Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Alta Taberna Paco Meralgo

    4.3 (164 reviews)
    PriceyTapas/Small Plates
    Closed 1:00 pm - 4:00 PM, 8:00 PM - 12:30 am (Next day)

    Alta Taberna Paco Meralgo Photos

    ALTA TABERNA PACO MERALGO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - Alta Taberna Paco Meralgo

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    obama croquettes
    Stephanie Y.

    Amazing spot in the Eixample neighborhood, packed with locals and tourists alike. Make a reservation as it gets packed quickly (or alternatively show up "early" at 7pm and get a spot). The restaurant specializes in seafood and has Spanish / fusion dishes which are all absolutely amazing. We came twice during our 2 week trip because we quickly fell in love with the food and ambience. Our favorites were the "Obama" croquettes, razor clams, octopus and tuna with nori. The seafood here is so fresh but can be a bit pricey for the simple dishes (eg., razor clams). Worth it if you love the seafood cooked to perfection, but not if you're looking for something more. Their fancier dishes (eg., octopus or tuna with nori) are an explosion of flavors. I was hesitant to get the tuna as it sounds like a typical fusion dish you'd get in a Japanese restaurant in the states but it's a combination of flavors with a slight kick at the end that are absolutely mindblowing. The only part of my meal that I didn't enjoy was the end, but only because that meant there was no more food! Will definitely be back next time I'm in Barcelona.

    Foie gras
    Gloria C.

    I forgot where I found out about this restaurant but I was so glad I made my way here! I was a solo diner but the waiter took good care of me. The Obama croquette is filled with cuttlefish stuffing and it was so good! I ordered one but I can easily eat another one, but there were so many other things I wanted to try on the menu. The beef tartare was standard, doesn't really standout but it was good nevertheless. The foie gras came with some nuts and it was a good balance, very delicious as well. And I still wanted to try one more dish but the waiter told me the item I wanted to order was too much for myself, so he recommend me to order another smaller item. Which I didn't really enjoy because I thought it was a meatball but it ended up being a fried fritter as well. And he underestimated my appetite because I definitely could've ate more. I will be back for the Obama and their other items!

    Octopus
    Justie L.

    Paco Meralgo was our first meal upon landing in Barcelona, and I'm so glad it was because it really set the tone for our trip. We had a reservation, thankfully, because the place filled up real quick after opening. And they noted that my partner has a gluten intolerance, providing an allergens menu so we could be sure of which dishes he could and could not have; always super appreciated, especially when traveling! Additionally, all of the staff were so friendly and helpful, happy to make recommendations as far as the most popular/their favorite dishes, and the amount of food we were ordering. As chronic over-orderers, this was extremely helpful for us. We ended up getting oysters, patatas bravas (not safe for gluten intolerance, but I inhaled these babies myself), seasonal vegetables with romesco, grilled razor clams, and grilled octopus. Everything was excellent, but the octopus in particular was absolutely incredible. One of the best-cooked octopuses I've ever consumed, and the thin piece of iberico lardo on top added an amazing flavor. My partner says that the octopus is in conversation for the single best bite we ate on our whole two-week trip across Europe. The space itself is very nice; definitely a bit cramped, but that's not too uncommon throughout Barcelona, we found. It's pretty casual with a very lively ambience to it. Everyone was happily chatting away and seemingly enjoying their experience! Would definitely recommend hitting Paco Meralgo if you're in the area, and a reservation would probably be a good idea.

    Courgette (eggplant) blossom stuffed with mozzarella and anchovies.
    Cocomero M.

    Found this restaurant on Michelin Guide and they have a Michelin Bib Gourmand rating - I filtered by lowest cost in the app btw. I got a reservation for the communal table and we shared the table with another family from out of town. The food was amazing and the staff was courteous. The menu was divided into cold/hot tapas, specialties, and meat - there might be one or two more sections but I forgot to take a picture of the menu. We ordered the beef tenderloin chunks with garlic (5 stars), razor clams (5 stars), courgette blossoms (5 stars), bread with tomato (4 stars), tuna tartar (3 stars), Russian salad (3 stars), octopus with seaweed and ham (3 stars), the bomba (3 stars), frozen truffle (3 stars), and Catalan custard (4 stars). I want to be clear that 3 stars isn't bad, it's decent but not what I was expecting. If you're from California and frequent sushi bars, stay away from all tuna tar tar in general. The octopus was a bit on the salty side and there are Korean influences and California is full of these kinds of dishes. So stay away from fusion food in general when in Spain. I now realize I'm more satisfied with the traditional tapas because we don't get that at home. It does not mean that the fusion dishes were no good here. Everything rated 5 star is freaking delicious. We actually got two orders of the beef tenderloin. Also the Russian salad is more like a potato salad with crab, tuna, and eggs - no veggies.

    Tuna tartare
    Will A.

    Came as a solo walk in on a Friday night. The place was booming. There's two floors and most seats had groups enjoying the company over some tasty cuisine. They were able to seat me fairly quickly which was nice considering how busy it was. The food: please do yourself a favor and get the tuna tartare. This came as a recommendation and did not disappoint. I was offered tomato bread with it, which was a solid paring. Also got the patatas bravas which came with this delicious hot sauce pairing. Portions are reasonable. If you come with a group, pick up a few items and some wine. You'll be golden. Service and food was very quick. Will be back when I'm in Barcelona again!

    Stephanie G.

    Do yourself a favor and treat yourself to Paco Meralgo. We came in on a Thursday night and it wasn't quite packed yet, but does get more full later on at night. So I'd say get an early reservation to beat the crowds. Every worker we encountered was great. Gave us great options to try as we were indecisive. I like the layout of the restaurant because the seating is spread out and in different parts of the restaurant. I also like that the restroom are upstairs. I have to say their food is a bit on the pricey side for tapas BUT for the quality you are getting it's worth it. First, their drink menu is great and they don't skimp on the alcohol. I had a bottle of wine which paired well with our meal. Now the food. Hands down the best patata bravas we've had in Spain so far (and we've had them with each meal). The sauce that they use is what makes amazing. Don't miss out on them. We got the ribeye and it was cooked perfectly! Now the dessert. This had to be one of the best desserts I've had. We had the French toast and I wasn't sure what would come out but let me tell you get this. It was the best thing I've had - it's so hard to describe. So go in and try it lol. The tiramisu was also great. This is a great treat yourself meal!

    baked scallops
    Maren S.

    This tapas bar was recommended by our hotel, and we are so glad we went! Waited for about 30 minutes outside with no reservation, but they offer you drink service while you wait. Victor was our waiter, and he was great. Service is excellent. We started with Potatas bravas, that comes with spicy mayo and hot sauce, which came out at the same time as the big spicy meatball. Which I don't believe actually has meat in it but it was delicious. Tomato bread was great. Scallops were good, but the tuna tataki was the star of the meal. The steak bites are served sizzling hot and cooked to perfection. Restaurant is upbeat, fast paced and worth your time. Tiramisu was amazing! Wish we had more time to go back again and try more of the menu.

    Obama belly
    Wendy B.

    It's a pricier corner restaurant. Obama was very very good indeed and set them different from other croquette. Bomba was not bad but La Cova Fumada was the best. Crab something - probably can pass nothin social and overpowering with sauces Catalan Custard - delicious! French Toast - I don't like cinnamon. Overall it was okay, a bit too targeting for tourists for me it seems. Staffs have great energy.

    Cod fritters and cuttlefish Obama croquettes (oh so good)
    Kelly W.

    My brother who has been to Barcelona many times recommended this place. Fantastic! The Cuttlefish Obama croquettes are to die for. I also had the cod fritters, tuna carpaccio and veal carpaccio and they were all fantastic! Went there twice while in Barcelona! I highly recommend this place. It gets busy so if you have a party of more than one make reservations.

    Wine, steak tartar and salmon tartar
    Gina P.

    Hands down, this place is my favorite restaurant in Barcelona. I went here for a nice dinner during my first trip to Barcelona about 6 months ago and had to come back again during my second trip that I took about 2 1/2 weeks ago. The venue itself is very cozy and interactive and the waiters are always pleasant. The food here is beyond amazing. Between the first and second experiences, here are all the dishes we ordered (since we ordered some of same ones the second time): both types of croquettes, salmon tartar, steak tartar, foie gras and octopus in sauce. The fois was SO good that we had to get two orders of it both time, but the octopus dish is definitely my favorite. The wine is very reasonably priced as well. I would recommend this place to anyone in Barcelona because they really give you a five star experience with the food at such a great price. A must-go!!

    A chocolate lover's dream

    See all

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 2
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kerwin T.
    34
    67
    188

    7 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 2
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 2
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Food was amazing service was really good great place to eat with the family and reasonably priced

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of J.J. T.
    23
    36
    5

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Wendy B.
    606
    1709
    9162

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ray D.
    174
    231
    85

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Kiora B.
    1
    120
    124

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Gina P.
    385
    6
    6

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Angela M.
    11
    172
    653

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    10/10 - wayyy above and beyond service (even when we messed up our order). And our fave meal in Barcelona. Must visit :)

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of K W.
    1
    114
    5

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Melanie L.
    303
    14
    16

    8 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Michael U.
    3627
    6031
    183917

    9 years ago

    Helpful 9
    Thanks 1
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mike M.
    10
    138
    42

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kris H.
    392
    491
    2220

    12 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Rod S.
    469
    1188
    1326

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of C A.
    0
    93
    1

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Biljana A.
    22
    51
    195

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Damian D.
    118
    52
    66

    14 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 5

    Alta Taberna Paco Meralgo Reviews in Other Languages

    Verify this business for free

    Get access to customer & competitor insights.

    Verify this business

    Aroma de Barcelona - Beef Carpaccio - one of the tapas (small plates).

    Aroma de Barcelona

    4.5(2 reviews)
    1.8 kmL'Eixample

    First stop for food in Barcelona. At first I was slightly nervous about dining in the Arenas de…read moreBarcelona shopping center with no Yelpy guidance, but sometimes we have to be adventurous, right? My friend and I had arrived early in Barcelona (10:00 am) and boy, were we HUNGRY. We had explored the entire shopping center and this was one of the only restaurants open before 1:00 pm. The server was very friendly and did her best to help us despite only a slight proficiency in English. She was awesome though! What we couldn't understand of each other we communicated through hand signals. Since this restaurant happened to serve salad and I had visions of whopping portions of paella, seafood, and tapas (which are usually accompanied by bread), I decided I'd go healthy while I still could. And good thing, because this ended up being the only healthy meal I had in Spain. I got the **Ensalada Especial** which came with mushrooms, tomatoes, and sesame dressing and I added on some chicken for an extra euro. My friend got the **Spaghetti Bolognese** which was your basic pasta dish with meat sauce. We also decided to split a small plate of **Beef Carpaccio** since we knew Spain loves their thinly sliced meats. The food tasted great, especially being the first meal after almost a day of being on an airplane. Prices are reasonable at 10-12 euro for a combo including a drink. My water counted as a combo drink -- don't forget that they don't serve tap water in Spain, so you have to buy bottled water everywhere you go! As with most restaurants in Spain, they also serve coffee. IMPORTANT TIP: Food portions here are tiny, especially for two hungry Americans who JUST arrived in Spain. After a small plate and two dishes, we were still pretty hungry and almost ordered 2 more entrees! We didn't want to feel like pigs though, so we went somewhere else for snacks.

    The food is always fresh, the quality is very important here! This is my third time and is…read moreamazingly good! Try the lasagna is amazing!

    Photos
    Aroma de Barcelona - Ensalada Especial - with tomato, mushroom, walnuts, and sesame dressing. Added chicken.

    Ensalada Especial - with tomato, mushroom, walnuts, and sesame dressing. Added chicken.

    Aroma de Barcelona - Spaghetti Bolognese.

    Spaghetti Bolognese.

    Aroma de Barcelona - An American coffee + natural apple juice (w/ carrot?)

    See all

    An American coffee + natural apple juice (w/ carrot?)

    La Tere - Lingotes de chocolate

    La Tere

    4.9(14 reviews)
    2.1 kmSants

    My friends and I were on a weekend trip to Barcelona and were looking for a nice place to celebrate…read morea birthday for one of us. My friend saw pictures of this restaurant while on Instagram, and though it looked like a classy, yummy place to spend the evening. We made a reservation for 8pm, which is relatively early for Spanish time, so the restaurant was mostly empty when we got there. We were welcomed by the friendly and attentive servers, who were extremely helpful in suggesting favorite dishes and how much we should order based on dish size. Our group of six shared a pitcher of the Cava sangria, which was delicious! The server even poured it for us so we each got a nice glass with a few slices of fruit. We shared an order of the burrata - AMAZING, and a few of the goat cheese salads - ALSO GREAT! For the main dish, we all chose our own things. They have entree plates, so several of my friends ordered the salmon, which came with bok choy and zucchini. Another friend ordered the cachopo. I was going to get a few of the tapas options instead of a main plate, but when I tried to order the huevos tapas and the truffle oil fries, the waiter told me that would be too much so I stuck with just the huevos. He was right! I don't remember the exact name of it, but it was potatoes, some sort of sausage, caramelized onions, and fried eggs. Very good and very filling, especially since it was only 1 tapa. I will say that the sizes of entrees did vary a good amount. My 1 tapa was relatively large, as was the cachopo, while the salmon dish was smaller. Overall, the restaurant had a great environment with beautiful decor and friendly staff that made us feel right at home. The food was delicious with stunning presentation and at what I thought was a very reasonable price (all together, it was about 20 USD per person, plus or minus a few based on what each person ordered). It was a great way to celebrate with our friend! Definitely check out if you're near Sants!

    Great place for dinner! Food is unique and has a bit of twist from the usual tapas. Service was…read moregreat too

    Photos
    La Tere - Escalivada con queso de cabra

    Escalivada con queso de cabra

    La Tere - Back seating area

    Back seating area

    La Tere

    See all

    Restaurant La Tasqueta de Blai - Pinchos at La Tasqueta de Blai

    Restaurant La Tasqueta de Blai

    4.5(256 reviews)
    2.3 kmEl Poble-sec

    Has two inside seating areas and outdoor patio So Cheap…read more Lots of Variety! I will say this was one of my first experiences with real tapas. I love that there were so many options. I don't know if it's just me as an American or what, but the temperatures of the foods was my only "complaint" per se. Some of the tapas I thought would be hot were lukewarm at best. So, I'll have to try more places to just see what's normal for Spain.

    For me, this is hands-down the best pintxo spot in Barcelona! La Tasqueta de Blai is top-shelf --…read morethe selection is incredible, everything is fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Pair it all with a cold Estrella and you've got yourself a 5-star winner! I loved the fun learning curve here: grab a plate, pick whatever pintxos catch your eye, and keep the toothpicks (of all shapes and sizes!) so your total can be tallied at the end. Some toothpicks were just holding things together -- I had to laugh at that -- but it's all part of the charm and experience. La Tasqueta was so good that we came back a few days later for another round, only to find it temporarily closed due to a plumbing issue. Sadly, we couldn't wait since we'd already hiked all over Montjuïc earlier that day. We tried another pintxo place down the block -- it was okay, but honestly, not even close to the same level. This place is amazing -- friendly, fun, and absolutely delicious. Sit inside and be dazzled by the colorful pintxos lined up along the counter, or grab a spot outside under an umbrella and watch the world go by. Loved this place... 5 stars all the way!

    Photos
    Restaurant La Tasqueta de Blai
    Restaurant La Tasqueta de Blai - Pinchos at La Tasqueta de Blai

    Pinchos at La Tasqueta de Blai

    Restaurant La Tasqueta de Blai - Pinchos at La Tasqueta de Blai

    See all

    Pinchos at La Tasqueta de Blai

    Cañete - lobster croquettes

    Cañete

    4.6(573 reviews)
    2.2 kmEl Raval
    €€€

    Wow, this meal was so good I literally made another reservation after we left. This place might be…read moreadvertised as a tapas restaurant, but it's much more than that. The service was excellent, our server spoke English and knew so much about American pop culture. He even sang NSYNC songs to us while serving us dishes. As for the food let's get into it: - Lobster Croquettes (8/10) We've had a lot of croquettes this trip, but these were on another level, get one per person. - Paella (7.5/10) Different style of paella from other places we went. It was almost like a paella curry, which was still rich and delicious. - Squid Sandwich (10/10) This is hands down the best appetizer I've ever had. The squid was packed with flavor and the mayo sauce they used paired perfectly. Order one per person, and be prepared to order another to go. - Garlic Shrimp (8/10) Solid entree paired with sourdough bread. Dip that bread into the sauce and you'll be satisfied. - Aged Beef Steak w/ Foie Gras (9/10) This might be one of the best steak dishes I've had traveling abroad. It was cooked perfectly, and came with a potato crust on the bottom and Foie Gras on top. Definitely a must order. Overall a great experience, from the service and ambiance to the quality of the food, this is a must try when visiting Barcelona. Would I go again? Absolutely!

    BLUF: not only one of the best meals I've had but also one of the best dining experiences I've ever…read morehad. If you're in Barcelona this MUST be at the top of your list. Cañete was booked out for 2 weeks straight, so we decided to risk it and see if we could get a spot as walk-ins; and were lucky enough to want less than 5 minutes before being sat at the "bar" in front of the open kitchen, which is honestly the best seat in the house IMHO. You get to see all the 'action' and interact with the friendly and often funny staff. Everything in the menu we tried was fantastic, but a few standouts for me were the squid sandwich (do yourself a favor and try it, even if you aren't a "squid person" the bread is fresh, and the butter garlic sauce they use should be sold in bottles at the supermarket), the lobster croquet was refreshing, and the aged beef steak with foie and truffle sauce was delicious and cooked to perfection.

    Photos
    Cañete - Packed with locals - Faiyoh!! (Uncle Roger)

    Packed with locals - Faiyoh!! (Uncle Roger)

    Cañete - Lobster croquettes

    Lobster croquettes

    Cañete

    See all

    Arrosseria Las Arenas - Grind olives a much like you might expect. Pitted olives breaded and fried. Tasty, but I wish they can with something to dip them in.

    Arrosseria Las Arenas

    3.6(25 reviews)
    1.7 kmL'Eixample

    Raise your hand if you made paella before?? Ok, I see a number of you…read more. Raise your hand if you made your paella in a paella pan made in Spain? Ok, fewer hands but I see you.. Now raise your hand if you made your paella with real saffron (from Iran or India)?? Ok, even fewer hands. Finally, raise your hand if you visited Spain and skipped having paella?? Gasp!! What the?? I know, that would be unthinkable, unconscionable, unacceptable, un-American (huh??), un, un, you get it.. That almost happened as I'm trying to eat less rice because it's not really a healthy carb and frankly, I've been spoon fed rice since I was in the nest, given it intravenously, served it in my dreams. Do I really need to have one more spoonful or rice?? Yes, of course, so we gave Arrosseria Las Arenas (paella house) a shot as it was just a 40 meter walk from the hotel. (Wow, that was a long wind up for the review part..) We opted for the traditional paella and had some fried squid bites with sour cream dip. The fried fish was really good as we ate it all. The seafood paella tasted fine but it only had like 7 pieces of seafood and a ton of rice (which is what I was trying to avoid)..and it was a bit salty.. This is really a 2.5 star review because although we were the only diners, dining inside the restaurant (it was hot outside), we felt ignored throughout the entire meal. In fact, a server on his day off or a friend of the servers came in and they all chatted for at least 30 minutes. And the visitor had a non-stop annoying hack and it didn't sound good and it spoilt (sounds of phlegm) my appetite. TMI but I wanted you to get a taste of what I had experienced.. But other than that, this could have easily been a 4 star review..

    Moises gives superb service, very friendly. Tapas are quite tasty. Sitting outside in June is…read moreperfect.

    Photos
    Arrosseria Las Arenas - A cool Robinson Caruso vibe

    A cool Robinson Caruso vibe

    Arrosseria Las Arenas - Seafood Paella

    Seafood Paella

    Arrosseria Las Arenas - First time at Arrosseria!!

    See all

    First time at Arrosseria!!

    Alta Taberna Paco Meralgo - tapasmallplates - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...