748 Best Restaurants in Spain

An attractive wood-and-stone cider-house replica, Sagardi piles the counter with a dazzling variety of cold Basque-style pintxos served on toothpicks; even better, though, are the hot offerings from the kitchen. The restaurant in back serves Basque delicacies like codfish omelets and txuletas de buey (beef steaks) grilled over coals. The other Sagardi branch at Carrer Muntaner 70–72 is equally good. The outdoor patio gets hectic in the high season but is quite lovely if you can find an empty spot.

This ultra-trendy butcher-shop-themed restaurant spurred the revival of Calle de Ponzano as Madrid's most exciting tapas street. Feast on eye-catching, impeccably prepared market-driven dishes like carpaccio-truffle roll-ups and grilled octopus slathered in chimichurri. Should this location be packed to the gills, make a beeline for sister restaurant SDD2 tucked behind the Gran Vía thoroughfare (Calle de la Virgen de los Peligros 8).

Locals know that this nondescript salón de juegos (literally "gambling hall") slings some of the city's best potato omelets, flipped nonstop from 8 am to midnight. The basic potato-and-onion rendition, gloriously gooey in the center, will set you back just a couple euros; more deluxe versions (with crab, jamón ibérico, etc.) are a tad pricier. Minors are not allowed entry, but the staff will happily wrap food to go.

A few blocks from the Mezquita, this place is a beautiful spot for tea, with a courtyard, side rooms filled with cushions, and a shop selling Moroccan clothing. It's open daily noon–10 pm.

Nearly a secret, this quintessential Basque spot has big wooden tables and a monumental bar filled with cazuelitas (small earthenware dishes) and tapas of all kinds. It is in the center of town but tucked away downstairs.

Right on Sarrià’s main square, this popular, informal eatery serves an eclectic menu of tapas and main dishes, from cocas (Catalan-style focaccia) with Ibérico ham and brie to hummus, quesadillas, and hamburgers piled high with four cheeses, all in generous, affordable portions. Weather permitting, grab a table out on the Plaça, in full view of the village’s 10th-century church. 

This restaurant has a loyal following among locals and visitors with its stunning location—the terrace has far-reaching views over the village and to the Strait of Gibraltar (don’t miss the griffon vultures soaring the thermals above you)—and delicious food. Local produce takes center stage, and you can try Casares cheese, suckling goat, and lamb as well as locally sourced tropical fruits and fresh fish from the coast. Highlights on the menu include croquetas de pringá con infusion de hierbabuena (meat croquettes infused with mint), paletilla de chivo (leg of kid goat), and ensalada de remolacha asada y queso de oveja (baked beet salad with cheese).

"Farm to pizza" is the tagline at this urban chic pizzeria specializing in home-cured artisanal charcuteries and pizzas made in a wood-fired oven. The dough for the Neapolitan-style pizzas is made with organic hand-milled flour, and all the ingredients are fresh, organic, seasonal, and local (some are grown on-site at the restaurant).

Since opening in 2012, Barcelona’s original specialty coffee bar has been serving high-quality roasts and small bites. Floor-to-ceiling windows create an indoor-outdoor feel, regardless of where you sit. 

At this secret local hangout tucked behind Gran Vía and Mercado de los Mostenses, €12 gets you an appetizer, entrée, dessert, and drink—and a free cordial if the old-school waiters take a liking to you. The menu is a highlight reel of Spanish soul food including cocido madrileño (meat and garbanzo stew; served on Wednesdays when it's cold out), salmorejo (chilled tomato-garlic soup), sherried kidneys, Asturian fabada, and huevos rotos (lacy fried eggs and potatoes).

Hidden off an inconspicuous passage from the historic cathedral, this classic cider house dishes out all the local hits exceptionally well. From the barely warmed codfish salad to smoky lacón pork and creative takes on cachopo, every dish is better than the next. And as full as you may be come dessert, don't skip the impressive list of cheeses and sweets. 

With a front-row-view seat to the fishing port, the seafood menu may call. But at this no-frills cider house it's all about cachopo—specifically the house-made special doused in a creamy, black pepper Cabrales cheese sauce that takes the classic crispy-fried steak recipe to new heights.

Locally roasted single-origin brews and a varied brunch menu of tostas and internationally inflected eggs make this riverside café the best specialty coffee spot in town.

Creative, contemporary Menorcan cuisine is the draw in this former jewelry workshop, which has a small, leafy courtyard and a low-key cosmopolitan vibe. Start things with a local gin and choose from a monthly updated menu showcasing regional flavors with artful flair.

Some of the best tacos you can gobble down in Madrid are found, improbably, in tourist central, just off Plaza Mayor. There are also pitch-perfect classics like cochinita pibil (slow-roasted marinated pork) chalupas, huitlacoche quesadillas, and pozole (choose from three types), as well as real-deal margaritas and cajeta (caramel) crepes. Outdoor tables with heat lamps are available for those who book ahead.

This family-run restaurant has been going strong since the 1950s. Its large windows overlook the river, and its kitchen makes a mean fabada asturiana (bean-and-sausage stew). Locally caught fish and pulpo a la gallega are equally delectable, whether you choose to sit in the casual bar area or more sedate dining room.

Madrid's best modern steak house, Sua ("fire" in Basque) is dedicated to meats and wild-caught fish cooked over open flame. Occupying a stunning circular indoor courtyard, the restaurant has an ample list of Champagnes, cavas, and bold Spanish reds, fittingly luxurious sidekicks to a 40-day dry-aged sirloin from Galicia or roasted scarlet shrimp plucked from Andalusia's Atlantic coast. Desserts, particularly the cheesecake, punch above their weight.

It doesn't get much trendier than this red-lit bar specializing in natural wine and sharing plates hidden behind an unmarked door round the back of Barcelona's main teaching hospital. Take a seat at the counter and watch as local, seasonal produce---from leeks to sweetbreads and crispy chicken skin filled with succulent raw shrimp---is placed on the grill in front of you. The wine selection is as funky as it gets so don't be afraid to communicate what you're into to the knowledgeable sommelier. Handy tip for first-time visitors: don't forget to keep a map handy as you wouldn't be the first person to walk past Suru multiple times before eventually finding the door.

A favorite among local winemakers and chefs, this unassuming 10-table tavern serves inventive Spanish bistronomie fare like Wagyu cecina (air-dried beef "ham"), zucchini carpaccio, and cheesecake with blueberry compote—all complemented by some 2,000 wine bottles from far and wide.

If you're looking for a shot or two to spur your climb to Montjuïc, grab a café latte or a flat white at this specialty coffee shop, which has several locations around the city. The gourmet cookies are decent, too. 

A Lavapiés landmark opened in 1786, this taberna's regulars have included realist painter Ignacio Zuloaga, countless champion bullfighters, and King Alfonso XIII. Sip on a sudsy caña in the creaky, characterful bar area along with a free tapa or two and then scram—there's much better food to be had in this barrio.

Just a few minutes' walk from the Plaza de las Tendillas and opposite the lovely San Miguel Church, this popular tapas spot—also known as the Casa el Pisto (Ratatouille House)—was established in 1880. You can choose to squeeze in at the bar and dine on tapas (from €4) or spread out a little more on the patio decked with ceramics and bullfighting memorabilia, where half and full portions are served. Legendary toreador Manolete is particularly revered here. The menu is one long list of typical local dishes, so expect to find oxtail, salmorejo, flamenquín (bacon-wrapped pork loin that's breaded and fried), and, of course, pisto (ratatouille), plus the daily special stew.

Steps away from the parador, this innovative kitchen artfully prepares Galician fare with both Basque touches and global fusion. You can order à la carte, but the tasting menus are affordable for the area (€60) and abundant.

Botero's old-school storefront draws diners into its cozy but lively tapas bar, with a solid cocktail program and global takes on the traditional, like crispy pig ear tacos with ginger and pickles. The upstairs dining room offers an extended menu and larger dishes, along with two seasonal tasting menus.  

A firm favorite with locals who flock here for the value cuisine, Taberna Gaspar offers a long list of traditional seasonal dishes on a handwritten menu. Portions come hearty, so go for sharing plates, or ask for the dish of the day (weekdays only) if you're less hungry. Sit outside on the shady terrace or inside under lofty ceilings and next to eclectic antiques such as matador outfits, telephones, and glass siphons. Service is friendly and efficient even when every table is packed to capacity. 

This cozy restaurant offers an excellent selection of fish and meat dishes. It's renowned for its Almadraba tuna (traditionally hand-lined and caught in Zahara de los Atunes on the Cádiz coast) cooked any which way and always delicious. Particular highlights are the tataki and cured tuna on toast. Other must-tries include the seaweed croquettes with an oloroso sherry sauce, squid burgers with a miso sauce, and the black pudding and pine nut samosas. There’s also an excellent range of rice dishes including the house special, risotto de ortiguillas (sea anemone). Sit inside in the cozy dining room under the signature tuna lamps or outside on the pleasant shady terrace. 

Slightly off the beaten tourist trail and with a lively local vibe, this tavern-style venue specializes in traditional local cuisine such as salmorejo and oxtail, but you'll also find creative touches on the menu in the form of tuna marinated in ginger and flamenquin with a chocolate sauce. Most dishes are available as tapas and half or full plates, and all can be paired with local wines and house beer. Expect a warm welcome from the owners and their staff.

Located one block from the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, this small bar has the best position on the leafy square and a pleasant outside terrace. Despite the tiny kitchen, the menu stretches long and includes glazed artichokes, red tuna tartare, and Iberian pork cuts.

What's that fire-truck-red stew on every table in this tiny neighborhood tavern? Callos a la madrileña, Madrid-style tripe flavored with industrial quantities of garlic and smoky Extremaduran paprika. Other San Mamés standbys include fried bacalao (salt cod), truffled eggs and potatoes, and steak tartare. Book ahead or show up early (by 9 pm) to snag a table.