As you may already know by now, I love discovering the local food specialties in every destination that I visit. In this eating guide, I’ll share the best restaurants in Barcelona, including my favorite spots to try the traditional dishes from Catalonia, delicious bakeries and so much more. At the end of this post, you will also find a map with every location mentioned here. Ready to start this mouthwatering tour?

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Disclaimers:

• I have been lucky to visit Barcelona countless times over the years since I have family living there. Last September we actually celebrated my cousin´s wedding in the city. This post includes the latest information available to this date. I’ll keep updating it as I discover more delicious places worth sharing.
• Please note that this publication includes some affiliate links. This means that, at no additional cost for you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. In case you have any question about the companies advertised here or my status as an affiliate, please do not hesitate to contact me.

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Browse all my Barcelona resources and get inspired by this beautiful Mediterranean destination.

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My 13 best things to do in Barcelona: map & suggested itinerary

The best views of Barcelona: all the scenic viewpoints you can’t miss

What to do in Barcelona: my travel guide to Catalonia´s capital

😋 Traditional Catalan cuisine

Barcelona is a Spanish city located in the northeastern region of Catalonia, along the Mediterranean Sea.

Here, the traditional Catalan cuisine is known for its ‘mar i muntanya‘ recipes, meaning that it mixes sea and mountain ingredients such as chicken and prawns. Chefs like Ferran Adrià or Jordi Cruz have contributed to putting the new Catalan cuisine (nova cuina catalana) in the global spotlight.

When it comes to the foodie experience, here are some of the regional typical products that you should definitely try when in Barcelona:

• 🐷 Butifarra (sausage)
• 🧅 Calçots amb salsa romesco (a type of grilled local scallion that comes with a sauce; they are typically in season between the months of November and April and locals like to gather during ‘calçotadas‘ to taste them with other people)
• 🍆 Escalivada (smoky grilled vegetables, typically combining eggplant, peppers, onions and tomatoes)
• 🥖 Pa amb tomàquet (toasted bread with tomato, usually served as a starter with garlic and olive oil; sometimes you may see it written on menus as ‘pan tumaca‘)

In terms of local drinks, cava is the king. This sparkling wine is similar to champagne but is made with grapes from the Penedès area. Cava can be white or rosé.

🍽 Where to eat: best restaurants in Barcelona + my other favorite spots

In this section, I’ve rounded up my all-time foodie favorites, from bakeries and cafes, to markets and restaurants, as well as a long list of places I still want to try. Booking a food tour in Barcelona is also a great idea to discover all the delicious things the city has to offer! 🙂

🍰 Bakeries, coffee shops and ice cream parlors in Barcelona city

I can’t deny that I have a sweet tooth and I’m always down for a good pastry or piece of cake. Here are my favorite bakeries in Barcelona.

• Baluard Barceloneta: this bakery scattered around various locations in the city of Barcelona offers homemade bread for all tastes, from baguettes to whole-grain breads. They also sell good sandwiches (we tried the one with olive oil, arugula and dry tomatoes, and another one with mortadella, parmesan cheese and arugula).
• Caelum: steps away from the Barcelona Cathedral, this cafeteria houses a surprise underground. Its lower floor, known as the Crypt, features Jewish baths dating back from the 14th century. Nowadays, you can book the space to host private events or simply enjoy its delicious cakes and pastries in a cozy environment. When I visited with a good friend of mine, we had rooibos tea, apple crumble and almond tart with apricot jam and walnuts. Everything was yummy, especially the tart!
• Foix de Sarrià: founded in 1886, this traditional patisserie in the Sarrià neighborhood by the church of San Vicente specializes in anything sweet, from cakes to nougats or even ice creams, although you can also try some salty products such as ‘coca‘ with anchovies in their tiny cafeteria. Over time, it has become my mandatory stop in Barcelona. Their raspberry cake is to die for, and so are their famous ‘petxines‘ (tea pastries covered in chocolate) or their ´kipsters´! You can find another branch nearby, along Carrer Major de Sarrià.
• Granja Petitbò: hipster cafeteria with a nice atmosphere that I visited with a local friend. They have a couple more branches in town.

Furthermore, I´ve included some specialty coffee shops, cafeterias and ice cream parlors that I´m still dying to try:

• 🍦 Ice cream parlors: CAJÚ gelato.
• 🍫 Other bakeries on my bucket list: Barbara Bakery; Cafè de l’Òpera (lying right on the famous Rambla, this cafeteria has been serving hot chocolate, coffee and sangría for almost 200 years); Chök; Escribà; Funky Bakers; Granja Viader (locals have been flocking to this old-style cafeteria since 1870 for their hot chocolate served with whipped cream – known as ‘suís‘-. In 1931, the Viader family invented ‘Cacaolat‘, a bottled chocolate milk drink. The atmosphere here is always lively. In addition to buying sweets and desserts, you can also purchase cold meats (similarly to an Italian ‘salumeria‘); Jon Cake; Lady Babka; Little Fern Bakery; Origo Bakery; Pècora; Primate Bakehouse.
• ☕ Specialty coffee shops: Charlie Coffee Company, D Origen Coffee Roasters, Good News Coffee, Morrow Coffee, Raw Studio, Right Side Coffee Bar, Ripa Coffee, The Coffee.

🥘 Bars in the city of Barcelona

Below is a list with some bars in Barcelona where you may try mouthwatering food. Note that in Spain, we use the term ‘bar’ to refer either to places where you can eat small portions (‘tapas‘ or ‘raciones‘), or where you can have a drink. If you´re more interested in the latter, scroll down to the section dedicated to drinks and clubs.

The bars in Barcelona that I´ve tried so far include the following:

• Alice’s Secret Garden: this fantastic themed café features an oasis-like patio, serving cakes, pastries, brunch and cocktails. When I visited with a friend, we had beers and shared ‘patatas bravas‘. You can also enjoy live music on certain days of the week. It was great fun!
• Casa Ñidro: although technically it is not in Barcelona, this spot located in Mercantic in nearby Sant Cugat del Vallès is great for drinking a vermouth while eating homemade chips after browsing vintage finds.
• Cèntric: this tiny bar located in the Raval neighborhood and steps away from the famous Ramblas is a hidden gem. I’ve been here twice and I’ve ordered various tapas, including aceitunas Gordal -giant olives-, calamares a la andaluza -fried calamari-, buñuelos de espinacas con miel de caña -spinach beignets with honey-, hamburguesa Cèntric -burger- , pulpo – octopus, and tarta de queso -cheese cake. The food is really mouthwatering, especially the beignets. Note that the property is very small, so you might have to wait in line or come in early to get a table. Otherwise you can stand by the bar.
• Mantequerías Pirenaicas: popular spot for breakfast, so you’d better come here early if you want to be seated indoor or in the outdoor terrace. After queing for a while with a friend, we had a glorious start of the day including fresh orange juice, a caffè latte, a sandwich (‘flauta‘) with Iberian ham (jamón ibérico), tomato and melted brie, plus a gigantic side of Spanish tortilla (‘pintxo de tortilla de patatas‘). In addition to their colorful location in carrer Muntaner featuring old photos, you can find another branch inside Mercat de Galvany.

🫒 Other tapas bars in Barcelona on my foodie bucket list:

• Antúnez (tapas),
• Bar El Tomás: located in Sarriá, this is supposedly the best spot for trying patatas bravas – spicy potatoes. It seems that its fried artichokes, anchovies and other tapas are also worth trying with a cold beer. If it´s too busy, I´m told that Restaurante Ivorra 10 right around the corner and run by the same owners does the trick too.
• Bar la Camila,
• Bar Lobo,
• Bar Seco,
• Bodega Quimet,
• Cervecería Catalana or La Flauta (tapas in various bars across Barcelona and Madrid owned by Grupo La Flauta),
• Elisabets,
• Els Pinxus (tapas),
• El Quim de la Boquería (located in the famous namesake market),
• Guixot (tapas and sandwiches),
• Quimet i Quimet (this historic bar in Poble Sec is known for its tapas, montaditos -small sandwiches- and wine).
• 🍹Rooftop bars and terraces to enjoy the best views in Barcelona: La Terrassa del MNAC, La Terraza at Hotel Pulitzer, L’Àtic at Lamaro Hotel, Ohla Barcelona hotel rooftop, Salts, terrace of Sercotel Rosellón (view of the Sagrada Familia), Terraza de Vivi, Terraza La Isabela (Hotel 1898), The Roof at Edition Hotel, The Rooftop at Sir Victor, Tope at The Hoxton (in Poblenou).

🥗 Best restaurants in Barcelona

As in any cosmopolitan city, Barcelona´s food scene is vibrant and virtually endless. Whether you´re craving your Mediterranean fix, sushi or Mexican tacos, you won’t fall short of delicious options when walking around town.

Restaurants that I´ve tried in Barcelona so far

Here are some good restaurants I’ve visited in Barcelona up until now:

• Al Jaima de Abou Khalil: I ate at this Lebanese restaurant with my Dad during our most recent visit. We ordered 8 mezze platters (perfect to share), the mixed grill and knafeh for dessert. The food was delicious, particularly the grilled chicken, and the Middle Eastern decor was lovely.
• El Árbol: I brunched with a local friend in the terrace at their location in carrer d’Aribau. They have another spot in Passeig de Sant Joan. I asked for the eggs Benedict with salmon along with a fresh orange juice.
• Insólita Gea: located right next to the magnificent Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau (one of my favorite monuments in the city), this restaurant with an outdoor terrace offers great food. We tried their spicy sausage (butifarra), artichoke chips, and bread toasts with tomato (pa amb tomàquet).
• Honest Greens: if you follow a plant-based diet, you’ll thank eating here given their healthy dishes promoting the real food movement. When I visited, we ordered the sweet potato fries, the homemade falafel with tahini sauce and the forbidden coconut rice. We had dinner at their Tuset location, but in addition to being in Barcelona, you will also find Honest Greens restaurants in Madrid, Valencia, Paris, London, Lisbon and Oporto.
• Restaurante Mirabé: located at the foothills of the Collserola mountains and steps away from the Tibidabo cable car, this chic restaurant serves Mediterranean dishes paired with panoramic vistas over Barcelona. It´s perfect for a cocktail night! Next door lies its sister restaurant Mirablau, which also functions as a club.
• Salero: this modern restaurant in the Gràcia neighborhood offers brunch, creative vegetarian dishes, salads and Asian fusion cuisine in a cozy atmopshere. When I came here for lunch with an Erasmus friend, I tried their carrot and thyme soup, the turkey with grilled vegetables and the banana cake. It was yum!
• Tangana: I really enjoyed my dinner with friends at this restaurant in Gràcia. We ordered the following to share: pan con tomate (toasted bread with tomato), croqueta de jamón and croquetón de fricandó (ham and meat croquettes), berenjenas con miel (fried eggplant with honey), gírgola con castaño (mushrooms with chestnuts), tortilla vaga de boletus con cansalada (omelette with mushrooms and bacon), calamar a la plancha (grilled calamari) and bomba tangana (profiterole filled with Catalan cream). Everything was truly delicious!

Restaurants in Barcelona that are still on my bucket list (sorted by cuisine)

• 🍣 Asian cuisine: Dos Palillos, Dr Zhang Dumplings, Tunateca Balfegó Espai Gastronòmic, Yashima.
• 🥣 Brunch: Brunch & Cake, Flax & Kale, Gran Bar Etoile, L’avocaterie, Morning Glory, Trópico.
• 🐟 Catalan cuisine: Al Kostat, Can Culleretes (said to be the oldest restaurant in Barcelona and operating since the 18th century), Can Solé, Restaurant L’Antic Magatzem, Restaurant Gresca, Restaurant Tresmacarrons.
• 🍝 Italian cuisine: Bacaro, Doppietta, La Balmesina, Restaurante Gala (they also have a sushi club).
• 🍋 Mediterranean cuisine: Compartir (fine dining by the owners of Disfrutar), Dos Pebrots, Els Pescadors, Estimar, La Jabata, La Lonja marisquería (seafood), Planta Baja, Restaurante Feroz (fine dining), Tiberi Bar, Vivanda (it has a tranquil garden).
• ✨ Michelin star restaurants in Barcelona: Disfrutar, Restaurante ABaC (3 Michelin-star food temple led by chef Jordi Cruz), Restaurante Lasarte by Martín Berasategui.
• 🌐 Other types of cuisine: Colmado Múrria (vintage gastronomic space serving as grocery store, charcuterie and restaurant), El Nacional (multi-gastronomic space with 4 bars and 4 restaurants housed under a modernist roof at the heart of Paseo de Gràcia), Oaxaca (Mexican), The Green Spot (vegetarian).
• 👀 Rooftop restaurants in Barcelona: Altamar, El Chiringuito de Casa Bonay, Nobu Hotel, Noxe at W Hotel, Restaurante Mirabé and its sister restaurant Mirablau.

🍸 Drinks and clubs

One of the most famous streets to party in Barcelona is carrer de Tuset. Along this street you can find the exclusive Sutton club and other bars such as La Pícara.

Other well-known clubs in the city of Barcelona include Razzmatazz in the Bogatell area or Sala Apolo.

For signature cocktails, try Boca Chica, El Bestiari in El Born, Orient Express cocktail bar or Paradiso.

🍅 Markets

Barcelona is a vast city and as such, it features countless markets. Many neighborhoods in town have their own market, with their peculiar charm and specificities.

Out of all the markets in Barcelona, Mercado de la Boquería stands out as the most popular option for locals and visitors alike. Located right off La Rambla, in this market you will find any fresh product that you can think of, be it fish and seafood, poultry and eggs or fruits and vegetables. Considered the best European food market, a popular spot in Mercat de la Boqueria is El Quim de la Boqueria, serving traditional tapas, seafood and wine. The market is typically open all day long, but I suggest you visit it early in the day or late in the afternoon to avoid the crowds.

Other markets in Barcelona worth visiting include the following:

• Mercat de Galvany (steps away from Parque Turó),
• Mercat del Ninot (near the Hospital Clínic),
• Mercat dels Encants (along Avenida Meridiana),
• Mercat de Santa Caterina (next to Via Laietana),
• Mercat de Sant Antoni (located in the homonym district),
• Mercat de Sants (relatively close to the Sants train station).

📍 My Barcelona foodie map

Wondering which are the best restaurants in Barcelona, or where to find them? Find all the locations mentioned throughout this post in the map below. Feel free to save it for further reference.

How did you enjoy reading this post about all things food, including the best restaurants in Barcelona? Have you tried any of these places? Would you recommend any others? Feel free to leave your questions and comments below.

✈️ Curious to know where I’ll be traveling next? ✈️

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In the meantime, safe travels around the world!

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