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    Gata Mala

    4.8 (149 reviews)
    InexpensiveTapas Bars
    Open 6:30 pm - 1:30 am (Next day)

    Gata Mala Photos

    GATA MALA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - Gata Mala

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    ice cold
    Katie K.

    Great place. Friendly service and unique space. The server was thoughtful enough to ask if we eat meat before preparing a complimentary tapas to be served with our drinks. The food was solid - not the best we've eaten in Barcelona, but we enjoyed everything we tried. Great prices, clean, and in a great neighborhood. For an affordable, casual meal in a really friendly and comfortable environment, Gata Mala is the place to go.

    The menu is a little tough for "Spanish as a second language", but the staff is super friendly and accommodating.
    Jeremy S.

    Holy smokes, this little place has a 5 star rating for a reason!! Looks like a "hole in the wall" from the street, but this place is a palate paradise! Bring on your taste buds for this one! We ordered the sampler platter after a very descriptive and much welcomed run through of the menu items (and translation to English) from our friendly host behind the bar. He was the sweetest man alive - super friendly to foreign guests. Sampler platter was awesome: eggplant, Manchego cheese, zucchini, Catalan potato salad (out of this world!), sun-dried tomatoes, olives and fresh bread. (Bottom clockwise outside to inside)

    Combination plate that comes with bread.
    Kathryn N.

    Tiny little bar with top notch service and fantastic food. We ordered the combination, and 2 bombolas. They were fantastic! Pilar was so warm and welcoming. The beer was cold and during this heat wave just what we needed. The sun dried tomatoes were my favorite, the eggplant with goat cheese was my husbands favorite and we both loved the olives. For 12€ you get a huge plate of toppings and a basket of bread to make your own pinxos. They're a must visit!

    Tartaleta de foie
    Stephen E.

    I came across this place on Yelp, and I'm so glad I did. I wanted to eat at a different area then the normal beach area, and this place was soooo worth it. It's located in Gracia and is about a 10-15 minute walk from Park Guell. I came here because of all the reviews on this place, and they definitely were on the money... It's a small place, so be prepared to wait. My step-dad and I came around 10:15pm, and waited maybe 5 minutes... not too long. We were greeted by Pilar, who is such a sweet lady. The entire time we were dining by the bar, she was interacting with all of the guests and made you feel at home or like you were eating at a friend's house. She introduced herself, learned our names, and got to know us for a bit. From what I could tell, the locals love her and the other waiters that helped serve and make the food/drinks. With your drink orders you'll get a free tapas. The one we got was a fried egg on bread, simple, yet deliciously tasteful. We had a bit of trouble understanding the menu, but the ladies behind the counter gave us their recommendations and told us about the menu. We got the combinado gatamala, Steak con pure de patata + pimiento, and the tartaleta de foie. All very very good, delicious and super tasteful. I highly recommend. I would've loved to order the other stuff on the menu, but this was just the right amount for my step-dad and I. When you order the combinado gatamala, eat the sun dried tomatoes with the cheese. Drink wise, I recommend their red wine with lemon, it's A+. You definitely have to eat here, as it's not expensive and is definitely worth it. Expect to experience great service accompanied by great food. Only thing is that since it's a small place, if you're sitting by the wall or bar area, you'll probably be bumped a few times in the back. Thanks for the great experience Pilar! You rock!!!

    Benjamin P.

    Off the Tourist Trail: The (Real) Best Tapas in Barcelona Gata Mala Literally, named the bad cat, this is a small, locally run tapas bar where the owner makes you feel like a member of the family. It is well known that in Spain the locals like to eat late, but I think in this bar that is only a plus: come early (around 7pm) and get the full attention of the incredibly helpful staff. In so many other places in Spain, it seems like the concept of tapas has changed due to financial pressures and societal changes: many bars don't offer free tapas with food, and when they do, they are often a couple of olives and a side of chips. At the "Gata Mala," though, this tradition lives strong. With each order of a small beer (or other drink), a freshly prepared piece of magic arrives on your plate. This experience at first is as jarring as it is delightful. First Caña down, I received Jamón drizzled in extra virgin olive oil on the ubiquitous fresh bread. Prompt happiness. After drink number two, I get an exquisitely simple dish of a fried quails egg, with sea salt, and herbs. Happiness overload. This dish is, to me, a classic example of how some of the best dishes in Spain are the simplest. Saying "no" to beer is always difficult; this is especially true when that beer comes with a tasty snack. Tapa 3: bacon, herbs, and olive oil. You want it. And finally, to top off the experience, an overwhelmingly flavorful piece of Morcilla. If you have never tried Morcilla, put it on the top of your tasting list. Don't ask what it is (its no worse than ballpark hotdogs), just sit back and enjoy. As strange as it is, all those flavors were merely the start to the meal. After indulging in these tapas, I spoke with the head chef who recommend that I try a dish made with local eggplant and goats cheese, and veal. The veal was perfectly cooked, situated right between rare and medium-rare, and incredibly juicy. Somehow, though, the eggplant with Goat Cheese was the most memorable dish of the night. A burst of flavors, these dish seemed liked Catalonia on a plate. When you're in Barcelona, head to don't miss heading to Gràcia for a local experience. The only problem with the "Gata Mala" is you won't want to leave. -Ben blog.MiCasa.world

    Beef with potato!
    Paul P.

    Great food and owner. Little out of way but worth every effort. Food is super! The eggplant is must have. Eggs on toast is also good. But the owner make it so special, with limited English she still make you feel like family. She told my daughter to try the eggplant (how did she know my daughter don't try new stuff?) and that's a great lesson! That make this dinner a memorable night!

    Dessert
    Julie M.

    We did not make a reservation and were seated with no problem, but it is recommended to make a reservation. The atmosphere alone made this place our favorite in Barcelona. Pilar greets you as if you are an old friend. She helped us understand the menu as they do not have an English version. She was very sweet and personal. It has a hole in the wall feel, and is definitely packed with locals. On to the food. We had the patatas bravas which were AMAZING. The best potatoes I have ever had. Then we had the veal. Tender and flavorful. The alcohol was cheap and you get small tapas with each drink. Our favorite was the bread with a fried egg and olive oil on top. Delicious. Wish we could come here every day. Highly recommend.

    Tye D.

    The owner was amazing and was super friendly! She was able to accommodate a family of 5 on a busy Friday night without a reservation. Tiny space but definitely worth it!

    Flank steak
    Dan T.

    This is my favorite tapas bar in Barcelona. You get a tapa for each beer you get so take that into account when ordering. The steak dish is tender and very flavorful. It was a very busy time when we showed up but they were very accommodating.

    JUST GO! Incredible place. Food and drinks are delicious. Monica our host was amazing! Made my lady and myself feel so welcome. Like we were guests in their home.

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    8 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    6 years ago

    Very small place with cool atmosphere, good food for low prices. Very friendly staff. You can't miss it if you visit Gracia.

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    11 years ago

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    7 years ago

    Delicious food and really friendly staff. Would recommend to anyone in this part of town

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    10 years ago

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    7 years ago

    Great service. Great ambitious By the way every drink comes with a yummy tapa. Must try

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    10 years ago

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    9 years ago

    Best food we've had in Barcelona and the service is excellent!! Pilar and Monica (?) are so warm and helpful. A must do in Barcelona!!

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    10 years ago

    Great food and awesome atmosphere! We loved this place and would recommend to anyone! Very friendly and great vibe!

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    11 years ago

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    10 years ago

    been here evety yesr gor last 3 years - the best staff the best tapas and best cutomers. A must eat is the 'Tartaletta de Foie"

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    10 years ago

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    9 years ago

    Great place run by great people serving great food. Nothing else a human can ask for! I suggest the veal steak most definitely

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    11 years ago

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    Page 3 of 4

    Gata Mala Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Gata Mala

    Beautiful food and wine and a very reasonable price and the owner of the restaurant Pilar was very kind, friendly and helpful.

    Mentioned in 40 reviews

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    Cerveseria Catalana - fried artichoke

    Cerveseria Catalana

    4.4(1.8k reviews)
    1.7 kmL'Eixample
    €€€

    It's been a decade since I came here for my first Tapas in BCN. This is where I realized there was…read morea lot of my peeps that works there and it's nice to feel at home, lol. This was recommended by friends awhile back, I remembered the modern ambiance, amazing Tapas, friendly service and the place was as busy then until now. For this big restaurant caliber, it's pretty crowded yet they do a good job with a fast turnaround. We did the early Dinner and by the time we got out there was already a long line for late Diners. The fact that even after a decade, it's rare that I go back to the same spot let alone they're still around after all these years. You already know that tells a lot and I feel bad for those who didn't have the same great experience, hope they give it another shot. See y'all soon! Salut, Vermouth!

    First time in Barcelona and first time time here. It was a fun experience with some good service…read moreand delicious food. Sit inside if you do not like cigarette smoke, which does occur. For an early dinner by Spanish time, we started with the croquettes. Crip and wonderful. Then the tenderloin which was taste as well, though we should have a sales what is on the top. It seemed like mostly a flavored fat. The tomato with toast was lovely. Soaked with natural tomato juice. The skewered prawns were the best. Get them. And we ended with coconut pudding. It was like a flan with a coconut base. All together fun and delicious!

    Photos
    Cerveseria Catalana - Dining room

    Dining room

    Cerveseria Catalana - Lenguado con calamares

    Lenguado con calamares

    Cerveseria Catalana - Open till 1:30am?

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    Open till 1:30am?

    Vivant - Strawberry cheesecake and yogurt with honey

    Vivant

    4.6(44 reviews)
    1.8 kmL'Eixample
    €€

    Walking from the tourist trap that is Sagrada Familia to my next destination I was lucky to…read moreencounter this gem of a restaurant. If you're not careful you'll miss it as it's very small. Today they had one small table on the sidewalk and the rest indoor including limited bar seating. This is a spot clearly for locals as evidenced by the sheer number of people speaking Catalán around me. It's fabulous in every way- service, ambiance, food and what will be most surprising for Americans, price. For less than $20 I had tuna tartar (more like a guacamole with fresh tuna), beef short ribs, wine, coffee, water and the perfectly small sized piece of cake (tarta de Santiago) from the menu of the day Everything was amazing, and while I wasn't able to do so myself, many people left with leftovers. Come, enjoy and just be grateful that places like this still exist in the world!

    This is a very nice restaurant that we had lunch at. I did make a reservation for their menu del…read moredia. That was probably a good idea because after we were seated a majority of the tables did fill up. Lunch included bread, a drink of choice, appetizer, entree, and dessert for 18.90 euros. The service was very good and the courses flowed nicely. Food was tasty and had a very homey, comforting feel. I felt the dessert was very small but other than that everything was great. A good place for lunch or a drink if you are in the L'Eixample neighborhood!

    Photos
    Vivant - Front of the restaurant

    Front of the restaurant

    Vivant - Costillas de ternera

    Costillas de ternera

    Vivant - Tuna entree

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    Tuna entree

    Ciutat Comtal - beef tenderloin montadito with foie (7.15€)

    Ciutat Comtal

    4.3(1.4k reviews)
    2.2 kmL'Eixample
    €€

    During our three days in Barcelona, Cervecería Ciudad Condal was the very first tapas restaurant we…read morevisited -- and it turned out to be the absolute best! Our server, Amaya, was funny, knowledgeable, and incredibly attentive. He took great care of us, and every single recommendation he made was delicious. I wish I knew all the Spanish names of the dishes because everything was amazing. The highlights for us were the Bacalao -- so tender and full of flavor -- and honestly the best octopus I've ever had in my life. We also loved the soft steak with duck liver served on a slice of French baguette, the shrimp skewers, patatas, and the Spanish ham with tomato toasts. Every dish was unforgettable. On top of the incredible food, the restaurant itself has such an elegant atmosphere with beautiful décor that made the whole dining experience even more special. Highly recommend this place to anyone visiting Barcelona!

    Ciutat Comtal was a restaurant that I had seen recommended numerous times while I was searching for…read moreplaces to eat at in Barcelona, and after coming here I can see why. I came here for lunch, and thankfully I didn't have to wait too long before I got seated inside. The interior is a bit on the smaller side, but it's quite bright with a lot of natural sunlight inside. For the food, I decided to get squid, codfish with honey allioli, and iberian ham montaditos. While all of the food was great, for me the codfish was hands-down the star of the show and probably one of the best dishes that I ate on the trip. The flavor of the sauce combined with the texture of the fish actually blew me away, and I can see why my server highly recommended this to me. If you just get one things when coming here, definitely make sure not to miss this dish. Highly recommend checking this place out for Spanish tapas, they represent the cuisine well!

    Photos
    Ciutat Comtal - Interior

    Interior

    Ciutat Comtal - Calamares

    Calamares

    Ciutat Comtal - The entrance

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    The entrance

    Casa Angela - Mixed paella.

    Casa Angela

    4.3(59 reviews)
    1.4 kmL'Eixample
    €€

    Delicious food! Amazing service right across from La Sagrada Família!…read more The ambiance is unreal! I recommend this restaurant to anyone! The tapas are to die for! Sangria so refreshing and the paella was scrumptious!

    Love coming to this spot whenever I'm in Spain and by the Sagrada Família. I've come twice now,…read moreonce in 2023 and once in 2025 and both times were a hit. Their tapas are super yummy and I love that they have a display case that shows you a good variety of what you can get. I always recommend the abondigas (there a dark green color from the spinach, but really yummy I promise). I also love the grilled octopus (pulpo) and the seafood paella, which takes a while to cook so order it in advance. The drinks and coffee are always a hit, but I love that it's so close (within walking distance) from the Sagrada Família, so I always make an effort to come here after visiting the landmark. Service has always been great. I have usually been served by the Dark Haired Bartender (ask him about his sister in Utah if you visit). Everyone speaks English and is pretty friendly. It's a smaller spot on one side with bar seating and some tables inside and outside, but they have a more restaurant style sit down place that's a couple stores down so you can have the best of both worlds. I usually opt for the bar seating to people watch and chat with the bartenders.

    Photos
    Casa Angela - Bar

    Bar

    Casa Angela
    Casa Angela - Salt cod fritters

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    Salt cod fritters

    Gata Mala - tapas - Updated May 2026

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