The part of Barcelona’s Eixample that falls between Passeig de Gràcia and Hospital Clinic has always been an area with ample nightlife, with an infinity of restaurants, bars, pubs and clubs. Traditionally, this enclave has always been designated to the kind of restaurant where you’ll find tablecloths and napkins and wallets with lots of notes in them. From time to time, however, you’ll find something a little more modern, which still offers quality but at less prohibitive prices and to a wider range of customers. Such is the case at Atapa-it.
Restaurant Atapa-it (Muntaner, 146) has found its niche in Eixample thanks to a creative selection of tapas and careful presentation, dressed with an extensive wine menu in a youthful, informal atmosphere. This differentiates it from the other restaurants in this area, and on this basis alone it’s worth a try.
Inside a tastefully-decorated space, restaurant Atapa-It is divided into two floors: a space in the bit underneath which is much calmer and more dimly lit, and a larger upper floor with spacious tables and more movement. It’s to this agreeable backdrop that Atapa-it presents their selection of original, cleverly-designed tapas. Ingredients used are fresh and good quality, and also excellently presented, meaning a meal here is a feast for the eyes as well as the mouth.
Variety of tapas from Atapa-it
Atapa-it’s philosophy, given the wide variety of tapas on offer, is that sharing is caring, so it’s recommendable to divide several dishes amongst the different guests around you table, whether they be intimates or acquaintances. Despite the modern feel of the place, you can find a mix of more classic tapas as well as newer ones, with a personal touch.
During your visit, you can try patatas bravas, vegetable and crayfish tempura, mini-hamburgers, tuna and avocado tartar, Iberian ham croquettes, salmon marinated in ginger and citric fruits, rolls of brie with pork pâté and honey, fried whitebait and Galician octopus. Everything was a winner, but I was a particular fan of the patatas bravas (thanks to their perfect soft-on-the-inside, crunchy-on-the-outside texture, with two delicate sauces made from garlic and tomato), the mini-hamburgers (shame that they weren’t bigger, because they were great!) and the octopus, which I still dream of…
If you’re going in a group and want to avoid the agonies of choice, the set menú option on offer might be of interest: for €22 per person, this includes 5-6 tapas to share, a bottle of wine and dessert.
Atapa-it is a great place to share different dishes, although depending on the size of the group you might go a little hungry. The explanation for this is that, despite the fact that these tapas are delicious, portions can sometimes be a little on the small side, although you should also bear in mind that prices are fairly reasonable. Persoally, that’s why I’d say that the price-quality ratio here is acceptable, although this is more due to prices than quantity. I’d also point out that in general, you can try a wide variety of tapas for €15-20 per head (without including wine, which is what always pushes things up).
The service is young and friendly, and also seemed very efficient to me bearing in mind that I went on a Friday night and the restaurant was full to the brim.
Atapa-it is a great option for going for tapas with friends before heading out for drinks or a night out in this area of Eixample, above all if what you enjoy most is quality, good presentation and relatively reasonable prices.
Croquetas de jamón ibérico / Iberian ham croquettes
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