Last weekend, Poble Espanyol once again smelled of chips, hot sauce and good beer. The fourth edition of the Mahou Bravas Fest Barcelona brought together more than 30,000 people between October 3 and 5, surpassing all forecasts and confirming that the love for patatas bravas is more alive than ever in the city.
During the three days of the festival, 14 restaurants cooked more than 10 tons of potatoes, some 42,000 servings of bravas, and served 15,000 varied tapas accompanied by 25,000 liters of Mahou beer. Among the participants were classics such as Bar Tomàs, Senyor Vermut or La Esquinica, and newcomers such as Món Viêt, Casa Rafuel or La Mafia Mexicana.
The winners of the best bravas in Barcelona
The public had a hard time, but finally the popular award for the best bravas in Barcelona went to XinVic, a gastrobar in Vic, thanks to its version with beef, onion and lime. A bravas that, by the way, already won the jury’s prize last year.
For its part, the professional jury (formed, in part, by Barcelona Secreta) crowned Món Viêt, a Vietnamese restaurant in the Eixample, for its spicy curry-mayo bravas with peanut sauce, a daring proposal that won everyone over.
But they were not the only ones we liked. We were disappointed not to be able to reward the bravas of Senyor Vermut (with candied peppers), those of Mafia Mexicana (with a chipotle sauce) or those of La Tabarra (with original baby potatoes), which also deserve a distinction in this article.
Much more than potatoes
Bravas Fest was, as always, much more than a gastronomic contest. There was live music, DJs, showcookings, tastings, beer and hot sauce pairings, and even a “Braves Passport” with which those who tasted the bravas from the 14 venues could win their weight in beer. The little ones also had their space with children’s plasticine workshops and chef’s crafts.
Organized by Pleisure and Bravas Barcelona, the project of influencer Edu González, the Mahou Bravas Fest reaffirms its position as one of the most popular food festivals in the city. In addition, it had luxury sponsors such as La Española and Lost Vines, the Penedès wines that paid tribute to the legacy of Don Miguel Torres Carbó.
The next edition of Bravas Fest this 2025 will be held in Valencia from October 17 to 19 in the La Marina area.