Barcelona Wine Bar Is Headed for the Sibling Rivalry Space

The rumor has been floating around for awhile now, but a source close to the deal told Eater that the lease was signed last week — Barcelona Wine Bar will expand its local presence to the South End, taking over the former Sibling Rivalry space. A Barcelona rep confirms the news and says that the opening could be "later next year but timing may change." No staffing has been determined at this time.

The tapas chain currently has nine locations, most of which are in Connecticut. The first Massachusetts location opened last January in Brookline's Washington Square, in the former American Craft space. In March, it snapped up three stars out of four from the Globe's James Reed, who called it "a top-notch addition to the neighborhood." The Brookline's executive chef, Steven Brand, was previously the executive chef at UpStairs on the Square.

The heart of Barcelona Wine Bar's menu is the tapas section, which includes selections like fluke a la plancha with salsa verde, chorizo & sweet-sour figs, Manchego risotto with shaved white Alba truffles, and toasted lobster-infused noodles. There are also large-format sharing options available, priced per person, including suckling pig, various paellas, and mixed grills. The beverage program focuses heavily on Spanish wines and sherries.

The Tremont St. space has been empty since early April, when nine-year-old Sibling Rivalry closed suddenly. The neighborhood is also home to a couple other popular tapas spots, each just over a half-mile away — Toro and Estragon.
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