Hands down, a must-visit when you're in Barcelona! Make sure to have Google Translate ready so you don't miss out on the freshest seafood. We must've ordered eight rounds of the small clams -- the kids couldn't stop eating them! They were perfectly sweet, with just the right touch of garlic and butter. The mackerel was incredible -- it literally melts in your mouth. And for the carb lovers, the buñuelos de bacalao were unreal -- fluffy, light, and something I could eat every single day. Of course, the squid was fantastic too... but honestly, you can't go wrong with anything on the menu here. read more

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Food: Probably my favorite seafood tapas spot in Barcelona! Their seafood is so fresh and their flavors are amazing. Their cod with tomato sauce, squid, and artichokes are a must get! The only dish I wasn't a big fan of was their octopus as it was a bit chewy and I didn't love the flavor. Service: Don't expect the most attentive service as they're pretty busy and things move pretty quickly. However, staff are very nice and welcoming. Atmosphere: Pretty much a hole in the wall and nothing fancy. A few tables inside so I would recommend getting there as early as possible as you may have to wait a pretty long time to get a table. Space is very small so expect tables to be very close together and not a lot of room to pass through when going to the bathroom. More suitable for smaller parties. read more

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Yep, this spot still writes your order right on the countertop like it's the 1950s and no one's watching. Legendary, tiny, and wonderful. We tried the Bomba, created by the grandma. A deep-fried potato ball of glory filled with meat and love. I stayed away from the meat but the bread was delicious. The squid was my favorite. So tender. Flavorful. The chickpeas with cod in tomato sauce was rich and comfort food for the soul, even if you didn't know your soul needed comforting. Tiny tables, elbow-to-elbow locals, and food that reminds you Spain really knows what it's doing. read more

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Had effectively a layover in the city and this place came highly recommended. Came on a Sunday around noon. Food (5/5) - Had the help of some very nice locals right next to us. Ordered the bread (pan), beans, butifarra (sausage), squid, mussels, bombas (of course). Locals told us to put the beans on toast with the sausage, and that was definitely the right call, the sweet / sour / salt balanced each other perfectly, and a dash of olive oil helped things along too. The squid was probably the sleeper highlight, juicy and just the right amount of crisp. The bombas need no introduction. Definitely a little spicy though, beware if your tolerance isn't the best. Service (5/5) - Language barrier aside, staff were effective and tried to be kind despite the chaos in the restaurant. Food generally came quickly. Ambiance (5/5) - Hole in the wall, and felt like it. Rowdy but could hear each other speak. Price (5/5) - Really affordable, especially because at this point they have enough fame to upcharge and don't. 40 EUR for all 3 of us. read more

La mejor experiencia en Barcelona!! Visited Barcelona for a few days and we stopped by La Cova Fumada in Barcelonetta. It's a small family owned restaurant with the best food! Service: very busy, small restaurant. Be prepared to wait for a table. It's worth it. The owner is very kind. Food: 10/10!! Delicious Catalan food. read more

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This place is just amazing, and the line full of locals to get it tells you so before you even step into this little, family owned gem. This is some of the best food I've had in my years coming to Spain, and that's saying something. If you're looking for ambience, this isn't your jam, but once you taste the squid (and everything else), you just won't care. I'm not sure what's up with the posted hours on yelp. This place opens at nine, is packed and overflowing by 11, and stops taking names in line at about 1:00. By 12:30, they've run out of many items, so get there early. read more

Super hole in the wall spot that I happened to walk by and saw how popular it was. I saw it was super crowded so I waited outside to go in because I could feel like it was special. I stood at the bar and ordered my food. The calamari was so good with the perfect amount of garlic and seasoning. I'm still thinking about that bite today. The tapas are pretty affordable and I enjoyed every bite even though I went by myself! I actually went twice and it was just as good! read more

La Cova Fumada - Fried cod fritter - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Barcelona, B

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This place is such a hidden gem! There was a long line for a table outside when we were there, but we were willing to eat standing at the bar and so we got a place immediately. The restaurant is tiny and gets super crowded, but I love the atmosphere & vibe! Everything here was super fresh and delicious. The bombas is to die for, I love the grilled squid, octopus, cod, etc. A family run operation that's a hole in the wall with a mix of both locals & tourists. Highly recommend! read more

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Love this place! We wanted a local small spot for lunch with good small tapas. This was the place we were lioking for. The tapas was flavorful and delicious. Grill artichokes, bombas,and sardines were delicious. Ambiance was just a hole in the wall with friendly service and no fuss decor. Just a simple spot with great tapas and cold beers. That's all you need. read more

La Cova Fumada - I don't know to to use these tools. Hahaa - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Barcelona, B

We have been planning our Barcelona trip for 9 months and couldn't wait to try La Cova Fumada from all the YT videos and reviews. We spent $40 in cab fares to get 8 of us there and proceeded to wait line. We got to the hostesss and we asked for table of 8 and she said no table and they don't do groups. We said how about 2 groups of 4 and she still said no even though we save groups of 3 and 4 get seated. We then said how about 4 group of 2's and she still shook her head. We felt discriminated either we were tourists or Asians, either way it was terrible how we were treated. We were happy to spend our $130 for lunch elsewhere. We went to Can Vilaro where we greeted by the owners and welcomed and had a fabulous meal. Never had we felt so unwanted in our history of travel and trying different restaurants. Do not give these snobby people your money. Many many other fine restaurants that are appreciative of your business. Rating - F read more

La Cova Fumada - Rude server who refused our business - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Barcelona, B

The owner was unbelievably rude. We came as a family of six and were told we couldn't be seated because our group was "too many." We even offered to split into tables of two, but he still refused and told us to leave. To make it worse, he waved in other groups right in front of us. Terrible service and attitude. Save yourself the trouble--go to La Bombeta instead. Much better service, and the food was excellent! read more

A small whole in the wall. The seafood tasted fresh and flavorful. However, don't think it was worth all the hype, wait, and price. Definitely not kid friendly as it's very small and busy, and you're often sharing a table with others or standing. read more

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Fantastic Peruvian entrees, ducked in here due to huge storm whipping around crazy rain, what a bit of good luck! Maybe my favorite meal in Catalonia read more

The place is casual with a very friendly,attentive staff! Very tasty, juicy and delicious food! We had Bacalao, 2 bomba, sardinas, calamar, morcillo, sangria for 2, 2 water. 40 euros! So good! We will be back for more bacalao! read more

La Cova Fumada - Bacalao with oil and tomato was so delicious! - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Barcelona, B

EVERYTHING is great here, fresh seafood that simply just grilled and seasoned with olive oil and sea salt. Portion are small so you get to try lots of options which I like. The only item that was not the best I've had was the razor clam (Provenir won) The best best bomba, we had one each, the old man next to us by himself had 5 bomba himself, and I was like, you ate 5!!! And he said- I can eat 11 of this (through body language) You will see lots of elder people come here enjoy themselves with the beer and amazing seafood while reading newspaper. Love it! read more

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An amazing authentic restaurant away from the Gothic Quarters but so worth the 20 min walk to experience. The people here are lovely and they sure know how to move tables thru the restaurant. Our favorite dish like most other customers is the grilled artichokes. It was so good, we ordered a second plate even though we were stuffed. Other delicious plates are sardines, bacalao and grilled squid. Everything was delicious and packed with flavour. Don't miss out on this authentic experience when in Barcelona. read more

I still daydream about going back to La Cova Fumada and eating my heart out. It is one of the most delicious meals I've ever had and I hope you will find the same. You will definitely remember this restaurant for the rest of your good life. It was not a tourist trap, more like a local place so make sure you don't twiddle your thumbs too long. Be ready to order. Be ready to eat. Be ready to enjoy. And then, go enjoy the rest of the beautiful city. read more

Long wait, but the food is delicious and the prices very reasonable. Highly recommend if you're not in a hurry.

We just beat the rain to Cova Fumada and were looking forward to a great seafood lunch. The place is tiny and very busy but we were seated in a few minutes. This is a family operation with even the grandmother manning the small kitchen. The clams, sardines and pan con tomate were the stars with the squid and octopus close behind. All items were garlic heavy and some were a little too salty for my tastes. Make sure to have your google translate handy as there are no English menus. read more

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A small joint, where locals gather for a beer and some tapas. You can't even see a sign for the restaurant but this place remains busy regardless so I recommend going early before the crowd. Since it's a local hole in the wall place, and they are always busy, it helps to know what you want. The girl who served us was able to communicate with us in some English and was very nice so that's a plus! We ordered the bombas, baby clams, cod, and sardines. The bombas were so good...think of a ball of mashed potatoes lightly fried and crisp on the outside with a dallop of creamy tasty sauce on top! The baby clams were mini little clams but fresh with amazing flavor...kind of like a garlic olive oil sauce...but I just couldn't understand how they got the clams so tasty!!! These clams made me come back twice the day after and I'm still dreaming of them. The cod was also very good...has a nice light crispy salty batter to it. The sardines also had that nice salty lightly crisp batter to it. I normally am not a fan of sardines but I found my self eating them. Spain has such fresh and tasty seafood, and this little hole in the wall place prepares it so well. One tip is...if it's too busy, you can always walk up to the counter and try take out. The cod loses some of its crisp but still delightful to go. The bombas and clams hold up pretty well when you do take out. I had a great experience and had no complaints about the service. If you want to sit and dine... know that it's not a fancy place. Walk in and tell them how many people and wait for them to seat you. They are busy and the little restaurant only has a few tables and a bar area so they might even sit 2 different parties together. But it is certainly a must try if you are in Barcelona! read more

Hands down my favorite places in Barcelona! They only serve lunch and make sure to go early! read more

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This was outstanding. The only disappointing thing was that we only came here for a second lunch just as they were about ready to close and couldn't order more than we did. As it was, we got artichokes, squid, and octopus. (We had originally come here because my wife wanted prawns, but they were out by the time we sat down.) The artichokes were great, but it was the seafood that really blew us away -- the octopus in particular was one of the best I've had anywhere. We'll definitely be coming back here for a fuller meal next time we're in Barcelona. read more

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This is probably one of the best meals of my life. This spot is a small casual restaurant near the beach. You order either after being seated or standing at the counter. A good mix of locals and tourists. The staff is attentive and seemingly everywhere at once. The atmosphere, food, and people felt incredibly authentic. They run an incredible operation. I had a bomba, calamar plancha, pan con aioli, and artichokes. EVERYTHING WAS SO GOOD. The artichokes were simple yet flavorful, the calamar perfectly cooked and flavored, the bread was delish, and the bomba was soooo good. I want to go back and do it all again before I leave. The place can have a wait (though not when I was there) so go, be patient, don't be intimidated by the scene, and enjoy! read more

La Cova Fumada - Calamar la plancha, pan con aioli, artichoke. - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Barcelona, B

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Wow amazing! One...if not the best meal we've had in Spain over the last 10 days. Everything was the best tasting that we've had of it's kind. Little potato balls with meat (bombas) and so simple grilled bread with a light tomato sauce. The griddled artichokes are amazing! The white beans with sausage was so flavorful and rich. They are soooo simple looking but some of the best beans i've ever had in my life! Chorizo was so tender and flavorful. The kickers were the grilled langoustines and shrimp. So simply prepared, yet so amazing! A little oil and then salt and they were tender and sweet with the salt added a nice balance. So delicate...really amazing and so glad we waited to get in. Just be aware they are cash only and stop taking names for lunch by 3PM. read more

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In planning for our trip to Barcelona, I was excited to try this place but when we arrived, the people working here were very unwelcoming and literally shouted at us to leave. They were busy but I can't imagine what we did other than being tourists in their town trying to sit down for a nice meal. We left and found a great place not too far away that we enjoyed. It was also jam-packed but we ended up waiting only about 15 minutes for a table. I would definitely be very hesitant to try eating at Cova Fumada again. It's not fun to get yelled at on vacation. read more

Came here with my friend while visiting Barcelona for a week and I was really impressed. I've never had their bombas before but omg it was to die for. Me and my friend came back twice lol. Jousef (I may be spelling his name wrong) was very welcoming and he remembered my friend. Id recommend the sardines and the bombas, could probably eat those all day. And the Artichokes. Such a good combo. It was our favorite little hole-in-the-wall spot in Barcelona. I'd definitely come by again whenever I return to Spain. Thank you guys! read more

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This was my favorite restaurant in Barcelona! Honestly, it's probably my favorite restaurant in all of Europe! We went back TWICE for lunch in the four days we were there, that's how much we loved it. The place is right by a square next to the Barceloneta. It's a lunch spot and closes at 3pm. If you go around noon, aka American lunch time, there won't be a wait. Go after 1pm and the place is crowded! The wait isn't too bad though. The staff mainly speaks in Spanish, we had to translate what we wanted with google translate to understand each other. This is a local joint and so lovely. The first time we went we got the garlic aioli toast, squid (our fave), shrimp sardines, and bombas. The second round we swapped out some dishes and added the chopped octopus and mussels. The food is CHEAP and FRESH! Most dishes were made simply with olive oil and garlic. I was not expecting such simple dishes to be this delicious! read more

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The host is a racist. He refused to seat us because we're Asian. He turned away another couple where the lady was an Asian. One of our party, a Caucasian, was asked to wait to be called for a table. We live in USA, have traveled all over Spain and Europe. This is the first time we were mistreated because of our ethnicity. This left a bad impression on our entire family of ten. Some of us are Caucasian. I hope no one else will have the same terrible experience as ours. read more

It escapes me how we first read about this place but it was actually outside of yelp. However, we used Yelp to confirm that it is the place to be. Finding it was a bit tricky because it looks like it could be the back kitchen of a different restaurant. However, pop on in and you will be greeted by the wonderful Catalan family that runs the place. If you don't plan on staying long and the table are filled up, you can grab a place standing at the bar. Start off with a glass of Vermut or some wine as those are the house specialties. Then order some bombas. We found that medium spicy was more than enough and spicy was way too much. We usually have a medium tolerance for spice. In addition to the bombas, the bread with aioli, and the squid were among our favorite dishes but all were great. We finished off with a drink our table-mates ordered called La Pirate (sp?). It is a shot of espresso with white rum, lemon, and a sugar cube that you stir in. Really fantastic drink. The last thing I will note is that the other patrons we interacted with were lovely. It was quite pleasant. I would head straight back here if I return to Barcelona. read more

La Cova Fumada - Maybe old AA cutlery! - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Barcelona, B

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A no frills type of place. The menu is in Catalan and is located on the wall. We ordered artichoke (carxofes), bomba (fried mash potatoes), grilled squid (calamar), and fried cod in dough (bunyol bac). The flavor of the grilled artichoke was delicious. I highly recommend. I believe this place is supposed to be the creator of bomba (don't quote me though) but it wasn't as good as I expected. Like yes, it did taste like fried mash potatoes, which is delicious on its own already but when I bit into it, the filling was only slightly warm. I wish it was hot. the brava sauce on it was delicious, but I wish there was some more sauce. The grilled squid was tender, but honestly not my favorite. I liked bunyol bac, but some might not enjoy it since it is mostly dough/batter which a bit of cod. But I enjoyed it because the dough had some flavor. read more

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One of the best tapas restaurants in Barcelona. Delicious tapas at cheap cost. Only negative is the long wait (no reservations accepted, first come first serve). Otherwise, 5 stars - highly recommended! read more

It was an experience eating here. I love everything we ordered. The squid was juicy, the bread so so good and bombas was also terrific. Can't wait to come back. We had to line up a bit but it was worth the wait. read more

HANDS DOWN the BEST seafood tapas in all of Barcelona!!! We came here on the first day of our week long trip and nothing we ate after that day lived up to La Cova Fumada. Hahaha. Omg everything we ordered was super flavorful and tasted super fresh! I've never had seafood this good. Order the squid, octopus, cod, and bombas!! Those were definitely my favorites. The employees were really nice too! Great service, great food, great vibes all around. Close enough to the beach!! This place definitely feels like a locals joint and it doesn't disappoint. The tapas are cheap!!! Most of the other tapas places we eat on this trip were in "nicer" restaurants but this place still lingers in my mind and I've been back in CA for like a month now. I seriously miss this place. read more

La Cova Fumada - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Barcelona, B

4.5 stars! La Cova Fumida is a tapas bar located in Barceloneta that is so classic and historic that it doesn't even have a sign outside the door. Inside, the place is bustling with activity, as waiters run back and forth from the rustic dining room to the bar to the kitchen, serving up fresh plates of tapas and grilled seafood. The handwritten menu (in Spanish only) is hung on the wall and sounds more like a grocery list: bacon, chorizo, garbanzos, calamari, pulpo, bacalao are just a few of the selections. There's no need for long, drawn-out descriptions of the dishes here. We started with the pan tostado, a classic toast with tomato, along with the pulpo, a single mini-octopus served with its own juices. We also had the "bomba" tapa, which was a deep-fried croquette of potato and meat, dressed with mayo and a searingly hot red sauce (I guess that's why this tapa is called "bomba"!). We had the fried sardines, dressed in olive oil and chopped garlic and herbs, as well as the gambes, which were 12 Euros for 5 medium-sized shrimp, but these may have been some of the best, freshest shrimps I've ever had, as they were juicy and tender on the inside, and slightly crispy on the outside. In addition, the shrimp heads were attached, so sucking them out gave a little bonus, bold burst of flavor! This is a classic, rustic tapas bar (given its history and the simplicity of its dishes) that's not to be missed--come for its plentiful beer, its fresh seafood, and unbelievably friendly service! read more

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Barceloneta is Barcelona's beach. While Barceloneta, like Las Ramblas, has its fair share of tourist trap restaurants, this is recommended by many a guidebook and blog as a place to get *good* tapas. A family owned restaurant, it has been operating since the 1940's and is currently owned by the fourth generation. Their claim to fame is the "bomba" - an umami bomb featuring potato, minced meat with aioli and brava sauce on top. While primarily a lunch spot, on Thursdays and Fridays they are open from 6 to 8:30pm - a great spot if you want to eat dinner at what is considered acceptable dinner time anywhere but Spain. I took advantage of this window during my visit. It was a little hard to find at first especially as there is no obvious signage. There wasn't many people during the early part but more people filled in as the time passed. Apparently if you are there to eat 1-2 tapas they prefer you eat at the bar; if you plan on making this place as your dinner spot they'll more likely offer you a table. This was my dedicated tapas place for dinner so they sat me at a table near the bar. The "menu" consists of what is written on the chalkboard at the time of your visit. Being used to menus I was a little confused at first but I guess they noticed I was one of those "foodie visitors" because they offered me a bomba before even giving me the opportunity to order my drink. Between observation and my broken Spanish here is what I had: Bomba - literally an umami bomb. I think of it as a shepherd's pie in croquette form with added brava sauce on top. Pan con tomate - The bread was crispy but the tomato sauce was ok. I think I should've opted for the pan con aioli since I saw half the parties get this instead of potato. Squid/cuttlefish - While I love calamari fried squid is a lot more forgiving than grilled squid since it can be quite easy to overcook it and make it too rough. One of the best examples of a grilled squid I ever had, the chopped garlic is a nice touch. Shrimp - the shrimp was so fresh that I could literally eat the skin. Apparently the skin is a good source of calcium. Artichokes - I saw people order this so I had to get one for myself. The hearts are good grilled but the edible portion is so so small. Didn't get sardines but apparently this is popular here too. Goes without saying that being located close to the beach, the best tapas are seafood. I can see why this is a beloved spot amongst tourists and locals. read more

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Before I star let me tell you the food is delicious, the place itself is a hole in the wall. Don't let the place to turn you off. This is the kind of places where you can interact with the local people and get to eat the more traditional food. I do like this kind of places, where the owners and the family are the ones running the restaurant. If you are in the Barceloneta area you need to go to this place. This little family restaurant has been opened since 1944. This is not a restaurant geared to tourist but tourists have been coming for the last 10 years (some locals patrons gave that piece of info:)). I liked everything I ordered: patatas bomba, octopus, squid, clams. I was told by some local to try the artichokes, but I could not eat more after all I had. It is small place and takes a while to get a table. The easiest way is to eat standing at the bar. By the way the bar has a marble countertop and your order is taken (written) on the countertop and once you are done the bartender writes the prices and calculate your check (see pictures). You need to visit this place if you are looking for something good to eat. This is not a place to have a relax lunch, but to eat good tapas. read more

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What a gem--I totally miss this hole in the wall. Thank goodness for Yelp, because we visited this unpretentious little spot on a whim based on the short walking distance from our hotel and its high ratings. Ultimately, this place was our favorite restaurant during our vacay. Beware: You may miss it, because there are no signs outside. I really enjoyed the no-frills, savory small dishes and the cold bottle of Estrella. The very thought of their House Special Bomba (potato ball with aioli and hot sauce) still makes me cream in my underpants. Oh, life's simple pleasures...Another item I highly recommend is the calamar a la plancha! SKIP the highly revered garlic bread. This item was overwhelmed by the awful taste of lard. + Tourist friendly--no Spanish speaking skills needed read more

Very good and simple tapas bar with friendly staff. As I entered with my luggage, I was helped finding a seat and a place where to store my stuff. I had some really tasty artichokes with a beer which made it a very good snack. read more

La Cova Fumada - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Barcelona, B

I was debating between four and five stars, and then realized I was being an ass. Came here on a Friday afternoon at about 2PM with a friend and her lovely 7 year old daughter. This spot had come highly recommended from friends, and in my Google searches of what to eat in Barcelona La Cova Fumada kept on popping up. Lofty expectations are usually deadly. Upon walking up to this unsigned establishment, you'll see throngs of people waiting outside as well as a packed interior. It's a cozy place with a bar and maybe eight tables. To get one, put your name on the waiting list by speaking to the wonderful and patient owner (???) --- he's the tallish guy with glasses with a wonderful sense of humor and a great command of English. I also noticed folks just standing and eating at the bar where you do not have to wait. While waiting about 30 minutes for the table, I watched two women (probably 70 and 40 --- could be related?) bustling about the small kitchen. It was pretty fun watching them work --- adding aioli to bread, sautéing up some sardines, and piling up bombas up in a pyramid. Food looked excellent, and I eagerly anticipated amazingness (again, likely setting myself up for disappointment). Upon sitting down we got a few beers and a couple of small bottles of water. I asked the waitress to bring us whatever she felt like. She smiled, and she did. We were immediately served their bread (pan) with both tomato and aioli. The bread was perfectly crusty yet chewy, and both sauces were excellent. I'm pretty sure the secret ingredient of the aïoli might be crack. We also got a plate of muscles, octopus, sardines, bombas, and calamari. I pretty hefty portion for two adults and a child ... but it was perfect. All of the seafood was fresh and tasty. The bombas were my favorite --- crispy fried exterior with a wonderful garlicky spicy interior. And when it came time to pay it cost €45 in total, a steal. I usually fear local places that have been discovered, like this, as quality tends to go down once the tourist wave continues to hit the restaurant hard. Perhaps it may have, I have no way of telling. But what I can say is that it's a great sign to see a large local contingent eat here, that the food is excellent, and it's a bargain. And if a gray-haired Catalonian woman is preparing any of the food, there's no doubt that it's going to be damn tasty. read more

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Busy place even during weekday. Tried the food yelpers recommended and did not disappoint. Best calamari I had, good sardines (I don't even like sardines), and Bomba and bread with tomatoes paste was least favorite (still good, don't get hype around Bomba). That plus water and total was about 18€. read more

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