La Pepita

La Pepita sits on Carrer de Còrsega at the bottom of Gràcia, a few minutes from the top of Passeig de Gràcia, and draws a mixed crowd of locals and visitors. The menu combines classic Spanish tapas with more personal, reworked ideas, so a table can mix familiar favourites with something new.

Order several plates to share. Alongside traditional dishes, the kitchen makes its own versions of tapas, playing with presentation and combinations while keeping the flavours approachable. Ask the staff about daily specials, and leave room for dessert. The bar works as well for a drink with a couple of tapas as for a full dinner.

The bar is open every day from 1pm to 1.30am. The kitchen serves from 1pm to 4.30pm at lunch and from 6pm to midnight in the evening, and the room fills quickly at peak times, so book online, by phone or by email, or arrive early. Walk-ins are welcome at the bar when there is space. A few doors along at Còrsega 339, the smaller sister bar La MiniPepita serves every evening from 6pm to midnight, with a small terrace, and is a useful alternative when La Pepita is full.

La Pepita suits couples, friends and solo travellers who enjoy a lively, informal atmosphere. It is mid-priced, offering good value for the area. It is a good choice before or after an evening walk around Gràcia, or after visiting the Gaudí buildings on Passeig de Gràcia, as Casa Fuster and the top of the avenue are close by.

The nearest metro station is Diagonal, on lines L3 and L5, about five minutes' walk away. La Pedrera is ten minutes south, and the squares of Gràcia, such as Plaça del Sol and Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia, are a short walk north, with plenty of bars for a drink after dinner. Gràcia was a separate town until it was absorbed into Barcelona at the end of the 19th century, and it keeps a village feel, with small squares and independent shops. Hotel Praktik Bakery is also nearby, making La Pepita a convenient dinner spot for guests staying in the upper Eixample.