Jai-Ca
Jai-Ca
Jai-Ca is a Barceloneta seafood tapas bar running since 1955, founded by two siblings, Jaime and Lluïsa, who built the name from their first names and surnames.
Background
About Jai-Ca
The Story
Jai-Ca opened in 1955 on Carrer de Ginebra in Barceloneta. The founders were Jaime and Lluïsa, two siblings from the neighbourhood, and the name of the bar was built from their first names and surnames. Three generations later, the same family is still running the place. The second generation, Jaume and Antonia, invented the signature La Raspa more than thirty years ago - anchovies served with their own fried backbone. A parrot named Baldomero, taken in by Lluïsa after arriving in Barceloneta on a merchant ship, lived at the bar from the 1970s until 2010 and became the restaurant's mascot. The original space at number 13 has since grown to a second adjacent location at number 9 on the same street.
The Cuisine
The kitchen is built around the classic vocabulary of Barceloneta seafood tapas - fried baby squid, anchovies two ways, steamed mussels, grilled prawns, bomba, and the signature La Raspa (Cantabrian anchovy served over its own fried backbone, invented at the bar). Portions are generous, prices are neighbourhood-level, and the menu has stayed loyal to the 1950s tapas canon while sourcing directly from the nearby Lonja fish market. A small selection of grilled seafood, Iberian ham and cured cheeses rounds out the offering, and the fridge holds a working roster of vermuts - including the house Jai-Ca Special Vermouth - alongside caña beer for midday regulars.
The Team
Jai-Ca is run by the third generation of the founding family, who have kept the recipes largely unchanged for decades. The service style is unhurried Barceloneta-bar: regulars greeted by name, visitors pointed towards whatever came off the boats that morning. Front of house is attentive without being polished, and the bar itself is where most of the action happens - standing-room orders handed over the counter, dishes arriving straight from the plancha.
Highlights
What Diners Say
Consensus
Jai-Ca Ratings & Reviews
Professional Ratings
Featured in The Infatuation's Best Tapas Spots in Barcelona
Ranked #80 of 374 tapas restaurants in Barcelona, #2,178 of 11,118 overall
Diner Ratings
4.3
8,274 reviews
TheFork
3.95
31 reviews
TripAdvisor
4.1
2,084 reviews
Jai-Ca is a Barceloneta seafood tapas institution founded in 1955 by siblings Jaime and Lluïsa, now run by the third generation of the founding family. The bar is a standard stop for locals and the signature La Raspa (Cantabrian anchovy served with its own fried backbone) is name-checked across Catalan and Spanish press covering Barceloneta dining.
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Reservations
How to Book Jai-Ca
Booking
Jai-Ca is open daily from 09:00 to 23:30. Reservations can be made through the restaurant's website at https://barjaica.com/en/reservations/ or by emailing reserves@barjaica.com. Reservations require a 24-hour minimum notice. Groups of 10 or more must book in advance via email. Walk-ins are welcome at the bar.
Reserve
Experience
Jai-Ca Dining Experience
Jai-Ca is all marble counter, tiled walls, and the persistent low roar of a packed tapas bar. Most regulars eat standing at the bar or at the small high tables along the wall. Service is unhurried and unpretentious; the dining style is order-a-few-plates-at-a-time as the kitchen pushes them out. Expect a mix of Barceloneta locals, fishermen on break, and visitors who found the place through word of mouth - rarely a quiet table, never a formal one.
Navigate
Jai-Ca Location & Neighbourhood
Getting There
Jai-Ca sits on Carrer de Ginebra in the heart of la Barceloneta, a few blocks from the fishing port and Barceloneta beach. The street is one of the neighbourhood's historic tapas rows, lined with small bars and family-run seafood spots. The nearest metro is Barceloneta (L4), a 4-minute walk. The second sister location at Ginebra 9 is steps away, and Passeig Joan de Borbó, the main harbour-side avenue, is a short stroll from the door.
Nearby
La Barceloneta is Barcelona's historic fishermen's quarter, a grid of narrow streets built in the 18th century between the port and the beach. The neighbourhood has weathered major change since the 1992 Olympics - most of the waterfront is now tourist-facing - but the grid of inland streets, including Ginebra, still carries the core of traditional Barceloneta dining: vermut bars, family seafood spots, and century-old bodegas that have quietly outlasted every trend cycle around them.
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Details
Jai-Ca Reservations, Hours & Contact
Opening Hours
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday | 09:00–23:30 |
| Tuesday | 09:00–23:30 |
| Wednesday | 09:00–23:30 |
| Thursday | 09:00–23:30 |
| Friday | 09:00–23:30 |
| Saturday | 09:00–23:30 |
| Sunday | 09:00–23:30 |
Jai-Ca hours verified . Contact the restaurant to confirm.
Contact
Recommended for groups; walk-ins welcome at the bar
Good to Know
Social
From barjaica on Instagram
Taules preparades, arriba el cap de setmana!
Avui brindem pels de sempre. Perque al Jai-Ca hi ha amistats que no fallen mai, sigui el dia que sigui💛
Ritme de barra, mans que no fallen i birres que volen. Qui les agafa?
Donem el tret de sortida al cap de setmana amb un bon vermut a la barra... t'hi sumes? 🍸✨
Va, que fa solet! ☀️ El Rodolfo ja us espera amb ganes... Bon divendres! 💛
Gambeta vermella a la planxa, un toc de sal, i aquest solet que entra per la finestra☀️ Ja és primavera 🦐
Questions
Jai-Ca FAQ
What is Jai-Ca known for?
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Jai-Ca is known as one of Barceloneta's most authentic seafood tapas bars, running continuously since 1955. The signature dish is the Cantabrian anchovy served with its own fried backbone - a presentation they call La Raspa - alongside fried baby squid, grilled prawns, steamed mussels, and bomba. The bar is a third-generation family business and a standard stop for locals and chefs in the neighbourhood.
Where is Jai-Ca located?
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Jai-Ca is at Carrer de Ginebra, 13, in la Barceloneta (Ciutat Vella), Barcelona. A second location operates at Carrer de Ginebra, 9, a few doors down. The nearest metro is Barceloneta (L4), a 4-minute walk away.
What are the opening hours of Jai-Ca?
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Jai-Ca is open every day from 09:00 to 23:30, including weekends. The bar serves vermut and tapas throughout the day, with kitchen service running continuously from morning through late evening - no lunch-to-dinner closure.
Do I need a reservation at Jai-Ca?
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Reservations are recommended for groups of 4 or more and can be made through the restaurant's website or by emailing reserves@barjaica.com. For parties of 10 or more, advance booking is required. Walk-ins are welcome at the bar itself, where most regulars eat standing up or perched on stools.
What's the average price per person at Jai-Ca?
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Expect to spend around €20-30 per person for a spread of 4-6 tapas and a couple of drinks. Cold tapas start around €4, hot tapas from €5 to €10, and fresh seafood and Iberian ham dishes top out around €15-20. Vermut and caña are priced at neighbourhood-bar rates.
How old is Jai-Ca and who founded it?
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Jai-Ca was founded in 1955 by siblings Jaime and Lluïsa, and the name of the bar was built from their first names and surnames. The same family has operated it for three generations. The second generation, Jaume and Antonia, invented the signature La Raspa - anchovies served with their own fried backbone - more than thirty years ago. A parrot named Baldomero, taken in by Lluïsa after arriving on a merchant ship, lived at the bar from the 1970s until 2010 and became the restaurant's mascot.