14 real restaurants, cafés, bars, markets and food experiences, from inexpensive to special occasion.
14 places to eat and drink in Barcelona
A tiny counter-only seafood tapas bar where the chefs cook in front of you; there is no menu to speak of, just what came off the boat.
Known for: Fried baby squid, clams, tortilla, whatever is freshest
About £30–50 per person
Local favourite Good for Couples · Groups
A relaxed modern tapas bar serving Catalan classics with a light contemporary touch, on a quiet street near the Picasso Museum.
Known for: Croquetas, steak tartare, beef cheek
About £14–30 per person
Local favourite Good for Families · Groups
A lively, long-bar tapas restaurant that mixes traditional dishes with high-quality produce, near the Liceu opera house.
Known for: Ham croquetas, razor clams, fried artichokes
About £30–50 per person
Local favourite Good for Couples · Groups
A Modernista café-restaurant from 1897 where Picasso and his circle used to gather; the setting is more famous than the food.
Known for: Catalan classics in a historic room
About £30–50 per person
Good for Couples · Groups
Barcelona’s oldest restaurant, open since 1786, serving traditional Catalan cooking in tiled dining rooms.
Known for: Escudella stew, cannelloni, crema catalana
About £14–30 per person
Local favourite Good for Families · Groups
A legendary breakfast and lunch counter just inside the Boqueria market, run by the same family for decades.
Known for: Chickpeas with blood sausage, small fried fish, cava
About £14–30 per person
Local favourite Good for Families · Groups
A standing-room-only bodega, packed to the ceiling with bottles, serving tiny montaditos (canapés) with tinned fish and cheese.
Known for: Salmon and yogurt montadito, vermouth, wine by the glass
About £14–30 per person
Local favourite Good for Groups · Couples
A perennially busy tapas bar with a huge counter of small plates, popular with locals for a quick dinner.
Known for: Montaditos, grilled prawns, cured meats
About £14–30 per person
Local favourite Good for Families · Groups
A traditional seafood restaurant in Barceloneta serving the neighbourhood’s classic rice dishes since 1903.
Known for: Black rice, fish stew, seafood paella
About £30–50 per person
Local favourite Good for Couples · Groups
£ to ££££ is an approximate guide to price level and the per-person range is an estimate, not live pricing. “Good for” is a rule of thumb. Opening times and menus change: check with the venue before you go.
Vermut and tapas
Bombas and fideuà
Crema catalana
