What, When, How of the Best Pintxos in Barcelona
It took me a few tries to understand and pronounce the word ‘Pintxos’. As our food tour guide, Natalia, took us into the best pintxos place in Barcelona we learned that ‘pintxos’ is pronounced as ‘pinchos’. Once we had the name down, she went on to explain the whole concept of Pintxos of Barcelona. I wondered if it’s a food item or a way of eating or a cultural construct.
What is pintxos?
Barcelona has a fun culture of Pintxo. Pintxos are very pretty looking, bite-size appetizers, places in tiered plates on high tables in bars in Barcelona and all over Spain. Each bite is typically 2-4 layers of ingredients that have complementary and contrasting flavors & textures that come together in the mouth in bursts of flavors. For example, the featured picture above has a crisp cup (like icecream cone shell) filled with sweet & sour fruit jelly, layered with a thick & creamy goat cheese slab and a fried mint leaf, topped with a delicious sauce. All together the pintxos are absolutely delicious.
More commonly, pintxos have a base of toast, with layers of things like meats, goat or sheep cheese, sauces, nuts, and embellishments. Following is another example of a vegetarian pintxos plate.
How to Eat Like a Local in Barcelona, as Vegetarian
How to order pintxos?
If you’re wondering how to order pintxos, you’re not alone.
The ordering process is quite unique. Each pintxos has a toothpick on it. When you come into the pintxo bar, you get a plate and you pick as many of the pintxos as you like for as long as you like. In the end, the staff will count the number of toothpicks and multiply by the per pintxos price to get the bill. In El Born, the price was about €2 – €2.50 per pintxo.
When do locals eat pintxos?
Pintxos bar hopping is a popular evening activity in Barcelona and much of Spain. The custom in Barcelona is to hop bars and eat your favorite appetizers while you’re waiting for dinner. Since dinner time is quite late (around 9 pm), there is ample time to hang out with friends over some drinks and pintxos.
Pintxo bars have tall tables and you stand around the table or sit on tall stools as you chat with friends. El Born is famous for pintxo bars in the narrow alleys of what used to be the fishermen village before becoming the hip and bohemian El Born neighborhood.
Vegetarian Pintxos
Vegetarian pintxos in Barcelona is not traditional. But with the rise in vegetarians and vegans, its quite easy to find vegetarian pintxos in Barcelona. The first pintxos bar we visited, said to serve some of the best pintxos of Barcelona, had only a couple of vegetarian pintxos. But the ones we visited later in the evening in El Born neighborhood, had many vegetarian pintxos. We didn’t come across any vegan pintxos.
Origin of Pintxos
It turns out that pintxos are not originally from Barcelona. They are Basque Country’s answer to the Spanish tapas. They say tapas originated in Spain as a bread to cover the drinks and prevent bugs from falling into the drink. In the 1930s, when the tapas custom reached San Sebástian, the foodie capital of Spain, innovative bars started creative and miniature versions of the tapas. They also played with different ingredients and textures to create scrumptious pintxos. The traditions of serving in bars with the toothpicks continue to this day.
Best Pintxos in Barcelona
The following are known to be some of the best pintxos places in Barcelona.
When we visited Euskal Etxea in the afternoon it was empty and the staff offered us some delicious vegetarian pintxos. When we returned in the evening, it was packed and the staff said upfront that they do not serve vegetarian food.
As we walked around Barcelone one evening, we discovered Golfo de Bizkaia, a lively pintxos bar. They had many vegetarian pintxos. They also had a menu we could order from. I wish we went with a bigger appetite.
It used to be believed that traveling as a vegetarian is hard, but we find that its fun and quite easy to find local vegetarian and vegan foods. It’s getting easier with time as more people turn vegan. Finding vegetarian pintxos was so much fun.
Awesome Food Ideas for Vegans
- Traveling as a Vegan or Vegetarian
- Barcelona’s vegan and vegetarian foods
- Barcelona’s Vegetarian pintxos in Barcelona
- Italian vegetarian dishes and our 9-day trip
- Portugal’s vegetarian foods
- Lisbon’s Pastel de Nata
- Malta’s vegetarian foods on our 5-day trip
- Taiwan’s vegan foods
- Marathi village food on Sinhagad fort
- South Florida’s Vegetarian food choices
- London’s Borough Food Market on our 6-day trip
Suresh Daga
January 20, 2020 @ 9:04 pm
Hi Nirmal ! That’s an interesting blog with an interesting name ! You do write well and so does your wife I have to say. I have read a few travel stories of hers on your FB page.
This is something I have been meaning to do too for a long time but just havent been able to shake off the inertia. And this is why it’s all the more exciting for me to see a friend do it ! All the best buddy!
Jyoti
January 26, 2020 @ 9:24 pm
Hi Suresh ji, thank you so much for your generous compliment, we really appreciate it!
This is a fun way for us to journal and share pictures, stories and helpful information for friends and family. It took me several years of thinking and testing different platforms and themes before landing on this site. There is a lot more to be done, but its a start 🙂
We’ll be happy to help you start.
-Jyoti
Suresh Daga
January 27, 2020 @ 1:12 am
Good to know Jyoti, thank you! Some of your blogs are really helpful in planning one’s trips. Kudos again! And please call me Suresh, I was a classmate of Nirmal in high school.
Jyoti
January 27, 2020 @ 5:56 pm
You’re most welcome, Suresh. It’s wonderful to know that the work is helpful in planning trips!
Do reach out if you have any questions.
Carol Kubicki
February 19, 2020 @ 1:20 am
Thanks, this is fantastic information and a lovely post with great photos. I will know what these are when I come across them. As a vegetarian it is good to hear I am being better catered for in Spain.
Freya
February 19, 2020 @ 2:34 pm
Pintxos sound delicious! Pintxos time reminds me of aperitivo time in Italy. Definitely needed to keep the tummy from rumbling before a late dinner 🙂
Jenn
February 19, 2020 @ 4:13 pm
I didn’t know pintxos were a thing! They sound like a yummy way to sample the food! How do they differ from tapas?
Catherine
February 19, 2020 @ 5:31 pm
I’ve never heard of Pintxos before but they sound delicious! That first image is making my mouth water!! I will definitely give them a try next time I’m in Barcelona.
Sage Scott
February 19, 2020 @ 9:17 pm
Before reading your post, I’d not heard of pintxos. Now I definitely want to try them. They look both pretty and tasty! And by counting the toothpicks, that’s a bit like the sushi train we have near us where they count the empty plates in order to tally up what you’ve enjoyed.
Yukti Agrawal
February 20, 2020 @ 1:37 am
To have Pintxos that too vegetarian must be great in Barcelona. I went to Barcelona but never tried these great dishes as I was not knowing the vegetarian version of it. Euskal Etxea looks very funky and colorful place to have these Pintxos. Good to know about their origin and other details of this local dish.
Patricia Pagenel
February 20, 2020 @ 5:35 am
We had tapas when in Barcelona but it looks like we missed a great deal by not trying these Pintxos! Basque food is quite popular so I am not surprised they are such a big hit. I might skip the toothpick and just grab one since it would be finger-licking good I am sure!
Jennifer
February 20, 2020 @ 6:39 am
I’d never heard of pinxtos but they look/sound delicious! I love that vegetarian and vegan options are becoming more prevalent. Though I don’t follow a vegetarian diet, it’s nice to have options!!