Tapas24 turns 20 with dishes chosen by chefs
Carles Abellán's Tapas24 marks 20 years by letting chef friends pick a dish to return to the menu, and an Instagram prize draw ends in a showcooking in early 2027.
Tapas24, Carles Abellán's tapas bar on the corner of Carrer de la Diputació and Passeig de Gràcia, is 20 years old, and it's celebrating by letting chefs pick the dish they most want to see back on the menu. The party ends in early 2027 with a showcooking led by Abellán.
Chefs choose, the kitchen cooks
Abellán asked friends, chefs and restaurant owners, to name the dish they'd like to see return, either as a historic recovery or a limited edition. Time Out Barcelona lists the picks so far. Christian Escribà asked for the quail drumsticks. Joan, Josep and Jordi Roca chose the bikini and the Russian salad. Nandu Jubany picked fried eggs with llanguet, and Quim Marquès the chicken wings with Korean sauce. Ferran Adrià went for the bikini of Ibérico ham, mozzarella and truffle, which he came up with and Abellán popularised.
Still to announce over the coming months are Raül Balam of Moments, the Disfrutar chefs Eduard Xatruch, Oriol Castro and Mateu Casañas, TV3's Marc Ribas, and Max and Stefano Colombo of Xemei. Democrata adds that journalist Cristina Jolonch has also contributed a proposal.
Why it matters in Barcelona
Tapas24 opened in 2006, in the basement at Diputació and Passeig de Gràcia. Time Out credits Abellán with popularising the fine, contemporary urban tapa, the kind that dominates informal restaurants in the city today. He learned his trade at elBulli and refined it at Comerç24, which opened in 2001 and held a Michelin star from 2007 to 2015. In 2018 he won one again with La Barra.
Its best-known plates are the truffled bikini, devised at elBulli, the Russian salad, which Time Out says San Sebastián Gastronomika named the best in Spain, and the roast-chicken croquetas, the best-selling tapa at Time Out Fest 2022. Democrata says the bar has served more than 2 million customers.
How to join in
Customers can leave a review, a memory or a message on Instagram at @tapas24barcelona. That enters them into draws for meals and experiences, and for the grand prize: a showcooking with Abellán in early 2027. Democrata says winners will be announced at the end of the year on the same profile. No exact date has been given for the showcooking.
Location
Carrer de la Diputació, 269, 08007 Barcelona, Spain
People
Carles Abellán, Ferran Adrià, Christian Escribà, Joan Roca, Josep Roca, Jordi Roca, Nandu Jubany, Quim Marquès, Raül Balam, Eduard Xatruch, Oriol Castro, Mateu Casañas, Marc Ribas, Max Colombo, Stefano Colombo, Cristina Jolonch
Restaurants mentioned
Frequently asked questions
When did Tapas24 open?
Tapas24 opened in 2006 in the basement at the corner of Carrer de la Diputació and Passeig de Gràcia in Barcelona. It's marking its 20th anniversary this year.
How does Tapas24 celebrate its 20th anniversary?
Chef friends of Carles Abellán each pick a dish to return to the menu, as a historic recovery or limited edition. Picks so far include Ferran Adrià, the Roca brothers, Nandu Jubany and Quim Marquès.
How can I win the Tapas24 showcooking?
Leave a review, a memory or a message on Instagram at @tapas24barcelona. That enters you into draws for meals and experiences, and the grand prize of a showcooking with Carles Abellán in early 2027.
What is Tapas24 known for?
Contemporary tapas by Carles Abellán, including a truffled bikini devised at elBulli, a Russian salad and roast-chicken croquetas. Democrata says it has served more than 2 million customers.