748 Best Restaurants in Spain

Catalan chef Oriol Balaguer takes chocolates and croissants to new heights at this ritzy bombonería, whose attractive treats make phenomenal gifts—or afternoon pick-me-ups.

You'd be hard-pressed to find a homier pintxo bar in San Sebastián. Ormazabal has been luring a mostly local crowd for decades with its juicy tortillas de bacalao and burst-in-your-mouth croquetas.

Sunlight streams through the windows of this fashionable corner coffee spot, stuffed with plants, which offers cakes, cookies and vegan pastries, plus tempting nonedibles, such as design magazines and ceramics made in a little first-floor studio.

In one of the prettiest corners of Altea's old town, this eatery was formerly a cloister and a school. Today, the dining room and terrace gracefully juxtapose the rustic setting with contemporary design, and the restaurant is known for serving polished international cuisine with French flair.

Traveling as a vegan in Madrid is becoming easier thanks to affordable inviting restaurants with palate-popping food like Oveja Negra. Try vegan takes on Spanish classics like sidra-braised soy chorizo, leek-and-squash croquetas, and meatless pâtés.

The name, a pun on para comer algo ("to eat something" with an Andalusian accent), may be only marginally amusing, but the tapas here are no joke, from the classical calamares fritos to the pimientos de Padrón (green peppers, some fiery, from the Galician town of Padrón). Whether at a table, at the counter, or in the private dining room upstairs, this modern space does traditional tapas that reliably hit the spot.

In an aerie above one of Madrid's oldest, most exclusive gentlemen's clubs, the dining room and rooftop terrace of this tasting-menu-only restaurant are decorated with playful, almost circus-like elements such as bright blue pushcarts, checkered floors, and yellow velvet chairs. The cuisine is as thrilling and whimsical as the decor, with dishes ranging from crunchy sardines with ají romesco sauce to spicy ethereal pig ear fritters. This is fine dining for the lighthearted.

Located on the west side of town, about a 10-minute walk from the center, this modern restaurant specializes in rice dishes; there are 13 on the menu, including the signature baked rice with pork and the squid rice with prawns and chickpeas. Fideuá (similar to paella but made with noodles instead of rice) also features on the menu. There's a good choice of sharing plates of croquettes, cold cuts, and seafood, as well as innovative salads. Sit inside in the elegant dining room or outside on the shady terrace on the plaza. 

Located next to the cathedral, this is one of the best restaurants in town, known for its barbecue and roasted dishes. If you’re not too hungry, enjoy tapas in the bar. For a full meal, move into the formal restaurant or, better still, when it’s warm enough, outside on the pleasant terrace.

Down an uninspiring side street but with a very quiet terrace with views of San Pedro Church, this bar with stool seating around high tables offers tranquil dining and, most notably, one of the best sherry menus in town. Known as an abacería (grocer’s store), it serves more than 30 finos, amontillados, and olorosos, as well as house-made vermouth on the drinks menu, and each pairs perfectly with a food choice. Allow the friendly owners to advise you on the best matches, which include tinned preserves, cold cuts and cheeses, and a choice of three daily specials, some served hot. Don’t miss the tomate de atún (tuna tomato) or the house version of ajoblanco (cold garlic soup), topped with marinated salmon chunks and fresh mango.

Hidden in a dark alley with a mysterious facade, this bare and open-concept dining room centers on a long communal table and feels like an honored tribute to the best Galician fare. Dishes are traditional but exceptionally sourced and executed, with changing seafood options daily. Don't miss the partridge in escabeche or the monstrous rotating homemade empanada, which stares at you on the bar counter. Menus are often written in gallego, which may require some Google Translate.  

With a focus on top-notch sourcing and modern takes on traditional Galician fare, this eatery offers creative, seasonal dishes in a contemporary setting. À la carte options are available, but the ample tasting menus are definitely worthwhile, especially if you can get there for lunch on Thursday and Friday for the €45 menú de temporada.

Along with traditional pistachio and chocolate gelato, this artisan gelateria creates some truly out-there flavors, like mandarin and jasmine or brioche with toasted butter, as well as seasonal specialties like Panettone. There's also a wide variety of vegan sorbets.

Sweet and savory treats come into their own at this family-owned business in the city center. Top of the specialty list are piononos (sponge bites filled with caramel and custard) and pastela (Moroccan chicken pie). Eat in with a drink at the bar or in the small cafeteria space, or take out to feast on in one of the nearby squares.

Jeta—crackly, juicy fried pig snout sliced into bite-size pieces—is the raison d'être of this locals-oriented gem 1½ km (1 mile) north of the city center. Pair it with an ice-cold beer, and you've got the perfect aperitivo or late-night snack—for under €5.

In an intimate little space with wicker chairs and pale mauve walls, this restaurant in the old town serves a bargain Mediterranean three-course prix-fixe dinner, wine included; you can also order à la carte. In summer, dine on the comfortable patio out back. 

Named for the father of modern bullfighting, this restaurant opposite the bullring is packed with bullfight paraphernalia and photos of previous diners who include Ernest Hemingway and Orson Welles. Mounted bulls' heads peer down at you as you eat choricitos al vino blanco de Ronda (small sausages in Ronda white wine), rabo de toro Pedro Romero (slow-cooked oxtail stew with herbs), or perdices estofados (braised partridge).

Come here for good local fare and, if you order from the prix-fixe menu, a bargain. The menu lists daily-changing meat, fish, and vegetarian options, with staples such as lasanya de verdures (vegetarian lasagna), generously layered with mushrooms, spinach, carrots, and beans, and tasty pumpkin stuffed with vegetables.

The Madrid outpost of a legendary Vitoria-Gasteiz pintxo bar, Perretxico is known for its cocido doughnut—cocido being Spain's famous boiled dinner of chickpeas, various meats, and sausages. These are blended into a paste, stuffed inside a doughnut, and served alongside a demitasse of umami-packed bone broth for dunking, a wink to the classic doughnut-coffee combo.

One of the best Spanish omelets in town (this one has caramelized onions and aioli on the side), prime Spanish meat (you cook your own on sizzling stone slabs), and a good choice of vegetarian options make this small venue worth seeking out. There’s also a range of organic dishes, including local cheeses and wines. Inside, original beams and wine-lined walls make for a relaxing atmosphere, while the tiny outdoor terrace makes a great spot for a little something and a slice of that omelet.

This upmarket Argentine asador (steak house) hits all the high notes with its daintily crimped empanadas, regional breads, gutsy South American wines, and flame-licked vegetables and steaks airlifted in from La Pampa with just the right amount of char. In 2023, another location, Piantao Chamberí, opened by the Alonso Martínez metro station.

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.

This bar and restaurant, just off Plaza Nueva, is in a 17th-century palace with a stunning patio (complete with original marble columns) and peaceful garden. The menu emphasizes meat dishes such as chuletas de cordero (lamb chops) and the house specialty, braised rabo de toro and giant croquettes known as croquetón. Eat in the lovely downstairs patio or in the elegant restaurant upstairs.

Filled with couples night after night, this candlelit dining spot is an atmospheric space that plays up the room's ancient stone, brick, and wood. The cuisine is light and contemporary, featuring classic Catalan staples like pa amb tomàquet and patatas bravas as well as inventive salads and fresh seafood. Some vegetarian dishes are available.

This coffee shop with exposed-brick walls is an adorable breakfast nook worth seeking out for its single-origin brews and well-priced plant-based brunches.

Sweeping beach views through picture windows, aromas of fresh fish cooking over hot coals, a sophisticated country dining room—these are a few reasons Portuondo, a 15-minute walk outside town, is a Mundaka stalwart. Those in the mood for something more informal can post up at the walk-in-only downstairs cervecera (brewery).

Get your brunch fix here with killer homemade pastries, eggs Benedict, and single-origin coffees. 

The secret is out about this tiny, century-plus-old tapas bar, which has become so overrun with visitors in recent years that locals have mostly started steering clear. Nevertheless, it's an atmospheric place, and the innovative tapas—largely made using conservas (foods from cans or jars) and served as bite-size open-sandwiches called montaditos—are well worth the visit. You can’t reserve a table, so arrive early (around noon or at 6 pm when it reopens) to snag a spot.

After browsing the art collection at the Lázaro Galdiano, walk north a block to reach this charming café suited to both working and schmoozing. There are sandwiches, chia bowls, smoothies, and pastries on the menu, in addition to teas and the usual coffee drinks. The handful of wooden tables fill up fast at brunch on weekends.

With picture-perfect views of the Cadaqués seafront, this restaurant’s terrace is always packed. Check the chalkboard for the day’s offerings, which overwhelmingly focus on local seafood and seafood-based rice dishes.