172 Best Restaurants in Barcelona, Spain

Background Illustration for Restaurants

Barcelona's restaurant scene is an ongoing adventure. Between avant-garde culinary innovation and the more rustic dishes of traditional Catalan fare, there is a fleet of brilliant classical chefs producing some of Europe's finest Mediterranean cuisine.

Catalans are legendary lovers of fish, vegetables, rabbit, duck, lamb, game, and natural ingredients from the Pyrenees or the Mediterranean. The mar i muntanya (literally, "sea and mountain"—that is, surf and turf) is a standard. Combining salty and sweet tastes—a Moorish legacy—is another common theme.

The Mediterranean diet—based on olive oil, seafood, fibrous vegetables, onions, garlic, and red wine—is at home in Barcelona, embellished by Catalonia's four basic sauces: allioli (whipped garlic and olive oil), romesco (almonds, nyora peppers, hazelnuts, tomato, garlic, and olive oil), sofregit (fried onion, tomato, and garlic), and samfaina (a ratatouille-like vegetable mixture).

Typical entrées include faves a la catalana (a broad-bean stew), arròs caldós (a rice dish more typical of Catalonia than paella, often made with lobster), and espinacas a la catalana (spinach cooked with oil, garlic, pine nuts, raisins and cured ham). Toasted bread is often doused with olive oil and rubbed with squeezed tomato to make pa amb tomàquet—delicious on its own or as a side order.

Beware of the advice of hotel concierges and taxi drivers, who have been known to falsely warn that the place you are going is either closed or no good anymore, and to instead recommend places where they get kickbacks.

Aside from restaurants, Barcelona is brimming with bars and cafés, the latter of which can serve as an outdoor meeting spot or a place to socialize and enjoy a cocktail. Be advised that the sidewalk cafés along La Rambla are noisy, dusty, overpriced, and exposed to pickpockets.

Catalan wines from the nearby Penedès region, especially the local méthode champenoise (sparkling white wine, known in Catalonia as cava), pairs perfectly with regional cuisine. Meanwhile, winemakers from the Priorat, Montsant, Empordà, and Costers del Segre regions are producing some of Spain's most exciting new wines.

Amar Barcelona

$$$$ Fodor's choice

Chef Rafa Zafra’s elegant hodgepodge of a menu features contemporary Catalan fare, French classics like sole meuniere, and dishes inspired by his alma mater, El Bulli. The prices are as jaw-dropping as the dining room, which features soaring ceilings, towering marble columns, ornate chandeliers, and gilded accents galore.

Au Port de la Lune

$ | Eixample Fodor's choice
The stereotypical decor of this French bistro (think Serge Gainsbourg photos) verges on parody, but the authentic food is no joke. "There's no ketchup. There's no Coca-Cola. And there never will be," reads Guy Monrepos's sign that sets the tone for a no-compromise showcase of Gallic gastronomy. Delights on the menu include oysters, goose rillettes, and a rib-sticking cassoulet that demands a second helping. Resist the temptation, though, because the cheese is magnifique and the desserts include an outrageously boozy sorbet.

Bar Cañete

$$$ | El Raval Fodor's choice

This spot just around the corner from the Liceu opera house is one of Barcelona's best tapas restaurants, with a long bar overlooking the burners and part of the kitchen that leads down to the 20-seat communal tasting table at the end of the room. Specialists in Ibérico products, they serve obscure cuts of Ibérico pork, such as pluma ibérica and secreto ibérico (nuggets of meat found on the inside of the shoulder blade and much-prized by Ibérico fanatics), though the real highlight of the menu is the market-fresh seafood that ranges from oysters to grilled baby scallops and house special dishes like the baby squid (chipirones) with white Santa Pau beans.

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Bar del Pla

$ | Born-Ribera Fodor's choice

Specializing in Catalan bar food and local, organic, biodynamic, and natural wine, this sometimes-rowdy bar may not look like much from the outside but the hordes of people waiting to be seated give it away. Top choices include the mushroom carpaccio with wasabi vinaigrette and strawberries, the black squid-ink croquettes and the spicy patatas bravas.

Batea

$$ | Eixample Fodor's choice

If gorging yourself on fresh, seasonal shellfish without paying an arm and a leg sounds like your idea of a good time, then Batea is the place for you. Led by two young chefs, one from Catalonia, the other from Galicia, this is the more laid-back sister restaurant of nearby Besta. The menu is made up almost entirely of different takes on spiny sea creatures---from oysters to mussels, razor clams and white shrimp---sourced fresh from either the Atlantic or the Mediterranean. Seafood-loving locals can't get enough of this place, and neither can overseas visitors, so book well in advance to avoid disappointment.

Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes 605, Barcelona, 08007, Spain
93-406--8792
Known For
  • Gooey omelet topped with white shrimp tartare
  • Upbeat vibe and superb service
  • Wine by small-scale producers in Catalonia and Galicia
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.

Benzina

$$ | Eixample Fodor's choice

Named for the car-mechanic shop that once stood here, Benzina blends industrial-chic elements with splashes of color and excellent music (on vinyl, naturally) to create a hip but cozy Italian restaurant. The food, however, is center stage: the freshly made pasta is among the best in the city, while next-door Doppietta, by the same owners, is home to one of the hottest brunch buffets in town.

Passatge Pere Calders 6, Barcelona, 08015, Spain
93-659–5583
Known For
  • Best spaghetti carbonara in the city
  • “Sferamisu” chocolate bomb of deconstructed tiramisú
  • A banging playlist for lovers of rock and soul
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No lunch Wed. and Thurs.

Berbena

$$ | Gràcia Fodor's choice

One of the first things you'll notice here is the scent of freshly baked bread, then you'll take in the open kitchen, head-nodding playlist, and cozy interior, with oversized windows facing the street. The chef's modern spin on Catalan cuisine features Peruvian and Asian influences, and the dishes are made almost exclusively using locally sourced organic products.

Minerva 6, Barcelona, 08006, Spain
93-801–5987
Known For
  • Half-portions available
  • Interesting natural wines
  • Excellent selection of cheeses
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed weekends. No dinner Fri., Reservations essential

Besta

$$ | Eixample Fodor's choice

The atmosphere is relaxed but sophisticated in this invariably fully booked (for good reason!) restaurant with a constantly changing menu that blends the very best seasonal produce from the Spanish regions of Catalonia and Galicia. Freshly caught fish and seafood---think Galician cockles and dry-aged beef, or red shrimp from the Med---take pride of place, as do the seasonal vegetables.

Aribau 106, Barcelona, 08036, Spain
93-019–8294
Known For
  • Catalan-Galician cuisine
  • Seasonal seafood dishes
  • Cosmopolitan vibe
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No lunch Wed.--Fri.

Bodega La Puntual

$$ | Born-Ribera Fodor's choice

Just down the road from the Picasso Museum, Bodega La Puntual might look like a tourist trap, but it's a classic, specializing in hearty portions of Catalan fare, made from seasonal, locally sourced produce. Top menu choices include the fresh marinated anchovies, the plate of premium hand-cut Iberian jamón, and trinxat: a traditional Catalan dish made with potatoes, cabbage, and pork meat, served with a fried egg.

Caelis

$$$$ | Barri Gòtic Fodor's choice

This restaurant takes contemporary decor and fine-dining style and adds the pizzazz of open-kitchen cooking. It's known for its decadent tasting menus, and the star dish is a rich mar i muntanya macaroni with lobster, foie gras, and artichoke. The contemporary decor combines gleaming traditional copper with retro-cool mid-century modern furniture. Wine selections can be added at a surcharge per person. 

Via Laietana 49, Barcelona, 08003, Spain
93-510–1205
Known For
  • Lunchtime menu option
  • Tasting menus for carnivores and vegetarians
  • Michelin star
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.–Tues.

Cal Pep

$$ | Born-Ribera Fodor's choice

It's been in a permanent feeding frenzy for more than 30 years, intensified by hordes of tourists, but this loud, hectic bar manages to keep delivering the very highest quality tapas, year-in and year-out. Be prepared to wait up to an hour for a place at the counter; reservations for the tables in the tiny back room and on the outdoor terrace are accepted, but the counter is where the action is.

Pl. de les Olles 8, Barcelona, 08003, Spain
93-310–7961
Known For
  • Excellent fish fry
  • Delicious tortilla de patatas
  • Lively counter scene
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and 3 wks in Aug. No lunch Mon.

Casa Maians

$$ | Barceloneta Fodor's choice

You’ll mainly hear Catalan conversations in this 10-table establishment that feels like eating at a Spanish relative’s house, with food as locally sourced as its clientele. Rice dishes are the main event, particularly the squid-ink variety and, if you're lucky, the seasonal special topped with perfectly cooked steak.

C. de Sant Carles 28, Barcelona, 08003, Spain
93-627--1585
Known For
  • Market-fresh ingredients and seasonal twists
  • Homemade desserts, such as cheesecake
  • Service is run single-handedly, so don’t come in a rush
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No dinner Sun., Wed., and Thurs., Reservations essential

Cervecería Vaso de Oro

$ | Barceloneta Fodor's choice

A favorite with visiting gourmands, this often overcrowded little counter serves some of the best beer and tapas in town. The house-brewed artisanal draft beer—named after the Fort family who owns and runs the bar—is drawn and served with loving care by veteran, epauletted waiters who have it down to a fine art.

Balboa 6, Barcelona, 08003, Spain
93-319–3098
Known For
  • Old-school service
  • Elbows-out, stand-up dining
  • Beef fillet with foie
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations not accepted

Contraban

$$ Fodor's choice

Once you find this spot, tucked inside the boutique Wittmore Hotel at the end of a tiny alley, you’ll be rewarded with a wonderfully creative menu of small plates and hearty baked pastas. Dishes are served in the lounge-like dining room or out on the courtyard patio with its twinkling lights and impressive vertical garden.

Cruix

$$$$ | Eixample Fodor's choice

With a "short" 10-course tasting menu priced at just €58 (the longer one is €82 for 14 courses) Cruix is the fine-dining restaurant for people who don't want to spend hundreds of euros on a meal. Everything here is laid-back and unpretentious, including the exposed-brick interior, but the quality speaks to the Chef Miquel Pardo's pedigree: he worked under Spanish superstar chefs like Albert Adrià and Jordi Cruz before opening Cruix in 2017. 

DeLaCrem

$ | Eixample Fodor's choice

For a cool pick-me-up on a hot Barcelona afternoon, you can't beat the seasonal, locally sourced, Italian-style ice cream from DeLaCrem. Expect classics like vanilla, chocolate, and dulce de leche as well as more unconventional combinations like mandarin and orange blossom yogurt, pear and Parmesan, or pumpkin and toasted butter. There are vegan options, too.

Disfrutar

$$$$ | Eixample Fodor's choice

Three former head chefs from the legendary former best restaurant in the world El Bulli combined their considerable talents to create this roller-coaster ride of culinary fun (the word "disfrutar" is Spanish for "to enjoy") spotlighting tasting menus of dazzling inventiveness and good taste. Bowls are swirled to reveal beetroot meringues emerging from sesame-seed "earth" (the seeds are made to look like soil), and jellied truffle-and-egg tempura hit the bull's-eye of pure pleasure; desserts are otherworldly. No wonder, then, that the three chefs now hold their own spot close to the top of the World's 50 Best Restaurants list.

El 58

$$ | Poblenou Fodor's choice

A long list of seasonal Mediterranean small plates, ranging from coal-grilled octopus to calamari with green-curry mayo to traditional Catalan sausage stew, is chalked up on the boards each day. Inside, it's casually hip, with exposed brick walls and vintage furniture; there’s a small back patio for alfresco dining as well as tables out front on the Rambla del Poblenou for excellent people-watching.

El Celler de Can Roca

$$$$ Fodor's choice
Diners who can plan far enough ahead to deal with the waiting list for tables at this multiple-time winner of Restaurant magazine's World's Best Restaurant crown) are rewarded with an all-encompassing feast for the senses. Fine dining doesn't get any better than this. Brothers Joan, Josep and Jordi Roca deliver a one-of-a-kind "freestyle cooking" experience that blends classical cooking with cutting-edge techniques.

El Magraner Boig

$$ | El Raval Fodor's choice

Chef Andreas Christodoulides' intent here is to recreate the dishes he grew up eating as a kid in Athens but don't expect a setting of clichéd blue and white Greek Island decor. Instead, the setting is bright and casual, allowing the classic food to speak for itself.

Robador 22, Barcelona, 08001, Spain
93-011–8605
Known For
  • Good selection of Greek wine and beer
  • Saganaki (fried cheese) always a good starter
  • Delicious meze
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No lunch on weekdays

Enoteca Paco Pérez

$$$$ | Port Olímpic Fodor's choice

The sleek white-on-white dining room inside the Hotel Arts sets the tone for chef Pérez's contemporary take on Mediterranean cuisine. Tasting menus present around a dozen courses, most with a seasonal, seafood-centric focus, like a sea cucumber pasta with bone marrow and young artichokes. If your wallet allows, indulge in a wine pairing, which includes some wonderful surprises like a Spanish-made sake. Exemplary service and a posh location make this a true two-Michelin-star experience.

Fonda España

$$$$ | El Raval Fodor's choice

The sumptuous glory of this restored late-19th-century Moderniste dining room has food to match, courtesy of chef German Espinosa, who spent many years working under superstar Martín Berasategui. Catalan cuisine is interpreted with a French influence—set menus start at €40 (for lunch) and go to €151 for the full tasting menu including premium wine pairings, a relative bargain considering the presentation, the knowledgeable staff, and the historic setting. 

Gocce di Latte

$ | Born-Ribera Fodor's choice

If you're looking to freshen up after a long, sweaty day of sightseeing, this artisanal Italian-owned gelateria is just the ticket. In addition to a broad range of dairy-based flavors, there are plant-based options and fresh-fruit sorbets, plus gluten-free cones. The vegan dark chocolate flavor, laced with olive oil and salt is a particular favorite. Open every night until midnight.

Gourmet Sensi

$$ | Barri Gòtic Fodor's choice

Offering an extensive menu of “tapas & platillos,” Gourmet Sensi has been a local favorite since its opening in 2015. The bright, modern space features floor-to-ceiling windows giving you a front row seat to foot traffic along Carrer de Milans. Expect Catalan staples like padron peppers and jamón ibérico along with some creative dishes like their vegan “roasted chicken” croquettes with vegan curry mayo.

L' Atelier

$ | Eixample Fodor's choice

This superb café, bakery, and pastry school has set a new standard for sweet treats in the city. The glazed cinnamon rolls are a standout, as is the to-die-for brioche filled with red berries and mascarpone, while the fresh croissant cone overflowing with soft-serve ice cream, praline, and salted caramel is a rare thing of great beauty. Stop in for breakfast or grab something to go.

La Alcoba Azul

$$ | Barri Gòtic Fodor's choice

One of Barcelona's most beloved bars, La Alcoba Azul offers a wide selection of tapas with a full-on immersive atmosphere. The decor reflects the Moorish influence of Andalucía mixed with the quirkiness of the original owners, so you'll get illuminated lanterns and broken birdcages hanging from the ceiling, while a years-old candle burns in a corner. In case you can't get a table here, try one of their sister restaurants a couple doors down, La Alcobita. 

La Cova Fumada

$ | Barceloneta Fodor's choice

There's no glitz, no glamour, and not even a sign outside, but the battered wooden doors of this old, family-owned tavern hide a tapas bar to be treasured. Loyal customers and hordes of tourists queue for the fresh-as-it-gets seafood, served from a furiously busy kitchen.

Baluard 56, Barcelona, 08003, Spain
93-221–4061
Known For
  • Blink and you'll miss it
  • "bomba" (fried potato croquette)
  • Lunch only
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.

La Galena

$ | Poble Sec Fodor's choice

There’s a Miami vibe to this bright, two-floored brunch spot, with its bold blue accents, wall murals, egg-based dishes, and park-side terrace. Details count here: from dish presentation (beautifully done) to a catchy playlist; even the take-out coffee cups have artist illustrations.  

La Pepita

$ | Gràcia Fodor's choice

Don't be deterred by the graffitied walls: the innovative tapas at La Pepita lives up to the hipster hype. The room is dominated by a long marble-topped bar—there are only a handful of tables in the narrow space—so it’s best for couples or small groups; next door, sister eatery La Mini Pepita offers up further stool seating.

La Platilleria

$$ | Montjuïc Fodor's choice

Standards like Ibérico ham and patatas bravas are on offer at this snug tapas bar, but it’s the rotating selection of seasonal small plates that really make it worth a visit. There’s no menu; a chalkboard brought to your table lists the main ingredient—cod, pork rib, sweetbreads, for example—and friendly servers will explain the daily preparation for each.

Carrer Roser 82, Barcelona, 08004, Spain
93-463–5401
Known For
  • Hearty, no-frills cuisine
  • Nice selection of Catalan wines by the glass
  • Passionate service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.–Tues.