From Barcelona’s towering churches and bustling avenues to the sun-drenched beaches and idyllic plazas, it’s obvious why this city captures visitors’ hearts. You can also eat incredibly well here, and often for not very much money — though Barcelona loves a tasting menu and the World’s 50 Best Restaurant list awarded Disfrutar the No. 1 spot last year. Despite Barcelona’s famed cuisine, it’s also easy to have a downright disappointing meal if you settle for any old paella-slinging bar along Les Rambles (known in Spanish as La Rambla) or La Barceloneta. (Tip: If a restaurant has to pay someone to stand outside and hassle pedestrians, the food isn’t worth it.)
The 38 Best Restaurants in Barcelona
The best meals in Barcelona, Spain, according to a local gastronomic tour guide
Start with some classic tapas and paella (both great but neither entirely Catalan) and be sure to seek out local gems like bittersweet vermouth, seasonal seafood, and homestyle Catalan cuisine. But after writing and revising this list for nearly a decade, I have to insist you don’t overlook the city’s burgeoning global cuisines; save room for Calabrese paninis, Northeast Asian sharing plates with natural wines, towering fried chicken sandwiches, South Indian fish stews, and nose-to-tail yakitori.
Though this list works perfectly well for someone who lives in Barcelona, I’ve designed it as a crash course for visitors in town for about a week who want to try both what’s traditional and what’s trending. If it’s on this list, it’s worthy of one of your precious meal slots on a trip that will never be long enough.
In this latest refresh, we’ve revamped our write-ups to include even more relevant info for diners, including a rough range of pricing for each destination — ranging from $ for quick, inexpensive meals with dishes largely under $10 USD (or the equivalent in euros), to $$$$ for places where entrees exceed $30.
Eater updates this list quarterly to make sure it reflects the ever-changing Barcelona dining scene.New to the map in June 2025: Brabo, an asador (grill-centric restaurant) that’s versatile enough to fit a special occasion or a casual night out; Taktika Berri, a 30-year-old Basque bar with a mid-‘90s vibe and excellent pintxos, steaks, and codfish omelets; and Colmado Múrria, a restaurant and wine bar inside an iconic modernist-era grocery store, founded in 1898.
Sam Zucker is a freelance writer, photographer, filmmaker, travel Instagrammer, and gastronomic tour guide in Barcelona. He has contributed to Monocle, National Geographic’s “48 Hours” guides, Culture Trip, and Vice Travel, among others.
The 38 Best Restaurants in Barcelona
The best meals in Barcelona, Spain, according to a local gastronomic tour guide
From Barcelona’s towering churches and bustling avenues to the sun-drenched beaches and idyllic plazas, it’s obvious why this city captures visitors’ hearts. You can also eat incredibly well here, and often for not very much money — though Barcelona loves a tasting menu and the World’s 50 Best Restaurant list awarded Disfrutar the No. 1 spot last year. Despite Barcelona’s famed cuisine, it’s also easy to have a downright disappointing meal if you settle for any old paella-slinging bar along Les Rambles (known in Spanish as La Rambla) or La Barceloneta. (Tip: If a restaurant has to pay someone to stand outside and hassle pedestrians, the food isn’t worth it.)
Start with some classic tapas and paella (both great but neither entirely Catalan) and be sure to seek out local gems like bittersweet vermouth, seasonal seafood, and homestyle Catalan cuisine. But after writing and revising this list for nearly a decade, I have to insist you don’t overlook the city’s burgeoning global cuisines; save room for Calabrese paninis, Northeast Asian sharing plates with natural wines, towering fried chicken sandwiches, South Indian fish stews, and nose-to-tail yakitori.
Though this list works perfectly well for someone who lives in Barcelona, I’ve designed it as a crash course for visitors in town for about a week who want to try both what’s traditional and what’s trending. If it’s on this list, it’s worthy of one of your precious meal slots on a trip that will never be long enough.
In this latest refresh, we’ve revamped our write-ups to include even more relevant info for diners, including a rough range of pricing for each destination — ranging from $ for quick, inexpensive meals with dishes largely under $10 USD (or the equivalent in euros), to $$$$ for places where entrees exceed $30.
Eater updates this list quarterly to make sure it reflects the ever-changing Barcelona dining scene.New to the map in June 2025: Brabo, an asador (grill-centric restaurant) that’s versatile enough to fit a special occasion or a casual night out; Taktika Berri, a 30-year-old Basque bar with a mid-‘90s vibe and excellent pintxos, steaks, and codfish omelets; and Colmado Múrria, a restaurant and wine bar inside an iconic modernist-era grocery store, founded in 1898.
Sam Zucker is a freelance writer, photographer, filmmaker, travel Instagrammer, and gastronomic tour guide in Barcelona. He has contributed to Monocle, National Geographic’s “48 Hours” guides, Culture Trip, and Vice Travel, among others.
Ramen-Ya Hiro
Open for: Dinner
Price range: $$
Long considered the best ramen in Barcelona, the menu at Ramen-Ya Hiro is fairly simple, with just three choices of hot ramen — soy ramen with a combination pork-chicken-seafood broth, miso ramen with a pork and chicken broth, and seafood ramen with baby clams, mackerel broth, and local seafood garnish — and two cold ramens: tsukemen (chilled noodles dusted with dry mackerel powder and lime, served with a soy yuzu dipping sauce) and hiyashi chuka (cold noodles with roast char siu pork, cucumber, bean sprouts, and egg, served with a light vinaigrette). Online reservations are in high demand, so book ahead. However, they still save some space in the cramped dining room from walk-ins each night.
Know before you go: To skip the wait, check out the takeaway lunch menus, available Tuesday-Friday at the Hirolab space next door.
Masa Vins
Open for: Dinner
Price range: $$
Barcelona is in the throes of a natural wine renaissance, and Masa Vins is opening some of the most interesting bottles in the city. The cuisine of co-owner chef Antonella Tignanelli is rooted in the Mediterranean but globally inspired. Delicate dishes like seabass crudo with mandarin oil and sumac share space on the menu with bar snacks like the kimchi grilled cheese “bikini.” Brimming with youthful energy, Masa Vins was created by Tignanelli and co-owner Dani Bajc to be a place to hang with friends, drink unique wines, listen to music, and eat excellent food. Of the 250 natural wines on the list, there’s an emphasis on Eastern European labels, and the food menu changes every three months with the seasons.
Know before you go: The place is nearly always busy and there aren’t many tables, so get there early or expect to wait. Groups bigger than five people can book a table between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m., exclusively through Instagram direct message.
Masa Vins
Achaar Bar
Open for: Lunch and dinner
Price range: $$
From restaurateurs Majid and Mani Alam along with Bilal Khan, Achaar Bar is part of the growing roster of restaurants under the Alam Brothers umbrella. Their latest is an Indian canteen and natural wine bar named for the ubiquitous South Asian pickled vegetable condiment (which they make in-house). The menu spans the breadth of India, as well as adding in some Pakistani favorites like the Lahori samosa, a nod to the Alam brothers’ Punjabi roots. The 150 natural wines on offer have been curated by sommelier Irene Cavalli to pair excellently with the bold seasoning, heat, and aromas of dishes like Kima Mutter Pav (spicy ground beef with peas and brioche bread), spicy coconut prawns, Madrasi vegetables, and Goan fish curry. This kitchen has breathed new life to a space that was once a warehouse, embracing the stripped-down post-industrial aesthetic in Poblenou, a district akin to the Brooklyn of Barcelona. Order as much as you can; the menu isn’t huge, so with a handful of friends you might be able to try it all, and you’ll be happy you did.
Must-try dish: If you’re a meat eater, don’t miss the tandoor-roasted lamb chops, the unassuming star of the menu.
Álvaro Amo
Sartoria Panatieri
Open for: Lunch and dinner
Price range: $$
The team at pizzeria Sartoria Panatieri focuses on seasonality, artisan production, and ingredient provenance, taking the pies to a whole other level and making this one of the hottest spots in the city; in fact, they were awarded the title of 2nd Best Pizza in the World in 2024 as part of the the Best Chef Awards. This self-described “farm to pizza” restaurant meticulously selects every ingredient that graces their creative pizzas. Tender crust from local, organic flour is the base for toppings like sobrasada with Mahón cheese, wild fennel, honey, and mozzarella; adobo pork jowl with celeriac puree, smoked mozzarella, and Brazil nuts; or apple compote with bleu cheese, celery, freeze-dried apple, and caramelized almonds. Make sure you try their house-made salumi as well, especially the papada and the Gascón pork tartare.
Know before you go: The location on Carrer de Provença is the flagship location with the most creative and seasonal pizzas, while the location in Gràcia on Carrer de l’Encarnació serves popular classic pies.
Sartoria Panatieri
Ultramarinos Marin
Open for: Breakfast and lunch
Price range: $$$
Don’t be misled by the old-school appearance and simple menu at Ultramarinos Marín. Seats at chef Borja García’s open kitchen are among the most sought-after in the city, and for good reason. This humble-looking asador (grill-centric restaurant), only open for breakfast and lunch, is a temple of product-driven Catalan cooking, dedicated to holding classic recipes to the highest standard. Through his training at the iconic Etxebarri and Noma, García works magic with minimal ingredients, a hot plancha, and a smoldering wood-fire oven. The myriad preparations include grilled langoustines, braised pork shanks, mackerel in escabeche, stewed snails, massive steaks, smoked beef tongue, funky garum, and briny sea urchin toast. Don’t miss the fish charcuterie or the simple yet extraordinary grilled smashed potatoes with garlic alioli.
Know before you go: In April 2025, García opened Ultrapaninos Marín next door, a casual sandwich shop and grocery selling some of the house products, from pickles and garums to T-shirts. Don’t miss out on the street-style hot dogs.
Brabo
Open for: Lunch and dinner
Price range: $$$
Chef Rafa Panatieri, of the Panatieri-Sastre chef duo, loves to say that of all the carefully imagined and artfully presented dishes at Brabo, everyone remembers the bread. Grilled in a pan over glowing coals and served with smoked butter, this unforgettable starter is even better when enjoyed with the salumi that Panatieri and fellow co-owner Jorge Sastre have perfected at their award-winning Sartoria Panatieri pizzería. Most dishes — grilled quail with young garlic, chuletón steak of thickly-marbled Friesian, spring peas with white sobrasada sausage, whole-roasted fish of the day — pass over the grill in Brabo’s kitchen, which is open to the intimate and dimly-lit dining room.
Must-try menu: Opt for the 90 euro tasting menu which includes snacks, appetizers, main dishes, and dessert (the quivering flan with quince caramel should not be missed).
Berbena
Open for: Dinner on weekdays, with lunch on Friday; closed weekends
Price range: $$$
Berbena is a leading reference in the blossoming world of chef-driven, modern Catalan cuisine in Barcelona. Take a seat at one of the handful of tables, and begin your meal with hearty chunks of sourdough smeared with rich, smoked butter. Then dive into the assortment of seasonal small plates featuring whatever is fresh that day, from monkfish cheeks with cod tripe pil-pil and beef tongue with bustard, to guinea fowl with parsnips in a Catalan vi ranci sauce and artichokes with truffle; vibrant vegetables often play a starring role in the nightly specials. The cheese selection is impressive, as is their list of the over 600 wines, with more than 30 of them served by the glass. Linger over dessert as you enjoy excellent coffee from nearby SlowMov specialty roasters and espresso from the gleaming La Marzocco machine.
Know before you go: The restaurant has a policy of no children under 12 years old allowed so keep this in mind if traveling or dining with children
Monica Burton
Rooq
Open for: Lunch and dinner
Price range: $$
Rooq makes everything in-house, from the herb breading, tangy marinade, fermented pickles, and pillowy brioche buns for their fried chicken sandwiches, to their side dishes and brownies. The menu is minimal: chicken nuggets, salads, and sandwiches. All the chicken sandwiches (fried, spicy fried, grilled, or the new Sichuan-style hotpot flavor) are made with juicy, corn-fed Catalan chicken breasts, and . vegetarians can choose from jackfruit or tofu in either nuggets or sandwiches. Pick your main course and round out the meal with twice-cooked fries tossed in the house spice blend and a side of coleslaw (vinegar- or mayonnaise-based). There’s also a wide selection of craft beers and seven house-made dipping sauces.
Know before you go: On Monday and Tuesday nights, the restaurant has fried chicken wings with special flavors that change weekly.
Funky Bakers Eatery
Open for: Breakfast and Lunch
Price range: $$
Seyma Ozkaya Erpul is originally from Turkey but has called Barcelona home for over a decade. She left her previous career as an engineer and marketing professional to pursue her passion for great food and design, opening the first Funky Bakers in the heart of El Born. While that original location remains a popular takeaway coffee shop, the full Funky Bakers experience can be had at the Eatery and Deli location in Eixample. One side is a highly curated gourmet grocery, gift, and coffee shop, while the other is a bistrot serving colorful and creative dishes from around Northern Europe and the Mediterranean, all paired with natural wines.
Know before you go: If you find yourself in the neighborhood of Poble Sec, check out the new Funky location inside the chic Hotel Brumell, with a beautiful interior courtyard tucked away from the busy city center.
Colmado Múrria
Open for: Lunch and dinner
Price range: $$$
Founded in 1898, this family-run colmado has long been one of the most iconic gourmet shops in the city. With an impressive stock of over 200 cheeses and a huge selection of wines, conservas, and cured meats, the famed dry goods store was renovated in 2022 to accommodate an array of high bistro tables, as well as a more formal dining room tucked away behind storeroom doors. The kitchen, led by chef Jordi Vilà of Michelin-starred Alkimia, offers a take on Catalan cuisine that is both elegant and nostalgic, with dishes like wild sea bass tartare with sour cream and caviar, stewed mushrooms with poached egg and zucchini panna cotta, and lamb shoulder braised with Chartreuse.
Know before you go: There are two dining areas, each with its own booking system: the less-formal Colmado Múrria shop space with high tables, and the backroom Rerebotiga with low tables and tablecloths.
Mikan
Open for: Lunch and dinner
Price range: $$
Mikan comes up again and again when locals in the know are asked about their favorite spots in the city. Serving what the team calls Northeast Asian cuisine, the project, created together with partners Woody Wang and Arthur Holland Michel, is an evolution of various businesses — private dinners, a lunchbox delivery service, homemade chili crisp — that chef Dan Jin (who goes by Tan) developed at the start of the pandemic. Chef Tan has a particular passion for the dishes of her native region of Northern China, but she also loves the flavors of Japan and Korea. Mikan is a bargain for lunch, when a fixed-price menu includes a variety of dishes, soup, and dessert (including vegan and vegetarian options). In the evenings, the exciting a la carte menu is perfect for sharing. Dishes like grilled koji-cured mackerel with green onion oil, daikon, and shiso, spicy beef salad with cilantro and chile, or Iberian pork loin katsu are paired expertly with an eclectic selection of natural wines, all from small European producers.
Know before you go: One Saturday per month, the bar features rotating local DJs starting at 11 p.m., and there are often collaboration nights with unique, thematic wine pairings by visiting sommeliers, so keep an eye on their Instagram.
Mikan
Little Andaman
Open for: Lunch and dinner
Price range: $$
Named for a tiny island nearly 800 miles off the coast of India in the Bay of Bengal, the cuisine of Little Andaman is light and vibrant, with coconuts, fresh herbs, seafood, and vegetables playing the starring roles in many plates. The restaurant space is chic and inviting, equally suited for a lunch with friends as it is for an intimate date night. While many dishes are inspired by the flavors of Little Andaman, the menu also features an ample array of small plates from coastal regions all across India, like mustard and five spice-seasoned shrimp skewers, tamarind fish stew, and Goa-style spiced lamb sorpotel with poi bread. The menu is extremely veggie/vegan friendly, with plenty of gluten-free options as well.
Best for: There is a weekday prix fixe lunch menu and three different tasting menus in the evenings (short and long tapas menus, and a vegetarian menu with vegan options), allowing diners to sample the widest variety of dishes.
Amar Barcelona
Open for: Dinner, with lunch on Fridays and Saturdays
Price range: $$$$
The Palace hotel, which first opened as the original Ritz Barcelona in 1919, still dazzles with opulent, old-world decor, making it a perfect stage for chef Rafa Zafra’s homage to classic fine dining. Zafra, former head chef at El Bulli, has come to be known for his elegant and simple approach to seafood at his lauded restaurant Estimar, but at Amar the preparations and presentations are decidedly more ornate; there is even a section of dishes inspired by the original Ritz hotel restaurant. The menu also has a section of dishes that pay homage to chef Albert Adrià, as well as top-quality seafood, seven dishes highlighting caviar, a handful of modern Catalan mains, whole grilled fish and steaks, vegetable sides, and Mediterranean tapas.
Must-try menu: There is currently a special menu celebrating the 175th birthday of César Ritz himself, in addition to the standard 12-course tasting menu.
Amar Barcelona
Carnal
Open for: Lunch and dinner
Price range: $$$
Born in Uruguay and trained in Basque, Spain — both centers for meat in their own right — chef Joaquín Ignacio Sánchez is at the helm of Carnal, a Barcelona boho take on the traditional Spanish steakhouse. At this buzzy spot, hefty cuts of dry-aged beef are charred over oak embers, served medium-rare, and finished at the table on a searing-hot stone slab, allowing diners to dial in their preferred doneness. The steaks on offer come from around the globe and are aged in-house between 45 and 150 days, with prices that range from accessible to wildly extravagant; the menu’s most luxurious item is the 120-day-aged, 2-pound ox chuletón (bone-in rib-eye) from the legendary Bodega El Capricho near León, Spain. Before the main event, warm up with some American black angus beef cheek croquettes, flame-grilled maitake mushrooms, or A5 wagyu tartare kissed with a blowtorch and served over a caveman-esque length of roasted bone marrow. For those who don’t partake in red meat, there is a decent selection of seafood, poultry, and vegetable dishes, providing some welcome balance.
Must-try dish: Do not overlook the “Jamón de vaca Rubia Gallega,” marbled beef from Galicia cured in the style of Iberian ham, which yields intense flavor and fat that dissolves on the tongue.
Carnal
Gresca
Open for: Lunch and dinner
Price range: $$$
Chef Rafa Peña’s passion for food is as great as his disregard for formality and fine dining accolades. A favorite among the city’s chefs, Gresca is a must-visit for lovers of nose-to-tail cooking who want to experience the best of seasonal Catalan cuisine without the stuffy service and delicate portions of some Michelin-starred restaurants. The menu can change from day to day, but there are some mainstays that every first-timer at Gresca should experience, such as the roasted chicken with fines herbes, the calf’s brain with butter and lemon, the pan-roasted sweetbreads, and the grilled quail.
Know before you go: The best seats in the house are at the open kitchen pass, where diners get a front row view of the action. It’s worth calling the restaurant to reserve your spot, since they don’t provide this option when booking online.
Soma
Open for: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Price range: $$
In an antique bar space with over 100 years of history, on a coveted corner in one of the trendiest parts of the Eixample, Soma opened in 2021 to instant accolades from the gourmands of Barcelona. Cozy decor and a Parisian-style terrace set the stage for a menu of Catalan tapas with a strong Italian character and hints of France. Look for veal liver with onion and red pepper jam, socarrat de risotto (a risotto cooked until compact and crispy like the bottom of a classic paella) with kale and honey, octopus with bacon and paprika potato purée, and ragu-stuffed rigatoni.
Best for: Soma is known as a vibey spot for lunch or dinner, but weekday breakfasts on their tiny outdoor terrace with coffee, pastries, and sandwiches make a perfect, slow morning.
Besta
Open for: Lunch and dinner
Price range: $$$$
Besta’s two chefs, Carles Ramon and Manu Núñez, focus on offering exceptional products from their home regions of Catalunya and Galicia, respectively. They precisely plate vibrant dishes with a focus on seafood, like skate wing with bone marrow and mustard, and scallop with bright orange roe emulsion and smoked paprika. The menus — either 9 or 12 courses — are always a surprise, but make sure you try the oyster- and seaweed-infused gin tonics.
Best for: Dinner at the chef’s table, where diners can watch the food preparation up close and personal.
Gringa All Day
Open for: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Price range: $$
Created by Priscilla Alfaro, a Mexican American woman who grew up in Los Angeles, with her partner Gaston Gabrielli and chef Nick Hosea, this is an excellent, modern American diner where the draw is simple: truly delicious food and bottomless filter coffee from specialty roaster Three Marks Coffee. The pancakes are fluffy, the bacon is crispy, the breakfast burrito is hearty, and the Nashville hot chicken sandwich is tongue-numbingly good. Too many brunch spots in Barcelona rely on Instagram-worthy visuals to compensate for mediocre flavors and cookery, but Gringa All Day is the real deal. Expect a line on the weekends, but the wait is worth it. No reservations.
Know before you go: If you’re a fan of Gringa, check out their burger and fried chicken window at the rock ‘n’ roll/biker-themed cocktail bar Motor Oil BCN.
Xuba Tacos
Open for: Lunch and dinner
Price range: $$
It’s rare in Barcelona to see a classic trompo slowly, perfectly charring pork, but Xuba Tacos takes tacos al pastor very seriously. The restaurant lovingly layers spiced pork on the spit, shaves it into thin slices, and serves it on supple, handmade blue corn tortillas. Alongside classics like al pastor and carne asada, there are also modern creations, like black beer-batter sea bass tacos with crispy leeks and sauteed lobster tail tacos with cilantro emulsion. Keep an eye out for seasonal specials, like wild mushroom and roasted chestnut tacos, and don’t miss the micheladas.
Best for: For a great deal, opt for their weekday fixed-price lunch menu that includes a starter of guacamole, three tacos of your choice, and a drink (water, soda, or beer).
Batea
Open for: Lunch and dinner
Price range: $$$
Don’t let the prime location fool you; Batea is all about excellent quality seafood without the touristy vibe you might expect so close to the Passeig de Gràcia. The menu features the best of the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts (similar to their “big brother” restaurant Besta), and the kitchen strives to be classic without falling into stale tropes of tradition. Begin your meal with a mini seafood tower from the raw bar, followed by marinated zucchini with monkfish and tomato taramasalata, clams in garlic, oil and vinegar, and the Betanzos-style omelet (a Galician specialty) topped with sauteed baby squid.
Know before you go: Don’t miss out on their seasonal cocktails as well — for Spring the bar is serving up a special Negroni infused with juicy, ripe strawberries from El Maresme, a fertile stretch of coastal land just north of Barcelona known for excellent produce.
Los Tortillez
Open for: Lunch and dinner
Price range: $$
An homage to the beloved tortilla (Spanish omelet), Los Tortillez gives off nostalgic 1980s airs — with red banquettes, popcorn stucco walls, retro crockery, and a tile-clad bar straight out of one of Pedro Almodóvar’s cult classics — but it’s actually a relatively recent addition to the beautified, newly pedestrianized Consell de Cent. First opened in late 2022, the restaurant has quickly become a point of reference in the city for some of the best al momento Spanish omelets. The menu includes 16 different, personal-sized tortilla variations; classic ingredients like chorizo and manchego rub shoulders with truffles, pesto, Thai curry, cilantro, bacon, and jalapenos.
Must-try dishes: Come for the tortillas but stay for tapas-sized portions of Catalan specialties, like the habitas (baby broad beans) with mint, pork ribs braised in vermouth, veal and cuttlefish meatballs, and the bunyols de bacallà (cod fritters with honey and lime).
Suru Bar
Open for: Lunch and dinner
Price range: $$$
With no signage or any identifying information visible from the street, the small Suru Bar makes meals in its intimate space feel like serendipity. A row of counter seating gives diners a view into the open kitchen, where chefs prepare star dishes like grilled chicken skin skewers with chilled shrimp tartare, vibrant spring peas with smoked chorizo and cured egg yolks, and a brochette of crunchy pig ear with charred chicken gizzard and tender squid. The cuisine is seasonal, thanks to the prime location just across the street from the famous Ninot market, and the dishes range from yakitori on a traditional Japanese grill to explorations of all things offal, with an extensive wine list to round out the meal.
Must-try dish: Don’t miss the grilled veal sweetbreads with a silky puree of toasted cauliflower and pickles.
Taktika Berri
Open for: Lunch and Dinner
Price range: $$
Crowds flock to Taktika Berri to down copious amounts of ice-cold beer and funky, sour cider while perusing the platters of pintxos that adorn the well-polished bar. Highly traditional without being kitsch, this popular Basque bar, founded in 1995, feels like it’s been transported straight from the industrial port city of Bilbao, complete with old photos and jai lai baskets. The bar area at the entrance can get packed with an after-work crowd, who graze classic pintxos like fried chistorra sausage, anchovies with piquillo peppers, and tortilla de bacalao (salt cod omelette). But don’t be deceived; the pintxos on display are just a small fraction of what the menu has to offer. Take a look at the carta and order from a selection of Basque mainstays like almejas con refrito (sauteed clams with garlic, cayenne, and cider vinegar), the two-person serving of cogote de merluza (a large center-cut piece of whole hake, roasted and served with garlic and parsley), fried monkfish loin, or a well-marbled txultetón steak.
Know before you go: In addition to the cold or room-temperature pintxos on the bar, there is also a menu of hot pintxos that can be made-to-order (try the morcilla black sausage). To drink, choose a caña (small draught beer), Basque hard cider, or Txakoli (a famous, lightly-sparkling, kind of saline, low-alcohol wine from the Basque region).
Flax & Kale
Open for: Lunch and dinner
Price range: $$
The location of Flax & Kale just off the Pasaje de las Manufacturas is by far the brand’s best. It’s open all day, great for a weekend brunch, and the menu is distinct from the other locations, boasting the company’s astonishingly good wood-fired vegan pizzas (that also happen to be gluten-free). Chef Teresa Carles has been pioneering “flexitarian” food in Barcelona since 2014, and other highlights of her menu include miso-glazed eggplant with pulled jackfruit, red cabbage sauerkraut, and chili jam plant-based smash burgers; and parmesan kale lemon salad with sautéed portobello mushrooms and anchovy dressing. There are also some fish-centric dishes, like oven-roasted seabass with mojo picón sauce, wild salmon with quinoa and pistachios, and yellowfin tuna bibimbap.
Must-try drink: Stop by and grab one of their many flavors of kombucha (the spicy margarita kombucha with lime, cilantro and jalapeño is my favorite) or cold-pressed juices from the take-away refrigerators at the front of the restaurant.
Biercab
Open for: Lunch and dinner
Price range: $
Biercab has a rotating selection of draft beer flowing from 30 taps and an international bottle list so staggeringly extensive that it borders on intimidating;there’s no better place in town for craft beer. As if the tremendous selection isn’t enough, the bar has a full kitchen, offering tapas, sandwiches, burgers, lighter plates, and main courses (a rarity in Barcelona, where many craft beer bars have a small menu of basic snacks). Try the extra-spicy patatas bravas or the grilled wagyu steak with a house-made, hop-spiked chimichurri.
Know before you go: Check their website to see which beers are currently featured — they even indicate which kegs are freshly tapped.
El Chigre 1769
Open for: Lunch and dinner
Price range: $$
Asturias and Catalunya are starkly different in culture and landscape, but at El Chigre 1769, the two cuisines exist in sumptuous harmony. Part vermuteria (vermouth bar), part sidreria (cider bar), El Chigre is housed in an ancient stone building from 1769 and offers products of Asturian fame — from spanking-fresh Atlantic shellfish, grilled octopus, Fabada (an Asturian stew of beans and pork), and torreznos (fried pork belly) — alongside Mediterranean dishes like squid ink rice with prawns and garlic and charcoal-grilled escalivada (roasted eggplant, pepper and onion) topped with smoked sardine fillets.
Must-try dishes: Cheese lovers should try the tasting board of five different raw milk cheeses from Asturias (the region with the most Denomination of Origen cheeses in Spain). And don’t miss the patatines al cabrales, perfect cubes of fried potato piped full of hazelnut praline and topped with Cabrales bleu cheese mousse.
Gelida
Open for: All day
Price range: $
Since 1946, Gelida has been an important social hub for the neighborhood, be it old friends meeting for a weekend lunch or workers loading up on calories before sunrise. The menu is full of classic Catalan dishes, but the breakfast-forward spot is best known for esmorzars de forquilla, or “fork breakfasts.” In modern Barcelona, many people opt for a light breakfast (think croissant and coffee), but the tradition of beginning your day with a hearty plate of stewed veal, tripe, snails, pig trotter, chickpeas, or pork cheeks is still alive at institutions like Gelida. You’ll see heaps of fried potatoes topped with a runny fried egg and spicy chorizo on tables as life-long regulars drink cafe con leche and mini draught beers simultaneously.
Must-try dish: Cap i pota, a gelatin-rich stew of veal head and hoof (though Gelida uses veal necks, which are meatier). The sauce is meant to be sopped up with pieces of crusty baguette and washed down with a house Gandesa, a golden, long-macerated white wine from the region of Terra Alta.
Bar La Plata
Open for: Lunch and dinner
Price range: $
This small corner bar just one block from the old port of Barcelona has been serving the same four dishes since 1945. Though the salted anchovies, fried sausage, and tomato salad are all delicious, pescaditos (fresh, floured, and fried whole anchovies) are the true star. Now run by the grandson of the original founder, Bar La Plata sells over 85 pounds of the little fishes per week.
Know before you go:The place is nearly always busy and only has a few tables, so either show up right when they open, or do as the local crowd does and eat standing up at the bar or even in the street if no seats are available. Drinking alcohol outside isn’t allowed but you can get the pescaditos to-go in a paper cone.
Compà Barceloneta
Open for: Lunch and dinner
Price range: $
Plump pork meatballs braised in tomato sauce, creamy stracciatella cheese, grilled zucchini, and a dusting of grated ricotta salata come together in one of the newest sandwiches on the menu at Compà, a panini shop dedicated to the flavors of Calabria. In addition to the original location a few streets over from the Barceloneta beach, owner Vittorio Cicero has recently expanded with a new shop in the uptown neighborhood of Gràcia, with panini like mortadella with burrata and pistachio pesto or Calabrese lardo with spicy ‘nduja spread, smoked provolone, and roasted potatoes. Choose from nearly a dozen sandwiches including rotating specials, all served on 48-hour slow-fermented focaccia, pressed and piping hot.
Know before you go: There are a few tables, but the sandwiches are meant as street food, so get yours to-go and head to the beach or the nearest plaza. Just don’t forget the napkins, and a tiramisu for dessert.
Cova Fumada
Open for: Lunch
Price range: $
One of the oldest restaurants in the beachside neighborhood of La Barceloneta, this is the birthplace of the famous “bomba de la Barceloneta,” a mouthwatering fried potato croquette stuffed with savory ground beef and topped with aioli and hot sauce, which now appears on menus all over the city. In addition to the bombas, try the calamars a la planxa (grilled squid), and in summer get the grilled sardines. If you have a taste for offal, add a plate of cap i pota, an old-school Catalan stew of tripe, veal trotters, and veal head in tomato.
Know before you go: You’ll likely see a line of people waiting outside, but don’t get behind the last person. Go straight to the door instead of queuing up and ask to be put on the waiting list. They will call out names in order, no need to wait in an orderly line, just linger nearby.
Cinc Sentits
Open for: Dinner, with lunch on Saturdays
Price range: $$$$
Chef Jordi Artal and his team fill the seasonal tasting menus at two-Michelin-starred Cinc Sentits (Five Senses) with modern interpretations of Catalan cuisine. Spring might bring artichoke or venison presented with bits of molecular flair (a spherification here, a powder there). But while Artal’s dishes are undoubtedly intricate and delicately composed — he proudly declares that no principal ingredient is repeated over the course of their lengthy tasting menu — they also aren’t wanting for bold flavor or heartiness. A restaurant at this level shouldn’t leave you hungry; this one doesn’t.
Know before you go: Make a special booking request for their private dining room with a huge window that looks directly into the kitchen full of chefs working with laser focus.
Jordi Artal
Suculent
Suculent isn’t defined by one genre of cuisine, but packs its tasting and a la carte menus with as many delicious dishes as possible. It’s a favorite among chefs for nose-to-tail cooking and fine dining makeovers of grandma’s Catalan comfort food (with influences from Asia and Latin America). Dishes change with the seasons, but don’t miss mainstays such as the beets with beurre blanc and smoked eel, the royal custard of porcini mushrooms with sea urchin, and the braised hare canelon with foie gras and Codium seaweed.
Els Sortidors del Parlament
Open for: Dinner, with lunch on weekends
Price range: $
Found on the restaurant-rich street of Carrer del Parlament, this classic-meets-modern bodega stands out in the Sant Antoni neighborhood. Enjoy vermouth, various craft beers, or a glass of wine from the shop’s old barrels, which the business also sells a granel (by the liter); snack on tapas and Catalan dishes; or just browse the gourmet shop. There is a little something wonderful here for everyone.
Know before you go: The bottled wines lining the walls are sold as you would find in a regular wine shop, but you can also pay a corkage fee to drink them at the restaurant.
Sam Zucker
Maleducat
Open for: Lunch and dinner
Price range: $$$
The creation of chef Victor Ródenas and brothers Ignasi and Marc García, this youthful take on a simple Catalan casa de menjars (house of food) combines the best parts of a traditional vermouth bar with the refined, seasonal Catalan cooking of a fine dining veteran. The lively yet casual atmosphere is the perfect place to enjoy the varied dishes: confit artichokes with spring peas, sunchoke puree, and romesco; escabeche oyster shooters with chicken jus; beef tendon stew with fried hake and pickled chile peppers; and mini paella with shrimp tartare and pig trotter carpaccio. This is a gathering place for neighborhood regulars first and foremost.
Must-try dishes: There are always some special off-menu treats to be discovered, just ask your server.
Benzina
Open for: Lunch and dinner
Price range: $$
Owner Badr Bennis and head chef Nicola Valle were inspired by the freedom they found in New York’s creative Italian restaurants. At the upscale yet informal Benzina (“Gasoline” in Italian), housed in a former auto repair shop, they serve a menu of updated Italian classics, incorporating international influences, non-traditional ingredients, and colorful presentations. The atmosphere is more akin to a rock and roll bar than your typical red sauce spot. The menu is refreshed every couple of months, with dishes like cacio e pepe risotto with fried squid and mandarin reduction, Roman-style gnocchi with slow-cooked rabbit and kale, balsamic-roasted pork loin with maitake mushrooms, and confit eggplant parmesan topped with basil sorbet.
Know before you go: Right next door is sister restaurant Doppietta, serving classic Italian cuisine and Sunday brunch.
Benzina
El Camarote d’en Tomàs
Open for: Lunch and dinner
Price range: $$$$
Some high-end seafood spots in the city are places to see and be seen; this intimate, traditional marisqueria is a place to eat. For nearly 30 years, the supreme quality and freshness of the fish has kept any desire to modernize or adulterate classic Catalan cuisine at bay. Tucked away on a street in Poble Sec, El Camarote d’en Tomàs displays the day’s catch on heaps of ice at the bar, an impressive sight that immediately greets visitors. Expect wild-caught fish roasted whole, grilled giant prawns, impossibly tender sauteed baby squid, clams, scallops, and plump sea urchin roe scooped from the shell and laid across a butter-smeared cracker with a dash of lemon on top. Whatever you pick, be sure to start with the superb and refreshing esqueixada de bacallà, a popular cold preparation of salt cod bathed in olive oil, tomato, and olives that is near and dear to the hearts of many Catalan people.
Must-try dish: If you want to experience the legendary Spanish delicacy that is percebes (gooseneck barnacle), this is a perfect place to try them — just brace yourself for the lavish cost per kilo.
MoneoMoneo
Tiberi Bar
Open for: Dinner, with lunch on the weekends
Price range: $$
Tiberi Bar was born from the Tiberi Club, a popular organizer for creative events and pop-ups that fuse eating and art. Tucked away on a quiet street in Poble Sec, the minimalist, airy interior, with high ceilings and plenty of windows, is the perfect scene for a rotating roster of colorful sharing plates inspired by Catalan traditions and the flavors of the Mediterranean, paired with natural wines from small local producers. Duck terrine with pistachios, crunchy polenta with sage, smoked sardine with sour cream and whole grain mustard, and a pork confit sandwich with red cabbage play upon well-worn local staples with surprising flavors.
Know before you go: Tiberi Bar organizes a periodic Sunday morning special menu, dubbed Granja Tiberi, with novel takes on brunch such as croissant with ricotta, sobrassada, and honey, and fried eggs with peas, artichokes, mint, and ham. Check the Tiberi Bar Instagram for scheduling and booking info.
Martínez
Open for: Lunch and dinner
Price range: $$$
There are plenty of places to try paella in Barcelona, but Martínez is the move. Perched on the side of Montjuïc with a panoramic view of the city and port, the restaurant is far removed from the hubbub of the beach district. To justify your journey to the table, dig into the famous rice dishes like the señorito paella — garnished with peeled and shelled seafood, which keeps fingers clean — and the decadent lobster rice, as well as classic tapas and the inviting oyster bar.
Best for: The view from Martinez is stunning in the golden hour before sunset; try to schedule some time to take in the full splendor of the port and cityscape and then enjoy your dinner.
