Barra Oliba

Barra Oliba is hands down my favorite restaurant in San Diego. After touring Spain last October, I fell in love with traditional Spanish cuisine… the tapas, the wine, and the bold yet simple flavors. This place brought all those memories right back. The food is incredibly authentic and creative, especially their in-house dry-aged tuna and yellowtail are absolutely next level. You won’t find flavors like that anywhere else. Every dish is made with passion, and it shows. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, and the staff truly makes you feel at home. It’s a hidden gem in Little Italy and a must visit for anyone who appreciates Spanish food or just wants a dining experience that leaves a mark.

Just got back from a month in Spain and was thrilled to find Barra Oliba in Little Italy—it truly hit the spot! This new Spanish restaurant brings authentic tapas-style dining to San Diego, and it did not disappoint. We ordered the beef tartare, croquettes, artichokes, shrimp, Spanish omelette, and sardines—and everything was thoughtfully prepared and full of flavor. The service was friendly and attentive, and the dishes came out in a timely rhythm, perfect for sharing. A few things to keep in mind: the portions are true to traditional tapas, meaning they’re quite small, so it can add up quickly price-wise. Also, they currently only serve beer and wine (no full liquor license yet), so plan accordingly. Overall, it’s a great spot for a night out with friends or anyone looking to relive (or preview!) the flavors of Spain.

Favorite restaurant in San Diego!!! I’ve gone back 3+ times now and each time is different and delicious!! The seafood paella and gallegan octopus were great for sharing and their tuna and beef tartare are so savory. I’ve also recently tired their asparagus which was out of this world and super filling! They also have an amazing selection of wines and you must finish off the meal with their homemade ice cream or cheesecake! I will be going back again soon!!

I highly recommend Barra Oliba! We came to celebrate my husband’s birthday and loved everything from the food to the atmosphere. The tapas were fantastic! Especially the pan tumaca with jamón ibérico, gambas al ajillo, and tortilla de patatas. The owner stopped by our table and was incredibly helpful, suggesting a fantastic bottle of wine and some kid friendly options for our little ones. We sat outside, but the interior is so stylish and well designed I had to take a peek, it truly feels like you’ve been transported to a chic spot in Spain. The playful artwork and cozy candlelit tables add just the right touch of charm. We almost skipped dessert, but I’m so glad we didn’t because the Basque style cheesecake was absolutely out of this world.

The best Spanish restaurant I have visited in San Diego. I live in San Diego and I always love to look for new food spots. When I visited the staff was so nice and I was able to try new delicious dishes. I would recommend to order a bootle of wine and the arroz al estilo paella, this dish has great taste and it feels like you are eating in Spain. The patatas bravas and the croquetas de chorizo are also great to order if you are with more people. I recommend this place if you are looking to try something new and to have a good time with your friends. I recommend visiting this place 100%!!!

This place was surprisingly good. The food was delicious, the portions were not small like other reviews stated. The wine and beer was very good too. I will definitely be back with friends.

This small but charming spot truly brings a taste of Spain to Little Italy! We stopped in for a glass of wine and a couple of small plates before heading to our dinner reservation, and it was the perfect way to start the night. We were able to grab two seats at the bar right away, and our bartender/server, Mathew, was wonderful! As red wine lovers who know nothing about Spanish reds, we appreciated his guidance—he helped us find wines we’d enjoy and even let us sample a couple before deciding on our glasses. For food, we tried the croquetas de chorizo and the garlic shrimp, both of which were delicious and left us eager to come back and explore more of the menu. Highly recommend for a quick stop or a full meal—can’t wait to return!

Came here for the first time. We really enjoyed this place. Great appetizers. Small, but delicious. Our favorites were the tuna tartar and the chorizo croquettes. The anchovy toast was really tasty as well. Highly recommend.

I highly recommend Barra Oliba! We came to celebrate my husband's birthday and loved everything from the food to the atmosphere. The tapas were fantastic! Especially the pan tumaca with jamón ibérico, gambas al ajillo, and tortilla de patatas. The owner stopped by our table and was incredibly helpful, suggesting a fantastic bottle of wine and some kid friendly options for our little ones. We sat outside, but the interior is so stylish and well designed I had to take a peek, it truly feels like you've been transported to a chic spot in Spain. The playful artwork and cozy candlelit tables add just the right touch of charm. We almost skipped dessert, but I'm so glad we didn't because the Basque style cheesecake was absolutely out of this world.

Barra Oliba is hands down my favorite restaurant in San Diego. After touring Spain last October, I fell in love with traditional Spanish cuisine... the tapas, the wine, and the bold yet simple flavors. This place brought all those memories right back. The food is incredibly authentic and creative, especially their in-house dry-aged tuna and yellowtail are absolutely next level. You won't find flavors like that anywhere else. Every dish is made with passion, and it shows. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, and the staff truly makes you feel at home. It's a hidden gem in Little Italy and a must visit for anyone who appreciates Spanish food or just wants a dining experience that leaves a mark.

Our server was fantastic! We sat at the bar, and received friendly service & lots of info on each offering. Our female bartender was very knowledgeable about the wine and offered samplings. We enjoyed the artichoke, Boguerones, and Spanish cheese selection w/quince. The bar was very beautiful & we felt lucky to find this place ! Good Spanish tapas can be difficult to find & the selection here went beyond the typical papas bravas & Iberico ham. Can't wait to return!

Spain has arrived in Little Italy. :) What a cool vibe addition to Little Italy. I think the best word to describe Barra is serious. They are serious about the ingredients and preparation. This was the perfect place for my anniversary weekend. Shout out to Matt our guide this evening who took such great care. The food! Wow! This is upscale tapas and the flavors were unexpected. Example, we had the black rice q dry aged seared stripped sea bass. The rice is black using squid ink and then seasoned in a way that by itself is a flavor bomb. The sea bass was crispy skinned but still delicate. They have a delish anchovies toast that has such great flavor. Matt will help not only w the food but there is a ton of great wine.

Extremely expensive if you are going for drinks and tapas, but still the best service, quality of food, and atmosphere for this type of experience. Very nice decor. For drinks, food, and dessert, count at least $100 per person at this place. For example, our bill included a $5 charge for 3 small pieces of bread; they'll charge you for every taste and it adds up quickly as their tapas are very small (but good). Do not go here very hungry. It is a great (but very expensive) experience I definitely recommend.

Absolutely loved this place! We started the evening with a cold cañita. The food was delicious, the service was top and the ambiance made the whole experience even better. My favorite dishes were the tortilla de patatas and the gambas al ajillo.

The service was ok, they were inattentive except for when they repeatedly asked us for the paella dish back. The portions were small even for tapas ($25 for 4 small slivers of jamon). The food was underwhelming, the rice in the paella was undercooked, the chorizo croquettes had very little chorizo. The ambiance was cozy, best for parties of 2-6.

An absolute standout, unforgettable dining experience. San Diego has had its share of Spanish tapas places that just don't quite get it right, until now. Barra Oliba opened just 5 weeks ago, but they've already nailed the ambiance, food and service. We grabbed a seat at the bar- which is honestly the best place to be, largely in part to the awesome bartender, Matt. Everyone seemed to know his name. No surprise given his friendly personality and overall good vibes! They have a great wine list of Spanish wines and even carry Estrella on tap. I didn't see it on the menu, but also saw some folks drinking a sangria! The food is incredible and reminds me of tapeando in Madrid. We started with the aceitunas, cheese board and jamón ibérico. The jamón was melt in your mouth and we could've honestly done this round three times over with just how good it was!! We then moved on to patatas bravas, croquetas and tortilla española. All were an elevated take on the classics that maintained the goodness of the originals while adding such a delicious, complex layer of flavor! We were so full that we couldn't go for dessert but we're definitely eye-ing that homemade basque cheesecake next. This place is next level. Food quality, so good. Service, outstanding. And vibes, absolutely immaculate. Such a perfect date night spot and lovely intimate, yet lively atmosphere! We can't wait to come back.

A new Spanish tapas restaurant has debuted at the Instrata Apartments in Little Italy. The suite used to house a local chain taqueria that has now been transformed into an elegant bar and dining area by the new owners (same as Crudo Cevicheria). There were also outside tables on a parklet that doubled the seating capacity of Barra Oliba. The current operating hours are from 4 to 10 pm on Wednesday through Sunday. Lunch may be added in the future on weekends. I sat at a two-top table across from the bar that was half filled during my visit. The two-sided menu featured offerings that were seed-oil free as a nod to those who were extra health conscious. Tiny bites and small dishes were listed on one side. Raw bar items, starters, and main dishes were shown on the other side. Prices ranged between $9 and $30. I chose two small dishes and a starter for my meal. The first item was the Croquetas de Chorizo which came as a trio of deep fried breaded balls with a filling of cheese, potato, and Spanish pork sausage. The croquettes were fried extra crispy which made the exterior harder to bite into. The other small bite I ordered was the Tortilla de Patatas con Aioli Casero (Spanish Style Potato Omelette with House Made Aioli and Chistorra). I asked for Jamón Ibérico to be added which incurred a $15 surcharge for the premium Spanish ham. This was the last plate to come from the kitchen. The ham added more saltiness to the omelette that was almost like a large potato flan. My starter was the Pulpo a Feira which was Gallegan Style Octopus with Steamed Potatoes, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Aioli, and Pimento de la Vera. There were only two small tentacle pieces in the mixture which was dominated by the potatoes. A larger serving of octopus was needed for the $20 cost. Most of the tapas was pricier to reflect the upscale and healthier approach of the kitchen. The service from the waitress was efficient as she was familiar with the menu enough to be able to address my questions.

I heard this was a cute, newer spot, so we had to try it! The lighting is romantic, and the tables feel intimate, as it is a smaller restaurant inside. They do offer outdooor seating. The server was attentive and gave great recommendations. Their wine selection is also impressive. The food was fantastic. We love Spanish tapas, so we had an idea of what to try. The garlic shrimp was flavorful. We also tried the pulpo, which was delicious. The Jamòn Iberìco was slightly unexpected. Traditionally, this type of ham is aged and has a waxy, yet buttery texture. The Jamòn iberíco we got appeared more like prosciutto. It was still yummy, but not sure how authentic that was. The dry aged blue fin tuna was my favorite tapa for sure. It was delightfully zesty, surprisingly full of flavor with the right balance of umami. The patatas bravas were also a favorite of mine, mostly because I enjoy potatoes. It was seasoned to perfection and had the perfect seared crust and soft inside. Overall, this place was awesome and we can't wait to go back again!

Second time visiting this place and I'm just impressed. The food is amazing, everything we tried was delicious. A personal favorite was the Tuna tartare, Chorizo croquetes and the cheese assortment. Even their cheesecake was superb. Their wine selection is pretty good too. I'm definitely coming back.

This small but charming spot truly brings a taste of Spain to Little Italy! We stopped in for a glass of wine and a couple of small plates before heading to our dinner reservation, and it was the perfect way to start the night. We were able to grab two seats at the bar right away, and our bartender/server, Mathew, was wonderful! As red wine lovers who know nothing about Spanish reds, we appreciated his guidance--he helped us find wines we'd enjoy and even let us sample a couple before deciding on our glasses. For food, we tried the croquetas de chorizo and the garlic shrimp, both of which were delicious and left us eager to come back and explore more of the menu. Highly recommend for a quick stop or a full meal--can't wait to return!

The food is good but the sizes were just not acceptable. We asked for a wine & beer and the beer was in a very tiny glass. When I mean tiny... it was child size. Three plates the size of a cappuccino plate. I understand importing is expensive buuuuut this was just not even small bites, it was just one bite. The place is beautiful and it's photo worthy... unfortunately, that's about it. I'm still in shock.

Ambiance is great. Small place with dim lighting. They have indoor and outdoor seating. Nice extensive wine list and wines by the glass as well. The menu for food is extensive for tapas place. All dishes are meant to be shared and everything we ordered was delicious. My favorite was the dry aged blue fin tuna tartare. Service was excellent. We were seated and our waitress introduced herself right away and checked on us frequently.

Lovely little spot for tapas. We tried a little bit of everything, but I only got photos of four plates. This is what we ordered, I would recommend all but the last one, I wrote in the English names for the dishes for simplicity: - Grass fed beef tartare (amazing, so flavorful and fresh) - Octopus with steamed potatoes (I love octopus, this was made to perfection) - Garlic oil shrimp (order this, if you don't know where to start then start here. It is so good.) - Spanish style potato omelette (this was very rich, it went well with the other dishes we ordered) - Dry aged kanpachi crudo (my favorite dish of the night) - Black rice with seared dry aged kanpachi (this dish was not good...it was very pretty, but the kanpachi was overcooked and not seared. It was dry and also very boney. The baby squid was good and the rice was okay, but overall the dish didn't come together well) The space is quite small and intimate. It makes for a great date spot, the lighting is low and the ambience feels very romantic. Overall, I'd come back and recommend this spot. Just don't order the black rice with kanpachi.

Everything was excellent and high quality from the various tapas to the wine to the service. So glad to see this in little Italy. Very romantic date night spot too. A little overpriced for the small portion sizes

Service was extremely slow. Took 30 min to order a wine. Food was very mediocre & bland. Potatoes served cold. Wines by glass extremely overpriced. Only good part of night was their Sea Bass over black rice. Ambiance missing as walls were very plain and lackluster. So many other great spots in SD. Not coming back.

Excellent meal for birthday dinner! Ordered pan tumaca, patatas bravas, croquetas, beef tartar, a plate of jamon iberico, and the asparagus. We LOVED the croquetas and the patatas bravas. Beautiful classic Spanish dishes. The asparagus was perfect too. Service was excellent! Only problem was that I didn't feel the jamon iberico was as flavorful as I was used to, so felt like too much money to spend on it. Would definitely come back for another celebration dinner.

Matt took great care of us at the bar, celebrating two of my friends' birthdays. He was very attentive, had lots of helpful suggestions, did not rush us, and gave us a free dessert for their birthday. Quaint, quiet, well decorated, well staffed and good food/wine restaurant.

Food amazing! Ambiance perfect! Rebecca is the Consummate Host/Server! Bottle wine prices too high.

Came here for the first time. We really enjoyed this place. Great appetizers. Small, but delicious. Our favorites were the tuna tartar and the chorizo croquettes. The anchovy toast was really tasty as well. Highly recommend.

Very cozy elegant spanish restaurant The tapas are delicious Every plate we ordered was very tasty I recommend the tuna tartar Pulpo and the olive oil icecream Definitely coming back

This place what such a pleasant experience. Service, ambiance and food. I would 10/10 recommend this place if you are looking for a nice date spot, this is your best option! Pro tip: get the beef tartar

Entire experience from top to bottom was amazing. Great recommendations for wine that paired perfectly with everything we ordered. The portions are tapa style but boy do they pack flavor in each bite! The prawns and the tuna tartare were our 2 favorites! The seafood was just chefs kiss, so incredibly fresh! We Enjoyed the egg omelet with potatoes and the tomatoes with sardines was simply delicious. The coursing was perfect & we loved that the food runners described each dish when they were brought to our table. We cannot wait to come back!! Truly exceptional dining

Loved it! Romantic vibe. Would be great for date night. Chef was so helpful. He took time to walk me through all my options, since I'm gluten free. For a party of 3, we got the tortilla, patatas bravas, artichoke confit, jamón ibérico, vaca vieja (special), chocolate sourdough, and basque cheesecake.

Had a great experience here! The food was incredible, we were impressed with every dish. One of the stand out dishes that I was pleasantly surprised by was the pork chop, these are so hard to get right and they nailed it. The dry aged kanapachi was also phenomenal. We also had the pan tumaca, chorizo croquettes, patatas bravas, and the pulpo. Everything was so good. This place is intimate and so aesthetically pleasing. We sat at the bar which, was great because it allowed us to see some of the food prep, plating, etc. Matt, the bartender, was accommodating, had great suggestions, and was a great server. Will definitely be back

The food was amazing! Every dish was so delicious. The ambiance was so intimate, perfect for a date night.

Beautiful small place, not as small as the portions, not even a bite... Suuuuuper expensive for what they offer. Nice service.

Barra Oliba is an exciting addition to the Little Italy culinary and wine scene! You walk in and are greeted to an intimate but bustling ambiance that's clearly geared towards a Barcelona vibe. The menu items are crafted from locally sourced, sustainable ingredients too. The wine list is solid and if you're a fan of spicy Spanish reds, this is your place! A huge plus is the outdoor seating. More detailed review to come!

The food was good, but not mind blowing. I am comparing it to the tapas and meals we ate while in Spain. Some items, like the pan con tomate and shrimp were very well done. Others were fine but not impressive. The prices are quite high for small portions. I was prepared for this, but I expect to be very impressed, and was not. It felt a bit like they were trying to be an elevated place with some success but many mediocre. The fish was very small for the price, full of bones, and the flavor was not all there. The chicken dish was too chicken-y and one-note. The male (maybe manager?) was aloof in a pretentious way and I noticed him coming out of the kitchen while swiping his phone. He did not wash his hands and then proceeded to serve food. I definitely expect better from an upscale restaurant.

What a great addition to the neighborhood! It's rare to find a restaurant with both ambience and delicious food but barra oliba definitely exceeded my expectations. Everything from their small pica pica bites to their entrees was top notch. Their tuna tartare, gambas al ajillo, patatas bravas, arroz negro and chicken were my favorite! Oh and their wine list is incredible!

Tapas Bar with quality ingredients and no seed oils, they keep things simple here. Fresh oysters and tuna are legit. Can't go wrong with octopus, shrimp or matrimonio pintxo. The arroz meloso and heirloom chicken are also musts Pro tip: sit at the bar and let the sommelier guide you through the wine and food pairings.

Great experience. Sat at the bar which we don't normally do. Food, ambiance, service were all awesome. Only thing (and I'm only writing this as constructive criticism) was that the shrimp was cooked a bit too long. But... whole experience was 5/5.

Amazing work on the food I give this place 100/10. This was perfect for small dishes sooo much favor

This place is superb! A little taste of Europe in Little Italy, it's best to sit at the bar (great bartender(s) -- shoutout to Matt!) or on their heated patio. Most of the tables are rather closely spaced, and it can get quite lively decibel-wise. That being said, that's the only bad thing. Everything else was SO GOOD I ate there twice in two days. My very favorite dishes were the pan con tomate and the tortilla Española. You don't need to order the most expensive dish to partake of the most delicious food. They elevated these two dishes to beyond heavenly. Start with these two dishes for sure. The tortilla was heavenly-- oh so creamy, perfectly seasoned, and topped with unctuous aioli and crispy and flavorful bits of chorizo. Perfectly sized, each bite packs the optimal amount of umami and comfort. Order this and the pan con tomate the moment your server first approaches you. Then you can order the rest. We tried the chorizo croquettes. Also very good. And the crudo, heirloom tomato salad, and the artichoke. Do not pass on the artichoke. I don't even like artichoke and if I wasn't already stuffed to the gills, I would have eaten more. Service is wonderful as well. This would make a great first date place, or a 50,000th date place. Very cozy and romantic. Go now! Seriously. PS parking is a bitch so make sure you reserve (on Tock) a time slot that allows you time to find parking and walk to the resto because you will likely not find a spot on the same block.

Absolutely unreal! So grateful to have such a wonderful Spanish restaurant in San Diego. The dishes are absolutely exquisite, thoughtful and seasonal. The atmosphere is beautiful, the bar is stunning and the lighting is perfect. Our server was so kind, brought us through the menu explaining everything as it was our first time. My husband and I went tonight for our anniversary and we can't wait to go back. So happy to have your wonderful team in SD!

Excellent service with wonderful tapas selections. Good ambiance, background music allows conversation. Will definitely go again

Great food , I loved eating at this establishment. Definitely check them out and get some great food!

Finally a Spanish food restaurant in San Diego worth raving about. Barra Oliba is cozy, intimate and enchanting. The wine selection is carefully curated to include fabulous Spanish and French wine, paired to perfection to the seasonal tapas menu. This is definitely a must-try spot in Little Italy, perfect for date night or a night out with friends. Another plus is that Barra 's kitchen is seed oil free so you can indulge without feeling like a bloated mess afterwards.

The food was okay, it wasn't worth the price for the portions. The staff and ambiance were nice.

This new addition to Little Italy is exactly what was missing! The Spanish style tapas are incredible, I highly recommend ordering a few to try as much as possible! Excellent wine selection, excellent service. It's clear the chef is very passionate about what he does!

We spent several months traveling in Spain and were looking to recreate the tapas experience. The chef nailed the small plates we had. We sat in the charming outdoor dining area and for a short time felt like we were back in Andalucía.

Food was alright, but I'm not your average "foodie" while most idiots will say it was great. Food looked like a sedated Hellen Keller came up with the plating.

We had a wonderful experience. The restaurant is on the smaller side, but the food is superb and the service was great. The portions are on the smaller side but very tasty. Please be aware that it's more an upscale tapas bar so it is pricier.

The portions here are teeny-tiny. We each ordered some tapas and an entree, and left hungry. The sourdough bread tapa was literally two half-slices of bread. Maybe if you order 4 tapas and 2 entrees per person, you will actually have a full meal. The aged tuna was very salty (how you age tuna I still don't know, neither did the waitress), though the black rice tasted good. Waitress was nice but service was super slow. Just overall disappointing, despite the nice ambience.

To start, the space is chic and the flavors were great. Service was excellent, we were able to be seated right next to a heat lamp on a cool rainy evening. Wine was bright, and everything ordered had a great taste. Somewhat to be expected with tapas, the portions were small. Much smaller than I expected. To me, still worth a visit.