The 38 Best Restaurants in Barcelona
Grilled giant prawns at a decades-old marisqueria, Iberian pork loin katsu at a buzzy wine bar, tandoor lamb chops at an Indian canteen from a growing restaurant group, and more of Barcelona’s best meals
From Barcelona’s towering churches and bustling avenues to the sun-drenched beaches and idyllic plazas, it’s obvious why this city captures visitors’ hearts and refuses to let go. As befits the city’s Mediterranean lifestyle, you can eat incredibly well here, and often for not very much money (though Barcelona loves a pricey tasting menu, too). But it’s also too easy to have a downright disappointing meal if you settle for any old paella-slinging bar along Les Rambles (known in Spanish as La Rambla) or La Barceloneta.
Get yourself some classic tapas and paella (both great but neither entirely Catalan), but be sure to also seek out local gems serving bitter sweet vermouth, seasonal seafood, and homestyle Catalan cuisine. Save room as well for Calabrese paninis, Northeast Asian sharing plates with natural wines, towering fried chicken sandwiches, local craft beer, dry-aged steaks, sea urchin toasts, south Indian fish stews, and Catalan nose-to-tail yakitori — and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The city simmers with an astounding variety of food at all prices, from opulent old-world fine dining at the city’s original Ritz hotel to a sensory adventure through the young and ever-evolving international food scene.
Updated, January 2025:
Two relatively new restaurants join the list to kick off 2025: Achaar and Masa Vins, both leaders in Barcelona’s fast-growing natural wine scene. Gelida, another fresh entry, is a time capsule of traditional Catalan dining, especially hearty breakfast fare, serving generations of loyal customers since 1946. Lastly, El Camarote d’en Tomàs is a seafood restaurant off the beaten tourist path with a laser focus on fish and shellfish from around Spain, prepared in a way that highlights the pure flavors of exceptional ingredients.
Eater updates this list quarterly to make sure it reflects the ever-changing Barcelona dining scene.
Sam Zucker is a freelance writer, photographer, filmmaker, travel Instagrammer, and gastronomic tour guide in Barcelona. He has contributed to Monocle, National Geographic’s “48 Hours” guides, Culture Trip, and Vice Travel, among others.
