Mikel Etxea

If you can’t make it to the Pais Vasco to sample the famously superlative Basque cuisine, then trying tapas at Mikel Etxea is a good start. It’s one of the many Basque tapas bars dotted around Barcelona’s old town – and one of the best in terms of variety and the atmosphere. It’s also a handy meeting point, just off the Ramblas on the busy Calle Ferran. Like most bars of this type, the diverse range of tapas is laid out on the bar counter. You point to which ones you want and the waiter brings them over to your table. First of all though, a warning. Don’t come here if you’re starving as each tapa (little more than a couple of mouthfuls) costs from 2-6 euros, so filling up here will see your bill run into triple figures. Best to sample this place when you're in the mood for a little snack to accompany your drink. And pick this branch rather than the one on the Ramblas, as it’s livelier, with more character and friendlier waiters. Another word of advice: let the waiter know that you want just one or two of each dish rather than a large portion (if, indeed, you do) as you may unwittingly end up with 12 full-sized plates of food, as happened to more than one hapless diner. There’s a more formal restaurant at the back, with proper dishes, but it’s far more fun to perch in the bar amid the dozens of hanging hams and barrel tables and pick tapas from the counter.

Type of cuisine: Basque.

Typical dishes: There are about 50 different tapas on offer at any one time (and they vary from day to day), from meaty tasters such as bacon-wrapped chorizo and black pudding to fishy dishes including whitebait and tuna-filled gherkins and various vegetable, bean and seafood concoctions. You can also get plates of patatas bravas, ham or delicious Idiazabal cheese. Drinks are good value, from big goblets of sangria for 3 euros to a tasty rosé wine served in tumblers for 2.75 euros.

Atmosphere/décor: This is a noisy, lively place – great for a snack after exploring the Ramblas or the Gothic Quarter, but less ideal for long, relaxing or romantic meals. The interior is inspired by the rustic charm of a Basque country inn, complete with wooden ceiling beams, wooden tables, giant barrels and enormous legs of ham.