Barsa Tapas Lounge & Bar

The biggest question is — what size of paella should we order? It was 5 of us and we went for 2 small paellas + 5 tapas and it worked out perfectly. We had a chance to try all types of food but still got full. I say maybe you can go for one medium paella and a small one with fewer tapas. The best tapas of my choice is the croquettes. Very original fusion kind of taste. My least favorite was the peppers because manchego cheese is melted inside. I think they were short-staffed staffed so it wasn’t the best service but the food was soooo good it’s a 5 star from all of us. Family dinner approved! Upd. Went there second time—was same good as the first one!

Paella is over the top! Tapas selection is wonderful and the atmosphere warm and cozy. Our Server Emma had some super suggestions and we had lots of samplers and yummy desserts. A super Dining experience.

My wife and I were welcomed in to Barsa by smiling faces. We were happy to see the choices on the menu along with the reasonable prices. We ordered the roasted beets. Such a delicious refreshing dish. Secondly, the beef empanadas. The filling was spicy and very tasty. Finally, the seafood paella was cooked perfectly with deep flavor. The only thing better than the food was the service. The server was honest, helpful, and prompt. We felt right at home. We would return to eat.

Have been here several times but its been awhile so decided to go back. Was disappointed seemed like the place hasnt been kept up since last year. Was a little dirty and dingy and the food was not as good as it once was. The dates had a slightly burnt taste to them. The pan con tomate had no cheese as ordered and really no flavor. The fish was cooked perfectly. Croquettes and stuffed peppers were ok. Like i said little disappointed because nothing had any real wow to it. The shrimp in the paella was very rubbery other then that nothing much else.

I love tapas. Sharing small plates allows me to take more food photos! Not all the small plates were easily shared but all we really great. The roasted olives were fun to snack on throughout the meal. The dates we amazing. Excellent steak also. Hanging out with friends you can expect to get about 3 plates each, or around $30 a person.

Big fan of their seafood paella - fresh / made to order and they don't skimp on the seafood. Service was great too. Combined with good happy hour deals and tapas and its a place we would love to go back to !

Food and staff were amazing, had a wonderful evening. Our server Isaac was so helpful and we had stuffed peppers and veggie paella. Best dinner on our whole weekend trip to Charleston. The paella took almost a whole hour to cook which was a little suspenseful, but it was very good so I suppose it was worth it. It was kind of dark in the dining room though, some of the guests who were sitting in the center had their phone flashlights on to look at the menus. We were sitting by the window and under the lamps so it was brighter for us. All in all however, it was a good visit and we will probably be back.

We’re open minded and enjoyed our visit here, but a few things fell a little short. A couple of cocktails weren’t available due to missing ingredients, and desserts were a bit bland. But the service was good, and the live music was great!

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Barsa with a large group to celebrate a special occasion, and I can't say enough about our server, Joe. From the moment we arrived, Joe made us feel welcome and valued. He expertly navigated our diverse dietary needs, offering thoughtful recommendations and ensuring that everyone felt accommodated. His knowledge of the menu was impressive, and he took the time to explain options that would work for each guest. The food was absolutely delicious--each dish was bursting with flavor and beautifully presented. Joe's attentive service kept our experience smooth and enjoyable, and his friendly demeanor added to the celebratory atmosphere. Thanks to Joe, our dinner was not just a meal but an event to remember. If you're looking for exceptional service, make sure to request him on your next visit to Barsa!

It had been a while since we had eaten at Barsa and we figured it was time to try it again, as we love Pealla. Well, what started with a 6:30 resy ended at sometime around 10 pm, it turned into the longest dinner ever. We ordered a bunch of the tapas and placed our Paella order asap because it takes 45 minutes to cook. Unfortunately, there was something broken in the oven, which led to our Paella getting burnt, then they had to make us a second one and that one took a while. Now, I know things happen and I have to commend our waitress (who was awesome) she made sure to offer us other dishes and drinks to make it right. Once the Paella came out, we were pretty full and it was unfortunately kind of dry, not the best. She did comp us a flan which was a sweet ending to a long dinner. I would say, give them a shot as things sometimes happen that are out of our control, their staff did the right thing and made sure we were taken care of.

I thoroughly enjoyed myself and can't wait to head back. The charcuterie, calamari and seafood paella were phenomenal. Make sure you order the paella when you arrive as it takes about 45 minutes to prepare. There was a large group of us, so we ended up sitting outside. Great service and affordable prices. Love me some tapas!

A casual tapas eatery that met, but rarely exceeded expectation. The patatas bravas, (crispy, buttery little bites of potato with a pungent garlic aoli) and the ceviche (refreshing, if a bit watery) were ok--enjoyable but not memorable. The pulpo a la gallega was definitely the family favorite: the pimenton-spiced olive oil coated every tender crevice of the octopus with flavor, the the potatoes and celery were the perfect accompaniments. The paella, on the other hand, was dissappointing. The rice was a bit hard and the fish was overcooked and very bland. The portion was also small for the price. Service was quick and efficient. They had outdoor seating options as well, so it was very dog-friendly. Just be prepared that there is a 18-20% service surcharge in place of tip.

Three of us went here when we were visiting Charleston for the weekend - we got almost every vegetarian option and every single one was a hit. The red sangria is sooooooo good (and strong). I had never had paella before in my life since I have only ever seen it prepared with seafood in it, so this was finally my chance - it did not disappoint!! Aside from that, my fav was probably the Champignons and the Patatas Bravas. I only took 2 photos because we ate everything so fast before I remembered. It was exceptional. Our waiter Joe was kind, had a great energy about him, and made the experience even more amazing.

Met friends for a couple drinks and snacks, everything was wonderful. Tiffany was very nice and checked in with us often. The mezcal cocktail with tajín and Chinola is so good, it's hard not to drink it in two minutes. We had the croquettes, the peppers, and the empanadas, all were delicious. I want to come back and try the pulpo. The atmosphere is relaxed and quiet, despite having an open kitchen/large bar, we weren't having to raise our voices to talk to each other.

If you're looking for a night of delicious food and drinks this is 100% the place to go. Let's start with the very good. The food. We had a group of six and we basically ordered almost everything on the menu. From the dates, calamari, ribs, paella... all of it was amazing. I highly recommend going with a group so you have the opportunity to try and share as much as you can. There was nothing we ordered that disappointed (and the dates were probably at the top of my favorites for the evening) The just good... the service. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great. We did feel like it took a bit of effort to get the attention of our server when we needed her, but again... it wasn't bad... it just wasn't amazing. The not so good... overall the place feels kinda dumpy and dirty. There were storage crates tucked into a corner in plain sight... the bathroom felt a bit gross and had a couch in it which felt pretty awkward for a small bathroom. I can't really see anyone needing to sit on it, and in a small bathroom like that it'd probably be pretty unsanitary to sit on. Overall, I'd definitely go back again... and maybe the messiness was just a temporary thing on a bad night. That was the only thing keeping it from a full 5 stars for me

A friend picked this spot, and when we first pulled up I was a little apprehensive. Do not be fooled - this is one the most amazing places I have ever been. The staff was incredibly personable and friendly. Our waitress was an absolute doll. We sat outside on the patio and they even had a little device to keep flies away from our food! We started with drinks. They have a very unique cocktail menu. We tried the crispy Brussels, curry lamb empanadas, a charcuterie board, and a small seafood paella. The portions were very generous, and I couldn't pick a favorite if I tried. Everything we tried was just a perfect bite. My only regret is that we were visiting from out of town, and it will be a while before I get to come back. If I was a local - this would be my new favorite spot.

Our book club had to pivot here last minute and are so glad we did! The staff were super friendly and accommodating. Parking is easy next door in a paid lot or free under the overpass. The inside is slightly moody/dark but in a cozy way. Lots of seating types and combinations to choose from. Everything we had was excellent - croquettes, calamari and potatoes were table favorites. The white sangria was crisp and tart. The house red rotates and was a great deal!

I lived in Spain for two years. That time was filled with endless glasses of wine, countless slices of manchego, and enough jamon to last a lifetime. I came to Barsa looking for a taste of home. I found what I was looking for. I sipped on a lovely sangria while I chatted with friends and dined on plate after plate after plate. The charcuterie offered a great sample of meats and cheeses (get the goat cheese!). The patatas bravas had a delicious aioli that constantly tempts you to have just one more potato. The calamari offered a delightful fried-lemony-seafood trifecta, and the champignons with goat cheese on toast . . . umami for days. The hidden gem of the bunch was the pan con tomate with chorizo; it was fresh and savory and had a delicious bang of protein. The only plate I would pass on would be the stuffed peppers, but I would order everything else again. The staff is friendly and more than willing to run drink after drink, order after order out to the table. Meanwhile, the vibes are welcoming: the dark wood interior invites you to stay a while. And you should! Long, late meals are part of the Spanish dining experience, and they give you more than one excuse to keep ordering more tapas. They certainly were for me, and I know I'll be back for more.

My first time here tonight and man oh man! The drinks were good I had the white Sangria and pan seared Brussel sprouts with seafood Paella it was so good. And Oscar Rivers band was excellent jazz to listen to. The atmosphere was great. Love the ambiance. And the service was great I I will be back.

Great service. They had live music! Clinton our server was great. He was very helpful and knowledgeable and really cared for our experience. The food was amazing. We loved the beet salad, potatoes, chicken paella. Is was a great spot for our large group.

We went last night to enjoy some Spanish food and THIS PLACE Doesn't HAVE SPANISH FOOD AT ALL. They recommend the paella: paella doesn't have chorizo in it. That's a red flag for Spanish restaurant. The octopus was 7 tiny pieces of octopus with some potatoes and not presented as a real pulpo a la gallega. I ordered the kale salad and boquerones (still not a thing in Spain) and they gave me some greens (not kale) and three boquerones. The flan... it was more a quesillo (typical in other countries like Venezuela). THIS IS NOT A SPANISH RESTAURANT. I have read reviews that say they don't want to go to Spain after being at Barsa. Stop hurting my country with this crappy food. One good thing: our waiter- Joe - was nice, attentive, and very professional. I'm really sorry that he works at that place.

Great tapas place in Charleston. Quite noisy but food was yummy and we had a great time. Service was excellent! Just FYI, parking is a bit of a challenge but the nice folks at the restaurant helped us out.

This is a great tapas place in Charleston. I highly recommend. They seemed a little short-staffed the night I went and it was a little busy for a weekday, so they were a little slow initially taking our order but nothing absurd. After that though, the service was excellent. Very fast actually. In fact, the paella which they warn takes at least 45 minutes came out much quicker than that. The food was great. I would recommend everything I tried: the chicken and chorizo paella, the champignons, and the pulpo a la gallega. All exceeded expectations. They have a huge selection of food and drinks on their menu that I will have to try more of. As far as drinks, sangria de cava was very good and I highly recommend that as well. Good atmosphere as well, with some cool paintings on the wall and the booths have a unique look to it that I liked.

The only reason I cannot give Barsa a five star review is bc we were only there for drinks, but we will absolutely go back for the full meal experience. We took a few friends from out of town to grab a drink before heading to Leon's for dinner (my next review). We were quickly greeted by the host and took the lounge seats by the door. Cozy and casual is the only description necessary. Our waitress was fantastic; attentive, accurate and gave good suggestions. We did order the roasted olive plate and they were the best we've had in town. Warm, garlicky and delicious. All drinks were great, and happy hour prices are fantastic. They have an unexpected outdoor area that reminds me of neighborhood backyard. We look forward to going back soon to try the full menu and update my review!

We had dinner reservations here as we were visiting for a bachlorette party. I did not take any pictures of the food (fail on my part), but I will say it was all very delicious! We ordered the veggies and seafood Paella, and it did NOT disappoint. We got a medium-sized one and split in between 6 people and still had some left over. It was very delicious, and the shrimp were cooked to perfection. We also ordered some other sharable sides. The kale salad was great. It's just the right mixture of dressing. Another favorite among the group was the calamari. It's not rubbery at all and the perfect crisp. The inside is not that big, so def. Recommend making a reservation, but it's a nice location, and they also have patio seating. They are on the pricey side, but def worth it. I would recommend this place.

My wife and i were visiting Charleston , South Carolina, and were in the mood to eat Spaniard food. Based on the past reviews found in yelp, we felt to give this restaurant a chance. Looks could be deceiving once you get to the restaurant as it's very dark outside and ended up parking under the highway bridge. Which it was the right place to park as it was free, compared to the parking lot next to the restaurant which they charge by the hour. Once inside the restaurant is a different story. The restaurant was pretty much full with the exception of outside since it was a cold night. Nice atmosphere. Good vibe. Younger crowd 30+. We had the octopus for appetizer with 2 cups of wine and had the medium seafood paella which is more than enough for two people. We ended up taking food home. The paella was a 6 out of 10. Could've had a little bit more flavor, but not bad for the price. If you're looking for Spaniard food and to have some drinks and eat some tapas, this is the place to go in Charleston, South Carolina I highly recommended it.

They opened just when we were headed to our car and looking for a place to eat. The menu selection drew us in. We had the lamb meatballs and spare ribs for appetizers. Both were wonderful and tender. I had the kale salad which was delicious. The tangy dressing and smashed bread crumb made it better. We ordered drinks and seafood and chicken paella's which were really good. Our waitress was great. I hate o can't remember her name. We sat outside, and she frequently checked on us and chatted for a bit. I could see this as being a hangout spot if I lived there, but I am a tourist. Thanks for some great food and service.

I love barsa! i had the waiter, joey, he was lovely. Very attentive and had great suggestions. He was so nice and a wonderful connection in Charlestown. Joey danahy. was the name.

This was a decent spanish restaurant in the charleston area. I came here on a saturday night with friends and boy did we feast! We ordered drinks and got right to business! We ordered the seafood paella (all their paellas are shareable). It came out fresh but in my opinion they could have added more shrimp. The flavors were okay as well, I wanted more of a kick but some sauce made up for it. Service was good as well. Ambiance was okay, a little somber but good for dinner dates.

Went to Barsa this evening. Tracy was our waitress and she was the boom diggitydotcom- I described my refreshing drink and she knew exactly what I wanted and needed. I've been here another time and no one was able to get the right drink. So I'm happy to know it's The Spanish '75... it's so refreshing. ThankYou again Tracy!!!! It's made with elderflower,lemon and cava. Of course my all time fav is still that White Sangria!!!! Tracy took great care of us and was so attentive. I also got a few of my favorites too... the bread, the delicious local shrimp and patatas bravos... hmm I was considering the hanger steak too but decided dessert would be better. Had their homemade vanilla ice cream. I was hoping it would bring back those memories of making it with my aunt Sally and cousins Linda and Lane or my Uncle Reverend Campbell making it for us as kids. It didn't but as I write this ,those memories come flashing back! Anyway the food was great as always, so fresh, tasty and nicely plated.

Barsa has amazing ambiance and a great staff- Chantel was amazing and so sweet! The food was great but had some opportunities. The pan con tomate was more similar to a pizza than what the dish was. Paella was great too and the large was enough for more than 10 people, we didn't even finish ours. Overall would recommend

Phenomenal tapas in a beautiful room with excellent service! My family of four stopped in for dinner one night during our Charleston vacation. Tapas is the perfect solution when everyone wants something different, and Barsa delivered a lot of different dishes, all phenomenal! We really enjoyed it and would absolutely go back on another trip to Charleston.

OMG is my main statement on this place. My husband and I stumbled on this place last minute on a Thursday night because it was around the corner from us, and they happened to have seating for two. We originally were going to travel further but where so tired and happened to see this place open. It was meant to be! They have tapas and paella that is to die for! All the tapas looked amazing and we had a hard time choosing what we wanted. We ended up getting the mixed olives and stuffed peppers. Sooo good. These were our apps while we waited on our paella (they said this takes at least 45 min). When the paella came out we were so amazed at the quality and the taste. My husband is Puerto Rican and we have had homemade paella from his family. Although it's a different type, we were very impressed. Chefs kiss to everything we tried! And the wine is also amazing!! Will be back when we come back to Charleston

This place has amazing food. The drinks weren't great. I had the sangria cava and the mule, both weren't too impressive and didn't really want to finish them. However all the food was amazing. We had the mushrooms and the octopus which were both so flavorful. The paella was good and i would recommend trying it. Next time I will try more tapas instead though because that's what made this place amazing. Service was a bit slow to get orders in so might be waiting a while if they're busy.

Looking from the outside you wouldn't guess what you're getting into. Went for dinner and sat inside, while they did seem to have a nice patio as well. It was dimly lit and had a jazz band playing. We had some of the house cocktails and they were very good. For tapas we tried the Patatas Bravas and Pan Con Tomate with jamón. Both were very good. The jamón was my favorite piece of the meal. We also ordered paella at the start due to the long cook time. We both really enjoyed it. Server was very nice and had good recommendations. Would go again

Good happy hour- beer, sangria. Tender perfect calimari. Strawberry crisp w/ vanilla ice cream was tasty but the "crisp" was elusive. Nice patio, great servers.

Absolutely amazing meal. Everything was incredible and reasonably priced. Small plates because it is a Tapas restaurant, but filling as well. Drink prices were on the right side. Great staff, loved the entire experience. Also free parking within a 3 minute walk of the restaurant.

Really nice outdoor patio area (they brought out a bug fan to deter flies and other insects). Came for HH, no HH food specials but a few drink specials ($1 beer, $5 sangria, etc). Ordered a bunch of appetizers/shared plates, all was really good!

Wow what an awesome bar. The staff is so friendly and the food was simply awesome. Can't say enough great things about Barsa.

Not great. They do have a good happy hour and our server was amazing. The food itself is underwhelming though. The octopus was extremely chewy, the sauce on the patatas bravas was "eh", and the lamb meatballs just did not taste good. The bacon wrapped dates and the croquettes were good. Overall, I would recommend going here if you are looking to drink and maybe grab 1-2 tapas. If not, Estadio is close by and serving up better food.

This place is phenomenal. I didn't know exquisite paella existed in the U.S. We were pleasantly blown away. The staff was friendly and accommodating, making sure we had the best experience and great conversation while visiting Charleston. The paella was absolutely amazing, I wish I had a bigger stomach for all the quality food we ordered. Croquettes, Grilled octopus, patatas bravas, sangria & flan. I'd give 10/10 for each item. You can't go wrong. Even locals were jealous we went to Barsa. Cannot recommend more.

One of the rare establishments opened on Mondays for dinner. A very cool spot with a pleasant outside patio. The tapas are outstanding, so fresh and delicious, and quite decent portions. If you are lucky, Shante will take care of you and you'll be in for a super friendly and efficient service. Highly recommended

On point as it goes with the reservation. No waiting, as soon we walked in we were taken to the table. Servers were very attentive and the tapas were excellent. We had the conejo paella as the main dish. Overall, all the staff worked together to make sure the clients were taken care of.

One of my favorite places to go with friends for a low key night! The paella is to die for - highly recommend and definitely worth the wait. The patatas bravas, champignons, roasted beets, and dates are also delicious. I always get the sangria, but based on trying other's drinks, you really can't go wrong with any of the cocktails or wine. The service is also great here. The waiters and waitresses are super helpful with the recommendations and wine pairings with food. Also, it is easy to make a reservation. If I walk in without a reservation, I haven't had an issue getting a table or seats at the bar. Will definitely be coming back!

Girls' trip to Charleston. We needed a break from heavy food, so decided to do tapas. We did not have a bad dish. We sampled pan con tomate, beef empanadas, stuffed peppers, potatoes bravas, broccolini, lamb meatballs and grouper. Great service. Comfortable outdoor dining. Highly recommend.

Not a traditional Tapas place in terms of ambiance. Service was excellent and we loved the staff. The food wasn't great at all. Paella was some weird Mexican rice interpretation. I think the place is fine for some people and can host large parties but it's pretty basic. Food is average. Wouldn't go out of my way to miss traditional Charleston food for this but I think some people would enjoy it.

The host was rude and denied seating us even though there were empty tables. Not sure exactly why. It didn't seem busy at the time. It was Saturday evening around 7 pm or so. Again, there was no line or any indication they were overwhelmed. No stars.

I really wanted to like this place a lot but maybe we just came in on an off night. We came a bit early and we were seated outside in the cute patio. Unfortunately it took almost 20 minutes until our server arrived. We decided to put in our drinks and foods all at once since we didn't want to wait any longer. Our server didn't really check in with us much and we didn't get one of our broccoli tapas for nearly 45 mins. It seemed like the larger parties had more attention and our group was forgotten about. Although the drinks were decent, we were very underwhelmed with the service and the food. The broccolini was very salty and the mushrooms were so so, however the peppers and brussel sprouts were good. I don't think we'd come back again but we did enjoy the weather on the patio.

My experience at Barsa was absolutely amazing! The seafood paella was awesome and all of the tapas were very good. Our waiter Joey made our experience 10x better. He was on top of all of our orders, knew the menu, and had some great suggestions. Thank you Joey for the wonderful service!!

I loved this place. We arrived from out of town on a Thursday night and I was delighted to have finally found a place where we could get a table inside (it was a chilly night) for five people at a reasonable hour. They had lots of options for times,which was a relief and the place was not terribly busy at 6:45. We hit the end of happy hour, so we were able to get $3 off of our sangria drinks. I normally am not a fan of sangria, but they offered a special one with interesting spices and flavors, which my husband and I loved. I would have had two if I were not so busy eating! We ordered the dates and the croquettes stuffed with spinach and warm cheese, which were my two favorite tapas and the mushrooms, which were fine, although nothing special. The croquettes and dates were stupendous. Our main course was the chicken and chorizo Paella and it was so delicious!! We added some veggies for a little bit variety and got a medium for five of us. There was enough chicken to each have a smallish piece and lot of rice and veggies and chorizo. I would have liked some more chicken. Flavors blended perfectly, and frankly, I found the food here to be much better than in Southern Spain, where I visited last Fall. I highly recommend Barsa and would love to return if I visit Charleston again. Was worried from the previous review about the ambiance, but it was cozy. I didn't mind it being a bit dark- added to the atmosphere. Attentive server. Don't fight for reservations at the super popular places-this is better!

I have been regular to Barsa from last 3 years and recent visit was during my wife's bday , Monica I believe was our server she on top of her game , checking on drinks , buzzing our table , making sure drinks are refilled, checked on us. Food quality always a top notch.

Great prices and food. First time here and I was pleasantly surprised with the food quality. The mushrooms and bacon wrapped tapas were a delicious treat. Unfortunately the cocktails were lacking however. Ordered one of the sweeter drinks and it tasted like sugar had been dumped in. I couldn't even finish it.

What a great experience!! We went with friends for NYE dinner and it was perfect! They had open reservations as well as space for walk ins. The free parking lot next door made parking downtown super easy and stress free. Loved all of the small plates for sharing, everyone picked out one - my favorites were the brussel sprouts and lamb meatballs! But each dish was a favorite of someone's at the table. I definitely want to go back to try the ones we did not order like the mushrooms! We ordered the large paella which was A LOT of food! We all had eaten had ended up with leftovers for 4! So I would recommend a medium sized paella for a party of 4. The paella was delicious! With little pieces of chorizo chopped within and whole pieces of chicken on top, it had a little bit of a spicy kick to it, but the hot sauce they provide is soo good you have to add a little more spice with it! Highly recommend! Fun family style dining giving the chance to try multiple plates

I searched high and low for a place that makes good paella. My wife loves paella and her favorite was Waters Edge but they have gone down hill. I found Barsa by searching paella on Yelp. Gotta love Yelp. The place is amazing. Great ambiance and wonderful food. My wife got the seafood paella and she loved it. If you like paella then Barsa is for you. Just keep in mind they do it right. It takes about 45 minutes to make. It's a Spanish Tapas style place so expect to sample many dishes. Honestly you cannot go wrong with anything. We loved it all.

Blown away by how good every dish is and the service is spectacular on top of that! With so many restaurants in this town, it's not easy to return to all, but this one is at the top of the list.

Very disappointing as there were lots of good reviews here...I honestly don't know why... Atmosphere: kinda sticky and grimy all around. Service: not great. Food: fair. So many places in Charleston...this one is a skip it.

Finally made it here and was not disappointed, such a lovely place and as fall is coming in, the courtyard will be really enjoyable; although, we were inside this time. Walked in (on a Wednesday) without a Reservation and was able to get seated right away. Such a large menu, it will take several visits to try everything we want. They serve Paella with a 30 minute wait, but looks like those are pretty large in size, so I would recommend going with a group. We had 5 things, which was a bit much, IMHO, 4 would probably be perfect for 2; we had the crispy brussel sprouts, patatas bravas - which were delicious and larger than we could eat, fish of the day (black grouper) served with chimichurri, lamb meatballs, and the pan con tomate with cheese and chorizo added. Definitely want to go back with a group and try the paella, stuffed mushrooms (hubs wanted this), and some charcuterie for sure.