Bar La Plata
Bar La Plata
Repsol SoleteRepsol's Solete distinction recognises casual dining spots, street food, and neighbourhood gems with outstanding quality.Bar La Plata has served the same four tapas on pedestrian Carrer de la Mercè since 1945, a small Gothic Quarter institution where chefs like Ferran Adrià sit alongside neighbourhood regulars. House Penedès wine pours from the barrel into small glasses and the whole thing is still run by the founder's family.
Background
About Bar La Plata
The Story
Bar La Plata has served the same four tapas since it opened in 1945. Housed in a seventeenth-century Gothic Quarter building on the pedestrian Carrer de la Mercè, it has become a neighbourhood institution over nearly eight decades, counting chefs Ferran and Albert Adrià among its regulars. The interior preserves original Spanish tiles, wrought iron tables and wine barrels behind the bar.
The Cuisine
The menu is deliberately fixed at four simple classics: a tomato, onion and Arbequina olive salad; fresh anchovies in olive oil; deep-fried sardines (pescaditos fritos); and a botifarra sausage skewer on bread. House red, white and rosé wines from Penedès are drawn from the barrel and served in small glasses. Expect to spend around €20 per person excluding drinks.
The Team
Bar La Plata is owned by Anna, daughter of founder Pepito, and is kept running day to day by longtime waiter Pepe, who started at the bar at age fifteen, and cook María José. The philosophy is simple: the same four dishes, the same care, year after year.
Highlights
What Diners Say
Consensus
Bar La Plata Ratings & Reviews
Professional Ratings
Diner Ratings
4.7
3,825 reviews
Yelp
4.6
147 reviews
Professional recognition includes Repsol Solete. Diners rate it 4.7/5 on Google (3,825 reviews) and 4.6/5 on Yelp (147 reviews).
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Reservations
How to Book Bar La Plata
Booking
Bar La Plata does not take reservations, it operates as a traditional walk-in tapas bar. The space is small, with a handful of wrought iron tables and standing room at the counter, so arriving early (soon after opening at 11:00 or 18:00) is the best way to get a spot. In warm weather the pedestrian street fills with additional tables.
Reserve
Experience
Bar La Plata Dining Experience
The seventeenth-century space preserves its original Spanish tilework, wood bar and wine barrels, with a handful of wrought iron tables inside and a few more spilling onto pedestrian Carrer de la Mercè in warm weather. The room is small and convivial, shared by locals, visiting chefs and tourists alike, with staff pouring wine straight from the cask.
Navigate
Bar La Plata Location & Neighbourhood
Getting There
Bar La Plata is located on the pedestrian Carrer de la Mercè in the atmospheric el Barri Gòtic, just steps from Plaça de la Mercè and Port Vell. The seventeenth-century building sits at the southern edge of the Gothic Quarter, on a narrow street that fills with outdoor tables in warm weather. Picasso once kept a studio across the street on Carrer de la Plata.
Nearby
The el Barri Gòtic (Gothic Quarter) is Barcelona's medieval heart, where Roman walls meet Gothic architecture in a captivating labyrinth of narrow streets and hidden plazas. This historic neighbourhood pulses with cultural institutions, artisanal shops, and authentic bars that have operated for generations. It remains one of Europe's most atmospheric urban quarters, where history tangibly shapes every corner.
Nearby Restaurants
Grill Room-Bar Thonet
Mediterranean Tapas
Mediterranean tapas by chef Albert Ventura in a 1902 modernist bar in the Gothic.
Agut
Catalan
A long-standing Catalan dining room in el Barri Gòtic, open since 1924.
Koy Shunka
Japanese Fusion
€€€€Japanese Fusion kitchen led by chef Hideki Matsuhisa in el Barri Gòtic.
Los Caracoles
Traditional Catalan
Legendary Catalan restaurant with spit-roasted chicken in the Gothic Quarter.
Details
Bar La Plata Reservations, Hours & Contact
Opening Hours
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday | 11:00–15:00 & 18:00–23:00 |
| Tuesday | 11:00–15:00 & 18:00–23:00 |
| Wednesday | 11:00–15:00 & 18:00–23:00 |
| Thursday | 11:00–15:00 & 18:00–23:00 |
| Friday | 11:00–15:00 & 18:00–23:00 |
| Saturday | 11:00–15:00 & 18:00–23:00 |
| Sunday | Closed |
Bar La Plata hours verified 2026-04-01. Contact the restaurant to confirm.
Contact
Walk-in only. No reservations.
Good to Know
Social
From barlaplata on Instagram
Pepe, 69 anys i 53 a La Plata. Llarga vida al mite!
Pepe cumple hoy 69 años. Tenía 15 cuando empezó de camarero en La Plata. No llegaba todavía a la espita de las barricas de vino. Hasta que creció un poco lo solucionaron poniendo una caja de cerveza a modo de escalón. Es el alma de La Plata y aplica a diario el lema de Pepito, el fundador del bar: c
¡Ya es primavera en La Plata! Y el trovador @peepe.goomez le dedica un poema. ¡Viva la primavera y La Plata!
Avui, Sant Josep i Dia del Pare, brindem pel nostre cambrer Pepe, la nostra cuinera María José i pel Pepito, fundador de la Plata i pare de l'Anna, actual propietària. Felicitats Josep Maria, José, Josefina, Pep, Pepe, Pepa... i a tots el pares, també 🍻
Palabra de mujer 💜 Feliz día de la mujer #8M
Questions
Bar La Plata FAQ
What are the opening hours for Bar La Plata?
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Bar La Plata is open Monday through Saturday from 11:00–15:00 and 18:00–23:00. The bar is closed on Sundays.
Where exactly is Bar La Plata located in Barcelona?
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Bar La Plata is located at Carrer de la Mercè, 28, 08002 Barcelona, in the Gothic Quarter near Plaça de la Mercè and Port Vell.
Does Bar La Plata take reservations?
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No, Bar La Plata is a walk-in only tapas bar with a handful of small tables and standing room at the counter. Arrive early to avoid the wait.
What's on the menu at Bar La Plata?
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Bar La Plata keeps its menu short and simple: pescadito (fried small fish, 3.50€), ensalada (tomato, onion and olive salad, 3.50€), pincho de butifarra (sausage skewer, 2.50€), pincho de anchoa (anchovy skewer, 2.50€), ración de anchoas (7€), pan con tomate (3€), and cucurucho (paper cone of fried fish, 4€).
How much does it cost to eat at Bar La Plata?
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Around €20 per person excluding drinks, each tapa is just a few euros and house wine is poured from the barrel.
How old is Bar La Plata?
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Bar La Plata opened in 1945 and is still run by the founder's family. The menu has not changed since the day it opened.