Fans of tapas rejoice! Barcelona’s wildly popular eatery Tapas,24 has landed in Robertson Quay. First opened by Spain’s Michelin-starred renowned chef Carles Abellan in 2007 near the city’s swanky business and shopping area Paseo de Gracia, Tapas,24 specialises in classic tapas and sangrias made with fresh seasonal local ingredients.
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Helmed by chef Carolina Garcia Santamaria who was trained by Carles himself, the Singapore outpost focuses on traditional tapas with a twist, each dish highlighting bold flavours.
The signature items in the menu include starters like “Tapas 24” Bikini Sandwich, featuring a crowd-favourite combo of black truffles, Iberico ham and buffalo mozzarella; and Barceloneta’s Bomba, a deep-fried breaded potato ball with pork and beef filling, topped with Bravas sauce and aioli.
Spanish Tortilla “Mallorcan Style” is an omelette with confit potatoes, caramelised onions and chorizo.
Ensaladilla Rusa with Olives is chef Carles’ award-winning salad inspired by the traditional Russian potato salad.
Large, sharing plates include Paella de Gambas Al Ajillo, a paella version of classic Spanish garlic prawn dish Gambas Al Ajillo, and Korean-fusion Barbequed Ribs en Bosam, which features charcoal oven grilled ribs served wrapped in lettuce.
The beverage menu is equally exciting, featuring a selection of Spanish street cocktails served by the pitcher like Cherry Spritz, Agua de Valencia, classic Catalan favourite Shandy o Clara, and various sangrias as well as a curated wine selection.
Designed by duo Matthew Shang and Paul Semple of Matthew Shang Design Office (MSDO), the interior of Tapas,24 is an eye-catching cosy mix of vibrant primary colours of red, blue and yellow, and rustic materials like terrazzo and terracotta tiles.
The design brief given to Matt and Paul requested the design to bridge the cultures of Spain and Singapore while encapsulating Tapas,24’s signature fun, unfussy and at-time frantic atmosphere.
The duo looked for inspirations from the most famous Catalan architect, Antonio Gaudi, and juxtaposed it with recognisable Peranakan elements.
The graphic grille of the main entrance, its half-circular accents and the red-cut out upper part of the front windows, for instance, brought to mind Chinese screen and paper cutting art.
Tapas,24 offers a variety of seating arrangements. The indoor dining area is furnished with long counters, high tables, and bold red high stools that encourage nights spent with friends over authentic Spanish tapas dishes.
Meanwhile, the alfresco area features a more relaxed setting dotted with low-slung yellow steel chairs from which diners can enjoy the premise’s waterfront perch.