I fell for Bar Gros almost immediately. When we visited, it had only been open for around a month, but you would never have guessed it. It was packed at lunchtime, the room had that wonderful vibe of a busy neighborhood bar, the team gave a feeling like they’d been working together forever, and there were plenty of older customers mixed in around the tables: that’s always a very good sign.

Bar Gros Barcelona — *Bar Gros, Barcelona. Photo © Barcelona Food Experience.*

They told us booking ahead is important, and after seeing the place in full swing at lunch time, I understand why.

Bar Gros opened on Provença in September, from Jordi Millán and Sara Martín, the couple behind Casa Angelita, Camarote, Bocarte and Cal Pesca, together with the group’s executive chef Matías Paiva. They’ve spent more than a decade running neighborhood restaurants, and that experience is obvious from the second you walk in.

Bar Gros, Barcelona. Photo © Barcelona Food Experience.

Many new restaurants try to recreate the feeling of an old-school Barcelona bar. Bar Gros somehow just has it.

The decor is playful and colorful, with plenty of personality. There’s a long bar overlooking the kitchen, tables for groups and a terrace outside. If you’re eating alone, ask for one of the stools at the bar: you can sit with a plate and a glass of wine while watching everything happening in the kitchen. And there is a lot happening.

The kitchen runs continuously from lunch through dinner, so Bar Gros is perfect for a full meal but also for vermouth and a couple of tapas in-between the peak hours.

Come Hungry

The name gives you a clue: portions here are generous.

We started with the Gilda del Gros XXL, which absolutely earns the XXL, followed by the croquetón de gamba al ajillo. The Bikini Gros, filled with lomito ibérico, Comté and truffle, is another one not to miss: delicious and perfect for sharing.

Then came the Bomba Grossa de rabo de vaca (very large for a bomba!), followed by cubes of sirloin with pepper sauce. Everything feels familiar and comforting, but done with lots of personality to keep the menu, and also the place, interesting. And don’t skip the pan de pueblo with green olive oil: simple, but so good.

There’s seafood throughout the menu too: oysters, anchovies, boquerones, Andalusian-style fish and grilled octopus, among others. Jordi grew up around fishmongers and markets and still personally selects much of the fish and seafood used across the restaurants.

Pay attention to the specials as well. On our visit they had several whole fish available by weight. The fish arrives at the table whole before the team portions it for you, removing the spine and preparing it so everyone can share. If I were going back with a group, I’d definitely ask what whole fish they have that day.

Bar Gros, Barcelona. Photo © Barcelona Food Experience.

Tapas, but Make Them Gros

The menu includes both bar classics and slightly more playful versions of them. You’ll find ensaladilla rusa, anchovies, tomato with olive oil and salt, bravas, calamari and croquettes alongside dishes like the beef-tail bomba, ajo blanco-style combinations and larger plates meant for sharing.

There are also several “Gros de verdad” options when you want to make a full meal of it: whole sea bass, Iberian pork pluma, a large cut of beef, seafood rice and grilled octopus. On our visit we wanted to try as much as possible, so we stuck to the “smaller” dishes (which were not small at all!). It’s the sort of menu that makes you want to come back with different groups of people and order completely differently each time, so you get to try every single dish.

Save Room for the Flan

We finished with the Flan Gros con nata, because of course we did.

After a meal of XXL gildas, giant croquettes and generous sharing plates, there would have been something almost disappointing about ending with a tiny dessert. They also highly recommend the torrija, but we didn’t have room for it this time unfortunately.

The wine selection is good too, with lots of options that are perfect for this style of eating. But Bar Gros is equally great for ordering a vermouth, sitting at the bar and having just one or two things. That flexibility is another reason I like it so much.

You can come for lunch, dinner, an afternoon snack or something in between. You can sit at the bar alone, bring your parents, come with friends and order half the menu, or stop in for a drink and a gilda.

Bar Gros feels like a place people will return to again and again, a-go-to place when I’m in the area, and I most certainly will recommend it to those looking for a good, authentic tapas spot. It went straight onto my list of favorite tapas bars in Barcelona.

Bar Gros, Carrer de Provença, 202 (Eixample Esquerra), Barcelona.

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Come Hungry

Tapas, but Make Them Gros

Save Room for the Flan

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