125 Best Restaurants in Barcelona, Spain

Amar Barcelona

$$$$ Fodor's choice

Chef Rafa Zafra’s elegant hodgepodge of a menu features contemporary Catalan fare, French classics like sole meuniere, and dishes inspired by his alma mater, El Bulli. The prices are as jaw-dropping as the dining room, which features soaring ceilings, towering marble columns, ornate chandeliers, and gilded accents galore.

Au Port de la Lune

$ | Eixample Fodor's choice
The stereotypical decor of this French bistro (think Serge Gainsbourg photos) verges on parody, but the authentic food is no joke. "There's no ketchup. There's no Coca-Cola. And there never will be," reads Guy Monrepos's sign that sets the tone for a no-compromise showcase of Gallic gastronomy. Delights on the menu include oysters, goose rillettes, and a rib-sticking cassoulet that demands a second helping. Resist the temptation, though, because the cheese is magnifique and the desserts include an outrageously boozy sorbet.

Bar Cañete

$$ Fodor's choice

This spot just around the corner from the Liceu opera house is one of Barcelona's best tapas restaurants, with a long bar overlooking the burners and part of the kitchen that leads down to the 20-seat communal tasting table at the end of the room. Specialists in Ibérico products, they serve obscure cuts of Ibérico pork, such as pluma ibérica and secreto ibérico (nuggets of meat found on the inside of the shoulder blade and much-prized by Ibérico fanatics), though the real highlight of the menu is the market-fresh seafood that ranges from oysters, to grilled baby scallops and house special dishes like the baby squid (chipirones) with white Santa Pau beans.

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Bar Central

$ Fodor's choice

If you're looking for a calm respite in which to enjoy a mid-morning coffee or a laid-back lunch, you can't beat a patio table at this café in the lush gardens of Casa de la Misericòrdia (a former orphanage), replete with palm trees, ferns, moss, and a small waterfall that mutes the street noise. In the evening, twinkling lights add a touch of romance to the already magical space.

Bar del Pla

$ Fodor's choice

Specializing in Catalan bar food and local, organic, biodynamic, and natural wine, this sometimes-rowdy bar may not look like much from the outside but the hordes of people waiting to be seated give it away. Top choices include the mushroom carpaccio with wasabi vinaigrette and strawberries, the black squid-ink croquettes and the spicy patatas bravas.

Bar Mut

$$$ Fodor's choice

Just above Diagonal, this elegant retro space serves first-rate products ranging from wild sea bass to the best Ibérico hams. Crowded, noisy, chaotic, delicious—it's everything a great tapas bar or restaurant should be. The wine selections and range of dishes proposed on the chalkboard behind the bar are creative and traditional and the service is superb. The name is a play on the word vermut (vermouth), which, not so long ago, was about as close to tapas as Barcelona was apt to get. The menu changes with the seasons, but staples include the solomillo with seasonal mushrooms (or foie gras when mushrooms aren't in season) and the utterly decadent lobster with egg and brandy. Don't let the friendly and casual feel of the place lull you into thinking that la cuenta (the check) will be anything but sobering. Entrepanes Diaz, directly opposite, is a spin-off that serves more humble (and more sensibly priced) snacks and sandwiches in a similarly elegant style.

Benzina

$$ Fodor's choice

Named for the car-mechanic shop that once stood here, Benzina blends industrial-chic elements with splashes of color and excellent music (on vinyl, naturally) to create a hip but cozy Italian restaurant. The food, however, is center stage: the freshly made pasta is among the best in the city.

Passatge Pere Calders 6, 08015, Spain
93-659–5583
Known For
  • best spaghetti carbonara in the city
  • “Sferamisu” chocolate bomb of deconstructed tiramisú
  • chic decor
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.--Tues., No lunch Wed.--Thur.

Besta

$$ Fodor's choice

The atmosphere is relaxed but sophisticated and the constantly changing menu is a melting pot of seasonal produce from the Spanish regions of Catalonia and Galicia. Freshly caught fish and seafood take pride of place, as do the seasonal vegetables.

Betlem

$ Fodor's choice

Set in a charming Moderniste space dating back to 1892, this bar hits the perfect balance of quality, price, service, and ambiance. The menu mixes classic dishes like deep-fried calamari and spicy patatas bravas, with house specials like the steak tartare.

Bodega La Puntual

$$ Fodor's choice

Just down the road from the Picasso Museum, Bodega La Puntual might look like a tourist trap, but it's a classic, specializing in hearty portions of Catalan fare, made from seasonal, locally sourced produce. Top menu choices include the fresh marinated anchovies, the plate of premium hand-cut Iberian jamón, and trinxat: a traditional Catalan dish made with potatoes, cabbage, and pork meat, served with a fried egg. 

Caelis

$$$$ Fodor's choice

This restaurant takes contemporary decor and fine-dining style and adds the pizzazz of open-kitchen cooking. It's known for its decadent tastings menus, and the star dish is a rich mar i muntanya macaroni with lobster, foie gras, and artichoke. The contemporary decor combines gleaming traditional copper with retro-cool mid-century modern furniture. Wine selections can be added at a surcharge per person. 

Cal Pep

$$ Fodor's choice

It's has been in a permanent feeding frenzy for more than 30 years, intensified by hordes of tourists, but this loud, hectic bar manages to keep delivering the very highest quality tapas, year-in and year-out. Be prepared to wait up to an hour for a place at the counter; reservations for the tables in the tiny back room and on the outdoor terrace are accepted, but the counter is where the action is.

Contraban

$$ Fodor's choice

Once you find this spot, tucked inside the boutique Wittmore Hotel at the end of a tiny alley, you’ll be rewarded with a wonderfully creative menu of small plates and hearty baked pastas. Dishes are served in the lounge-like dining room or out on the courtyard patio with its twinkling lights and impressive vertical garden.

Cruix

$$$$ Fodor's choice

With two tasting menus priced at just €39 and €56, for seven and 10 courses respectively, Cruix is the fine-dining restaurant for people who don't want to spend hundreds of euros on a meal. Everything here is laid-back and unpretentious, including the exposed-brick interior, but the quality speaks to the Chef Miquel Pardo's pedigree: he worked under Spanish superstar chefs like Albert Adrià and Jordi Cruz before opening Cruix in 2017. 

Deliri

$$$ | Eixample Esquerra Fodor's choice

Elevated sharing plates made from locally sourced, seasonal ingredients are the bottom line at this trendy Eixample eatery. The menu features unlikely combos: artichoke salad with parmesan cream and bottarga, or glazed mackerel with pumpkin—blends that shouldn't work, but yet they really do—along with nods to the most classic of Catalan "grandma" dishes, like the decadently meaty macaroni covered in cheese. The intimate dining room is chic but unfussy, works by local artists adorn the walls, and the small outdoor terrace has four tables for four for diners who prefer to eat al fresco. 

Còrsega, 242, Barcelona, Catalonia, 08036, Spain
+34-93-611–3927
Known For
  • dining room showcases local artists
  • "grandma"-style macaroni
  • top-notch seasonal produce
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues.

Disfrutar

$$$$ Fodor's choice

Three former head chefs from the now-closed "World's Best Restaurant" El Bulli combined their considerable talents to create this roller-coaster ride of culinary fun (the word "disfrutar" is Spanish for "to enjoy") spotlighting tasting menus of dazzling inventiveness and good taste. Bowls are swirled to reveal beetroot meringues emerging from sesame-seed "earth" (the seeds are made to look like soil), and jellied truffle-and-egg tempura hit the bull's-eye of pure pleasure; desserts are otherworldly.

El 58

$$ Fodor's choice

A long list of seasonal Mediterranean small plates, ranging from coal-grilled octopus to vegetarian risotto to traditional Catalan sausage stew, is chalked up on the boards here each day. Inside it's casually hip, with exposed brick walls and vintage furniture; there’s a small back patio for al fresco dining as well as tables out front on the Rambla del Poblenou for excellent people-watching.

El Celler de Can Roca

$$$$ Fodor's choice
Diners who can plan far enough ahead to deal with the waiting list for tables at this multiple-time winner of Restaurant magazine's World's Best Restaurant crown) are rewarded with an all-encompassing feast for the senses. Fine dining doesn't get any better than this. Brothers Joan, Josep and Jordi Roca deliver a one-of-a-kind "freestyle cooking" experience that blends classical cooking with cutting-edge techniques.

El Vaso de Oro

$ Fodor's choice

A favorite with visiting gourmands, this often overcrowded little counter serves some of the best beer and tapas in town. The house-brewed artisanal draft beer—named after the Fort family who owns and runs the bar—is drawn and served with loving care by veteran, epauletted waiters who have it down to a fine art. 

Fonda España

$$$$ Fodor's choice

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. 

La Alcoba Azul

$$ Fodor's choice

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. 

La Cova Fumada

$ Fodor's choice

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.

Baluard 56, 08003, Spain
93-221–4061
Known For
  • blink and you'll miss it
  • "bomba" (fried potato croquette)
  • lunch only
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.

La Pepita

$$ Fodor's choice

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. 

Lasarte

$$$$ Fodor's choice

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
93-445–3242
Known For
  • inventive cuisine at one of the best restaurants in Barcelona
  • magnificent tasting menu
  • heavenly grilled pigeon
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun., Mon., Tues., 2 wks in Jan., 1 wk at Easter, and 3 wks in Aug./Sept., Reservations essential

Lluritu

$$ | Gràcia Fodor's choice

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
+34-93-855–3866
Known For
  • fresh grilled seafood
  • daily fish specials
  • a local favorite
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No lunch Wed., Reservations essential

Moments

$$$$ Fodor's choice

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. 

Nabucco Tiramisu

$ Fodor's choice

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.

Pez Vela

$$ | Barceloneta Fodor's choice
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
+34-93-221–6317
Known For
  • Galician-style octopus
  • great selection of paellas
  • beachside location and views
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential

Picnic

$ Fodor's choice

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. 

Slow & Low

$$$$ Fodor's choice

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.