Barcelona, the capital of Catalan, is known as a culinary hotspot in Spain – which says something considering the standard and pride within Spanish cooking across the country.
There’s no time better time to dine and drink your way through Barcelona, now that La Sagrada Família’s basilica has finally been completed. For more than 140 years, this monumental church has stood tall above the city’s ever-buzzy Eixample neighbourhood, partially incomplete after Antoni Gaudí’s death. A century on, the Tower of Jesus Christ or Torre de Jesús will be revealed to the public on 10 June, marking a year of celebrations and the centenary of the visionary architect’s passing. Restaurants, hotels and local establishments are joining in on the festivities, eager to show off their prime views of the Barcelona skyline and the church’s crane-free spires.
From Michelin-starred spots you’ll want to fight to get a booking for to local favourite paella pit-stops with unparalleled views of the world’s tallest church, these are the best restaurants in Barcelona to bookmark for your next city break.
El Palace Barcelona
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Head straight to El Palace Barcelona for Gaudi-inspired cocktails with a view. This glamorous grand dame first opened its doors in 1919, welcoming a long list of well-heeled guests – from Salvador Dali to Josephine Baker. In celebration of La Sagrada Família’s partial unveiling, the hotel has transformed its rooftop into a hidden secret garden, with a menu inspired by the architect’s exuberant style. Snack on small plates and sip cocktails with clear views of the basilica, designed to fit the architect’s original vision.
Casa Ángela
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Casa Ángela’s traditional paellas are loved by tourists and locals alike. The hearty rice dishes are packed with seafood delights and fresh ingredients, including a medley of prawns, clams salted artichokes or an equally delectable vegetarian option topped with seasonal wild mushrooms. The best part? You’ll gain street-level access to La Sagrada Família and views of the basilica in all its glory, which towers 500 feet above Barcelona’s buzzy Eixample district.
Hotel Arts Barcelona
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For an unparalleled, birds-eye-views of Antoni Gaudí’s masterpiece, Hotel Arts Barcelona has joined the festivities with the opening of their new Skyline Suites. Enjoy a leisurely lunch at one of the hotel’s four restaurants, including a Michelin-starred culinary journey at Enoteca Paco Pérez. Post-dinner, retreat to your spacious, open-plan suite to enjoy unobstructed views of the tower and a front-row view of the eagerly anticipated basilica.
Bar Canyí
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Barcelona is one of those unicorn cities where you can enjoy relaxed plates of tapas fashioned by some of the area’s leading chefs. Bar Canyí is one of them. This low key tapas spot hones in on the craft of Catalan and Castilian fare whipped up by the duo behind Michelin-starred restaurant Slow & Low. Frank Beltri and Nicolás de la Vega conceived this trendy spot as a way to relax from the pressures of fine-dining kitchens, and this creative but chilled ambience seeps onto the (regularly-changing) menu via fresh vongole and gambas al ajillo.
Disfrutar
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Disfrutar is the colourful concoction (on and off the menu) by the former chefs of El Bulli in Roses, Catalonia that, despite being voted the world’s best restaurant a handful of times, closed its doors in 2011. The impact El Bulli had on the world’s food scene was explosive – introducing clever foam textures as new ways of introducing flavours to a dish – and Disfrutar is the Barcelona spot to flock to for a flavour for it all. Avant-garde sums up Eduard Xatruch, Oriol Castro, and Mateu Casañas’ tasting menu and an intriguing living table experience that brings the dishes to life. It’s no surprise that this restaurant has three-Michelin stars, just be mindful of the waiting list when looking to book a table.
Berbena
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Berbena defines its menu as modern Catalan fare with casual bites of Jerusalem artichokes, gyoza, and matured tuna, designed to be shared between chattering friends. However, the menu also hints to chef Carles Pérez de Rozas’ travels around the world, with subtle flavours nodding to Asia, Africa and beyond. The sleek interiors, a wood-lined bar and the stainless steel open kitchen introduce a relaxed but contemporary vibe that ensues throughout the whole restaurant; the staff are friendly and good fun, so you feel like you have stumbled upon a real neighbourhood classic here, although it’s loved by tourists just as much. The team also recently opened a new spot, cosy wine bar POMPA, just down the street – also inspired by the chef’s travels. Food crawl anyone?
Clara
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Head to Clara if you’re looking out for delicious plates of classic Catalan fare to share family-style. Across the restaurant, you’ll find all the trendy touch points gracing the creative crowds’ favourite haunts around the world: silver dessert dishes; a bar counter and open kitchen to watch the team hard at work; and a comforting bar snacks menu of glorified toasties and plates of fresh sardines, all topped off with an excellent selection of organic wines. The atmosphere is fun – book a spot to kick-start your soirée.
Moments
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Moments by Spain’s top (and female) chef Carme Ruscalleda and her son, Raül Balam, is the place to eat for a memorable, one-of-a-kind evening. Find it on the ground floor of Mandarin Oriental Barcelona, where this Spanish seven-Michelin-star chef and her culinary accomplice take you on a foodie journey across Spain via seasonal and health-conscious dishes. The menu changes throughout the year, but recent dishes to whet your appetite include cod and orange salad plus caviar with babaganoush. Wine pairings across each plate are led by sommelier Alexandre Zaragoza and focus on bottles from unique vineyards across the world.
Caviar, Oysters & Champagne
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Benito Escat, Pol Castells, and Tobias Kruijssen founded Oysters Menorca in 2020 as a locals’ haunt on the island to flock to in search of the freshest oysters and caviar in Menorca. Carefully selected from organic farms in tune with native oyster seasons and sustainable practices, the team quickly won over the island and have since expanded to Barcelona. Forget the frills, and instead find the joys of sipping on excellent Champagne with an oyster in your other hand in this stylish space. Sometimes ‘fancy’ is all in the simplicity of really good quality ingredients (including fizz, naturally).
Denassus
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For a less formal atmosphere try natural wine and tapas bar Denassus – it’s the best place for sharing local delicacies. Plates of croquettes, grilled octopus, grilled greens, tuna tartare, sea urchin, and chocolate mousse with flakey sea salt for dessert meet a long list of natural wines to sip on. The space is intimate: a narrow restaurant with a long bar – the perfect spot for date night.
Bar Pimentel
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Another trendy, contemporary take on old Catalan tapas haunts has hit Barcelona’s food scene with Bar Pimentel. All your tapas favourites – patatas bravas, croquettes, pan con tomate – are here, spruced up with modern flavour twists and clever presentations. The wine here is local too, sourced from the nearby Catalan vineyards. Opt for a table on the balcony for a sweeping view over the countertops and your neighbouring diners to really seep in the buzzy atmosphere.
Lead image: the view from Hotel Arts Barcelona
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