Note: YOU HAVE TO MAKE A RESERVATION TO WALK IN THE DOOR. But please make sure you do - you absolutely do NOT want to miss out on this food. My son loves trying new things and as soon as he saw the pic of their grilled octopus, we knew we needed to go. Ambiance gives you what you'd want for a Barcelona tappas place. I still think about this experience weeks later! read more

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Such an excellent place for some tapas! We stopped in on our first day in Barcelona and El Chigre 1769 really set the bar. It's a small place with one big table down the middle and a few smaller tables around the edges as well as standing outdoor bar. There was one hardworking server who was great about explaining dishes to us. After our meal she even offered us a shot of their house made liquor which was very tasty! For 4 people we got: Pan con tomate Spicy bomba Stuffed dates Tomato salad and a local fish The amount of food was perfect to share and everything was outstanding. The only underwhelming piece was the potatoes that came with the fish, everything else was absolutely delicious, especially the spicy bomba and the stuffed dates. Highly recommend El Chrigre 1769 fo anyone visiting Barcelona. read more

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A total sleeper hit - glad we stumbled into this one! It was one of those classic Barcelona moments - hot, then suddenly raining - so we ducked into a nearby bar to wait it out. Hunger started creeping in, and with grilled pulpo on my mind (a must-have at least once on this trip), we searched nearby and found El Chigre 1769 had it on the menu. Decision made. This place seriously surprised us in the best way. The vibe is fantastic - rustic, hip, and cozy, with maybe a bit of a gothic edge to it. It feels effortlessly cool without trying too hard. The grilled pulpo? Outstanding. Perfectly tender with a beautiful char. Everything else we ordered followed suit - excellent quality, well-prepared, and full of flavor. You can tell the kitchen cares about what they're doing here. Service was friendly and attentive, and the whole experience just felt easy and satisfying. What started as a random escape from the rain turned into one of our most memorable meals in Barcelona. Loved this place - it's the kind of spot you hope to find while traveling but rarely do. 5 stars! read more

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When headed to Barcelona, El Chigre 1769 was on our dining list for seafood. I highly recommend making a reservation because we did not and it was hard to get in. We waited awhile but the staff here was able to move some things around and get us in at the bar. Actually, the staff here is above and beyond amazing. This is a place meant to relax, drink, chat with friends - but we were in a rush and they really worked with us. It's such a great place full of character and charm. They specialize in food Asturian and Catalan eats, two regions in Spain, priding themselves on serving local ingredients. We had the Arroz Negro con gambas which is one of their signature dishes of Black rice with beautiful shrimp laid across it, with some garlic aioli dotted between the little crustaceans. We also had their croquettes, also nicely topped with a dollop of that garlic aioli. Savory goodness that you can dip everything into. Octopus rice bombs are also recommended if you enjoy octopods. And the bacon wrapped dates are monstrous...so rich with flavor. Absolutely loved dining here with my friends while in Barcelona. They were absolutely great and I'd go again in a second. But will definitely make a reservation next time. read more

Very well done freshly prepared seafood. Worth a visit! I got the clams and the fish of the day served with roasted potatoes. All yummy! read more

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Exceptional service. All recommendations by our server was right on the spot. He did not go for most expensive items, but something would rather enjoy. Food was delightful and no less than amazing Personally, I would recommend steak tartar. read more

El Chigre 1769 - Hamon - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Barcelona, B

The food was very authentic. The seafood was extremely fresh and the steak was delicious. Our service were very kind and show great hospitality to us knowing that we were not from here. I was recommended this restaurant by a friend and I'm glad I visited. read more

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These were the my best tapas we experience while visiting Spain! Rec by our guide, this Gothic Quarter gem embodies the dining experience you imagine when you close your eyes and imagine Barcelona dining. Engrossed in a wooden exterior, exposed brick pads the walls, as a swell of laughter and smell of meat, vermouth and wine great you upon entry. The customer service and community feel is out of this world, and the food is just as impressive. They provide a table side demo for their grilled leeks. The baby bombs are fantastic whether you're a pulpo fan or not, the cider is aerated with a device that sits table side, the croquettes were perfectly fried and the meat is beautifully prepared! Someone was celebrating a birthday when we visited and they played the whole birthday song over the speaker and made it a full restaurant affair! Additionally, the vermouth is fantastic and you're just three minute walk from one of the best cocktail bars in the world. I truly couldn't have asked for a better experience! Special thanks to the team here! This experience truly changed my perception of Gothic Quarter dining. read more

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Great experience wandering in for a drink after experiencing the Picasso museum a few blocks away. Ordered a white and a red vermouth, they came with a lemon slice and olive and an orange slice and olive respectively. Both drinks were wonderful. Also ordered 3 oysters from France, they were presented beautifully, with a vinegar and were fairly fishy and ocean tasting with lots of meat on them. Service was friendly(which is kinda rare in Spain in general) and professional kitchen staff it seemed. I love that when sitting at the bar you can see into the kitchen and watch the chefs work on making incredible fresh dishes. The aesthetic in here is so cozy and keeps you in the moment. We arrived early in the night about 7:30pm, without a reservation, and there was only one other table occupied. read more

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Phenomenal, service is friendly and fast. The food is so good and the vibe is upbeat and charming. I would recommend reservations, it is small and they can't really accommodate walk ins. We had a little bit of everything. I would holy recommend the croquettes, tomato bread, the ribeye, and the octopus bombs. The ribeye was one of the best steaks I have had in a long time. All of the waiters were so helpful and nice. Check this place out while you are here! read more

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What a great place. First of, you're better off making reservations ahead of time or coming early or late ( after 9) to snag a walk in seat. Place is popular and for a reason. This a foodie destination and the kitchen is noticeably professional run. Each dish is scrutinized to quality standards that I felt was missing in many other tapas places. When we mentioned that one of us had a shellfish allergy the staff had a prepared matrix of dishes and allergens in hand and was well versed in prep methods. The food was divine and the gambas were superb and cooked sashimi style , barely cooked to preserve inherent natural sweetness of the product. Well worth to try the specials. The pulpo octopus was one of the biggest portions I've seen on my trip read more

El Chigre 1769 - Gambas - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Barcelona, B

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This place was such a gem to find. We had been walking around and every place was full. We stopped to look at the menu and asked if they had a table and welcomed us in. The server was so friendly and kind and the food was amazing. Will def come again. Loved the atmosphere, food, and drinks. We got the olives with anchovies, meat selection, scallops, and artichokes with ham. 11/10 read more

El Chigre 1769 - Meat plate - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Barcelona, B

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Booked a reservation here based on a friend's recommendation and loved it! The grilled octopus is a must and we had other dishes including the fabada, which Mrs. Dubz especially enjoyed as it brought back memories of her father and childhood. The Asturias dishes are a nice touch and the dry sparkling cider was surprising for someone who doesn't really know ciders. Definitely worth a visit. read more

Loved El Chigre 1769. Staff were very friendly, welcoming, and accommodating; we got there just before they opened and they let us inside to sit at the bar and review the menu while they continued setting up for the evening. The food and wine were amazing. We ordered the shrimp and charcuterie. The restaurant filled up quickly after opening so I recommend a reservation, or getting there right as they open, otherwise expect a wait. read more

El Chigre 1769 - Bar/kitchen - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Barcelona, B

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Amazing service. The food was delicious and the attention from the employees was 10/10. I need to come back everytime I come to Spain.

Rated each item we got out of 5: Dates: 5 - must try Bread with tomato: 5 - sounds so simple but so delicious Octopus: 3 Croquetas: 4 - melt in your mouth Black rice: 4 Sardines: 2.5 Service: 5 Good atmosphere, great service, would come back read more

El Chigre 1769 - Arroz negro - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Barcelona, B

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Service was incredibly friendly and efficient. I arrived on my own and was immediately sat at the bar by the super friendly host. When they realized I'm Italian they all spoke to me in Italian and were super nice and friendly in explaining the menu and making suggestions. I went for a glass of Granacha (which soon became two..), fresh shrimps, and grilled octopus. All tasted fresh, simple, genuine and simply amazing. I had a great time watching how quick, fast, and efficient they were all moving around in the kitchen and attending table and the service was super friendly despite all the rush of a very packed place. I also had the torta de queso to conclude, which was their suggestion and I'm so glad I tried it. A unique combo of a sweet dessert that also gives away a smoky cheese note at the end of each taste. I was quite impressed given that most other places nearby are tourist traps. Definitely recommend to go and will be back once in Barca again read more

El Chigre 1769 - Torta de Queso - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Barcelona, B

Love this spot! Came back three times in my two weeks here. Now, fair warning, it gets pretty packed during dinner hours, especially being in the Gothic Quarters, and the service isn't the fastest. But, oh my, the food is worth the wait--especially the pulpo, beef rib paella, tomato salad, and steak sandwich! You've got to check it out if you're in the area. There seems to be a mix of locals and tourists here the vibes inside is rustic and lively, adding to the whole experience. read more

I highly recommend this little gem. Max, our server, was knowledgeable, attentive, and personable. The restaurant is quaint...and oozing with charm. It's not a fancy place, but rather authentic and warm. We had the Catabrian anchovies, stuffed dates, cheeses, Asturian soup "fabada", and sea bass. Everything was delicious and full of complimentary flavors. The fabada was amazing and I would have never ordered it if not recommended. Everything (or most everything) is cooked on a coal fired grill. We loved the ambiance, food, and outstanding waiter. Highly recommend!! Thank you, Max. read more

Food was very good. No one disliked anything. Service was also very good. The waiters were a little confused but it worked out. Ambiance was cozy but very loud once filled. Recommend. read more

This place looks like a street bar from the outside, but the traditional Catalan food has been completely revised and it's served with interesting twist. Won't disclose too much, you have to try, highly recommend. read more

On our last night in Barcelona, after searching for and finding the Fútbol Club Barcelona stained glass window in the Catedral del Mar next door, we stumbled onto El Chigre 1769. It looked so inviting with its rustic decor and lighting and we were intrigued by their motto as printed on their menu, "Chigre is a democratic institution that brings together poor and rich in friendly brotherhood. In a Chigre no one is more than anyone, all are regulars, neighbors or casual visitors and everybody gets together, regardless the group or caste they belong to." And since the menu seemed to have interesting items and the reviews were good, we decided to check it out. My daughter and I each started out with a refreshing glass of cava - a sparkling wine well known in Barcelona. We also had the spicy baby bombs with octopus and scalded prawns - both of which were delicious. And when we saw "This is a classic!" in their menu description of "'Patatinas' with Cabreles Cheese and Hazelnut Praline"-- we knew we wanted to try them! Oh my, a kind of fried potato with blue cheese and a creamy hazelnut praline, so unusual, decadent and delicious! We also decided to order their tomato bread as an afterthought and we both agreed it was the most delicious tomato bread we had in Spain! What a great way to spend our last night in Barcelona - great food and ambience! I hope to come back here someday! read more

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Came in on our last day in Barcelona looking for tapas and got some of the best we had in the city!! We were seated at the bar as we didn't get reservations, but we loved getting to watch the staff at work -- creating absolutely amazing plates!!!! The vibe was immaculate and the food is great. Cannot recommend this enough. read more

El Chigre 1769 - Bar seating - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Barcelona, B

Came here randomly on a Monday night in May - fairly crowded but got a table. It's tiny place very quaint and casual. The food was good. The tomato bread and octopus were my favorites. read more

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Our intensions for our first Tapas experience in Barcellona was to try a local place recommended by a friend, but as we asked for directions at the front desk of our hotel, they steered us to El Chigre 1769 for one main reason: It is where the locals go, and a lot more authentic. The paragraph on the top of the menu reads: "Chigre is a democratic institution that brings together poor and rich in friendly brotherhood. In a Chigre no one is more than anyone, all are regulars, neighbors or casual visitors and everybody gets together, regardless of the group or caste they belong to." LOCAL IT IS!!! El Chigre is not in the Las Ramblas area, but on the other side of the Main Street in the El Born area instead. It definitely felt local when we walked in. A small intimate setting with a small bar area for eating and wine drinking, open kitchen window and a whole lot of menu specials on Chalk boards throughout. The atmosphere was defiantly a local welcoming. There were few tables with one community table for several diners in the middle. We sat at a high top close to the bar. Several artifacts displayed all over including a shelving unit with wines and glasses making it definitely inviting as a Spanish type dining room. For such a small local place, they sure had a vast wine menu from different regions and plenty to choose from. And SO reasonable. We ordered 2 glasses of Syrah from Monstant to start and looked over the menu. The server presented us with a plate of fresh whole Sea Bass and Monk Fish to show us what they were cooking up for fish dishes. We wanted simple small tapas dishes. Started out with the local popular bread with tomato thickly spread on top with our wines. Enjoyed watching the locals come in and seamed that they had been here before. The Grilled Octopus was a must for our first tapas experience because no body does it better than Spanish restaurants. This octopus was delicious. First of all when I cut into it, it was so tender, not tough like back home, but like butter. It was served over a Potato Onion cake with and a tasty seasoned dressing base on the bottom that was great for dipping the octopus into. That potato onion cake was really a delight with the octopus. The server would NOT get me the recipe. LOL. All this topped with a chimiichurri sauce. Perfect start for our trip to Barcellona. My wife had a Season Tomato Salad with Cheese. Do not know what kind of cheese that was, but any salad with that type of cheese is a must. The menu had lots of options, including grilled mussels, cheese platters and local Fish dishes. It really is the ultimate tapas place for locals. After aa couple glasses of wine and light tapas, we were glad to join this local establishment in a friendly local environment, tapas style. We were the "casual visitors" and were happy to be there. read more

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We were fortunate to get squeezed in during a busy dinner without reservations. It is a beautiful little restaurant in a charming location in the Born district of Barcelona. Their menu was seafood based (perhaps not as common as you would think in a costal town). Our food, wine, and service were all memorably wonderful & we will be sure to eat there again when we return (with reservations of course). The grilled fish was outstanding, and make sure to try the grilled octopus!!! read more

Great place. The food was sensational from the Russian tomato salad with tuna, the best bbq octopus I've ever had ( sorry to the Greeks), a bbq sea bass. The service was fantastic and the wine was great a Montesa from Rioja. The place was rustic and they have been serving food for over 10 years and the building was built in 1769. read more

El Chigre 1769 - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Barcelona, B

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This restaurant is amazing! We ate dinner here one night and had an amazing experience. The next night we got engaged and decided to go back and celebrate. The staff is absolutely amazing and the food is something I will think about for a long time. If Matteo and Isa are taking care of you, you will have an amazing time. They are a big reason why we went back a second time! read more

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This restaurant was such a gem to find. The history was preserved and honored without being corny. The food was modern and traditional. The best cava in the city for me was the house cava here. I loved this entire experience. I will dream about from time to time... no doubt! read more

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Great find! Fish is amazing. Cheese plate of course and ham. Amazing atmosphere expect to wait but worth the wait for fun and great food

This place was recommended by one of the locals, we had several plates to share and a couple of wine bottles, the food was great, the ambiance was welcoming and had a nice atmosphere, our waitress, Claudia, was very helpful suggesting a variety of plates that's satisfied everyone's appetite in our group, highly recommend to try the octopus, superb!! read more

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Excellent find! We stumbled upon this place and popped in for some bites after some strong, wonderful drinks at nearby Dr. Stravinsky. The waitstaff was extraordinary. El Chigre is a tavern specializing in local seafood. They are very proud of their special char-oven method. They should be. The food was out-of-this-world. We ate very traditional Spanish dishes: pan con tomate, tuna-tomate ensalada, and octopus from their famous oven. I could not get that octopus out of my head the next day. It was tender and delicious. All the food was bursting with flavor. The server was very kind, and he helped me choose a vermut. He knows his business. I had their Roxmut at his suggestion, which is a cider-based vermut. Outstanding. I fell in love with it. What an outstanding experience! It felt very authentic, even though it's in a very touristy part of the city. read more

The food was amazing and the staff were very kind, accommodating, and really made you feel welcome! We loved the rustic feel to the place and how they catered to the general Catalan public and tourist alike as well as serving up some really authentic dishes. The vermouth selection was fantastic and totally added to the local feel of Barcelona! The restaurant was beautiful and very cozy! I would highly recommend El Chigre for a midday tapas or evening meal and drinks with friends! Love this place! Oh... did I mention the octopus? THAT... was FaBuLoUs!!!! I would totally book a flight from NYC just to get that! read more

Unique offerings of food that's partly prepared in front of you in this tiny cozy space.

Nice place around the corner from the best bodega in Barcelona (Bodega del Born). Good service, up beat music, and tasty food. Check it out if you are in the area. read more

Lugar muy original con amplia selección de sidras y vermouth. Excelente ambiente, música y servicio. Las porciones tienen a ser más pequeñas pero excelente calidad. Todas las croquetas buenísimas, las bombetas y el pan con tomate. De los mejores arroces negros que hemos probado en Barcelona. De postre pedimos la tarta de queso que estaba especial. No era dulce pero el sabor al punto, hecha ahí. Para acompañar la sidra y el vermouth fueron lo mejor. Lástima que no tienen café. read more

Our party of 5 got EXTREMELY lucky to have been seated right away by our lovely host on a busy Friday night. We ordered the gold vermouth (YUM), the spicy octopus bite balls, side of tomatoes and bread, mushrooms as well as the black rice paella. They forgot our cheese plate order but we were too full to have finished it anyway. The bite balls are a must have!! The minced meat is finished in a spicy flavorful sauce and was a pure delight. The mushrooms and paella could've used a bit more punch but that's probably how they did it back in the day? Special call out to the side of tomato bread which was like Tomatina in your mouth. If you've ever played tomatina then you know it's not a good thing hehe! Will return for the great ambience and location right in the heart of the Gòtic quarter. read more

Had some great tapas. Baby bombs are the bomb. Tried one of the vermouth drinks, quite good. Meat and cheese plates where great.

Excellent food, wine & service! Everything was excellent & great quality. Stumbled on this place while visiting Barcelona. Highly recommend! read more

Love el chigre! AMAZING service, the staff truly cares about your experience at el chigre! And the experience gets topped with amazing food And delicious vermouth! We had a dinner that consisted of their delicious meat and vermouth drinks. We came here about 3 times through your our time in Barcelona, we truly enjoyed the atmosphere. Definitivamente uno de mis lugares favoritos! read more

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