Sydney is known for its fantastic food scene, and when it comes to tapas, there are plenty of restaurants that will tantalize your taste buds.
Here is the list of the best tapas in Sydney:
- Paripe
- Bar Topa
- Lola Tapas Bar Potts Point
- And many more.
From traditional Spanish tapas to modern Australian interpretations, there is something for everyone when it comes to enjoying this type of cuisine.
In this blog post, we will look at some of the best tapas restaurants in Sydney!
What Kind of Food is Tapas?
What is tapas? This is a question that you might be asking yourself if you are new to the world of Spanish cuisine.
Tapas are small dishes that are typically served as appetizers or snacks.
They can be both hot and cold and can be made with a variety of different ingredients.
What is the difference between tapas and appetizers?
Appetizers are typically served before a meal, while tapas can be enjoyed at any time of day.
They are also usually smaller in portion size than appetizers.
Why is tapas so popular?
Tapas are popular because they allow you to try a variety of different dishes without having to commit to a full meal.
They are perfect for sharing with friends and can be enjoyed as part of a casual night out or a more formal dining experience.
List of the Best Tapas in Sydney
#1 Paripe (Tapas Bar)
- Address: 24 Kensington St, Chippendale NSW 2008, Australia
- Price range:
- Opening hours: Monday (closed), Tuesday, Saturday, Sunday (12 – 3 pm; 5 – 11 pm), Wednesday – Friday (5 – 11 pm)
- Website: http://www.paripe.com.au/
- Google rating: 4.8/5
Google Reviews:
“What a place! Best tapas in Sydney by far. Such a wonderful place to spend time with friends over a few glasses of sangria and some delicious tapas and pintxos … “
“Great venue !! Food was next level Tapas ! Great atmosphere! Highly recommend this authentic Spanish Tapas for food ,drinks and a great night ! … “
#2 Bar Topa
- Address: 4 Palings La, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
- Price range: $$-$$$
- Opening hours: Sunday – Monday (closed), Tuesday – Wednesday (12 – 10.30 pm), Thursday – Saturday (12 pm – 12 am)
- Website: https://merivale.com/venues/bartopa/
- Google rating: 4.7/5
Google Reviews:
“Excellent Spanish tapas with a friendly staff. Particularly enjoyed the croquettes and sangria.”
“Lovely place to have a drink and a bite before dinner or after work. The tapas are delicious. Staff is great! … “
#3 Lola Tapas Bar Potts Point
- Address: 178 Victoria St, Potts Point NSW 2011, Australia
- Price range: $$-$$$
- Opening hours: Monday (closed), Tuesday – Thursday (5 – 10 pm), Friday – Sunday (11.30 am – 3.30 pm; 5 – 10 pm)
- Website: https://www.bartapa.com.au/
- Google rating: 4.7/5
Google Reviews:
“Great food and service! We orders different Tapas and Paella and it was all delicious”
“Amazing hidden gem in Potts point. The most authentic tapas you will ever have. Lots of range for tapas – seafood, meat and plant based and fantastic prices.”
#4 Bar Tapa
- Address: 78 Stanley St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010, Australia
- Price range: $$-$$$
- Opening hours: Sunday – Monday (closed), Tuesday – Saturday (6 – 11 pm)
- Website: https://www.bartapa.com.au/
- Google rating: 4.5/5
Google Reviews:
“If you want the experience of a good tapas bar, this is the one. This bar would be a very good one if it were in Spain. Here in Sydney, the best I tired so far .. “
“By far one of our favourite places to eat and drink. The tapas is unreal!!! … “
#5 Balcon by Tapavino
- Address: 17 Bligh St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
- Price range: $$-$$$
- Opening hours: Sunday – Monday (closed), Tuesday (12 – 4 pm), Wednesday – Firday (12 – 10 pm), Saturday (6 – 10 pm)
- Website: http://www.balcontapavino.com.au/
- Google rating: 4.4/5
Google Reviews:
“Each of the tapas dishes tasted wonderful and were beautifully presented. … “
“… has a view of the floors below, something like a mezzanine. We had the usual tapas fair – olives, anchovies, potatoes, bread – all done in that masterful Spanish way … “
#6 Alegrias Spanish Tapas
- Address: 124 Terry St, Rozelle NSW 2039, Australia
- Price range: $$-$$$
- Opening hours: Monday (closed), Tuesday – Thursday (5.30 – 10 pm), Friday (5.30 – 11 pm), Saturday (12 – 11 pm), Sunday (12 – 10 pm)
- Website: http://www.alegrias.com.au/
- Google rating: 4.4/5
Google Reviews:
” … The food was wonderful and the sangria was spot on. There are many wine options. I do wish the tapas portions were smaller so we could’ve tried more things. … “
“A nice place to eat a nice paella and some tapas. The portions for the paella are appropriate and it was delicious. … “
#7 Despana
- Address: 101 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe NSW 2037, Australia
- Price range: $$-$$$
- Opening hours:
- Website: http://despana.com.au/
- Google rating: 4.5/5
Google Reviews:
“Best tapas I’ve had in Sydney. Reasonably priced and delicious”
“The tapas are outstanding, sangria was delicious! Lovely staff. Highly recommend. …”
About Tapas
Where did the tapas come from?
The word “tapas” is derived from the Spanish verb tapar, meaning “to cover.” A small piece of bread or a slice of cheese placed over a glass of sherry was once used to keep fruit flies out.
This simple act of covering one’s drink eventually evolved into the culinary tradition we now know as tapas.
Tapas are small dishes, or appetizers, that originated in Spain. They can be served hot or cold, and are typically designed to be eaten with drinks.
The first tapas were probably little more than scraps of bread or meat that Spanish tavern-goers would place atop their glasses of wine to soak up the alcohol and ward off hunger.
Over time, tapas have evolved into a wide variety of dishes, both hot and cold, that is served in bars and restaurants all over Spain.
Most Popular Types of Tapas
Some popular tapas dishes include things like:
- Patatas bravas: a dish made with fried potatoes and a spicy tomato sauce
- Croquetas: fried balls of dough that are typically filled with ham or cheese
- Gambas al ajillo: shrimp cooked in garlic and olive oil
- Tortilla española: a Spanish omelette made with eggs, potatoes, and onion
- Jamón ibérico: a type of cured ham that is typically served as an appetizer
