Bar Raval is a treasure. When we got there last night, there was a wait list to get into the main bar, but the service and food and drink is the same outside. You're simply trading an enclosed patio for a warm wooden bar. The bartenders are masters at their craft and the food is delicious. I hate tapas with a passion as a concept because it often ends up just being small portions of a dish for the price you would pay for the rest of it. But, Bar Raval does a great job of making these plates unique and not just miniature versions of something you want to eat. We tried the Tomato Bread, the Kitchen Bread, the Ham and Cheese croquettes, the quail with almonds and the burger. They were all unique, but I would put the Quail at the top of list, followed by the tomato bread and croquettes, then the burger and the kitchen bread. Please understand, these were all great and I'd get them again, but if you wanted to know favorites, there we are. This bar doesn't need to be as good as it is. The quality of the cocktails and the decor and food would guarantee it would make all of the lists anyway. The face that the staff here was so kind and friendly made it really an incredible evening. The way they would search for stools for one of us to sit at the large barrel tops was so kind. Run, don't walk to this place and don't be afraid to stay outside if the wait is long. read more

Absolutely STUNNING interior - I've never seen anything like it. I love Spanish cuisine and food culture, so it wasn't just the cool wooden ceiling that drew me to this place. My boyfriend and I stopped by Bar Raval in the morning, so it was too early for tapas - thankfully they offer coffee and doughnuts! We ordered the Cortado and the Cafe Solo, which were both delicious and strong; you'd be hard-pressed to find coffees like this outside of Europe. We also got the Dulce de Leche y Jamon and Crema Catalana doughnuts. I LOVED the jamon on the Dulce de Leche doughnut and how well it paired with the glaze. It was a tiny bit stale, but that was probably because it had been sitting on the counter for a couple hours. No worries though, because it was awesome. The Crema Catalana pastry was also very good, with a cream filled centre that tasted homemade. I can't wait to come back and try some of their drinks and tapas! read more

Bar Raval - Dulce de Leche y Jamon Donut + Crema Catalana Pastry ($6) - Spanish Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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If we had a 5+ selection, I'd select that for this place. We came here based on a review and personal recommendations. You must sit at the bar so you can watch Lew who is a Hospitality Professional (that's how passionate he is about his job!). He is quite amazing to watch Mia your cocktails! Trust me, sit at the bar. We started with a couple cocktails. They seem bit pricey but if u factor in the overall experience then you will not think that! We then started with a selection of meat and cheese. We had the pigs head (I'm squeamish and didn't want to try this but I'm glad we did cuz it was so tasty), the Serrance (also recommend), and the Iberico Bellota (worth the price although very salty which is OK by me). For the cheese we had Idiazabal and it was a great pairing to the meats. Our second dish was Smoked Mackerel and it was so amazing!! You must try it!! We ended with the Cheese Cake and some sherry. What an amazing nite!!! The cocktails, the entertainment, the food! This place elevated the dining experience for and we will NOT forget this place. Remember to sit at the bar, that's where the experience is waiting for u to discover!! And Lew was that ingredient that elevated this experience for us! We have a new drink he made for us and we will forever call this drink the Lew!! read more

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Not your average spanish tapas. The atmosphere encourages standing (only a few stools) and hence, mingling. Small spot nestled between woodlot and la carnita are sure to give them both some good competition. Wood bar is beautiful and half lined with various off-the-menu pintxos and pastries. Menu ranges from cured spanish meats, canned seafood, to freshly made pintxos. Highlights for me were the blood sausage+baguette and the pig cheek, but everything was impressive. A fair amount of options and you'll be asking a lot of questions as the menu items are mostly in Spanish. Cocktails were light but delicious. There is no doubt in my mind that this place will be a hit. You can walk in there and have a spanish coffee and sandwich for $10, or spend $100+ on various tapas and cocktails. The ambiance is a no-pressure, "find your own spot" type of vibe, where you may be rubbing elbows with your neighbour. I personally think this is even better than Bar Isabel. read more

Bar Raval - quail egg, blood sausage + baguette - Spanish Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Food: 10/10 Atmosphere: 9/10 Service: 8.5/10 Overall experience: 9.5/10 Just blocks down from Bar Isabel, and steps away from La Carnita and DaiLo, Bar Raval manages to stand out amongst these other gems in Little Italy. For breakfast, they have multiple dishes on display at the bar. All of them are available for order, and it makes it easier if you're not sure how to navigate the menu. We had: - pintxos (Morcilla and Quail egg) - a slice of baguette with meat, a pepper (I believe) topped with a fried quail's egg - pintxos (Galician Octopus) - Lomo Bellota - a cured meat There were other dishes that I couldn't find on the online menu - a cheese that had been soaked in red wine, croquettes that were filled with this clam chowder like substance, and the mushroom tower (three mushrooms, a shrimp on top all on this buttery baguette). All the dishes were extremely punchy. It was as if they were making up for their small size. Fine by me as the flavours were bright and bold! You will see by the photos and every other review, that the interior is very cool and unique. Woodwork is present throughout the whole restaurant. Barrels stand in the middle of the floor for your to gather round and put your drinks on. The service was good/normal. I think our waitress may have been still feeling the effects of her drinking the other night (we went on Sunday morning) but she had a great attitude and made some helpful recommendations. THE BOTTOM LINE: truly fantastic food that stands out in an area with already great restaurants. read more

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Great bar. Upon arrival there is a bouncer who can only let you know if you're on the list or be put on the list. He allows you to sit/stand in the patio area, which right now is covered and heated since it is winter. Once they are inside to seat you inside they will come and get you. The minute you come in the first thing you notice is the design of the interior. It has this Gaudi feel to it. Those who have been to Barcelona would understand Gaudi's work. The ambiance is great. Loud, dark, comforting. The lighting of the bar helps illuminate the atmosphere a bit. Food wise, it was ok. Nothing special. If you've been to Spain then you will never get the same type of tapas food as you would get there. But this will do for now. Their drinks are awesome. Very unique and flavorful. I think i had a little too much of it. I came here to bring my buddy from Boston. He enjoyed it and made a Vlog about it. Enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVC1C3ixQJ8 read more

Bar Raval - Spanish Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Ever been to a place that's over-hyped and then you finally get in after being put on a waiting list for an hour and forty-five minutes only to be treated like garbage and not even get to sit at table to eat your overpriced food that doesn't really impress you in taste or presentation? In fact, the boiled flavourless mushrooms and 2 shrimps on a toothpick for $9.50 looked like it was prepared by a 5 year old. Well I have. read more

I cannot speak to the food, which I'm sure is phenomenal. But this place was super chic. All the patrons were well-put-together yuppies, bundled up indoors to hide from the snow. Tough to describe, but totally my kind of spot. The interior design is awesome. It's basically this long, continuous wood paneling that weaves all around the walls, ceilings, bar. Great cocktails. Nothing too fancy, just well done. Notable hits: Into the Sun and the Raval Spanish Coffee. read more

Boy has this restaurant gone down hill since we last ate there. Service was unbearably slow. Tomato bread was simply crushed tomato with no seasoning on over toasted (black), hard, inedible bread. Octopus was over cooked and rubbery. With the shrimp dish, the shrimp were tender but in a tasteless broth. We asked for bread which was brought after we finished eating. Deep fried eggplant and honey was delicious and the only redeeming food item we actually enjoyed. Basque cheesecake did not taste fresh but rather had the taste and consistency of a cheesecake that was more than a few days old. read more

First off, we obviously need to acknowledge how beautiful this place is and how amazing the architecture is inside. But the food and drinks is also what we're here for and let me say it did not disappoint at all. Each dish deserved a good mmm after each bite. It is a little pricier, but worth coming with a couple friends and trying several dishes! read more

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I first heard of Bar Raval from a friend when I asked about a place in Toronto for Spanish tapas. A friend and I came here on a Thursday evening around 6pm, which I think is the perfect time to go. We got a patio table within 5 minutes of waiting (the weather was too nice to be inside). The server came to take our drinks and food order (we did have to wait about 20 minutes before she came but that wasn't a problem for us). We ordered the octopus a la panxa, the steak and onion, the jamon croquetas and the morcilla and peas. The octopus was delicious! It was marinated in this spiced oil that complimented the octopus and potatoes perfectly, making it a very light but filling dish! The steak and onion was a little bit of a disappointment because we were expecting it to look like the photos on social media, however, the steak was cooked to a perfect medium rare! The Jamon croquetas is a classic snack that is a breadcrumbed fried roll filled with this creamy cheesing filling. The last dish was recommended to us by the waitress and it is also known as a blood sausage and I have to recommend it as well! It paired really well with the peas! Expect the tapas to be small (they are tapas) but great to share with another person! I would definitely come back here to check out their other classics. read more

I went to bar raval on a Friday night. Thankfully it wasn't that packed so we only had to wait about 15 minutes. There's a covered patio section where you can order drinks before you get a table inside the restaurant. I had forgotten was that inside the bar there were no chairs!! There were only a few floating stools on a first come first serve basis. TBH after a long day at work, all I wanted to do was sit .... so we were on the lookout for stools. Besides the no actual seat idea, the menu selection was great. Tons of tapas and great Spanish wine list with a wide variety. I remembered last time that I came to Bar Ravel the food was really good. I decided to try some of their other dishes and this time I was not blown away by their flavours. We ordered the fresh anchovies , garlician octopus, fried eggplant and honey, monkfish special. The garlician octopus came as thinly sliced and covered w some toppings. Flavours were okay but lacking something. The fresh anchovies were quite fresh and salty as they should be, but I wish it came with some croquettes or a baguette. Kind of overpriced for 5 anchovies and 6 olives. :/ The almond sauce that came with the monkfish special was pretty delicious but I think the monkfish was pretty soft (as it should be because it was sous vide'd) but the flavours didn't blow me away. The best dish from tonight was the fried eggplant and honey. The eggplants are apparently soaked in milk overnight then crusted and fried. It was so light and tasty!! Maybe I'm biased because I like eggplant as well. Anyway overall tonight's dinner was OK. The ambiance was great and there was a great vibe go on inside. Drinks were great and they had a wide selection of cocktails. Overall, I probably won't be coming back until half a year or a year later. Hopefully they'll have a lot more tasty dishes then ! read more

Went here for the first time after hearing rave reviews and was thoroughly impressed. When we got here(around 9:20) there were only a few guests. By the time we left, the place was packed to the brim. They don't take reservations so I felt as though we got lucky. We ordered the cold octopus, Jamon and manchego pintxo, croquettes, beef tenderloin, skate, and the cheese cake. The beef tenderloin was cooked to PERFECTION (it was tinkering on the border of being too salty AND I'm not a big fan of the shoshito peppers that accompanied it). The croquettes were so rich and succulent. The skate came with mushrooms, corn and a brown butter sauce and was heavenly. Everything was exceptional but the cold octopus definitely stole the show. I could have eaten 10 plates. The food came out in a timely manner. The staff was so attentive but NOT to a point where it was annoying. They demonstrated their expert knowledge of the menu. Overall it was a pleasant experience. read more

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We arrived at 5:00 pm on a Saturday to a packed bar. We were lucky to snag a spot with stools as a few people were leaving. The bar is mostly standing room, with a few stools here and there. I think the set up is different, and makes sense from the restaurant's point of view to make sure there is a good client turnover. Just be warned that wearing heels is probably not the best idea! I absolutely adore the aesthetic of the bar, finished largely in wood. It is quaint and romantic - perfect for a date night. We weren't overly hungry, so we started with some cocktails. I first tried the Tinto Fino ($13), with Tio Pepe Fino (dry sherry). I really enjoyed this drink because it was quite sour and tangy. For those looking for a sweet drink, this isn't the one for you My husband tried Into the Sun ($15), and it was okay. It didn't have a lot of flavour for a craft cocktail. My husband then tried the Palm Springs Pawn Shop ($15), which he enjoyed more. We decided to have a few snacks and ordered Octopus ($14.25) and Croquetas ($8). The Croquetas were filled with cheese and ham, and were rich and delicious (although not served piping hot). The Octopus was quite good and was served with two pieces of bread. Not the best I ever had, but was decent. Overall, I would return for the cocktails and great atmosphere, but I think that the food is a bit overpriced. read more

Amazing! The vibe was classy but not ackward at all! From the beguining they were very helpful and attentive. Tapas and cocktails were the bomb! Most come or you are missing out! read more

Bar Raval - Spanish Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Typical Grant restaurant. Phenomenal. Service was great! Wish it was hot enough to sit outside but the interiors are also fabulous anyway. read more

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My favorite spot in Toronto! Their food is amazing. I wish I could have 3 orders of tomato bread ordered to my house in Los Angeles right now. You can't go wrong with anything you order. I love their Cocktails and wine selection! Beautiful interior & friendly staff. read more

1 hour 45 minute wait. Over crowded Stand up only at a minuscule counter Very grumpy rude waiter Underwhelming food Lousy drink I think that's it. read more

It was my friend's birthday a few weeks back and she wanted to grab lunch at Bar Raval, so off we went around 12:30 on a weekday. We walked in and the place was surprisingly crowded. So crowded, in fact, that we were forced to stand by the window. The absence of a chair or stool was initially quite the turn-off, but I will admit that it was something I quickly got used to. (The delicious beer probably helped.) We took a quick look at some of the pre-prepared items on offer and it was certainly difficult to resist any of the delicious-looking options. I can't remember everything we ordered, but one of the more impressive items was the Pig Head & Romesco, which was served on a crusty piece of bread. This was actually amazingly tasty, which was a surprise, certainly, given its name. Another highlight was the Morcilla (blood sausage) & Egg, also served on bread. The oozing yolk covered the open-faced sandwich and the blood sausage had a rich taste that was impossible to resist. The only somewhat disappointing item was the B.C. Side Strip Shrimp, which came unpeeled and adorned with eggs (they looked like eggs, anyway). They admittedly tasted quite good once they were peeled, but it was too much effort for too small a portion. We finished off with an item that wasn't on the menu, a Basque cheesecake. This was unlike any cheesecake I've ever tried. The texture was super creamy, but the taste was hardly sweet at all. But the flavors more than made up for it. A big winner, to be sure. The less-than-conventional seating could be problematic for certain patrons, but if you can get past that, you'll be treated to a seriously unique and delicious dining experience. read more

Interesting tapas bar with exquisite carved interior woodwork and plaster work. Excellent cocktails served with fresh ingredients and good quality spirits. We sampled the sardines, grilled and pickled octopus, and tomato bread; all were excellent. read more

Bar Raval - Tapas assortment - Spanish Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Great little tapas and cocktail lounge! Beautiful woodwork sets this bar apart. Went on a rainy afternoon for cocktails and dessert. Highly recommend the LZA and the cheesecake. read more

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Went here for the first time, drinks are a bit pricey considering its in like a plastic child sized cup.. But looooooved the food Its unique, small portion but very tasty On a nice sunny day, their patio is where id want to be . Loved it. Will be back as soon as i can read more

Bar Raval - MUST TRY : Cojunato , adobo pork and mushroom tower - Spanish Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

we ended up here since bar isabele was full. unless uou make a reservation (can you make one?) plan on it being busy. we left our names and came back later... the inside was nice and the servers friendly and informative. the bartender made some great drinks based off of what i liked. we ate here too even though we had eaten prior to coming we still ate more. more like tapas style everything was so delicious! would definitely come back! read more

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Came here on a Thursday night around 10:30pm. It was packed, so we put our name down and went to another bar down the street. After an hour, we finally got a text that our spot is ready. The service was great, given how busy they were. We were immediately asked if we wanted to have our jackets checked. The staff was very personal and helpful in providing recommendations. We ordered the pigs head, tomato bread, and hot octopus. The pigs head was my favourite, thinly sliced pieces of melt in your mouth fatty cured meat, seasoned to perfection. The octopus was tasty, but I was a bit disappointed that a good portion of the dish consisted of potatoes. I enjoyed the warm tomato bread on a cold day. We ended our visit with hot chocolate, which was too watered down for my liking. Overall verdict: Gaudi inspired ambiance and service is fantastic. Cozy bar with delicately prepared food. Worth the wait and would definitely come again. read more

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We came on a rainy Saturday night and was told around 1 hour wait. We waited outside for 20 minutes, went to Shopper Drug Mart down the street to pick up a few things, and came back to check on the wait. The hostess told us she would be able to squeeze us in, but when we walked in, there were many many empty tables. Standing only! Everything we got was amazing. - Shrimp and Romanesco. MUST GET! Sooooo good, the shrimp was very flavorful and well balanced. - Kitchen bread-- really good with the anchovy - Fig special -- made me rediscover my love for the buttery sweetness of figs - Hot octopus -- very well cooked - Skirt steak -- least favorite dish, but very filling. read more

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Amazing food, mediocre service. Honestly, scrolling through the photos on yelp, the dishes didn't look like anything special. However I was very pleasantly surprised but everything we ordered. The scallops in Galician sauce was the highlight of my night - I usually prefer my scallops seated but this definitely changed my perspective of things. They came in a can, I wonder if they're available for take out... We also ordered the kitchen bread, mushroom tower, croquetas, sobrassada and octopus (warm). I would highly recommend all the dishes except the octopus...it was good, but nothing special. We waited 45 mins for a table on Friday night which wasn't as long as anticipated. It was standing room only which was something different but allowed the restaurant to be very efficient with their space. Service was slow ...we waited 30mins for our last 2 dishes despite ordering everything at once (I think they just forgot our last 2 orders) and no one stopped by to check on us for the entire duration of our meal. read more

Food was good, but super unfriendly, snobby service. Servers act like your mere presence is a bother. Disappointing experience, won't be back. read more

I don't have a bad thing to say about Bar Raval. The food, the atmosphere, the drinks, the interior design, the service. All on point and the whole experience makes me think of late nights in Spain. We had gone for a late dinner on a Saturday night. Left our number, grabbed a drink next door, and were seated within 45 mins. For a party for 4, we got cozy and shared one table in the patio. We had 7 tapa dishes. The few that really stood out were the cuttlefish fideo, the canned razor clams imported from Spain, and the Serrano jamon. I only wish we had the stomach to also try to squid in ink and the pig's head. The food were listed on the menu and served in the order from simpler to more complex so your taste buds won't be overwhelmed. Everything was delicious. I think what topped off the night were the gaudi-inspired interior designer which completed the whole experience! Will definitely be back again. read more

Bar Raval - Perfect atmosphere for Spanish tapas night. - Spanish Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

First time ....first impressions. Be prepared to wait Ina cold enclosed patio for quite some time. But it is worth the wait. The indoors is lovely and the food is really good. But .,...,...don't look up !!!!! The bottles that they use for decorations are covered in years of dust and dirt and fluff. It did make me question the cleanliness of the kitchen read more

I loved the atmosphere. It is a small bar with an amazing decor inside, all made of wood and reminds you of the architecture in Barcelona. They have great Spanish tapas and the mixology is also remarkable. I would definitely comeback but be aware that this is mostly a standup type of bar with limited seating and this is part of the experience. read more

An absolute surprise of a restaurant. To start, the restaurant is small and quite cramped, and unfortunately don't have any actual sit down tables. There are standing spots all around and a few stools here and there by the bar. Despite this, I had some great food and a great time here. As a group, we've had to huddle around a makeshift barrel table, and our waitress suggested a few popular items for our group of 7 to try. We had a total of 9 dishes and though each dish look tiny, we were all quite full. In particular, the pork cheeks, octopus, and fried eggplants are amazing. Great sharing sizes despite the small dishes. I did not particularly like tomato paste on toast in comparison. Our waiters/waitresses were very knowledgeable and talked about each dish with such details that you want to try everything. The atmosphere is cramped but very lively, great for a small group or a date. The menu is large enough but not overwhelmingly so that you don't know what to order. 10/10 would try again! read more

Way overpriced food. The cocktails were made with great expertise but I found food incredibly disappointing. The octopus al planxa was fatty, overcooked, and tough. This is more of a fun drinking spot with little pricey bites. This is not a destination for a real meal. read more

Solid place to get a cocktail and tapas for lunch. Cool dark ambience with carved wood everywhere and those big chunks of cure meats suspending from ceiling in the kitchen- def. reminded me of Spain. Aside from the amazing cured meats, the baguette was one of the best with crunchy yet chewy crust and light/ airy inside. The hot octopus with crispy pan fried potato was very good. Mushroom towel was yummy- mushrooms were so juicy! read more

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No doubt about it, Bar Raval is my FAVOURITE Spanish restaurant in all of Toronto! Cute little spot along College St. with a great selection of items. Everything is so delicious and so flavourful and the best part about this gem is that it's open 7 days a week!! Only downer is that they do not take reservations, and when they are busy, they are EXTREMELY busy. I had dinner here with my boyfriend on a very packed night and we had to share a little table with another couple.. it was a bit awkward because we could hear eachother's conversations but nonetheless I would go back here every single time! read more

Bar Raval - Spanish Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Bar Raval is a great place for afterwork drinks or a pitstop during a night out. This trendy little bar is brought to you by the people that brought you Bar Isabel (one of my favourite restaurants in Toronto). The vibe of the bar is great. The bar reminds me of a Barcelona tavern. The design of the wood bar reminds me of some of Gaudi's work in Barcelona. The cocktails at Bar Raval were delicious. The appetizers and tapas were not bad, but a bit pricey for the quality and portions you are getting. For this reason, I would recommend Bar Raval as a place to go for drinks rather than food. This is also the reason Bar Raval is only getting 3 stars instead of 5. The disconnect between the pricing and the value you are getting from the food is the reason I deducted 2 stars. The bar is also pretty small and space is limited. If you go on the weekends, there may only be standing room only. read more

Amazing Tapas and amazing place to eat ! Great service and had such a great atmosphere Coming back very soon!! read more

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Very nice cozy space though no obvious sign with the name. Exciting unique spanish menu focused on Tapas. Very expensive though. A few shavings of chorizo and 5 cubes of cheese 5 olives and 5 brined chilies. ..and that's considered the large portion sells for $22. The beer size is outrageous as well, 5 Oz or 20 Oz. ..where is the 10 folks? 5 Oz beer is a sample size never seen it this way and it's for $5. Lunch for my wife and I with one miniature size beer costs $99+ 10% tip (5 tapas) ...outrageous. ..shame on Canadian business and food industry. The smoked Mackarell served in the can it came from, they just opened it and removed the lid, buttery and had a good flavor though. $14.50. In Barcelona I paid e10 for 5 or 6 much larger Tapas....Shame on Canada read more

Txakoli all night long. I don't think there is a better wine to drink with all their seafood based Tapas. We had a few bottles along with the Galician Octopus and some Scallops. They have the correct pouring technique and everything. The basque tradition alive and well in Toronto. I can't wait to go back! read more

Bar Raval - Spanish Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Way too expensive way too small portions. For four of us the bill came out to 170$ before tip (only got one drink each two of which were beers) and we left hungry. Not a place for dinner. Good for drinks and some snacks but still it is expensive. The taste of the food was good and authentic (my friend is from Spain and I've visited enough times) but we agree that it's not worth going back. read more

Great little bar for late night tapas and drinks. Staff are nice and attentive. Love the laidback atmosphere here. read more

Bar Raval - Spanish Near Me - Toronto, Ontario