La Esquinica

Barcelona isn’t a traditional tapas city; they don’t usually serve free tapas in bars when you order a drink and the restaurants that specialize in tapas tend to be on the expensive side. But then there’s La Esquinica, a restaurant far from the city center but easily accessible (metro line 5, Virrei Amat or Vilapicina stops) that has a very extensive and affordable tapas menu.

The place is very well-decorated, the service is quick and friendly, and the portions are generous and flavorful. You don’t need to go in a large group to be able to sample various dishes; if you order around two tapas per person, you’ll leave satisfied.

La Esquinica is most probably the most famous tapas bar in Barcelona. As the name indicates, it is run by Aragonese people (actually people from Teruel) and you order everything with the typical diminutive (different one from the rest of Spain, in this case patatica, jamoncico, etc.) and there are no "chicos" and "chicas" but "maños" and "mañas"...

For many years, it remained one of the best preserved secrets in the city, it was situated in a very quiet place, almost up the Turó de la Peira, a place where I bet 99% of the people of Barcelona have never been too and almost without a tourist.

It is probably the only place in Barcelona to stuff yourself with good quality tapas, and this is exactly why finding a free table becomes a difficult task, because this place enjoys great popularity in the Nou Barris area.

Getting to La Esquinica is easy, you just have to get the subway line number 5 until Vilapicina leaving you in Paseo Fabra i Puig, and if you go up the street, you will find the restaurant on your right side.

It is most of all very important to be patient, because there is usually a long line at the door, so the best is to come a few hours before to get a number (like at the fruit shop). If you go without a number you will have to wait for a table to get free. The interior is decorated in a rural style, with iron and wood.