Sofia Bar & Tapas

Les Corts is the part of Barcelona that doesn't care about your Instagram feed. It’s about business, football, and the kind of money that doesn't need to shout. Sofia Bar & Tapas, tucked inside the Grand Hyatt, fits right in. It’s polished, it’s sleek, and it’s unapologetically high-end. You aren't coming here for the 'authentic' grit of a Raval dive. You’re coming here because you want a gin and tonic that could serve as a structural blueprint and tapas that have been engineered for maximum impact.

Walking into the Grand Hyatt, you’re hit with that specific scent of luxury—a mix of expensive lilies and air-conditioned silence. But Sofia Bar & Tapas breaks the tension. It’s an open, airy space where the kitchen is the theater. You see the chefs moving with the kind of practiced economy that tells you they aren't messing around. The lighting is low, the surfaces are hard, and the vibe is 'I just closed a deal, now feed me something incredible.' This is Grand Hyatt Barcelona dining at its most accessible, yet it never feels like a compromise.

Let’s talk about the food. In a city where every tourist trap claims the 'best tapas in Barcelona,' Sofia actually puts in the work. The Sofia Bravas are a masterclass in geometry—perfectly uniform cylinders of potato, crisp on the outside, fluffy within, topped with a spicy brava sauce and an alioli that doesn't pull any punches. Then there are the croquetas. If a restaurant can’t get a ham croquette right, they should just pack up and go home. Here, the jamón ibérico is front and center, encased in a bechamel so silky it’s borderline indecent.

The menu leans into the Mediterranean classics but with a level of ingredient sourcing that justifies the price tag. The grilled octopus arrives with a smoky char that speaks of a very hot plancha and a very skilled hand, served over a potato parmentier that’s smoother than a silk tie. If you’re feeling particularly flush, the Wagyu sliders are a protein-heavy nod to the international crowd, but the real soul of the place remains in the local flavors. It is one of the more refined restaurants in Les Corts for those who want quality without the chaos of the city center.

Is it expensive? Yeah, it’s a hotel bar in one of the city’s most affluent districts. You’re paying for the atmosphere, the service, and the fact that you don't have to elbow a backpacker out of the way to get a drink. The wine list is a curated tour of Spain’s best vineyards, and the cocktails are handled by people who actually understand balance. It’s the kind of place where a 'quick drink' inevitably turns into a three-hour session of grazing and people-watching near the Diagonal business hub.

The service is what you’d expect from the Hyatt brand—attentive without being suffocating. They know when to refill your glass and when to leave you alone with your thoughts or your date. It’s a refuge. If you’re looking for the 'real' Barcelona of 1950, look elsewhere. But if you want the Barcelona of 2025—sophisticated, international, and deeply delicious—this is where you sit down, order another round of those bravas, and let the world outside the glass doors do its own thing.

Who is this for? It’s for the traveler who’s tired of the 'hidden gem' lies and just wants a damn good meal in a beautiful room. It’s for the local who wants to escape the noise of the Gothic Quarter. It’s for anyone who believes that a well-made tapa is a work of art, regardless of whether it’s served on a paper napkin or a designer plate. Just bring your credit card and an appetite for the finer things. It’s a masterclass in hotel dining that manages to feel like a destination in its own right, provided you have the appetite—and the credit limit—to see it through.