El Chigre 1769

Big shoutout to Mariona and her teammate (I wish I remembered her name!) for their fantastic service! They made us feel so welcome and gave us great recommendations that did not disappoint. The food was absolutely incredible—bursting with flavor, perfectly portioned, and thoughtfully prepared. Whether you’re craving bold, exciting flavors or comforting classics, this place truly has something for everyone. Highly recommend!

Best restaurant we’ve had in Spain (and I’ve been living here for almost 4 months now). Matteo has been the most gracious and helpful manager. If you’re nice to him, he’ll be 100x nicer to you!! Really genuine service here, across all other waiters as well, which is so rare in Spain. Don’t even get me started on the food. EVERYTHING was outstanding, especially the octopus, gambas, stuffed dates, razor clams and cheesecake!!

One of the best meals I’ve had in Barcelona! A fantastic tapas restaurant primarily focused on seafood and delicious ciders. Standouts of the meal include the garlic shrimp, razor clams, scallops and burrata. Highly highly recommend this spot. I’d only dock half a star because the desserts are not on the same level as the rest of the menu.

Food was delicious and the prices were reasonable. Highlight of the day- the octopus was tender and had a delicious char-grilled flavour. Ham croquettes were also very creamy and flavourful. However, we felt pressured by the waitress to order more than needed. The sea bream was good, but we ended up with way too much food. Also, the staff requested for tips straight up, which was strange as I've read that Spain didn't have a tipping culture.

The food was amazing and the staff were absolutely wonderful! They were very friendly and explained the options so well. The food was delicious, fresh, and well presented! The octopus was like butter; incredibly soft. We also loved the vibe; very intimate. It felt like they were just cooking for us only, but the place was full. The bathroom was clean and so unique. I loved it. We made reservations. Definitely recommend making reservations because they get booked fast. They had to turn people down because it is that delicious. We will be returning to Barcelona and this is the first place we will be visiting when we get there. See YouTube video - https://youtu.be/TUT7G6EZG4o?feature=shared

My favorite in Barcelona and honestly on my list for each time I’m in the city. The food is amazing, with fresh seafood and fish . The service is great , this place definitely has something special . Just a VIBE And … Matteo you are the soul of this restaurant😉 I totally recommend it and will back as always!

Amazing food, service and atmosphere. Loved every moment of this restaurant experience, my favorite dish being the sea bream but it was all delicious. We waited in line for about 15 minutes and the owner came out a few times to let us know he’d find us a spot inside. On the pricey side, but well worth it when in Barcelona.

I recently ate at El Chigre in Barcelona, and it was a fantastic experience. The two of us loved everything about the meal. The atmosphere was cozy, and the staff were super friendly. The manager (or at least who we thought was the manager) was really nice and managed to find us a table quickly, even though the place was busy. We started with oysters, which were so good that we ordered four more later on! After that, we had razor clams and perfectly cooked scallops, followed by the turbot, which was tender and delicious. I also had a glass of wine that was really good and paired nicely with the meal. To finish, we had a light and creamy cheesecake, which was the perfect dessert. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and well-prepared. I’d definitely recommend El Chigre to anyone visiting Barcelona. The seafood, wine, and service were all top-notch!

Phenomenal, service is friendly and fast. The food is so good and the vibe is upbeat and charming. I would recommend reservations, it is small and they can't really accommodate walk ins. We had a little bit of everything. I would holy recommend the croquettes, tomato bread, the ribeye, and the octopus bombs. The ribeye was one of the best steaks I have had in a long time. All of the waiters were so helpful and nice. Check this place out while you are here!

These were the my best tapas we experience while visiting Spain! Rec by our guide, this Gothic Quarter gem embodies the dining experience you imagine when you close your eyes and imagine Barcelona dining. Engrossed in a wooden exterior, exposed brick pads the walls, as a swell of laughter and smell of meat, vermouth and wine great you upon entry. The customer service and community feel is out of this world, and the food is just as impressive. They provide a table side demo for their grilled leeks. The baby bombs are fantastic whether you're a pulpo fan or not, the cider is aerated with a device that sits table side, the croquettes were perfectly fried and the meat is beautifully prepared! Someone was celebrating a birthday when we visited and they played the whole birthday song over the speaker and made it a full restaurant affair! Additionally, the vermouth is fantastic and you're just three minute walk from one of the best cocktail bars in the world. I truly couldn't have asked for a better experience! Special thanks to the team here! This experience truly changed my perception of Gothic Quarter dining.

Great experience wandering in for a drink after experiencing the Picasso museum a few blocks away. Ordered a white and a red vermouth, they came with a lemon slice and olive and an orange slice and olive respectively. Both drinks were wonderful. Also ordered 3 oysters from France, they were presented beautifully, with a vinegar and were fairly fishy and ocean tasting with lots of meat on them. Service was friendly(which is kinda rare in Spain in general) and professional kitchen staff it seemed. I love that when sitting at the bar you can see into the kitchen and watch the chefs work on making incredible fresh dishes. The aesthetic in here is so cozy and keeps you in the moment. We arrived early in the night about 7:30pm, without a reservation, and there was only one other table occupied.

This place was such a gem to find. We had been walking around and every place was full. We stopped to look at the menu and asked if they had a table and welcomed us in. The server was so friendly and kind and the food was amazing. Will def come again. Loved the atmosphere, food, and drinks. We got the olives with anchovies, meat selection, scallops, and artichokes with ham. 11/10

What a great place. First of, you're better off making reservations ahead of time or coming early or late ( after 9) to snag a walk in seat. Place is popular and for a reason. This a foodie destination and the kitchen is noticeably professional run. Each dish is scrutinized to quality standards that I felt was missing in many other tapas places. When we mentioned that one of us had a shellfish allergy the staff had a prepared matrix of dishes and allergens in hand and was well versed in prep methods. The food was divine and the gambas were superb and cooked sashimi style , barely cooked to preserve inherent natural sweetness of the product. Well worth to try the specials. The pulpo octopus was one of the biggest portions I've seen on my trip

What an amazing tapas restaurant! Located near so many amazing sites, if you're a tourist like myself, it's amazing. There were locals and out of towners alike, but we felt so welcomed at El Chigre 1769. The staff here is phenomenal! They were so kind and warm (every single one of them), but especially the guy who was greeting people. Even without a reservation, they treated us great and we were able to get seats at the bar in just about 15 minutes. Truly impressed with everyone working here. The food was also great and tasty here. *~Spicy Baby Bombs are octopus balls with a tomato and fire twist to them. Spice was not strong and simply added flavor. 4 Euros a pop. *~Bacon Wrapped date was unlike ones I'm used to in the best way possible at 3 Euros each. *~Black Rice with prawns. OMG the black rice was bomb with bits of aioli. Loved this and the aesthetics are so darn instgrammable. Overall, very highly recommend El Chigre 1769! Our favorite tapas bar thus far on our Spain trip~!

Rated each item we got out of 5: Dates: 5 - must try Bread with tomato: 5 - sounds so simple but so delicious Octopus: 3 Croquetas: 4 - melt in your mouth Black rice: 4 Sardines: 2.5 Service: 5 Good atmosphere, great service, would come back

Love this spot! Came back three times in my two weeks here. Now, fair warning, it gets pretty packed during dinner hours, especially being in the Gothic Quarters, and the service isn't the fastest. But, oh my, the food is worth the wait--especially the pulpo, beef rib paella, tomato salad, and steak sandwich! You've got to check it out if you're in the area. There seems to be a mix of locals and tourists here the vibes inside is rustic and lively, adding to the whole experience.

Food was very good. No one disliked anything. Service was also very good. The waiters were a little confused but it worked out. Ambiance was cozy but very loud once filled. Recommend.

Loved El Chigre 1769. Staff were very friendly, welcoming, and accommodating; we got there just before they opened and they let us inside to sit at the bar and review the menu while they continued setting up for the evening. The food and wine were amazing. We ordered the shrimp and charcuterie. The restaurant filled up quickly after opening so I recommend a reservation, or getting there right as they open, otherwise expect a wait.

Came in on our last day in Barcelona looking for tapas and got some of the best we had in the city!! We were seated at the bar as we didn't get reservations, but we loved getting to watch the staff at work -- creating absolutely amazing plates!!!! The vibe was immaculate and the food is great. Cannot recommend this enough.

This place looks like a street bar from the outside, but the traditional Catalan food has been completely revised and it's served with interesting twist. Won't disclose too much, you have to try, highly recommend.

We were fortunate to get squeezed in during a busy dinner without reservations. It is a beautiful little restaurant in a charming location in the Born district of Barcelona. Their menu was seafood based (perhaps not as common as you would think in a costal town). Our food, wine, and service were all memorably wonderful & we will be sure to eat there again when we return (with reservations of course). The grilled fish was outstanding, and make sure to try the grilled octopus!!!

Great find! Fish is amazing. Cheese plate of course and ham. Amazing atmosphere expect to wait but worth the wait for fun and great food

Came here randomly on a Monday night in May - fairly crowded but got a table. It's tiny place very quaint and casual. The food was good. The tomato bread and octopus were my favorites.

Great place. The food was sensational from the Russian tomato salad with tuna, the best bbq octopus I've ever had ( sorry to the Greeks), a bbq sea bass. The service was fantastic and the wine was great a Montesa from Rioja. The place was rustic and they have been serving food for over 10 years and the building was built in 1769.

This restaurant is amazing! We ate dinner here one night and had an amazing experience. The next night we got engaged and decided to go back and celebrate. The staff is absolutely amazing and the food is something I will think about for a long time. If Matteo and Isa are taking care of you, you will have an amazing time. They are a big reason why we went back a second time!

On our last night in Barcelona, after searching for and finding the Fútbol Club Barcelona stained glass window in the Catedral del Mar next door, we stumbled onto El Chigre 1769. It looked so inviting with its rustic decor and lighting and we were intrigued by their motto as printed on their menu, "Chigre is a democratic institution that brings together poor and rich in friendly brotherhood. In a Chigre no one is more than anyone, all are regulars, neighbors or casual visitors and everybody gets together, regardless the group or caste they belong to." And since the menu seemed to have interesting items and the reviews were good, we decided to check it out. My daughter and I each started out with a refreshing glass of cava - a sparkling wine well known in Barcelona. We also had the spicy baby bombs with octopus and scalded prawns - both of which were delicious. And when we saw "This is a classic!" in their menu description of "'Patatinas' with Cabreles Cheese and Hazelnut Praline"-- we knew we wanted to try them! Oh my, a kind of fried potato with blue cheese and a creamy hazelnut praline, so unusual, decadent and delicious! We also decided to order their tomato bread as an afterthought and we both agreed it was the most delicious tomato bread we had in Spain! What a great way to spend our last night in Barcelona - great food and ambience! I hope to come back here someday!

This restaurant was such a gem to find. The history was preserved and honored without being corny. The food was modern and traditional. The best cava in the city for me was the house cava here. I loved this entire experience. I will dream about from time to time... no doubt!

Our intensions for our first Tapas experience in Barcellona was to try a local place recommended by a friend, but as we asked for directions at the front desk of our hotel, they steered us to El Chigre 1769 for one main reason: It is where the locals go, and a lot more authentic. The paragraph on the top of the menu reads: "Chigre is a democratic institution that brings together poor and rich in friendly brotherhood. In a Chigre no one is more than anyone, all are regulars, neighbors or casual visitors and everybody gets together, regardless of the group or caste they belong to." LOCAL IT IS!!! El Chigre is not in the Las Ramblas area, but on the other side of the Main Street in the El Born area instead. It definitely felt local when we walked in. A small intimate setting with a small bar area for eating and wine drinking, open kitchen window and a whole lot of menu specials on Chalk boards throughout. The atmosphere was defiantly a local welcoming. There were few tables with one community table for several diners in the middle. We sat at a high top close to the bar. Several artifacts displayed all over including a shelving unit with wines and glasses making it definitely inviting as a Spanish type dining room. For such a small local place, they sure had a vast wine menu from different regions and plenty to choose from. And SO reasonable. We ordered 2 glasses of Syrah from Monstant to start and looked over the menu. The server presented us with a plate of fresh whole Sea Bass and Monk Fish to show us what they were cooking up for fish dishes. We wanted simple small tapas dishes. Started out with the local popular bread with tomato thickly spread on top with our wines. Enjoyed watching the locals come in and seamed that they had been here before. The Grilled Octopus was a must for our first tapas experience because no body does it better than Spanish restaurants. This octopus was delicious. First of all when I cut into it, it was so tender, not tough like back home, but like butter. It was served over a Potato Onion cake with and a tasty seasoned dressing base on the bottom that was great for dipping the octopus into. That potato onion cake was really a delight with the octopus. The server would NOT get me the recipe. LOL. All this topped with a chimiichurri sauce. Perfect start for our trip to Barcellona. My wife had a Season Tomato Salad with Cheese. Do not know what kind of cheese that was, but any salad with that type of cheese is a must. The menu had lots of options, including grilled mussels, cheese platters and local Fish dishes. It really is the ultimate tapas place for locals. After aa couple glasses of wine and light tapas, we were glad to join this local establishment in a friendly local environment, tapas style. We were the "casual visitors" and were happy to be there.

The food was amazing and the staff were very kind, accommodating, and really made you feel welcome! We loved the rustic feel to the place and how they catered to the general Catalan public and tourist alike as well as serving up some really authentic dishes. The vermouth selection was fantastic and totally added to the local feel of Barcelona! The restaurant was beautiful and very cozy! I would highly recommend El Chigre for a midday tapas or evening meal and drinks with friends! Love this place! Oh... did I mention the octopus? THAT... was FaBuLoUs!!!! I would totally book a flight from NYC just to get that!

This place was recommended by one of the locals, we had several plates to share and a couple of wine bottles, the food was great, the ambiance was welcoming and had a nice atmosphere, our waitress, Claudia, was very helpful suggesting a variety of plates that's satisfied everyone's appetite in our group, highly recommend to try the octopus, superb!!

Nice place around the corner from the best bodega in Barcelona (Bodega del Born). Good service, up beat music, and tasty food. Check it out if you are in the area.

Excellent find! We stumbled upon this place and popped in for some bites after some strong, wonderful drinks at nearby Dr. Stravinsky. The waitstaff was extraordinary. El Chigre is a tavern specializing in local seafood. They are very proud of their special char-oven method. They should be. The food was out-of-this-world. We ate very traditional Spanish dishes: pan con tomate, tuna-tomate ensalada, and octopus from their famous oven. I could not get that octopus out of my head the next day. It was tender and delicious. All the food was bursting with flavor. The server was very kind, and he helped me choose a vermut. He knows his business. I had their Roxmut at his suggestion, which is a cider-based vermut. Outstanding. I fell in love with it. What an outstanding experience! It felt very authentic, even though it's in a very touristy part of the city.

Lugar muy original con amplia selección de sidras y vermouth. Excelente ambiente, música y servicio. Las porciones tienen a ser más pequeñas pero excelente calidad. Todas las croquetas buenísimas, las bombetas y el pan con tomate. De los mejores arroces negros que hemos probado en Barcelona. De postre pedimos la tarta de queso que estaba especial. No era dulce pero el sabor al punto, hecha ahí. Para acompañar la sidra y el vermouth fueron lo mejor. Lástima que no tienen café.

Excellent food, wine & service! Everything was excellent & great quality. Stumbled on this place while visiting Barcelona. Highly recommend!

Had some great tapas. Baby bombs are the bomb. Tried one of the vermouth drinks, quite good. Meat and cheese plates where great.

Our party of 5 got EXTREMELY lucky to have been seated right away by our lovely host on a busy Friday night. We ordered the gold vermouth (YUM), the spicy octopus bite balls, side of tomatoes and bread, mushrooms as well as the black rice paella. They forgot our cheese plate order but we were too full to have finished it anyway. The bite balls are a must have!! The minced meat is finished in a spicy flavorful sauce and was a pure delight. The mushrooms and paella could've used a bit more punch but that's probably how they did it back in the day? Special call out to the side of tomato bread which was like Tomatina in your mouth. If you've ever played tomatina then you know it's not a good thing hehe! Will return for the great ambience and location right in the heart of the Gòtic quarter.

Love el chigre! AMAZING service, the staff truly cares about your experience at el chigre! And the experience gets topped with amazing food And delicious vermouth! We had a dinner that consisted of their delicious meat and vermouth drinks. We came here about 3 times through your our time in Barcelona, we truly enjoyed the atmosphere. Definitivamente uno de mis lugares favoritos!

This place is fantastic. We enjoyed anchovies with vinegar, and bread with generous tomato. Staff recomended wine was excellent. We returned the the following night for Capto Pi, fabado beans, and a very delicious salad. We tried tapas at several other places , and our overall experience was the best at El Chigre!

This was the spot I stopped by for a nice glass of cider. I was here early so I got to see the staff prep for the night. While I was beyond stuffed to the point I couldn't eat another bite, I was impressed with the menu and the space. Cider was delicious and I hope next time I'm in Barcelona I get to really taste their food.

This is one of the only restaurants we visited more than once during our 2 week stay in Barcelona. The food was exquisite and the ambiance was electrifying. We also had the amazing pleasure of having Pablo as a server.

The real deal tapas! I was blown away by the traditional offerings which were complemented by come very innovative newcomers (try the bone marrow!!!) Cannot wait to go back to Barcelona - just to visit this place again.

Omg we ate and drank half the menu from the cheese platter to octopus to white vermut to dark vermut! The menu has a variety of options including seafood and meat. I loved the patatinas- fried cheese....mmmm. Excellent pace, service and atmosphere. This is a must stop if you are in Barcelona!

This place was historic and the decor was fab. The potatoe dish with blue cheese was awesomeness. I would suggest this for a tourist because it will not break the bank especially with the 4 dollar wine pours.

Best Bombas (rice balls) I've had in my entire life and this comes from a woman surrounded by great NYC Italian restaurants. Order both the Meat and the Octopus and you will find your self ordering a second serving. Fried, creamy and such a flavorful filling. They also have the catch of the day sitting right on the bar (over ice), so you can pick which one they will cook up for you. They also have quite the vermouth and cidre collection. Even if you just stopped in here for a quick drink and a bite, it's well worth the visit.

Best tapas I've ever had, by a long shot. If you find yourself in this part of Barcelona this is a must have meal (if you like tapas and fresh seafood)

Food is good, but way overpriced and small portions for what you pay. Not sure what the draw is besides the decor/vibe. Had the octopus which was good, but the green salad, artichokes, shrimps, cured meats were nothing special. So many amazing places to eat in Barcelona, but this isn't one of them.

I'm glad we sat at the bar here. We saw the chef making the food in front of us and he was very friendly to chat with! We ordered cider, anchovies and the bread + tomatoes. We left shortly after, however on our way back we saw that the place was very lively!

Our first dinner in Barcelona. Being from the USA, we walked into the establishment for dinner at 7 PM to an empty space. The server was excited to tell us about their fresh whole fish menu and did a bit up-sale. We did not mind since we were tourists and ready for some extra expenses come with it. We kicked off our meal with cava; appetizer- a traditional green bean salad topped with slices of raw fish and quail eggs, charred tomato toasts and entree- a whole grilled gallo (fish) with pan-fried potatoes. The green bean salad was beautifully composed. The sweetness from the green bean (not green; looked like tiny pinto beans) mixed with sashimi, eggs and micro greens was new to me. Gallo was a fatty fish and went well with the perfectly cooked silky potatoes. When we left at 9 PM, every seat had been filled and some gusts were having their drinks, tapas and cigarettes outside the restaurant. Good vibe.

Excellent vermouth, cava, and cider! Very busy place, so be ready for a crowd. Food is excellent! I recommend the anchovies! The bombas are not really worth the price, unless you REALLY like that kind of thing. If you are feeling in the mood, the grilled sardines were on special when we were there, and they are SUPERB!

A must visit! We loved the traditional cider and all the food we tried. Atmosphere is fun and the menu is unique.

This was probably the biggest disappointment . The staff was very nice, however the food just wasn't up to par.

First stop in Barcelona as we'd seen recommendations. We had our first taste of Vermouth here and were pleasantly surprised by the refreshing taste and great price point. Service was friendly and tapas were great- we had the anchovies. Looked like a great place for heavier tapas in the evening and would definitely go back!

After visiting Barcelona 3 or 4 times this was my favorite restaurant. I've been to quite a few tapas places based on people's recommendations and I didn't like them as much as this place that I found on my own. I discovered I prefer gastronomic tapas to homestyle tapas. The pulpo dish is by far the best pulpo dish I have had in my entire life, but I believe they no longer offer this dish. I love the decor and ambience here- modern and refined yet still casual.

After many amazing meals in Seville and Barcelona, we finally had a bad experience. Service was aweful. We eat at many wonderful slow food restaurants. However, after ordering 5 tapas for our table, the food came out 40 minutes between dishes... And, the food was good, not great. Way to touristy for our tastes, way over priced....

This place was awesome, wish I took some pictures. The food was amazing, I recommend getting a few items, to enjoy obviously with a glass of wine, the staff will speak in either English, Spanish or Catalan (not sure of other languages). The menu is simple but good. The pulpo was excellent as was the calçots (might be seasonal), and the beef cheeks. I also recommend ordering pan y tomate. Their olives are also quite good. This place has an excellent atmosphere, it is small but feels quite spacious. This a slow dinning experience so if you come in at 8 be prepared to leave close to 10. The staff is very friendly and attentive and full of personality, they don't mind explaining their menu to you at all. This might be a bit expensive but I will say you won't be mad at it. You will leave here feeling pretty darn good.

Reccomend by our Navigator. Great local place. Loved the food. Our parents first trip here and this place didn't disappoint.

Incredible place! Order the cider and ask them to use the light fixture to open it. You'll see. What a treat! The food was great also. Alan our waiter was funny and thoughtful. Fun spot.