Barcelona Restaurants

If there is one consistent surprise when it comes to Barcelona, it is the quality and the selection of restaurants here. The downtown core of Barcelona feels so compact that it is startling to think how many restaurants call this city home, and not only that, how many truly excellent places there are. You can’t try them all, of course, but here are a few that you can’t miss on your next trip.

1. 7 Portes - Pg d'Isabel II 14 08003 - website

One of the most famous dining establishments in all of Europe, the world famous 7 Portes has been serving fine food for longer than anyone can remember. Prices are reasonable and the service is friendly. A real winner.

2. Agut - Carrer d'En Gignàs 16 - website

An excellent semi-formal restaurant that serves up steaming bowls of some of the best soups and stews in the city. Anything that features that day’s fresh seafood catch is a winner. Oh, and the artwork on the walls. All originals.

3. Bar Celta - Carrer de la Mercè 16 - website

Another jewel in Barcelona that serves up fresh seafood all night long. This particular spot specializes in octopus and no one else in the city does it better. Choose from a good selection of wines and drinks. Very casual, very fun!

4. Bar Kasparo - Plaça de Vicenç Martorell 4 08001 - website

Bar Kasparo is proof that Paris doesn’t have the market cornered on beautiful outdoor cafes. This one serves some of the best light fare in the city and it is always priced well. Attentive service helps to set this particular café apart.

5. Cal Pep - Plaça de les Olles 8 08003 - website

You’ve found the restaurant that serves some of the best tapas in the whole city. Tapas are smaller portions of meals, much like appetizers, that you order several of instead of ordering one large meal. It is a fun way to eat and no one does it better than Cal Pep.

6. Casa Calvet - Carrer de Casp 48 08010 - website

A truly formal dining experience in a city that tends to buck formal dining. The building here was designed by famed Barcelona architect Gaudi, so that is enough reason to visit. The food, on the other hand, is a whole other reason all on its own. A true masterpiece, inside and out.

7. El Cafetí - Passatge de Bernardí 08001 - website

Everyone has a favorite dining spot that they feel comfortable in, and for many residents of Barcelona, that place is El Cafeti. Imagine the most comfortable coffee house you’ve ever been in and you have an idea of the vibe here. Oh, and the food is quite good, too!

8. Els Quatre Gats - Carrer de Montsió 3bis 08002 - website

While most restaurants in Barcelona are fashionable, even when they are inexpensive, Els Quatre Gats is uber-fashionable and a bit pricy. But the décor, along with the food, make spending the Euros worth it. An excellent fine dining choice.

9. Jean-Luc Figueras - Carrer de Santa Teresa 10 - website

Barcelona isn’t a destination many people would associate with celebrity chef restaurants, but Jean-Luc Figueras is one, and his restaurant is worthy of the praise heaped on it. Try the prawns or the ginger infused pasta dishes.

10. La Cereria - Baixada de Sant Miquel 5 08003 - website

If your diet tends to skew the way of vegetarianism, than La Cereia will seem like a gift from the gods. Not only is the overwhelming majority of the food here meat free, it is also organic and made by hand by a group of young, aspiring chefs. An adventurous and rewarding choice.