Loading...
-
$$$$ | |
The sleek white-on-white dining room sets the tone for chef Pérez's contemporary take on Mediterranean cuisine. Tasting menus present around a dozen courses, most with a seasonal, seafood-centric focus, like a sea cucumber pasta with bone marrow and young artichokes. If your wallet allows, indulge in a wine pairing, which includes some wonderful surprises like a Spanish-made sake. Exemplary service and a posh location, inside the swanky Hotel Arts, make this a true two-Michelin-star experience.
Carrer de la Marina 19-21, 08005, Spain
Known For
- Two-Michelin-starred cuisine
- Tasting menus
- Sunday €98 lunch menu
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues., No dinner Sun.–Tues.
-
$$$$ | |
The sumptuous glory of this restored late-19th-century Moderniste dining room has food to match, courtesy of chef German Espinosa, who spent many years working under superstar Martín Berasategui. Catalan cuisine is interpreted with a French influence—set menus start at €35 (for lunch) and go to €79 for the full tasting menu, a relative bargain considering the presentation, the knowledgeable staff, and the historic setting.
Known For
- Moderniste decor
- Satisfying traditional dishes
- Tasting menus
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.--Tues. and Aug.
-
$ | |
If you're looking to freshen up after a long, sweaty day of sightseeing, this artisanal Italian-owned gelateria is just the ticket. In addition to a broad range of dairy-based flavors, there are plant-based options and fresh-fruit sorbets, plus gluten-free cones. The vegan dark chocolate gelato is a particular favorite. Open every night until midnight.
Pla de Palau 4, 08003, Spain
Known For
- Italian-style gelato
- Dairy-free options, like vegan dark chocolate
- Open until midnight
-
$ | |
This superb café, bakery, and pastry school has set a new standard for sweet treats in the city. The glazed cinnamon rolls are a standout, as is the to-die-for brioche filled with red berries and mascarpone, while the fresh croissant cone overflowing with soft-serve ice cream, praline, and salted caramel is a rare thing of great beauty. Stop in for breakfast or grab something to go.
Viladomat 140, 08015, Spain
Known For
- Breakfast pastries
- Creative desserts
- There are a few tables to eat at
-
$$ | |
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 hang from the ceiling, while a years-old candle burns in a corner.
Salomó ben Adret 14, 08002, Spain
Known For
- The cod carpaccio is a must-try
- Selection of tapas-sized tostas (open-faced toasted sandwiches)
- Wonderfully quirky decor
-
Recommended Fodor’s Video
-
-
$ | |
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 market-fresh seafood, served from the furiously busy kitchen.
Known For
- Blink and you'll miss it
- "bomba" (fried potato croquette)
- Lunch only
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
-
$$ | |
Don't be distracted by the graffitied walls and highly Instagrammable dishes: the innovative tapas at La Pepita lives up to the hipster hype. The room is dominated by long marble-topped bar—there are only a handful of tables in the narrow space—so it’s best for couples or small groups.
Còrsega 343, 08037, Spain
Known For
- Spanish fried eggs and potatoes with foie gras
- Shrimp croquetas
- Popcorn-topped ice cream
-
$$ | |
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.
Known For
- Seasonal small plates
- Nice selection of Catalan wines by the glass
- Friendly service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.–Tues.
-
$$$$ | |
While Martin Berasategui, one of San Sebastián's corps of master chefs, no longer runs the day-to-day operations of this Barcelona kitchen (it's in the capable hands of chef Paolo Casagrande) the restaurant continues to be a culinary triumph. Expect an eclectic selection of Basque, Mediterranean, and off-the-map creations, a hefty bill, and fierce perfectionism apparent in every dish.
Mallorca 259, 08008, Spain
Known For
- Inventive cuisine at one of the best restaurants in Barcelona
- Magnificent tasting menu
- Heavenly grilled pigeon
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun., Mon., Tues., 2 wks in Jan., 1 wk at Easter, and 3 wks in Aug./Sept., Reservations essential
-
$$ | Gràcia |
There's no need for complicated sauces here—the super-fresh grilled fish and seafood here speaks for itself, simply drizzled with olive oil or served with a lemon slice. The diminutive dining space is equally unadorned, with plain white walls and bright, somewhat industrial-style lighting; an illuminated panel above the bar lists what’s available that day, which might include razor clams, octopus, sardines, and the restaurant’s namesake fish.
Torrent de les Flors 71, Barcelona, Catalonia, 08024, Spain
Known For
- Fresh grilled seafood
- Daily fish specials
- A local favorite
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No lunch Wed., Reservations essential
-
-
$$$$ | |
Inside the ultrasleek Mandarin Oriental hotel, this restaurant, with food by Raül Balam and his mother—the legendary Carme Ruscalleda—lives up to its stellar pedigree, with original preparations that draw on deep wells of Catalan culinary traditions. Dishes on the tasting menus display a masterful lightness of touch and come to the table so exquisitely presented that putting a fork into them feels almost like wanton vandalism; the reward, however, is sublime, with treasures of taste revealed in every astonishing bite.
Passeig de Gràcia 38–40, 08007, Spain
Known For
- Inventive themed tasting menus
- Two Michelin stars
- Outstanding wine list
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. and 2 wks in Jan., No lunch Tue.--Fri., Reservations essential
-
$ | |
Top-notch coffee, homemade pastries and cakes, and healthy fare like avocado toast make this organic café a particularly bustling spot at breakfast. For lunch or a casual dinner, there's a long list of panini sandwiches, as well as excellent quiches and Italian-inspired salads.
Pl. de la Vila de Gràcia 8, 08012, Spain
Known For
- Terrace seating right on the plaza
- Great coffee
- Healthy menu
-
$$ | Barceloneta |
The quality of beachside dining in Barcelona has surged in recent years, and this pseudo-chiringuito (beach bar) beneath the towering W Hotel is a top choice for paella with a perfect view of the sea. Rice dishes are better than at many better-known seafood specialists. The rest of what's on offer at "the sailfish," such as Galician-style octopus and zingy lemon pie, also consistently hits the spot. The terrace is a much more comfortable place to sit than indoors.
Passeig del Mare Nostrum 19–21, Barcelona, Catalonia, 08039, Spain
Known For
- Galician-style octopus
- Great selection of paellas
- Beachside location and views
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
-
$ | |
Between the buzzing indoor dining room, the breezy outdoor patio, and the strongest Bloody Mary game in town, there's a reason why Picnic has reigned supreme on the Barcelona brunch scene for more than a decade. House specials include the quinoa and potato hash browns, the fried green tomatoes with feta and fresh corn salsa, and, of course, the killer eggs Benedict. Accompany it with a ginger gin lemonade or one of the famous chipotle Bloody Marys and you won't go home disappointed.
Known For
- Breezy outdoor patio
- Bloody Marys
- Top brunch choice in town
-
$$$$ | |
The energetic young team behind Slow & Low is a blend of many different cultures and it shows in the 15- and 17-course tasting menus, which combine Mediterranean, Mexican, Peruvian, and even some Southeast Asian influences.
Comte Borrell, 119, 08015, Spain
Known For
- Creative tasting menus
- Fresh seafood and seasonal veggies
- Young, international team
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
-
-
$$ | |
This is a strong contender for the crown of Barcelona’s best bistro, where chef Toni Romero turns out Catalan tapas and dishes that have roots in rustic classics but reach high modern standards of execution. The name is a twist on the Catalan sucar lent (to dip slowly), and excellent bread is duly provided to soak up the sauces, which you won't want to let go to waste.
Rambla del Raval 45, 08001, Spain
Known For
- Tasting menu with seasonal dishes
- Must-try steak tartare on marrow bone
- Caviar section on menu
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sat. and Sun., Reservations essential
-
$$ | |
Specializing in San Sebastián's favorite dishes, this Basque restaurant has only one drawback: a table is hard to score unless you call well in advance. A good backup plan, though, is the tapas served at the first-come, first-served bar.
València 169, 08011, Spain
Known For
- Basque pintxos
- Convivial tavern atmosphere
- Hospitable service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun., 2 wks in Jan., 2 wks at Easter, and 3 wks in Aug. No dinner Sun., Reservations essential
-
$$ | La Rambla |
Inspired by her Catalan roots, Teresa Carles Borrás has been creating inventive vegetarian fare for 40 years and counting but this namesake was her first restaurant. Both the space and the food are more sophisticated than the typical vegetarian restaurant.
Jovellanos 2, Barcelona, Catalonia, 08001, Spain
Known For
- Great juices too
- Also runs Flax & Kale outlets around the city
- Sophisticated atmosphere for vegetarian food
-
$ | |
This Poblenou bakery’s ever-changing selection of delectable homemade cakes, tarts, and cookies—including many vegan and gluten-free options—hits the sweet spot. The Saturday-only brunch features savory egg sandwiches served on house-baked brioche buns.
Known For
- English- and Australian-style baked goods
- Seasonal specialties
- Saturday brunch
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
-
$ | |
This lively brunch spot is a breath of fresh air in a neighborhood perhaps best described as "up and coming." The name "trópico" (or tropical) refers to both the bright decor and the menu that takes inspiration from the tastes of the tropics—from Colombian arepas to Brazilian chicken coxinhas, Thai dragon fruit smoothies, Peruvian ají, and Indian-style curries. Founders Leonardo Tristancho from Colombia and Rodrigo Marco from Brazil have created a space that reflects their love of vibrant, unapologetic flavors, blended with all the warmth of Latin hospitality.
Marquès de Barberà 24, 08001, Spain
Known For
- Vibrant decor and atmosphere
- Latin hospitality
- Colombian arepas