Photo CC BY by Elemaki
Barcelona, the capital of Catalunia and one of the most interesting location in Spain, is indeed beautiful, and there are lots of things to see. But it is not only its architecture to amaze the visitors: the food is really great, as anyone who was in Barca can tell you. Are you planning to go and visit this spectacular city? We would like to offer you a list of the best places (restaurants and bars in Barcelona) to eat the famous paella, seafood and tapas.
“What are the tapas?”, you might ask. This is a wide variety of typical Spanish dishes eaten as appetizers or entrees. They are small portions of typical Spanish food that accompany drinks. They may be cold (an example with olives and cheese) or warm (such as octopus or fried calamari).
In Spain we use to dine out especially during the weekend and alternate between the restaurant and the bar where you eat tapas, maybe consuming several tapas in different locations on the same night.
Here’s where to eat Spanish specialities.
Can Sun
One of the best restaurants in Barcelona to try the paella and is also one of the most sophisticated waiters with a careful and accurate knowledge of fine dining (Do you know any another restaurant that offers diners reading glasses?). There are two speciality paella proposed in various forms, and smoking chickpea stews with chorizo, lentils and potatoes, onion soup with poached egg.
Address: C / Sant Carles 4, 08003
Contact: 00 34 93 221 50 12; restaurantcansole.cat
How to get there: Metro Barceloneta
Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 13: 30-04: 00 20: 30-23: 00; Sun 13: 30-16: 00
Prices: lunch and dinner around €35.
Method of Payment: Credit cards accepted
Cuisines: Spanish, Seafood
Reservations: recommended
Cinc Sentits
Each one among the many prizes which this restaurant has won was totally well-deserved. The restaurant only serves set menu: Essencia five-course meal for €65, Sensacions seven-course meal is for €79, or at lunch, the most elaborate menu for €109. You can expect dishes such as pigeon served in three different ways.
Address: C / Aribau 58, 08011
Contact: 00 34 93 323 94 90; cincsentits.com
How to get there: Metro Universitat
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 13: 30-15: 00 20: 30-10: 00
Prices: lunch and dinner from € 65
Method of Payment: Credit cards accepted:
Cuisines: Spanish
Bookings: Essential
El Atril
In this restaurant you can sit among the stone walls in the dining room or under the umbrellas on the tiny Plaça de Sant Cugat.
Address: C / Carders 23, 08003
Contact: 00 34 93 310 12 20; atrilbarcelona.com
How to get there: Metro Jaume I
Opening hours: Mon, 18:00 to midnight; From Tuesday to Sunday, noon to midnight
Prices: set-price lunch €11.80; otherwise, lunch, and dinner around €25
Method of Payment: Credit cards accepted
Cuisines: Spanish, Thai, Indian
Reservations: Not necessary
Photo CC BY – SA by HakanGonenli
Les Tres a la Cuina
It is a little more of a deli with only a couple of tables, but Les Tres is still a really good stop for lunch. The menu changes daily and always includes a vegetarian option such as polenta with past and goat cheese.
Address: C / Sant Lluís 35, 08012
Contact: 00 34 93 105 49 47
How to get there: Metro Joanic
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10: 00-18: 00; Sat, Sun 11: 00-17: 00
Prices: Price Lunch Weekly €9, brunch (weekends only) €10
Reservations: recommended
Set Portes
An elegant old restaurant serving paella and seafood. It was built around 1836. The food is excellent, following ancient recipes, and occasionally adds a new dish to the vast offer.
Address: Passeig Isabel II, 14, 08003
Contact: 00 34 93 319 30 33; 7 portes.com
How to get there: Metro Barceloneta
Opening hours: daily 13: 00-01: 00
Prices: lunch and dinner around €35
Method of Payment: Credit cards accepted
Cuisines: Spanish
Reservations: recommended
Bar Pinotxo
Among the most popular bars, Pinotxo is an institution in Barcelona, lasting for over 70 years and attracts the best known local chefs, including Ferran Adrià. There is no menu, but you can inspect the plates exposed along the counter and ask for the daily specials. Among the classics of the house there are squid and beans and artichoke omelette.
Address: Puesta 91 (number of stall 91), La Boqueria, La Rambla 89, 08001
Contact: 00 34 93 317 17 31; pinotxobar.com
How to get there: Metro Liceu
Opening hours: Mon-Sat, 06: 30-04: 00
Prices: Lunch €20
Can Culleretes
The second oldest restaurant in Spain, with a mention in the Guinness Book of Records, Can Culleretes serves tasty Spanish food at really good prices. Try stew of wild boar, partridge or fish ‘pica pica’.
Address: C / Quintana 5, 08002
Contact: 00 34 93 317 30 22; culleretes.com
How to get there: Metro Liceu
Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 13: 30-04: 00 09: 00-23: 00; Sun 13: 30-16: 00. Closed from mid-July to mid-August
Prices: Lunch and dinner €20
Method of Payment: Credit cards accepted
Cuisines: Spanish, Seafood
Reservations: recommended
Kaiku
Although it has much in common with the traditional Spanish restaurant serving paella, Kaiku is much more than that. The menu changes according to what is actually on season and fresh to be found at the local market. Make sure you book in advance a table on the terrace overlooking the beach.
Address: Plaça del Mar 1, 08003
Contact: 00 34 93 221 90 82; restaurantkaiku.cat
How to get there: bus 17 to Almirall Aixada
Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 13: 00-03: 30 19: 00-22: 30; Sunday 13: 00-15: 30
Prices: lunch and dinner around €26
Method of Payment: Credit cards accepted
Cuisines: Spanish
Reservations: recommended
Tapaç24
Chef Carles Abellan starry describes this small room as the classic place “tapas” but the tapas are really delicious.
Address: C / 269 Provincial Council, 08007
Contact: 00 34 93 488 09 77; carlesabellan.com
How to get there: Metro Passeig de Gràcia
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 9am to midnight
Prices: tapas from €3.80
Method of Payment: Credit cards accepted
Cuisines: Spanish
Quimet i Quimet
For the tapas is the ideal location but it also serves raw salmon with cream cheese, soy sauce and honey. The bar and restaurant also specializes in wine and canned food: canned seafood, for example.
Address: C / Poeta Cabanyes 25, 08004
Contact: 00 34 93 442 31 42
How to get there: Metro Paral.lel
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, noon, 4:00, 19: 00-10: 30; Sat, noon-16:00. Closed in August
Price: Tapas from € 4
Method of Payment: Credit cards accepted
Cuisines: Spanish
How to get to Barcelona by ferry or boat? Very easy. Check the link for more infos: ok-ferry.de