Try the Catalan version of paella, called "fideua" with noodles instead of rice at restaurant Set Portes near Barceloneta.

Mercat Santa Caterina in El Born is a stylish covered market with a restaurant which is very popular among the natives. They serve paella in various versions (we had it with lobster) at modest prices.

Great architecture, great atmosphere.

I had a delicious traditional Paella at Senyor Paralledo near the Picasso Museum

http://www.senyorparellada.com/sitio/ingles/parellada.html

and a really delicious smoked rice/seafood paella at a restaurant overlooking the beach in Bareloneta called Kaiku - of the two I preferred the latter but both were good. Pics of the Kaiku meal on our blog here.....

http://lizandrichardsa.typepad.com/liz_and_richards_2008_adv/2008/03/barcelona---a-s.html

We had Paella at Set Portes last month-with rice. It was very disappointing which was a surprise considering that they claim it to be a signature dish. The seafood in it did not taste fresh and rice was brown(rather than yellow) and overdone-gummy really. It was definitely not worth the price. The presentation of the Paella was not good either.

Please understand that the color of the rice has to do with the products that are in it and can be unappetizing if one does not know WHY the paella looks "greenish brown" ( from artichokes) or "brownish " ( from the natural juices of fresh seafood.)

Paella is only a tad yellowish from the saffron when the products in it, like chicken and flat beans, do not color it, as white rice is very unappealing.

Not to say that paella was good.. but although the color was not what you were expecting I doubt there was anything unusual about that part of the dish.

Most paella in Spain is a family dish made in a huge pan, and if possible, cooked outdoors. Accordingly most Spaniards do not eat it in restaurants.

We enjoy excellent rice dishes at several restaurants here in Valencia.

That's why I loved the Paella at Kaiku - the rice was smoked and the broth was briny .... mmmmmmmmmmmmm

Valencia the home of paella.

The best Paella we had was in Madrid and it was yellow and served in the two tiered dish where shells can be disposed of in the lower level. The green peas and other veggies (no artichokes) really stood out in the rice rather than the entire dish appearing gray. The Paellas we saw in the street markets( cooked on location) in Provence also had yellow rice and looked very tempting. The Paella at Set Portes looked anything but tempting and I regretted ordering it.

We also had it at Set Portes.....not very good.

that's too bad. It sounds like Set Portes is overrated.

It's fun to have paella near the seafront in Barceloneta. Can Majo gets all the press but we've had good luck at Cava Mar, right next door. Our seafood paella was moist and had a nice variety of flavors. They served a very nice white sangria last time we were there, also.

Afterwards it's nice to take a stroll along the seafront toward Port Olympic.

@ Elizabeth_S: paella SHOULDN'T have any broth when served. All is absorved by the rice.

there is "arroz caldoso" o the risotto type rice dishes but they shouldn't be called "paella". They should just call 98% of these dishes "xxxx RICE".

Paella is a specific type of rice dish.. ( no chorizo, meat. etc.)

I won't bore you with the details

Agosto....of course you're right but it was nice and moist, and had a briny flavour which was my point, agreeing with lincasanova's point that paella isn't always yellow.

Try Brasserie Flo. They have a nice Fideuá.

http://www.brasserieflobarcelona.com/ingles/index.html

I love this restaurant, a blend of French and Catalan food. The place is stunning. Look at the website for a visual tour of the place.

I've been there several times, and told friends about it, who also loved the plac

About a block or two from from La Rambla.

Bookmarking

We will be in Barcelona on a Sunday and thought it would be good to have a paella in the Barceloneta area. We would most likely want to have the latest possible lunch (as opposed to dinner) as we might be jet lagged from our arrival the previous day and tired from sight seeing. Sea side would be nice but we opt for taste over view. Where should go?


Lin, what restaurant would you recommend for a traditional paella in Valencia?

See my link above - Kaiku in Barceloneta was terrific.