tomato marmelade. Nothing mentioned. Silence. The bar continued to be quiet. The bill was over €26, no discount, no apollogy. And what more, when I expressed my disappointment, neither at that moment the waiter acknowledged any problem, said that it didin’t take so long. I’ve told him that I work in the same industry for many years and that in all places with or without stars, it was crucial and most important to solve and acknowledge the mistakes and apologize to the customer. Neither there the waiter was able to apologize, he was defending himself that he is nice to customers and that he is well educated. Oh well, well! If, I ever will come back to this place, it will take a long time after such a bad experience! (And I have to say, I’ve had good ones there.) Behaving the same way to the customers, I would be fired straight away!!! I live in Barcelona for more then 13 years and haven’t ever experienced anything like that. And we all know that bad experience, spreads easier and faster...

If you’re hunting for the quintessential Barcelona tapas experience, Bar Jai-Ca is where you need to be. Tucked away in the vibrant streets of Barceloneta, this is not just a bar—it’s a love letter to traditional Spanish cuisine with a lively, soul-stirring twist.

The tapas here are nothing short of legendary. The patatas bravas? A crispy, golden revelation, served with a spicy-sweet aioli that dances on your taste buds. The calamari is impossibly tender, fried to perfection, and practically whispers “order another plate.” And don’t even get me started on the gambas al ajillo—plump, juicy shrimp swimming in a garlicky olive oil that demands to be soaked up with crusty bread. It’s food that makes you wonder if you’ve been eating tapas wrong your entire life.

As for the service, these folks know how to keep the party going. The staff is a whirlwind of energy and charm, juggling plates, pouring drinks, and making you feel like the star of the show. They’re friendly without being overbearing, and their recommendations? Spot on. Trust them when they say, “You need to try this.”

And let’s talk about the vibe. The location is quintessential Barceloneta—a buzzing neighborhood where the sea breeze meets the hum of local life. Whether you snag a table inside, surrounded by lively chatter and clinking glasses, or enjoy your meal outdoors while soaking in the neighborhood’s charm, the energy is infectious. Bar Jai-Ca doesn’t just feed you; it pulls you into the rhythm of Barcelona itself.

In short, Bar Jai-Ca is the kind of place where you come for a quick bite and end up staying for hours, ordering “just one more plate” and soaking in the magic. An...

The BIGGEST disappointment of our trip! One of my friends recommended visiting this place and we spontaneously decided to go on a Sunday night, just before going to the airport. Something didn't feel right from the beginning - the guy with dreadlocks - the manager (I assume) - was visibly irritated and not happy the moment we stepped into the place. We asked for a table for 4 people and we would completely understand if they were too busy to serve us, however, nothing like that was communicated, so we sat down at the indicated table and ordered Las bravas del Jal-Ca, Calamares a la andaluza, some drinks and a dessert. The waitress suddenly brought 4 plates of squid and told us we ordered 4 portions when we clearly asked for just one, she couldn't stop laughing after coming back behind the bar & then she came back asking if we were still in the mood for desert.. Then if that wasn't ridiculous enough, the guy with dreadlocks approached our table and just kept starring at us.. We asked if everything was okay and he just said we were at the last table so… like we had to hurry because he wanted to go home 😳 The whole experience was just uncomfortable and annoying & I wish I could say something nice about the food at least, but I didn’t even like the squid & potatoes were quite oily as well 🥲

If you don't like your job - quit, if you don't want to serve people at a certain time - just say so, or offer drinks only - we would definitely understand that, but this whole situation was just getting worse and worse - I'll never recommend...