Where to eat in Barcelona - a food and dining guide

Combining the best of the Catalan and Mediterranean diet, Barcelona’s gastronomy is some of the best in the world. Sprinkled around the city, you will discover tapas bars, seafood restaurants and trendy bistros competing for your custom. Ingrained in Barcelona’s culture, dining is an important part of local life and people take great pride in their food. With oil-drizzled dishes such as patatas bravas and paella, Barcelona’s tempting cuisine will have you coming back for second helpings.

Nuria LacerMy Destination local expert onBarcelona

While visiting Barcelona make sure to sample the local favourite, ‘Escudella i carn d’olla’. A Catalan soup traditionally made during winter, this popular dish consists of a mixture of meat (usually chicken, lamb and pork) and seasonal vegetables.

Ciutat Vella (Old City)

Amongst the winding cobblestone streets of the Old City, you will find some of the most appealing restaurants and tapas bars in Barcelona. A mixture of Catalan, Mediterranean and Nouvelle cuisine, this charismatic area has a lot to offer the hungry traveler. Away from the touristic and overpriced stretch of La Rambla, the regions of El Raval and El Gòtic have hundreds of authentic and more affordable dining options. Head to Bar Mingus to enjoy a mouthwatering selection of tapas, beer on tap and a lively jazz-fueled atmosphere. • Bar Mingus, Carrer d'Ataülf, 6, 08002 Barcelona. Tel: +34 630 90 16 90

 

Where to stay

• Eixample

  Average hotel prices
  • 3 stars$83
  • 4 stars$115
  • 5 stars$210
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• Gothic Quarter

  Average hotel prices
  • 3 stars$66
  • 4 stars$118
  • 5 stars$223
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• Ciutat Vella

  Average hotel prices
  • 3 stars$68
  • 4 stars$96
  • 5 stars$214
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City Centre (Eixample and La Sagrada Família)

 

Full of uplifting music and captivating atmospheres, Barcelona’s city centre restaurants certainly know how to pull in the crowds. Wrapped around tree-lined squares and busy streets of the Eixample and La Sagrada Família neighborhoods are restaurants serving up all kinds of cuisine. For a selection of freshly cooked market food, make your way to Cuines Santa Caterina. Housed within the jostling confines of the Santa Caterina Market, right next to Barcelona’s iconic cathedral, this local restaurant is a popular choice.

 

• Cuines Santa Caterina, Av. Francesc Cambo, 16, 08002 Barcelona. Tel: +34 932 68 99 18

 

Gràcia

 

Scattered with rustic taverns and cozy restaurants, Gràcia is a popular dining spot among locals. Filled with modest establishments serving simple plates of tapas paired with local fruity wines, you can’t really go wrong here. Wander along to the Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia - the most iconic square of this area - to discover the real life and soul of this district.  While here pop into Amélie, a relaxed restaurant with an inviting open-air terrace, to enjoy a delicious selection of homemade cuisine.

 

• Amélie, Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia, 11, 08012 Barcelona. Tel: +34 935 13 37 46

 

Poble-sec

 

Nestled in the Sants district, Poble-sec is a culturally-rich area full of restaurant hotspots. Stretching from Barcelona’s Avinguda del Paral.lel to the Montjuïc Mountain, this lively little region has become known for its thriving music, theatre and arts scene. Sprinkled all around the cabaret clubs and music bars, however, you will discover a handful of delicious seafood, Mediterranean and Catalan restaurants. Visit the tiny tapas bar Quimet & Quimet for the true local experience.

 

• Quimet & Quimet, Carrer del Poeta Cabanyes, 25, 08004 Barcelona. Tel: +34 934 42 31 42