The Best Tapas Restaurants in Pittsburgh

Don’t worry about biting off more than you can chew with tapas; the small plates are perfect for tasting and sharing curated flavors.

Spanish
Latin
Asian
New American

Looking for some great bites? These top tapas restaurants in Pittsburgh will satisfy whatever craving you have. Have your taste buds dancing with a spiced beef empanada from Barcelone Wine Bar, discover bold flavors by ordering Kaya’s corn & lentil beignets, or savor wagyu meatballs from Carmella’s Plates and Pints.

Needless to say, the tapas scene in Pittsburgh will constantly have you wanting more; so, the more the merrier, which is perfect for their shareable design. Plan a girls' night, throw a mini-reunion, or have a boys' night and have tapas take you through a cultural cuisine landscape throughout Pittsburgh.

Tapas vs. Small Plates

Tapas are often confused with appetizers. Appetizers serve as an opening act to dinner, and frequently are pieces of a larger meal – Brussels sprouts, glazed carrots, or fries – or small but shareable bites, like nachos, wings, or bruschetta. However, tapas are not meant to be an intro to a larger meal, but rather the main course that provides full, complete flavors by themselves.

The development of this style of dish has seen much change since its creation in Spain, as many fusion bars and cuisines have taken their own spin on the course. Though distinctly Spanish (right down to their name), tapas have taken on new flavors in Pittsburgh with Asian fusion, American twists, and more.

But what about small plates? Small plates walk the line between appetizers and the shareable, conceptual design of tapas. Some restaurants cater their small plates in the same way that tapas are made, crafting full bites to be shared, while others use the name as a synonym for appetizers. At the end of the day, small plates can be tapas, but not all small plates are tapas.

Spanish

Barcelona Wine Bar | 922 Penn Ave.

Price Range: $$$
Hours: Times Vary

Their menu is simply put: refined, divine, and delicious. Barcelona Wine Bar prioritizes seasonal and fresh flavors, meaning their menu is subject to change to adapt to ingredients that are ripe and in season, which just means you’ll have to go back to try their latest creations. Best of all, as you dine on these bites, you’ll be surrounded by the stunningly sophisticated and swanky atmosphere of the wine bar in the cultural district.

Order Rec: Barcelona Wine Bar offers a brunch menu that also includes a curated selection of tapas that combines sweet breakfast options with savory lunch flavors.

Morcilla | 3519 Butler St

Price Range: $$$
Hours: TUE - THURS, 5 PM - 9 PM | FRI, 5 PM - 10 PM | SAT, 4 PM - 10 PM

Head to lower Lawrenceville for more authentic tapas at the Spanish restaurant, Morcilla. The selected collection of small plate bites features classic Spanish tapas ingredients, including seafood, mushrooms, eggs, and potatoes. Choose from their Scallop Crudo, Setas a la Plancha, or Pulpo a la Plancha – or order them all to share!

Order Rec: The octopus dishes at Morcilla are incredibly tender and well-seasoned; don’t leave without trying a bite.

Balvanera | 1660 Smallman St

Price Range: $$$
Hours: MON - FRI, 5 PM - 10 PM | SAT - SUN, 11 AM - 2:30 PM & 5 PM - 10 PM

Open, light, and refreshing, just like their menu, the atmosphere at Balvanera is a carefree and relaxed setting for a family or friends get-together. Grab a seat inside or a spot on the patio to dine on their dinner or brunch tapas. Their collection of dinner tapas prioritizes crudo (raw seafood), veggie plates, and Mollejas. Brunch’s selection features empanadas galore: sweet corn, roasted beef, egg and ham, and more!

Order Rec: The Pez Limon Crudo is fresh, well-prepared, and made with their own personal flair, with touches of shallots, Arauco, and peppers.

Gaucho Parrilla Argentina | 146 6th St

Price Range: $$
Hours: TUES - SAT | 11 AM - 9:30 PM

Back in the heart of the cultural district in downtown Pittsburgh, find Gaucho Parrilla Argentina. Their honed tapas selection has richly flavored and perfectly seasoned options, including cured meats and ripe produce. Gaucho’s retro and intimate design presents an aesthetic and friendly environment to grab a bite. No meat? No problem; their menu has a handful of vegetarian tapas options from their veggie empanadas to Fugazza and Provoleta.

Order Rec: The way Gaucho Parrilla Argentina prepares its chorizo adds to its layered flavors. Cooked on a wood grill, the smoky, spiced sausage is a must-try.

Latin

Kaya | 2000 Smallman St.

Price Range: $$
Hours: MON - SAT, 11:30 AM - 10 PM | SUN, 11 AM - 10 PM

Among our Strip District’s lively and creative scene, you’ll find Kaya, a Caribbean/South American cuisine restaurant. And, with its fun bar ambiance and unique menu, it's no wonder that the eatery is nestled among the Strip District’s many inspired businesses. Their limited tapas menu has primarily vegetarian options available, with a tuna poke bowl and jerk wings also available.

Order Rec: The conch fritters have a crispy, crunchy exterior with a soft and gooey interior served with habanero-lime aioli that is too good to pass up.

Con Alma | 613 Penn Ave.

Price Range: $$
Hours: THURS - SAT, 4 PM - 12 AM | SUN, 4 PM - 10 PM

Another tasty addition to the tapas scene in the Cultural District is Con Alma, which has a long list of small plates that provide elevated bites of soul food classics. An inclusive restaurant, Con Alma has a clearly labeled menu and offers a variety of dairy-free and nut-free choices for those who require food allergy accommodations. Make sure to check the restaurant’s website for a night with live music as the location doubles as a jazz bar with an impressive lineup of local musicians.

Order Rec: Con Alma is vegan-friendly and is a great place to try original vegan dishes, especially their Korean-fried tofu.

Asian

Social House 7 | 123 7th St

Price Range: $$
Hours: WED - THUR, 4 PM - 10 PM | FRI - SAT, 4 PM - 11 PM | SUN, 3 PM - 8 PM

Social House 7’s tapas, or socials as they call them, are powerful showcases of Japanese, Korean & Thai cuisines. Their cultural district location has a short list of six shareable plates that are customizable with add-ons of chicken, shrimp, egg, wagyu steak, and even more additions. What knocks this restaurant out of the park is its playfully modern environment, which combines a traditional tea house interior with modern accents.

Order Rec: You and your friends have to order Social House 7’s firecracker shrimp, which comes with a house-made kimchi aioli.

Silk Elephant | 1712 Murray Ave

Price Range: $$
Hours: SUN - SAT | 11 AM - 10 PM

In Squirrel Hill, Silk Elephant is serving authentic and traditional Thai food. The casual dining restaurant brings a chill setting for your next friends' hangout and a huge variety of Thai tapas. Want protein-packed meals? Try their rack of lamb, satay chicken, or chicken kabobs. Considering some seafood? Maybe order the steamy mussels and Thai crab crowns. Need a veggie option? Taste their corn fritters. Silk Elephant has a little something for everyone.

Order Rec: We highly recommend their fresh rolls, which you can order with shrimp or tofu.

New American

Siempre Algo | 414 E. Ohio St.

Price Range: $$$
Hours: WED - THURS, 5 PM - 9 PM | FRI - SAT, 5 PM - 10 PM

Siempre Algo, East Allegheny’s new American restaurant, brings elevated meals to their relaxed environment. The location fuses traditional Spanish tapas with American takes, like their strawberry gazpacho and scallop crudo, and has house originals, including steak kabobs and Doppio Ravioli. The restaurant’s diverse collection of cocktails, whiskeys, wines, and beers makes for great pairings with their food.

Order Rec: Consider ordering the steak tartare to share, especially delicious with one of their handcrafted cocktails.

Carmella’s Plates and Pints | 1908 E Carson St

Price Range: $$
Hours: TUES - FRI, 5 PM - 12 AM | SAT - SUN, 4 PM - 12 AM

Carmella’s Plates and Pints in the South Side offers familiar bites with elevated twists. Their meatball tapas option is made with wagyu steak; the deviled eggs are topped with more than a yolky filling: pancetta; and their flatbread features black truffle-infused Pecorino. Want to enjoy the weather while you catch up with friends? Grab a table outside!

Order Rec: Carmella’s Plates and Pints is especially creative with their preparation of wagyu; their wagyu meatballs are sure not to disappoint.

Pittsburgh is a foodie’s delight. Discover all the tasty meals waiting for you in Pittsburgh through our restaurants and culinary page.

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