Barcelona Wine Bar

Philly is a city of versatility. One moment you can be in a park more relaxing than a meditation app, and the next, you can be cursed out like you’re in a Tarantino film for wearing Cowboys’-blue sunglasses. We even made up a word that can literally mean anything (it’s “jawn” if you’re new here). In a city with so much range, our restaurants have to have just as much. And that’s exactly what Barcelona Wine Bar does so well. The Spanish restaurant on East Passyunk has a charming plant-lined patio where you’ll see families splitting paella and cheese boards on a sunny afternoon, a dining room that transforms from a sexy date night spot to Jersey shore-level rowdy, and a menu that fits all of these occasions. 

photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO

photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO

photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO

photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO

photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO

The dimly lit, rustic wood-paneled space is always crowded, and come Saturday night, it borders on chaotic. People are busy picking out the perfect red at the marble u-shaped bar or yelling their tapas order over crowd noise and Spanish guitar. The menu is made up of about 1,000 great tapas options, like eggplant caponata, patatas bravas, and steak paillard, along with a few salads and solid larger mains. Wander in for a date that ends with an unforgettable dessert, a charcuterie board paired with a sherry you’ve never heard of, or a Choose Your Own Adventure-style group dinner. Either way, you’ll have plates of satisfying food in a restaurant that, like the wine-fueled Philadelphians inside, can adapt to any kind of night you may want to have. 

photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO

photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO

photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO

photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO

Food Rundown

photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO

Prawns A La Plancha

About 80% of the menu here is seafood, and their expertise is evident in this simple dish. There are incredibly large shrimp, cooked in a peppery tomato sauce, and covered in an earthy chimichurri. It’s uncomplicated, but not something you can replicate at home (we’ve tried).

photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO

Eggplant Caponata

Eggplant is sliced, grilled, and then coated in a sweet pepper, onion, and basil mix. It’s a blend that’s sweet, has the right amount of heat, and is a must-order.

photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO

Mussels

A no-brainer for the table, you’ll get a bowl of mussels wearing a crushed red tomato coat, shallots, and garlic. We don’t have a guide for the best mussels in Philly yet, but these would be a top contender.

photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO

Paella Negra

A lot of dishes here range from “definitely good” to better than that. This massive bowl of juicy calamari, chili, and garlic comes in the second category. It could easily feed three or four and you’d still have enough for a meal the next day.

photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO

Whole Roasted Branzino

This whole roasted branzino has the right amount of juiciness and herbiness thanks to the chimichurri. It’s so good that we’d probably eat it in a cramped closet if we had to. But thankfully, they serve it in one of the larger restaurants in the neighborhood.

photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO

Olive Oil Cake

One of our favorite desserts in the city, it’s a cake that makes you think the “dessert before dinner” crew has a point. It’s super moist, large enough for two, and subtly sweet. We can’t think of a better way to end an evening sponsored by good seafood and wine.