Ambiance and Decor: Quite quaint and dark. Try to get a seat near the front window; they'll light the table tealight once it get a bit darker outside. They have some bar-height tables made out of some barrels - I would not sit here. Service Quality: Staff was attentive and knew the menu well. They recommend getting a wide variety of dishes since it is tapas. Menu Variety: Great selection of spanish tapas. There's fish, meat, seafood, veggies - there is something for everyone. You won't find the lesser known tapas here - just the main popular ones we all know. Food Presentation: Simple, nothing crazy here. Plated with intention. Food Taste and Quality: Food came to the table hot and fresh out of the kitchen. Some of the patatas bravas were a bit undercooked - for me there was a bit too much sauce here. They also have the shishito peppers here - even though 1 out of 10 are spicy, it was more like 5 out of 10 were spicy. Luckily they were all grilled to perfection. The cod fritters were great, would order again. Portion Sizes: You'll need to order at least 5 dishes for a table of 2. Drink Selection: Simple cocktail menu with a spanish twist to them - if you really want to call it a "spanish cocktail". Price and Value: Good value for money, priced just right. Overall Experience and Recommendation: Make sure you make a reservation cause if not you'll be waiting and by the time you look for another restaurant for dinner - everything will be closed (cause its Bowen Island). I tried it, I would try the other restaurants on the island first before coming back. read more

See all

Pretty fantastic! I was in Bowen Island for a yoga retreat. Most places were closed limited options. We were happy this place was open, we were not disappointed. Spanish tapas style, we ordered about 6 dishes and bread and we were pretty full. Also sangria. Food was fantastic, everything we ordered had so much flavor, my favourite was the orzo salad and the shrimp. A little surprise that Bowen Island had this little gem. Due to Covid protocols only patio was open, which worked fine for us, also set up socially distance. Great service. Recommend you making reservation, we didn't but came right when they opened lucked out with a table. It got pretty busy 15 minutes after we arrived. Overall, I was very impressed. We will be back! read more

See all

The experience... They were short staffed and the only server was literally run off their feet. This is a no win situation for both the server and the customers. The food... Between the four of us, there are very few things we cannot eat. We struggled with a few of the dishes. As I reflect on this, I wonder if perhaps the kitchen was also understaffed? Of notable disappointment were the mushroom terrine (see photo) and the yellow fin tuna - which tasted like propane. The other 6 dishes were nothing special. read more

Barcelona Tapas & Wine Bar - Jello mushrooms with chickpeas Looks awful. Tastes awful. - Tapas Bars Near Me - Bowen Island, British Columbia

Our waitress Aiko has the best recommendations! Papatas bravas, eggplant, prawns, chorizo, cheesecake, all perfect choices!

This place came highly recommended from someone I know who lives on Bowen Island and it did not disappoint! I loved the tapas sharing style of the meal and each dish just seemed to get better and better. We started off with the fried eggplants and they were quite good but the fideos in squid ink somehow managed to top it. We loved the exquisite seafood flavors together but then it was beaten by the pork belly. The pork belly was SOO soft and just melted in my mouth. They was by far o ur favourite dish of the night! We were still a bit hungry so ended up getting the mackerel as well. It was pretty good. Absolutely no complaints and our server was awesome as well! Five stars!! read more

See all

My boyfriend and I made a weekend trip to Bowen Island. From recommendations from our Airbnb host I made a reservation for Barcelona. It seems that they have 2 seatings, 1 at 5pm and 1 at 7pm. It looked like every table was reserved when we arrived for our 7pm reservation. We ordered a carafe of sangria, the patatas bravas, fried peppers, scallops, and the meatballs. We loved everything! The peppers were like shishitos where a few were spicy but most were not. Our favorite was the patatas bravas - they were crispy even though they were covered in sauce, and the sauce was incredible! We ended up using the bread from the scallops to sop up the extra sauce it was THAT GOOD. It was a lovely night and we enjoyed sitting outside for a dinner. The temps on the island were a little more mild than on the mainland during a heat wave. The service was great. We really enjoyed our stop but would def recommend making a reservation if you're coming on the weekend since it gets busy! read more

Nice restaurant with delicious menu. Great selection of Spanish tapas and international wines. Great ambiance and very affordable. Today is Wednesday and was very crowded. We had olives (exquisite) , charcuterie and beef tongue . All was excellent!!! Great service by owner and wife!!! read more

See all

Had dinner here the other night while visiting Bowen Island. Good service and a nice, upscale ambiance. We had the following dishes: -jamon croquettes - good but extremely salty - I could only eat one -mushrooms - disappointed in this dish - I guess I should have asked if it was served with anything else, because it was literally only mushrooms -flourless chocolate cake - delicious! -bread, served with oil -tortilla (potato & onion omelette) - great -boquerones on tomato toast - great Overall a really nice experience, definitely worth a visit! read more

Barcelona Tapas & Wine Bar - Flourless chocolate cake - Tapas Bars Near Me - Bowen Island, British Columbia

I got initial bad vibes when a server made eye contact with us at the Please Wait to be Seated area and walked past without acknowledgement. These bad vibes continued when we were ignored for five minutes after being seated. Had I not requested menus, I'm not we would have been approached that night. Things started to look up when we got a friendly server, and four of our five ordered dishes arrived quite quickly. Far too salty and far too too much salad dressing, but hey, they arrived quickly. Then the wait began for our final dish - a meatball one. We checked with the server after 20 minutes, and were assured that the meatballs "came out in batches", so when others received theirs, we would receive ours. Well, 10 minutes later, a table beside us, who came in after us and ordered after us, got their meatballs. When we brought this up with the server after a few minutes, he went to check on it, and came back to tell us that our dish had mistakenly been taken by someone else. At that point, frustration had taken over and we just wanted the bill so we could leave. This took seven minutes to arrive, on which THE MEATBALL DISH APPEARED. The server left to get the bill corrected, and returned after three more minutes to offer free dessert. We turned down the free dessert and asked for a discount, which was rejected. We told him once again that we just wanted to leave, and it took him another three minutes to finally bring the correct bill, with a whopping $3 knocked off. Wheee! We got free bread for our trouble! If things go well for you at this joint, I'm sure you'll have a good time. The food was all right, and the ambience is nice. If/when things go wrong, however, you can count on the restaurant's surprising inability to make things right, accompanied by further laughable errors. If you're lucky, you may even get insulted with $3 worth of bread for free. My wife and I were on Bowen Island celebrating our wedding anniversary. I won the furious battle with myself so as to not make a scene, though it wasn't without battle scars; I think my tongue was bleeding later that night from me biting it so hard during our final 30 minutes at this restaurant. read more

Ambiance was pleasant. We sat outside and ordered the recommended 3 tapas per person. The food was unimpressive: not bad.. just not that good. For example, the fried potatoes were good for kids but could have come from anywhere. I'd suggest going somewhere else, but kinda hard when you're stuck on an island... read more

We dined here twice when we lived on Bowen, and regretted both exposures. The seating is atrocious, and there's a nanometer at best between diners. The seating is almost entirely bench, facing outwards from the wall, with tables so small that a solitary plate takes up most of its surface. On our first trial of this place, it was full to the gunwales with diners, so we were sat on tall stools at a barrel in the middle of the room. The intensely bright lighting just above our heads lent the impression that we were the evening's entertainment, as the bench seating meant that-intentionally or not-all eyes were on us. Not fun, so I asked to be seated at the bar instead. This was equally as uncomfortable, but had the advantage of some privacy. Our order placed, we commenced a-very-very-long wait at the uncomfortable counter, unable to communicate with my partner the entire time due to the din from all the other diners. The tedium was broken whenever the server appeared, as he'd taken an active and obvious interest in my partner, so visits to our end of the counter were frequent. When my food arrived over an hour later, I stared in disbelief at the tiny portion of undercooked beef on my plate. It took them an hour to undercook a few strips of beef? As we eat, more lascivious glances directed at my partner from the server-in passing-as we eat. My partner didn't mind her food, though considered it below average, as she's dined out in some of the world's major cities. She did mind the unwanted attention that was ruining our evening. When we returned a year later, we opted for a take-away meal that came courtesy as a gift from coworkers. After our less-than-endearing first brush with this place, we probably wouldn't have returned if it wasn't for the fact that the meal was free this time. Our order placed, then commenced another agonizingly long wait for a very simple meal. At discrete intervals, the server would come and tell us, "...they're just doing your potatoes now; it won't be long." Apparently, fried potatoes were too much of a challenge, and the server approached us twenty minutes later to tell us that the cook was starting from scratch with the potatoes again. Just shy of an hour later, our meals were finally ready. Unfortunately, the owner thought we were thieves when he was told that the meal was pre paid, and was more than a little brusk before this detail was finally sorted. The meal? Completely forgettable, and we thanked our lucky stars that it was a gift. We have no idea why this restaurant has such a high rating. read more

Great service and great food in a great location! It was a very busy long weekend but the owner and staff were polite, patient and friendly. We ordered 5-6 dishes for 3 of us and it was filling and so tasty. My favourite was the eggplant! It was unlike any eggplant I ever had! The scallops were amazing as well. The server forgot out dessert but it was okay because we were full enough! I've never been to Spain so we will have to see how this compares to the real deal. Will come back! read more

Service to great here and it seems to be a popular date night restaurant. All the food is made to share and is brought out as it is prepared. The chorizo had to be my favourite! read more

See all

Great service and fantastic meal. We started with the Endive Salad and Drunken Goat Cheese Platter with some extra bread. We then followed it up with the Tomato Aioli Crispy Potatoes, Sautéed Prawns, and Forest Mushroom plates. And finally for dessert we shared the Pineapple Crumble. Everything was amazing and we will most definitely will be back next time we visit Bowen Island. (Note: The only weird thing about the meal experience is that they only seem to serve you two dishes at a time with a considerable wait between them. So if you order three dishes for the stage of the meal you're on, don't expect the three dishes to come all at once. For example, for our middle stage, my wife as a vegetarian just had potatoes in front of her to eat for 10 to 15 min because the mushrooms she wanted to pair them with didn't appear until much, much later. So we actually sat there with food on our table but not eating it all until the mushrooms finally arrive.) read more

I have been back 3 times this summer it's so good. The owner is so friendly and welcoming, the ambiance on their patio is lively and fun, and the food is a 10/10. Best patatas bravas I've ever had. And the fried eggplant with honey is so unique and incredible. We had 8 different tapas last time and I would order every single one again. Definitely worth the trip over to beautiful Bowen. read more

An amazing little gem located just a 5 minutes walk from Bowen ferry dock. From the friendly staff, cute and homey patio, to the amazing food, I can't say enough good things about the place! I tries the potato omelette, flank steak and paella with chorizo. Both are outstanding. they make their own harissa paste for the paella...soo good. I wish they would have put bread and salsa in the menu as appetizer because they are really good. The bread is made fresh that morning and salsa is of course house made. Highly recommended if you are in bowen!! read more

See all

We arrived at our B and B on the Sea and one of our hosts suggested we eat dinner at this establishment! We decided to do it and after making reservations we were greeted with pleasure and personality. Each dish we ordered was delicious and beautifully presented. The staff was friendly, attentive and engaging and the owner Guillaume and his brother Ben were awesome hosts! read more

Barcelona Tapas & Wine Bar - Tapas Bars Near Me - Bowen Island, British Columbia

See all

The "Bowmart" for all you locals, has been many things since it stopped being the go-to spot on Bowen Island. Running a restaurant is hard, running one on Bowen is even harder. This location, which is as good as it gets on Bowen, has seen many different restaurants come and go over the years, but maybe this one will finally stick. Barcelona is a wine and tapas bar, and for those of you not familiar with what 'tapas' really are, maybe it's time to take a trip to Bowen and taste for yourself. Tapas are Spanish appetizers that have evolved into an entire meal. Guillaume and his wife (the new owners) have started by cleaning up a classic space that most desperately needed a good scrub. This brought out the beauty of the hardwood floors and makes the restaurant a shining joy to enter now. Both personable and knowledgeable, Guillaume can explain the details of all his tapas, from the baby squid cooked a la plancha to the marinated chicken and asparagus skewers in spicy yogurt sauce. Tapas are a wonderful way to get together with friends, sip some wine and share some new tastes. The nice thing about tapas, you can make them a meal or just use them for nibbles, it's all up to you. Barcelona also has a regular menu of lunch items like sandwiches and salads that are served from early afternoon to 'late' as they say on their menu. I am no expert on wine, but I have been told that Barcelona's selection is quite lovely. Pricing wise, they keep it pretty reasonable, with most tapas selling in the $6-12 range and most lunch items $10-14. For those of you non-wine drinkers, Barcelona does have a full bar and some interesting featured cocktails, with daily specials and a "Tappy Hour" that lets you try a variety of drinks and tapas at reduced rates. Barcelona honours the history of Bowmart (in more ways than one, check out the bathroom) and offers Bowen and all its visitors a new taste treat that will hopefully be around for a long time. If you've been thinking about taking a trip to Bowen Island, there's no better time than now. UPDATE - I recently discovered Barcelona's eggplant tapa, Oh my goodness, this is amazing and I don't even like eggplant. A must try for anyone in the mood for a mouth treat, and while you're at it, give their "tortilla" a try as well, both delicious and go excellent with your favourite beverage. read more

See all

Rowed in from our boat. During C19 times. We intentionally had a path not to touch anything or interact with anyone, realizing that we wanted to be responsible about visiting the island. Now that that is out of the way.... food was INCREDIBLE! We regularly dine out and this far far exceeds the expectations. We can't wait to return! read more

Potato bravas and eggplant dish were to die for! We would catch the ferry from horseshoe Bay just to have those dishes again! Everything started off strong and cocktails were OK but desserts were hardly appetizing. read more

As a local, I'm very happy to have Barcelona on board my choices to eat out. Their tourist success has made it very busy however so maybe time your visit accordingly. After an hour of waiting for our order it had been lost when we originally arrived at 5 midweek. The food, decor and ambience was however stellar and as a chef historically, I salute most of the combinations offered. My favourite was the tuna, of the six plates we shared as three guests. Prices are reasonable for the quality of ingredients. Excellent pet friendly patio for a balmy evening's watching the world go by. read more

Delicious food, great service, wonderful ambience, and a unique & tasty selection of drinks - Barcelona is a must-visit on Bowen. Be sure to try the Patatas Bravas! read more

Five stars for Barcelona ! The atmosphere,the service, and above all delicious, beautifully presented tapas selections made for a memorable dining experience! We'll be back ! read more

Phenomenal service, food was better! The owner was very sensitive to my gluten sensitivity AND the fact we needed to make the ferry! I absolutely will make a point to come back! Thank you for such a great experience and ending to a great vacation! read more

Our party of 4 had the accidental good fortune of coming here for a drink and tapas. We had originally tried the Italian joint next door but were bluntly told they don't open til 5 (this was 4.30pm) and no, we cannot sit down for just a drink or even water. We tried again at Barcelona, being hungry and thirsty after a day of wandering Crippen Park. The owner here also said they don't really open til 5pm, but, sure, you can sit out here on the patio. Within a couple minutes we had water, menus, and our dog got a big bowl of water too. Our young French waiter was very charming and attentive. We only had some wine and nibbles, but the warm welcome itself is enough to lure us back. We appreciated the BC-heavy wine list (we tried a red and a rose'), and enjoyed our charcuterie very much. Thank you Barcelona and we will be back for more! read more

Just had a delicious brunch at Barcelona. Although it says here they open at 3:00, they are in fact open at 11:30, at least on the weekend. All of the food was delicious, well seasoned, and beautifully presented. My new favourite on Bowen. Will definitely be back. read more

I really loved this place. Ate a several hour meal here when on the island, went through a lot of the menu. Plates were good, charcuterie was better. Charming restaurant with great service. Wine list was really nice, as well. read more

I visit Barcelona often. Great staff, excellent food. They update the menu often so there is always something new (and good!) to taste.

We have a family cabin on Bowen and had just spent a hard day cleaning and closing it down for the season. After missing the ferry we decided to stop in at Barcelona and grab a tapa and much deserved cold beer. We are so glad we did! The three dishes we shared were so fresh, piping hot and delicious, full of flavour .The ambience was rustic chic and inviting with the cozy fireplace ablaze. I wish we had more time to sip and nibble and will definitely make this a go - to the next time we are over. The next time we will not be dashing in after missing the ferry but will be sipping and enjoying for the evening as a Tapas bar is meant to be enjoyed. Congratulations on opening this gem. read more