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Where to Enjoy Tapas & Small Plates in Boston

Tapas are traditional appetizers in Spain, and they are synonymous with Spanish and Barcelona cuisine. They often include empanadas, potato omelets, and meatballs.

albondigas at boston tapas restaurants

And if you are looking for some of the most delicious tapas in the state, treat yourself to a visit to tapas restaurants in Boston, Massachusetts.

Whenever I visit a great tapas restaurant, I love to order different spreads of my favorite tapas and pair them with some fine wine.

To complete the dining experience in style, a decadent Spanish dessert is in order. At times, I also take a few tapas home to snack on later.

Whether you’re familiar with tapas or curious to try them out, I promise you won’t be disappointed by visiting any of the following best tapas restaurants in Boston.


Barcelona Wine Bar

525 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116
Phone: 617-266-2600
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Barcelona Wine Bar is a tapas restaurant in the South End with Spanish cuisine. It’s on Tremont St and Milford St, near Berkeley Community Garden here in Boston.

Chef Jose Ochoa, an alumnus of The French Culinary Institute in New York, runs the kitchen, and he brings his expert knowledge of Spanish cuisine to every dish.

The restaurant has a cozy vibe, perfect for romantic dinners. Barcelona Wine Bar has over two dozen kinds of tapas, and you can choose from lighter snacks or heavier plates.

I recommend trying the potato tortilla with sour cream or the roasted eggplant hummus with pita bread.


Toro

1704 Washington St, Boston, MA 02118
Phone: 617-536-4300
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Head down to Toro, a tapas restaurant on Washington St and E Springfield St. It’s by Worcester Square, and it has a chic vibe.

Chefs Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonette bring Barcelona cuisine to this hip spot in Harrison Lenox. Toro has a seasonal menu, so check the website to see what’s available.

I like to order the Tortilla Espanola, an egg omelet with potatoes and onions. Try the Pato con Membrillo duck drumettes or the Hamburguesas burger sliders if you prefer meat tapas.

The chocolate sauce churros are a great way to end the night, especially when you pair them with wine.


Dali

415 Washington St, Somerville, MA 02143
Phone: 617-661-3254
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Dali is a lively tapas restaurant with a romantic environment. Take your date or a small group of friends to this upscale spot in Somerville.

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It’s on Beacon St and Kirkland St, near Harvard University. Dali has a creative Spanish cuisine that you won’t want to miss.

Try a spread of hot tapas and order the Chorizo a la Plancha, grilled sausage with beans and onions. The Patatas Bravas, deep-fried garlic potatoes, are also a tasty choice.

The Plato Mixto is a charcuterie board that makes for a great spread of cold tapas. Choose from Dali’s Spanish wine menu, or try a sangria.


Tres Gatos

470 Centre St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
Phone: 617-477-4851
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Tres Gatos is a unique tapas experience in the Jamaica Plain district, just a few streets over from Jamaica Pond.

Browse through their selection of books and records before you sit down for tapas in the restaurant area.

The indoor ambiance is cozy, but you can dine outside on the patio. Go to Centre St and Roseway St to visit this fun shop and restaurant, and enjoy Spanish cuisine with lots of vegetarian options.

I like the roasted beet salad with ricotta, but you also have to try the stuffed Medjool dates. The dates have almond and blue cheese stuffing and are among the more decadent tapas.


Casa B Tapas and Cocktail & Rum Bar

253 Washington St, Somerville, MA 02143
Phone: 617-764-2180
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Don’t miss Casa B when you’re in Boston. It’s a modern tapas bar in Somerville, and it has influences from the Caribbean and South America.

Casa B is on Prospect St and Somerville Ave, near Union Square. It has a contemporary feel, and it’s a great place to go for Latin-inspired tapas.

The restaurant is famous for its rum and signature cocktails, but the tapas are always the first thing I order at Casa B.

I like the Rollitos de Aguacate, fried avocado rolls with prune and cilantro sauce. The plantain mofongos are a Puerto Rican staple, and I highly recommend ordering them.


Lolita

253 Summer St, Boston, MA 02210
Phone: 617-369-0931
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Lolita has Mexican cuisine, and it’s in the Fort Point area. Visit the Institute of Contemporary Art before you sit down for tapas and tequila at this Summer St location.

It has a gothic vibe, and it’s an ideal place for private events or a casual dinner. Order tapas off of the tequila bar at Lolita.

Try everything from grilled street corn to pinto bean hummus, and don’t leave without trying the Avocado Toasty Loco, a spicy take on avocado toast.

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Lolita also has a wide selection of tacos, and you definitely can’t go wrong with the street corn cauliflower tacos.


Tasca Restaurant

1612 Commonwealth Ave, Brighton, MA 02135
Phone: 617-730-8002
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Head to Brighton for traditional Spanish tapas at Tasca. It’s on Commonwealth Ave and Washington St, and it’s close to the Washington St Plaza.

Watch a Flamenco show while you eat your tapas, and try a signature sangria at this romantic location. Joaquin Galan presides over the kitchen, and he is from Andalucia in the south of Spain.

Try one of the dozens of tapas Galan has curated for the Tasca menu. You have to try the Pulpo a la Parrilla, octopus tapas with hints of paprika.

Visit on Tuesdays for discounted tapas, and order a table full of local seafood appetizers.


Estragon Tapas

700 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 02118
Phone: 617-266-0443
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Go to Harrison Ave and E Brookline St to visit Estragon Tapas. It’s a trendy location with artistic inspirations, and it’s ideal for wine lovers.

Estragon Tapas is by Harrison Urban Garden in Harrison Lenox, and the cuisine is traditional Spanish tapas with gluten-free options.

The Spanish blue cheese stuffed dates are fantastic, and you have to check out the serrano ham croquettes.

You’ll see many classic tapas items at Estragon Tapas, like olives, omelets, and fried potatoes.

Look out for creative dishes like the Arroz Negro with squid ink rice and the Hamburguesa de la Casa, an Australian burger with Manchego cheese.


Little Donkey

505 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139
Phone: 617-945-758
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Little Donkey is a fun location in Cambridge with local, Spanish, and international cuisine. It’s on Massachusetts Ave and Norfolk St, and it has a hip vibe.

Lafayette Square is just a few blocks away, and Little Donkey is in the Port district. The house burger is a Little Donkey classic.

The chefs make it with dry-aged beef, tender caramelized onions, and American cheese, and it comes with spicy chips on the side.

Little Donkey has a raw bar with oysters, tuna, salmon, and poke, keeping with New England traditions.

Try the empanada tapas, Korean rice cake tapas, or Istanbul ravioli and experience the global fare of Little Donkey.


Buttermilk & Bourbon

160 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02116
Phone: 617-266-1122
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Try New Orleans cuisine at this lively tapas restaurant in Back Bay. Buttermilk & Bourbon is across the street from the Boston Hotel Fire Memorial, off Commonwealth Ave.

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Jason Santos is the head chef at Buttermilk & Bourbon, and he’s one of the top chefs in Boston. I like the alligator fries with pimento queso and the fried chicken sliders.

Try authentic American-South tapas with the chicory rubbed baby back ribs, or go for fusion food and get the lobster corn hush puppies.

The banana toffee tart has genuine Southern flair, and it has peanut brittle and drizzled chocolate sauce on top.


Citrus & Salt Boston

142 Berkeley St, Boston, MA 02116
Phone: 617-424-6711
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Don’t leave the city without visiting Citrus & Salt, one of the best tapas restaurants in Boston. It’s on Berkeley St in Bay Village, and it serves coastal Mexican cuisine from chef Jason Santos.

Citrus & Salt is across the street from Isabella St Park, and it has a hip, beach-inspired vibe, and some dishes have hints of the American South, but most menu items are from the Baja coast.

Order a plate of tapas to share, like the grilled street corn with smoked mayonnaise or the fried chicken and waffle tacos.

I like the mini breakfast quesadillas, which have bacon, eggs, and creamy ranch.


Don’t visit Boston without dining at the city’s fantastic tapas restaurants. Try traditional Spanish tapas made by Boston’s top chefs.

Experience diverse cuisines, and try tapas with Mediterranean, Latin, and Caribbean influences. I like to go out with friends and order several different tapas to share.

Many restaurants have sampler plates and charcuterie boards, or you can request a larger dish for yourself. The best tapas restaurants in Boston are waiting for you to visit!

Did we leave a restaurant out of this list? Make sure you leave us a comment, and we’ll check it out!

Why Trust Us?

When it comes to local restaurant recommendations, we pride ourselves on being a reliable and trustworthy resource. Our suggestions are not just based on our personal experiences, ensuring a more authentic and well-rounded perspective, but also on extensive online research. We diligently searched the internet and reviewed 6 credible sites and blogs, including Tripadvisor.com and Foursquare.com. 

We compiled all the findings in one location and sorted them by the frequency of mentions to ensure you receive top-notch recommendations. We strive to present you with a curated list of establishments that truly stand out, allowing you to enjoy the best dining experiences possible. 

Interested in the sources we consulted? Check out the list of all 6 sites we referenced below this paragraph, offering transparency and an opportunity for our readers to explore further. Our commitment is to deliver trustworthy and unparalleled recommendations, helping you make informed decisions on your culinary journeys.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g60745-zfd10942-Boston_Massachusetts-Tapas.html
https://foursquare.com/top-places/boston/best-places-tapas
https://www.opentable.com/cuisine/best-tapas-restaurants-boston-new-england-ma
https://wanderlog.com/list/geoCategory/1539805/best-tapas-in-boston
https://www.reddit.com/r/boston/comments/x96mo0/fancy_tapas_restaurants_in_boston/
https://nrpep.wegiedb.com/tapas-restaurants-boston-ma/12880267

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Written by Brian Nagele

Brian attended West Virginia University, then started his career in the IT industry before following his passion for marketing and hospitality. He has over 20 years experience in the restaurant and bar industry.

As a former restaurant owner, he knows about running a food business and loves to eat and enjoy cocktails on a regular basis. He constantly travels to new cities tasting and reviewing the most popular spots.

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