The Best Patatas Bravas in Barcelona? Come and Judge Ours in the Eixample

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Ask ten locals where to find the best patatas bravas in Barcelona and

you’ll get ten different answers — and probably one friendly

argument. Bravas are that kind of dish: humble, beloved, and taken

very seriously in this city. So we won’t declare ourselves winners of a

debate that has been running for decades. What we will say is this:

people keep sitting down at Faire. Tapas & Wine on Carrer de Girona

79 and telling us ours belong in the conversation. This post is about

why — and about how to enjoy bravas the slow way, with a good glass

of natural wine and no rush whatsoever.

What makes patatas bravas great (a one- minute history)

Patatas bravas started life in mid-20th-century Spain as the simplest

of bar snacks: fried potatoes with a fiery sauce — “bravas” literally

means fierce. Barcelona adopted the dish and never let go. Every

neighbourhood bar has its own version, and every version has its

defenders.

The anatomy of a great plate is easy to describe and hard to get right:

potatoes that are crisp on the outside and creamy within, a sauce with

real character rather than ketchup in disguise, and a portion generous

enough that nobody has to negotiate for the last piece.

And here’s the part we love most: bravas are naturally vegetarian. In

a tapas culture built so heavily around jamón, this is the plate

everyone at the table can share — which is exactly what Faire is

about.

How we make our patatas bravas: slow,

seasonal, all vegetarian

Everything we serve is vegetarian, and we source organic and local

wherever we possibly can — the same philosophy that runs through

our whole menu. Our bravas follow the house rules: good potatoes

treated with patience, sauces made in-house, no shortcuts. We won’t

spoil every detail here — some things are better tasted than read —

but if you care about where your food comes from, you’ll like the

answers you get at Faire.

Sustainability isn’t a garnish for us. From the producers we work with

to our partnership with Tree-Nation — more than 56,000 trees planted

so far — the idea is simple: food should be good for the person eating

it and gentle on the place it comes from. You can read more on our

sustainability page. A plate of bravas might look like a humble thing,

but done with care, it says everything about a kitchen.

Where to eat patatas bravas in the

Eixample

Barcelona’s Eixample is where the city goes when it wants to eat well

without the crowds of the old town. Our two little houses sit side by

side on Carrer de Girona: Faire. Brunch & Drinks at number 81 (daily

08:30–16:30) for organic brunch and specialty coffee, and Faire. Tapas

& Wine at number 79 (daily 17:00–00:00) — which is where the bravas

live, from the first evening pour until midnight.

We’re a short walk from Passeig de Gràcia and well connected to the

rest of the city, so it’s an easy stop before a concert, after a museum,

or as the whole plan for the evening. If you’re building a bigger food

day around the neighbourhood, we put together a guide to eating

around the Eixample and Sagrada Família that pairs nicely with this

one.

What to drink with your bravas: natural wine, of course.

Bravas were born as bar food, and they still love a good glass. At

Faire. Tapas & Wine we pour natural and biodynamic wines from

small producers — bottles with the same honesty we ask of our

kitchen. Something with bright acidity or a gentle sparkle does

wonderful things next to crisp potato and a sauce with a kick. Tell the

team what you like and let them pick; it’s half the fun of the evening.

FAQ

Where can I eat the best patatas bravas in Barcelona? Honestly?

The city will never agree — and that’s part of the charm. Try a few

contenders and pick your own champion. Ours are waiting at Faire.

Tapas & Wine, Carrer de Girona 79, in the Eixample, every day from

17:00 to midnight.

Are patatas bravas vegetarian? Traditionally yes — potatoes and

sauce. But some bars fry in animal fat or sneak in meat-based touches,

so it’s always worth asking. At Faire you don’t have to: everything on

the menu is 100% vegetarian.

What are patatas bravas made of? Chunks of potato fried until

crisp outside and tender inside, topped with a spicy “brava” sauce and

often a garlic allioli. The name comes from “brava” — fierce — a nod

to the sauce’s kick.

Come and settle the argument yourself

The best patatas bravas in Barcelona is a title that can only be

awarded at the table. We’d love to submit our entry. Book a table at

Faire. Tapas & Wine — we’ll keep the sauce fierce and the wine

honest. It’s all about good.