Best Restaurants In Barcelona
Best Restaurants In Barcelona
The easiest thing is to divide Barcelona's overwhelming range of restaurants into two categories: the new and the old. Some of the world's most modern restaurants, managed by the world's most innovative chefs (the most famous is Ferrán Adrià) can be found here, but there is also traditional Catalonian cuisine, which, despite being heavy on occasion, includes very good vegetable dishes: samfaina, a kind of ratatouille; escalivada, grilled, peeled peppers, aubergines, and onions; espinacs a la Catalana, spinach fried with garlic, pine nuts, and raisins, among others. Best known is the simple rustic pa amb tomàquet: a slice of bread with olive oil, salt, and freshly crushed tomatoes. "The new ones" in particular may be expensive, but many of the best-known chefs' apprentices have now opened their own lower-priced restaurants. Generally speaking, "the old ones" provide better value for money, although even the traditional restaurants know how to charge. You should always reserve a table in Barcelona, and dinner here is not served until 9 pm.
Yulia Grigoryeva/Shutterstock.comEls 4Gats
Els 4Gats is an iconic and historic restaurant, which opened on June 12th 1897 and served as a meeting point for the great artists and intellectuals of Barcelona, including Ramon Casas and Pablo Picasso. The latter had his first exhibition of drawings here and designed the cover art for the menu that is still used to this day. Housed in a modernist neo-Gothic building, just a few minutes from the Palau de la Música Catalana, Els 4Gats offers Catalan cuisine in a bohemian atmosphere with regular, live piano sessions.
Helena Lopes/PexelsCal Pep
Cal Pep is a very popular tapas bar and restaurant near the Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar. It is best to jostle your way to the counter seats and let Pep himself recommend the best hors d'oeuvres. Otherwise, there are also tables and a quieter dining room further in. On offer is a mixture of traditional and innovative cooking with a focus on seafood & fish.
Shebeko/Shutterstock.comBanna
Unpretentious Asian restaurant specialized in Thai cuisine offering curries, stir-fries, plus Singha beer in a cozy atmosphere in the heart of the Gràcia neighborhood.
Kzenon/Shutterstock.comEl Filete Ruso
El Filete Ruso is a grill house, near Casa Milà, serving organic meats, juicy burgers, steak tartare, entrecôte, and tapas in a cosy atmosphere. Enjoy your meal on the lovely terrace and watch the world go by.
farbled/Shutterstock.comPoble Espanyol: the Richness of Traditional Spanish Cuisine
The wide range of bars and restaurants in Poble Espanyol allows you to diskover the variety and richness of Spanish cuisine. Enjoying authentic paella or delicious tapas in a peaceful environment is quite an experience. And if the weather permits, why not relax on one of the pleasant terraces too?
tradville/Shutterstock.comVrutal
Vrutal is a vegan restaurant, in the Poble Nou district, serving house-made burgers and healthy bowls, plus cocktails. The Blind Date burger and the crispy cauliflower wings come highly recommended.
Lefteris kallergis/UnsplashUMA
UMA is a Michelin-starred restaurant offering creative tasting menus in a charming and exclusive environment. From the presentation of the dishes to the flavor combinations to the well-thought-out wine pairing, dining at UMA will be an experience you will not forget.
Shebeko/Shutterstock.comBlavis
Tucked away on a small side street, Blavis offers a truly unique culinary experience in an intimate and cosy atmosphere. The owners, Paco and Marc, are an attentive and warm duo. Together they offer simple yet mouthwatering tapas dishes with Italian and Japanese influences. The place is indeed small and seats only 18 people, so booking in advance is highly recommended.
Andrey Bayda/Shutterstock.comCarlota Akaneya
Inspired by a famous restaurant in Kyoto, Carlota Akaneya is the first sumibiyaki in Barcelona. What makes it special is the grill placed in the center of the table where you can cook impeccable quality meats, fish, and vegetables. So if traditional and authentic Japanese cuisine is what you are looking for, then this is the place to head for.
Quang Mau Thanh/Shutterstock.comPiazze d'Italia
This simple and cosy small Italian restaurant is a hidden gem compared to the many tourist traps a few streets away. Homemade pasta, pizza, and meat dishes are served here every day by the attentive staff.
marinatakano/Shutterstock.comViana Barcelona
When dining at Viana Barcelona, one can relish the beautifully presented modern take on tapas along with refined Mediterranean-style dishes with global twists. Although the restaurant is tiny and noisy, the delicious food, the artisan cocktails, and the excellent service make it all worth it.
Shebeko/Shutterstock.comMian
Authentic Chinese restaurant serving hearty dishes, including dim sum steamed dumplings, gyoza, noodle soups, and fried rice in a modern and cosy atmosphere.
leungchopan/Shutterstock.comBodega Biarritz 1881
Bodega Biarritz 1881 is a cosy little tapas bar located near the famous la Rambla. Make sure to pick a wide variety of different tapas from the menu to get a comprehensive overview of the Spanish speciality. To round up your menu, enjoy one of the available Spanish, Basque, or Catalan wines with your dish.
marcin jucha/Shutterstock.comCera 23
Cera 23 is the result of three friends sharing the same passion for food with a focus on the anatomy of a dish, which really shows. Try different types of seafood, meat, and vegetable dishes and round them off with a delicious dessert from the menu. A special pride of the restaurant is the black rice volcano, assembled of its ingredients to imitate an erupting volcano on your plate.
Evgeny Karandaev/Shutterstock.com