Love Spain? While traveling for leisure to visit the famous Basílica de la Sagrada Família and have Spanish food there is not quite possible for now, you can have a taste of Barcelona in Singapore.
The famous tapas bar from Barcelona, Tapas 24 has opened at Robertson Quay.
This is the first Asian outpost of the iconic Barcelonian concept, helmed by Michelin-starred Chef Carles Abellán. The Singapore branch is helmed by Chef Carolina Garcia Santamaria, who has over a decade of experience with Spanish cuisine and is a protégé of Chef Carles Abellán himself.
Tapas 24 Singapore focuses on tapas with a twist, highlighting bold flavours.
Highlights include the “Tapas 24” Bikini Sandwich ($16) with black truffles, Ibérico ham and buffalo mozzarella; Barceloneta’s Bomba ($6) – a deep-fried breaded potato ball with pork and beef filling topped with Bravas sauce and aioli.
Large plates include Paella de Gambas Al Ajillo ($40), a hearty update to the classic garlic prawn dish (Gambas Al Ajillo); and Barbequed Ribs en Bosam (S$40) — Josper grilled ribs served in Korean Bossam style, wrapped in lettuce.
Further leveraging the use of the Josper oven, there are also dishes like Roasted Eggplant Escalivada with Sobrasada ($12), a cured sausage from Balearic Islands; and the Secreto Ibérico with Creamy Mashed Potato ($26) which uses the slices of the Iberian cut served atop creamy mashed potato, and finished with chimichurri.
However, the restaurant-bar did not exactly receive very glowing reviews during opening weeks, with a 3.2 score on Google.
While some diners praised its service, others had feedback over its small portions and expensive pricing. Will complete a review when I visit personally – reservations are quite full for now.
Tapas 24 Singapore
60 Robertson Quay #01-04, Singapore 23825
Opening Hours: 11am – 11pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon
Online Reservations – Tapas 24 Singapore
[The following is a review of Tapas 24 at Barcelona, Spain]
One who wants to feel the pulse of Barcelona city just needs to enter TapaÇ24. Also, if you want to have a taste of the El Bulli alumni, this will probably be one of the most affordable, and most approachable options.
The celebrity chef behind Tapas 24 is Carles Abellan, who formerly worked for Ferran Adrià at the 3-star Michelin El Bulli.
Tapas 24 does not offer the traditional-traditional tapas, but mostly with a modern and innovative twist. Some tourists will say it is Spanish ‘fast-food’.
Go during the off-peak hours. By off-peaks, I mean Spanish off-peaks – they have their lunches and dinners later than the rest of the world. Like maybe right at the opening hours of 1:30pm and 8:30pm.
I was greeted by an immerse energy and rhythm of Tapas 24. Staff was always on-the-move, serving food, speaking in a quick-okay English, all in a messy but organised fashion.
Sit at the bar counter if you have the choice to get all the action.
If there are only 3 things you can order, get the Bikini Comerç 24 (8.90€), Mc Foie-Burger (9.60€) and Bravas (3.50€) in that order. But after having those, you would want to order much more.
“Get the Bikini, Get the Bikini!”. This is what I hear from customers seated 4 places away.
Just in case you are wondering, this is not what the Spanish ladies wear to the beach, but a warm sandwich with black truffles, cured Iberian ham and buffalo mozzarella.
It was like having all of my favourite things in a crisp thin sandwich bursting with all the goodness. Delicioso!
The Mc Foie-Burger seemed to be a dig at a certain Mc. Of course they cannot be even compared side by side.
The really small beef hamburgers was rather pricey at 9.60€, but when you spread the foie ganache all over like jam, it made all that difference.
You wished you never have ordinary hamburgers ever again.
Which brings me to the Fried Potatoes Bravas. Isn’t this like French fries overly spread with garlic mayonnaise?
Not when it enters your mouth. This to me, is the real fries – hot, thick, crisp, made with good real potatoes.
A meal without beverages would cost about 20-25€ per person on average.
Tip of the day: Please don’t go during Saturday nights and Sundays. They are closed. Visit Tapas 24 after a visit at Gaudi’s Casa Milà and Casa Batlló which are just minutes’ walk away.
All to get a taste of Barcelona Spain.
Tapas 24 Singapore
60 Robertson Quay, #01-04 The Quayside, Singapore 238252
Opening Hours: 12pm – 11pm (Tues – Sat), 11am – 11pm (Sun), Closed Mon
Other Related Entries
Pura Brasa (Tanjong Pagar)
* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.
