El Vaso de Oro
Price guide: Mid-range
C/Balboa 6, Barcelona, 08003
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#34 of 40
expert-rated restaurants in Barcelona- Recommended for:
- Seasoned travellers, People watching
Expert review of El Vaso de Oro
A much loved tapas bar in the maritime quarter.
One of Barcelona’s most beloved tapas bars, El Vaso de Oro (the ‘Golden Glass’) also has a reputation for good, well pulled beer. It’s a good idea to arrive outside the most popular slots (2pm to 4pm, 9pm to 11pm) unless you enjoy extremes of local hubbub.
Food and drink:
The tapas include all the usual favourites - patatas bravas, baby chorizo sausages, terracotta dishes filled with prawns and sizzling garlic - but there are also a few house specials, such as spicy tuna or succulent cubes of sirloin. There is no list, just point at whatever looks good on your neighbour’s plate.
Ambience:
Not for shrinking violets, El Vaso de Oro requires a certain amount of steely nerve, especially for non-Spanish speakers. It’s a long, narrow space, with a couple of tables and then seats along the bar, but is often standing room only, and getting yourself heard can be a challenge. Fun, though.
Service:
Considering the amount of customers they have to deal with at once, the barmen, while not especially charming, do a sterling job.
Location:
C/Balboa is the first left off Passeig Joan de Borbó, the main drag leading up to the beach from Barceloneta metro.
Price advice:
Tapas dishes vary from about 4-12 euros, but I've also been charged different prices for the same thing, depending on the day. Ask for a receipt ('el ticket'), if you're concerned.
More information on El Vaso de Oro:
- Price guide:
- Type:
- Tapas bar
- Food:
- Tapas
- Address:
- C/Balboa 6, Barcelona, 08003
- Telephone:
- 93 319 30 98
- Serves:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Opening times:
- Mon-Fri 9.30am-midnight. Sat-Sun 12.30pm-midnight. Closed for September.
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Reservations:
- Not possible
