748 Best Restaurants in Spain

The vegan and vegetarian options in Barcelona have improved remarkably in recent years, led by the likes of The Green Spot, with its extensive menu of flavor-packed plant-based dishes designed to please nonmeat-eaters and carnivores alike. The dining room's pale oak paneling elegantly frames an open kitchen and airy dining room.

Chef-owner Rafa Peña applies the skills he honed in the world's most celebrated kitchens at this excellent value restaurant---although most locals will tell you his adjacent wine-tapas bar is the real scene stealer here. Expect a well-chosen wine list and some of the most delightful dishes you can find in Barcelona: the tasting menu is the best way to sample what's on offer.

For a sweet treat, try Guirlache, where you can choose from at least 20 ice-cream flavors. Many of the cakes are made with that trusty island staple, condensed milk. There's a second location at Calle Simancas 2. 

This family-friendly restaurant off the tourist track serves a wide range of classic, lovingly prepared dishes ranging from creamy squid croquetas to griddled European lobster. The best value is the €18 weekday menú del día (prix fixe), which can be made vegetarian upon request.

Chili fiends are often disappointed that Spanish food is seldom spicy, but at this mom-and-pop Ethiopian restaurant, you'll find plenty of fiery stews and sauces. Vegans and vegetarians flock here for fresh crunchy slaws, lentil sambusas (stuffed pastries), and slow-cooked greens, while omnivores come for the doro wat (spiced chicken). Make like you're in Addis Ababa and forget your fork—the spongy, sour injera bread is the only utensil you'll need.

Even if you aren’t a vegan, the plant-based menu won’t disappoint at this quirky restaurant, located just a block east of Casa de los Tiros. You’ll find a good choice of food such as vegetable lasagna and seitan cordon bleu. Sit inside and take in the vibrant murals, or sit outside on the quiet terrace, blissfully sunny in winter and shady in summer.

The interior design of Oriol Ivern's small restaurant is minimalist, but his cooking is intricate—and wonderful. This is budget-conscious fine dining that avoids exotic ingredients but lifts local dishes to exciting new heights; the menu changes four times a year to take advantage of what's best in season. Local gastronomes come here for dishes like John Dory with truffle and salsify, and oxtail stew with burrata, delicately presented but always—and most importantly—delicious. The nine-course tasting menu is a steal at €85 (€110 with wine pairing).

The late Mey Hofmann, German-born and Catalonia-trained, was revered for decades for her creative Mediterranean and international cuisine based on carefully selected raw materials prepared with unrelenting quality. Her team carries on her legacy in this graceful designer space with a glassed-in kitchen as center stage. Sardine tart, beef cannelloni with foie, truffle, Mediterranean-style rice, or paella, with seafood, and pastries that are second to none are what keep people coming back to this carefully managed culinary tour de force. The adjoining Racó Hofmann is a relaxed, informal café featuring a short menu of classic tapas with a contemporary twist, such as the calamari with kimchi mayonnaise or steak tartare with mustard ice-cream. The Hofmann universe has further expanded in recent years to include a bakery at C/Flassaders 44 and a café nearby at C/Flassaders 40, both in the Born neighbourhood, as well as the Taverna Hofmann at C/Girona 145. The lunchtime set menu is a steal at €42. 

Spaniards love their morning cafés con leche and afternoon cortados (espresso with steamed milk), but until a few years ago, it was hard to find a truly great cup of joe in Madrid. Enter Hola Coffee, whose multilayered third-wave espressos and cold brews are made with beans the company roasts itself. From-scratch baked goods and open-faced sandwiches will make you want to stay awhile; printed "Cool Beans" T-shirts make zany souvenirs.

There are a few fish and meat options on the menu but most visitors skip the animal proteins and opt for the impressive selection of plant-based foods. Delicious salads, tasty vegetarian curries, and fresh grilled vegetables are a hit with the health-conscious and the vegan desserts are even tastier than regular versions. There are three outposts in the city: the Barcelona flagship in Rambla de Catalunya, plus El Born and uptown in Carrer de Tuset.

Cool down with handmade ice cream or horchata (a sweet, tigernut-milk concoction) at this family-owned parlor that’s been serving up creamy goodness on the Rambla del Poblenou since 1912. Lines can be long, especially on hot days, but it’s worth the wait.

A beacon of old-world Spanish hospitality, Horcher is a Madrid classic with German influences. Wild game—boar, venison, partridge, and duck—is the centerpiece of the menu, which also includes comfort-food classics like ox stroganoff with a Pommery mustard sauce and pork chops with sauerkraut. The dining room is decorated with brocade and antique Austrian porcelain; an ample selection of French and German wines rounds out the menu.

This casual restaurant with a beachfront terrace serves fresh seafood and rice dishes, plus a decent-value three-course lunch menu (€27).

Hoyo19 (or Hole 19), open all year, overlooks the golf course, but locals come here to enjoy the serenity and beautiful green setting, just a 10-minute drive from Santa Eulària. From breakfast onward, the menu focuses on Mediterranean haute cuisine, with superb rice dishes cooked over a wood fire and excellent locally sourced meat and fish options.

Basque dishes are competently updated and delivered with a dash of style at this smart, white-walled Eixample establishment. A fiery grill turns out excellent regional meat specialties, but don't overlook fish dishes such as baby squid with cured ham and caramelized onions. Co-owners Ana and Gonzalo have impressive CVs that include stints in some of Spain's finest restaurants, and it shows in the precise service and wine pairings.

There's only one drawback to this lively Basque bar between Plaça del Pi and La Rambla: it's harder to squeeze into than the metro at rush hour. Skip the pintxos (small plates) on the bar and opt instead for the small bites brought out piping-hot from the kitchen. Pair them with a cold and refreshing Txakolí, the young, sparkling Basque white wine.

In a dining room oozing rustic charm (think green tablecloths, beamed ceilings, and squat wine glasses), feast on rich fall-off-the-bone goat stew made with local meat, or opt for the catch of the day, served with salad and papas arrugadas.

Hot griddled flatbreads (shao bing) filled with soy-scented beef will set you back just €2 a pop at this hole-in-the-wall specializing in this northern Chinese delicacy. Noodle and wonton soups (average price: €5) hit the spot when it's cold out.

If you find yourself in Getxo, the beach town north of Bilbao where the Puente de Vizcaya is located, treat yourself to a meal at this graceful mansion serving mouthwatering dishes like rice with squid and salsa verde and oxtail in Rioja wine sauce. Set menus, ranging in price from €15 to €75 per person, are a good value whether you're looking to save or splurge.

Kappo delivers a classic, ultra-refined omakase experience free of fusion fripperies—a reminder that when the quality of fish is this good, there's no need for showy garnishes and tableside pyrotechnics. On a given night, chef Mario Payán might grace your chopsticks with grouper, yellowtail, horse mackerel, or scallop anointed with a drop of ponzu or a scraggle of pickled daikon. Spanish line-caught tuna often figures heavily on the set menu, which includes a starter, 15 pieces of sushi, and dessert. If you're feeling social, sit at the u-shape bar, where you can watch the sushi masters work their magic; for a quiet meal, request a table.

This bright and airy restaurant is one of the best spots in the village for quick bites (tapas start at €4), pastas and pizzas, or a more substantial fish or meat dish. Spanish classics such as patatas bravas (spicy potatoes) and croquettes sit alongside bao buns and tacos. There’s a good choice of salads and a range of dishes for vegetarians. The pleasant outside terrace looks out over the main square, with refreshing shade under the palm trees.

This rustic dining room in Gràcia, a spin-off from the original in Les Corts, is a great spot to savor some of Barcelona's finest paellas and rice dishes. What's more, they can be ordered as individual helpings (as opposed to that standard minimum-two-person serving)—meaning you don't have to eat the same dish as your companion. Fish, seafood, and grilled meats round out a complete menu prepared with loving care and using top ingredients. The midday set lunches offer outstanding value. The other branches at Carrer de Bordeus 35 in Les Corts and at Carrer de Muntaner 6 in Sant Antoni are just as good—the former makes a fine pre- or postmatch option if you're going to an FC Barcelona game at the Camp Nou.

Traditional Spanish cuisine gets a modern twist at this family-run venue on the boulevard that circles the harbor. Inside is cheap and cheerful while the outside terrace sits under palms. Staples on the menu include oxtail cannelloni with pear-infused béchamel sauce, octopus Galician style (with paprika), and what locals consider to be the best cheesecake in town. The lunch prix fixe is an excellent value (€16 for aperitif and three courses). Whatever you choose, start with the chef’s own vermouth.

With a young vibe and a vast and inventive menu (which changes seasonally), this tiny restaurant offers a welcome change from Seville's typical fried fare. The owners' haute-cuisine ambitions are reflected in excellent service and lovingly prepared food—but not in the prices. Typical dishes include baby shrimp churros, smoked potato salad, rabbit ribs with garlic fries, and fresh fish from nearby Cádiz. Reservations are available for weekday lunches only; at any other time, put your name on the waiting list and pop to the Azotea bar across the road for a drink and generous tapa (€5) while you wait. La Azotea has two other venues (Calle Mateas Gago and Calle Zaragoza, both open all day, every day), but the original offers the best local vibe.

This five-table establishment, where the chef cooks behind the bar, is where locals flock to feast on curveball-flavored croquetas (think: prawn and kimchi) and slices of brioche towering with toppings, such as sticky chipotle pork and lemon-mayo squid. Come to get your fingers greasy and chin gooey, and swear never to tell a soul about the (refreshingly affordable) gem you just found.

Skip the middling tourist-packed cafés and sandwich shops on the Las Canteras boardwalk and instead grab a bite at this sunny casual storefront that serves tropical fare ranging from tacos to Cubano melts to pad Thai.

Just off Calle Puentezuelas, this authentic patio complete with original pillars serves specials such as house cod (with prawns and clams), best enjoyed with a cerdito (a "little pig" ceramic jug of sweet white wine, so named for its snout pourer). This is a busy venue, especially on weekends, and reservations aren't accepted, so arrive early (1:30 pm for lunch or 8 pm for dinner) to snag a table. You can also put your name on the list and order a tapa at the bar while you wait.

If you can find this dive (literally: it's a short drop below sidewalk level), you'll encounter a warm and cluttered space with a dozen small tables and a few spots at the marble counter. Try the excellent pa amb tomàquet and Manchego cheese, Iberian cured ham, or tortilla de patatas (potato and onion omelet).

This is one of Santiago's favorite spots for tapeo (tapas grazing) and chiquiteo (wine sampling); it's just a five-minute walk from the cathedral. The traditional bar area takes center stage, playing host to locals, pilgrims, and tourists alike, all gathering for wine, Iberian cured meats, cheeses, and seasonal dishes. It can get crowded, but this only adds to the atmosphere. The tapas live up to their reputation, and they're a better choice than the main dishes.

Its proximity to Barceloneta’s bustling Passeig Joan de Borbó makes this old-school tapas restaurant popular with tourists, but that doesn’t keep the locals away. Traditional Catalan small plates, including a delicious version of bombas—potato balls stuffed with meat, deep fried, and topped with a spicy sauce—are delivered by gruff but efficient waiters.