Diners' Choice: Tapas / Small Plates restaurants in Chicago / Illinois

OpenTable

Updated April 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Tapas / Small Plates cuisine in Chicago / Illinois? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Meson Sabika

4.8

4.8 (11597)

$30 and under

Tapas / Small Plates

Naperville

About the restaurant

Located just west of downtown Naperville, Mesón Sabika has been serving the community since 1990. Built in 1847, the pristine four-acre estate and beautiful mansion welcome you before you reach the driveway. Whether you dine in one of the mansion’s eight dining rooms decorated in traditional Spanish décor, attend a wedding or corporate event in the pavilion, or sit out back on the patio, the cuisine of Spain and delicious drinks make for an unparalleled dining experience.

For a quiet, romantic dining experience we recommend a week night reservation. The small mansion rooms fill up on the weekends, making for a more lively dining experience.

Our dress code is "proper casual/casual dressy." Gentlemen, we respectfully ask that you cover up your arms (no tank tops). And ladies, we ask that the majority of your midriff is covered (no bandeaux’s). We ask that everyone remove their baseball hats when dining inside the mansion.

Thank you!

Top review

Marilyn

Dined 1 day ago

We had such a delightful evening at Meson Sobika. We have been returning again & again since it opened.

Discover more

Popular dish

Pasta Vegetariana

Popular dish

Ensalada con Queso de Cabra

Popular dish

Grilled Lamb Chops

Lil' Ba-Ba-Reeba!

4.8

4.8 (456)

$31 to $50

Tapas / Small Plates

River North (Chicago)

About the restaurant

Welcome to Lil' Ba-Ba-Reeba! in River North. The little sister of Cafe-Ba-Ba-Reeba! in Lincoln Park, Lil’ Ba-Ba-Reeba! stays true to its Spanish roots serving a wide variety of iconic small plates like Patatas Bravas, Bacon-Wrapped Dates, and our signature Beef Tenderloin Toro Skewer. Of course, no celebration would be complete without our classic Sangria. ¡Salud!

Top review

PamVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Great food. Good vibes! Best red sangria and beef empanadas.

Café Ba-Ba-Reeba

4.8

4.8 (9477)

$30 and under

Tapas / Small Plates

Lincoln Park

About the restaurant

Cancellation policy:
For parties of 5+ you need to cancel by 9am on the day of your reservation, otherwise it is a $25 fee. For smaller parties, please give us one hour in advance, in the event of a last minute cancellation or no show it is a $25 fee.

Located in Lincoln Park, the All-Season Courtyard and Dining Rooms at Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba! are open with our new AIRPHX Air Filtration System. Your health is our top priority in all that we do. Steps we are taking: disposable and digital menus, continuous sanitation procedures & hand washing.

Top review

Emanuel

Dined 3 days ago

Amazing restaurant food tasty a special paella 🥘 one of the kind and service was great place looks good 👍🤗

Discover more

4.8

4.8 (2493)

$30 and under

Tapas / Small Plates

South Loop

About the restaurant

Located in Chicago’s South loop, we offer creative Spanish tapas, unique cocktails, and a lively atmosphere with walls adorned in multi-colored mosaic artwork reminiscent of the art of the great Spanish artists Joan Miro and Antoni Gaudí! Whether you’re dining with friends and family, exploring on a first date, or planning your next big event, Tapas Valencia is the perfect backdrop for any occasion. We carry on the tradition of great food and service that was started at our original location, Mesón Sabika in Naperville.

Top review

Tara

Dined on Apr 20, 2025

We consistently love this place; Easter brunch was no exception. Goody bags for the kids and the Easter bunny who was quite entertaining was a fun bonus!

Discover more

Experience

$3 Bar Bites Every Day At the Bar

Tapas Barcelona

4.6

4.6 (693)

$30 and under

Tapas / Small Plates

Evanston

About the restaurant

Dine on traditional Spanish cuisine at Tapas Barcelona. Located 1615 Chicago Ave, north suburb of Evanston and just south of Northwestern University, this restaurant offers casual comfort and a friendly setting for dining out. Tapas Barcelona has various dishes on the menu, such as baked snails and pizza topped with spinach and goat cheese. It also serves seafood and vegetarian entrées. Tapas Barcelona has a full bar that offers guests various drinks, including Spanish selections of wine. Its atmosphere is ideal for meeting up with an old friend for lunch or having dinner with the family. This restaurant welcomes reservations and provides take-out services.

Top review

Janice

Dined on Apr 22, 2025

Amazing, friendly service. The grilled octopus and tenderloin dishes were outstanding. The dessert was delicious.

Boqueria - Chicago

4.5

4.5 (355)

$31 to $50

Tapas / Small Plates

West Loop

About the restaurant

An energetic Barcelona-style tapas bar serving Spanish favorites, seasonal specials, and curated cocktails in a contemporary space with a lively patio in the heart of Chicago's Fulton Market.

Perfect for a shared meal of small plates, happy hour with the team, a memorable date night, or weekend brunch!

Let us know if you have any seating requirements when making your booking.

Please note that by making a reservation through OpenTable you are agreeing to receive marketing communications from Boqueria.

Top review

Rasa

Dined on Apr 18, 2025

Great service, excellent drinks, good food, nice ambiance.

Little Madrid Tapas Cafe

4.5

4.5 (312)

$31 to $50

Tapas / Small Plates

Andersonville

About the restaurant

In January 2020, Little Madrid Tapas Café opened in Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood, a small, cozy, and colorful space. The restaurant transported guests back to Old Madrid with its warm atmosphere, delicious flavors, and enticing aromas that emanated from the kitchen. With a global pandemic raging around the world, Little Madrid Tapas Café remained a steady presence in the neighborhood and soon emerged as one of the best Spanish restaurants in Chicago.

Top review

Samantha

Dined 5 days ago

Loved this restaurant, food, and service!!! Will definitely be visiting again!

Discover more

Experience

“Money Heist” LA BOTA at Little Madrid

Experience

Everyday Happy Hour & Pinxtos Specials

Mercat a la Planxa - Located in The Blackstone Hotel, Chicago

4.4

4.4 (4939)

$50 and over

Tapas / Small Plates

South Loop

About the restaurant

Mercat offers an authentic dining experience that combines fresh meats and produces with the energetic spirit of a Barcelona market.

Top review

MelindaVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Loved it. Great menu. Everything was delicious. Beautiful space and views. Will return.

Discover more

4.4

4.4 (298)

$30 and under

Tapas / Small Plates

Oak Brook

About the restaurant

Nestled in The Drake Hotel Oak Brook, Coa continues the hotel’s standard in unbuttoned luxury. Our Spanish Tapas with Latin Fare restaurant is a testament to authentic culinary experiences and an unwavering commitment in delivering bold flavors and tapas-style dining with warm hospitality.

Our thoughtfully crafted menu is a fusion of Spanish and Latin cultures, rooted in tradition, paying homage to the past while celebrating the present. All are welcome to gather around in our vibrant oasis where new traditions are made while enjoying our one-of-a-kind tapas and our excellent selection of tequila and mezcal flights.

*If you're experiencing difficulties with booking, please contact us at 630.264.1550 for further assistance with reserving a table.

Top review

Blanca

Dined 4 days ago

Food was amazing. Service was great. Our server Payton was very attentive. Overall I rate this restaurant and service five stars will definitely be returning. With that being said already made reservations for Mother’s Day. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Top Rooftop Bar & Lounge

4.0

4 (180)

$30 and under

Tapas / Small Plates

Rockford

About the restaurant

Experience panoramic views of historic downtown Rockford, Illinois, and the Rock River from 12 stories aloft. Featuring an inviting and modern atmosphere with an indoor lounge and seasonal two-tiered outdoor deck, The Top Rooftop Bar & Lounge is the only one of its kind in Rockford. Serving hand-crafted signature cocktails, an extensive wine list, craft beers, and an expansive menu of shareable dishes inspired by cuisine around the world – The Top is the perfect spot for dinner or drinks.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on Mar 9, 2025

The food was fine stake a bit over the cook. It was very loud in there but over all a fun time

Explore Diners' Choice best of Chicago / Illinois

Explore more Diners' Choice lists