Barcelona Wine Bar

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Spanish Tapas Bar Built on Conviction

Barcelona Wine Bar traces its roots to 1995, when partners Sasa Mahr-Batuz and Andy Pforzheimer opened a tiny 38-seat wine bar with a clear and uncompromising vision. Mahr-Batuz drew on years of living in Spain and Portugal; Pforzheimer brought two decades of cooking at well-regarded restaurants across France, California, and New York. Together, they set out to recreate the feel of an actual evening in Barcelona — sophisticated décor evoking the energy of Milan, SoHo, or Rio de Janeiro, alongside simple, flavor-filled dishes built around olive oil, lemon, and smoky paprika.

That original location in Norwalk, CT, was among the first authentic Spanish restaurants in the United States. The Brookline location on Beacon Street carries that same founding spirit forward.

The Food: Market Fresh, Chef Driven

Every Barcelona Wine Bar shares a name and a culture, but each location has its own Executive Chef who writes the menu daily. The kitchen takes its cues from the food stalls of Barcelona's Boqueria Market and Valencia's Central Market — tapas both simple and elegant, prepared with the finest seasonal picks from local markets and unusual specialties from Spain and the Mediterranean. The flavors are bold, and the ingredients are allowed to speak for themselves.

One of the Largest Spanish Wine Programs in the United States

The wine program is where Barcelona Wine Bar has built a particularly strong reputation. The list spans approximately 500 selections at any given time, drawn from over 100 regions, with 50% of bottles sourced from Spain and a further 15% from South America. More than 40 wines are available by the glass, offered in both 3 oz and 6 oz pours, with the freedom to build any flight combination. Sherry and Port receive dedicated attention, and half of all bottle selections are priced under $50.

The program is guided by VP of Food & Beverage Innovations Gretchen Thomas — a certified Spanish Wine Educator who ranked in the top 15 in the world through the Wine Academy of Spain — alongside Beverage Director Emily Nevin-Giannini, a Certified Sherry Wine Specialist who travels extensively to source wines from small producers committed to quality craft. Their shared philosophy: patience, art, and dedication over brands and trends. Biodynamic producers, women winemakers, and small-estate makers are well represented throughout the list.

That commitment earned Barcelona Wine Bar its first Wine Spectator Award of Excellence in 2007, upgraded to the Best of Award of Excellence by 2012 — the recognition that distinguishes this Brookline location today. The program has since been recognized as North America's Best Organic Wine List by the World of Fine Wine, and consistently earns a Three-Star ranking from that publication, including Jury Prizes for its exceptional Spanish wine selection.

Casual Without Compromise

Barcelona Wine Bar's founding belief — that casual dining does not have to be a mediocre experience — runs through every aspect of the Brookline restaurant. The atmosphere takes the tradition of the Spanish tapas bar and transplants its style and energy intact, preserving the unhurried, convivial spirit of the original while delivering a wine program and kitchen that operate at a genuinely high level.