Tapas 24
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"Tasty Food, But Portions Too Small for the Price"
We visited around lunchtime without a reservation. Although we had to wait, the staff was efficient and we were seated within 10 minutes. The food was undeniably delicious, but the portion sizes were very small, which made the prices feel quite steep. Overall, a good culinary experience, but not the best value for money.
"Disappointing and Overhyped: A Tapas Bar Running on Autopilot"
Carles Abellán, a renowned Catalan chef, has followed the trend of opening a "basic" tapas bar—designed more to sustain a broader gastronomic empire than to truly innovate. There’s nothing wrong with that; restaurants are, after all, businesses. But the problem begins when the menu is clearly designed with only the tourist in mind—someone assumed to have deep pockets, little knowledge, and no plans to return. Over time, that approach shows: the menu becomes stale, uninspired, and ultimately forgettable. Let’s talk dinner. The food felt flat, bland, and severely overpriced for what it was. The "Patatas Bravas" were simply fries with two sauces—lacking texture, depth, or authenticity. The scrambled eggs with ham were passable, but nothing more than a diner-style combo of eggs, potatoes, and cured meat. The sirloin and Padrón peppers were forgettable—the meat was fine but far from premium, and the peppers lacked flavor. Some dishes fared slightly better: the Andalusian-style squid had a well-executed batter and good flavor. But then came croquettes that were over-fried and dark, suggesting a freezer-to-fryer shortcut. The salad lacked depth, and the famous truffle sandwich—cheese, ham, truffle—felt like a dated idea, no longer exciting. The black pudding "balls" served over tasteless bread were so uninspired they practically echoed emptiness across the table. It feels like a place operating in franchise mode: tightly controlled recipes with no creative freedom, no risk-taking, and no soul. Tapas, by nature, should be lively, expressive, and reflective of local flavor—this kitchen is none of that. Shockingly, this bar was named Best Tapas Bar in Barcelona 2024. If that’s true, then either the awards are meaningless, or Barcelona’s culinary scene has a real problem. I genuinely hope Abellán—who has done great work in Alicante—returns with a bold, refreshed vision. But as things stand, I won’t be returning. This is not what tapas is meant to be.
"A Sad Decline — A Before and After"
What a shame. This used to be a go-to spot — a place to truly enjoy good food and great service. Unfortunately, all of that seems to have changed. The beloved artichokes, once a favorite, have jumped from €11.50 to €14, and not for any clear improvement in quality. At 11 p.m., we were told the Terrace was closing due to a "municipal order" — oddly enough, it seems to be the only restaurant affected by this mysterious rule. Yes, times change — but sadly, this restaurant has changed in all the wrong ways: price hikes, poorer service, and a noticeable drop in food quality. The meat with chimichurri was forgettable — so generic, it could have been anything. The avocado salad? Completely underwhelming. On a brighter note, the bikini sandwich was very good, and the croquette was decent, though not nearly as excellent as it once was. This place was once a beacon on Passeig de Gràcia. Now? Just a shadow of what it used to be. Rest in peace to what was once a great restaurant.
"Great Tapas with Quick Service, But Slightly Pricey for Portions"
This is a great spot to enjoy both traditional and modern Spanish tapas. The food was delicious and came out impressively fast. We arrived without a reservation and found the alfresco area packed, with the indoor seating quickly filling up. Fortunately, we managed to snag two seats at the counter in the corner — lucky! The fideuà was flavorful, though the texture was noticeably different from versions we’ve tried elsewhere. The rest of the dishes were solid and well-executed. That said, for the price point, we’ve had more substantial meals elsewhere. Still, a good experience overall, especially if you're after a quick, tasty tapas fix in a lively setting.
"A Disappointing Decline in Service at a Longtime Favorite"
I’ve been coming to Tapas 24 for years and have always considered it one of my favorite spots in Barcelona. I’ve recommended it to countless friends and family and made it a must-stop whenever in town. Unfortunately, after my most recent visit, I left feeling completely disappointed. We arrived around 2:30 PM and were told — rather curtly and dismissively — that we couldn’t be seated without a reservation. Oddly enough, we were able to make a reservation for 2:45 PM just 15 minutes later. When we returned, the same server claimed again that seating us wasn't possible, until another staff member checked the system and confirmed our booking. Only then were we seated, and from that point on, the service remained cold and disengaged. It took far too long to receive menus, and we felt ignored throughout the meal. What made the experience especially frustrating was watching a couple walk in without a reservation and get seated right next to us without issue. I used to come here for the great food and warm, welcoming atmosphere, but this visit felt the complete opposite. It’s disappointing to see a place that once felt so special lose its hospitality. I'm not sure I’ll be returning anytime soon.
"Tried the Original Tapas 24 in Barcelona — A Tasty Experience with a Few Hiccups"
Tapas 24 has an outlet in Singapore, which I’ve tried and it’s pretty good so of course, I had to try the real deal in Barcelona! We rocked up without a reservation and the alfresco area was packed and the indoor seatings were filling up. It was lucky that we managed to get 3 seats in the corner along the counter. It was pretty busy inside, after being seated, we got our menu but as the servers were rather busy taking other orders, serving, settling the billed, it took a while for us to be able to place our orders. Luckily, our food and drinks (ordered a sangria!) didn’t take too long to get it us. I’ve always had a penchant for the Bikini so this was a must order for me along with the Tomato and Tuna salad. The tomatoes were extremely juicy with a slight sourish yet fresh twist! The rest of the dishes were good as well but I suppose for the price we paid, we’ve had more substantial meals. However, it was still a good experience!
"Disappointing Experience – Wouldn’t Recommend"
I made an online reservation two weeks in advance, but when I arrived, I was told their system was down and my reservation wasn’t recognized. Eventually, they managed to seat me, but it was at a shared table, which wasn’t ideal. The prices felt steep for what was offered — for example, €14.90 for just a few sausages. Given the portion size and quality, the meal didn’t live up to expectations. Overall, it was a disappointing experience, and I wouldn’t recommend this place based on my visit.
"Decent Food, But Not Outstanding – A Bit Pricey for What You Get"
The location is great and convenient, and the ambience is pleasant, but overall, the food was just decent — nothing particularly memorable. The Spanish omelette was on the runnier side with a noticeable sweet caramelized onion flavor, which might not be for everyone. The rest of the dishes tasted pretty much as expected — solid, but not exceptional. That said, we found it more expensive than your typical tapas spots in Barcelona. If you're looking for better value for money, there are definitely other places that offer more bang for your buck.
Tapas 24
Fun tapas bar by chef Carles Abellán, known for creative versions of classics.
Address
Carrer de la Diputació, 269, L'Eixample, 08007 Barcelona, Spain
Website
https://tapas24.es/
Email
[email protected]
Telephone
+34934880977