VIBE

Spacious yet intimate, this stylish tapas bar is a welcoming sight in the Flatiron. At the front sit a few café tables and a marble bar, which stretches back to the warmly hued main dining area. There, tall chairs are gathered around banquettes hugging the walls and the long communal table at the room’s center, which makes for lively conversation and convivial dining. All patrons sit at a friendly eye-level with servers, who swoop back and forth to deliver selections from the fine list of wine and small plates of delicious Spanish tapas.

CROWD

A very mixed group of older and younger folks meeting in camaraderie.

WHAT WE WOULD WEAR

Dress stylishly without overdoing it: an elegant long-sleeved blouse with cigarette pants, fun flats, and statement jewelry.

GO HERE WITH

Friends; coworkers; family; significant other

WHY WE LIKE IT

Food purists and chefs alike concur that the tapas and pinxtos served at Boqueria are some of the most delicious and true-to-Spain flavors found in Manhattan.

WHAT WE WOULD CHANGE

The low ceiling and cramped space make for a noisy hour.

GOOD TO KNOW

Reservations are taken for brunch, lunch, and dinner, but note that dinner reservations require a party of six or more guests–if you are coming in with a large party, be sure to have reservations as it’s crowded during the dinner hour. Also, if you have a big group or are celebrating a special occasion, the tasting menu is ideal. If you want the delicious suckling pig, while this is sometimes on the specials list Mondays through Saturdays, it is always available on Sundays. The restaurant is named after Barcelona’s central market and is just as boisterous and bustling as its namesake. The Spanish wine selection was put together by Roger Kugler, the sommelier from now-closed New York tapas bar Suba.

OTHER LOCATIONS

SoHo (New York)

CLOSEST COMPS

Casa Mono (New York); Bar Jamón (New York); Tía Pol (New York)

Click here for our full-form mobile travel guide, The Purple Passport to New York City.