This Barcelona foodie guide shares some of the best places to eat Catalonia’s capital city. The food in Barcelona is incredible, so deciding where to eat can be overwhelming. This post lists some of the must-eat food in Barcelona.
Barcelona food is some of the best in the world. I love how in this city you can eat well on any budget. This list will provide you with some of the best places to eat in Barcelona without breaking the bank.
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The Barcelona Foodie Guide
Anyone else feel like your day is ten times more likely to be a good one if you start it off with good, quality coffee? I feel set up for success if I get to enjoy a tasty caffeinated beverage first thing in the morning, and major bonus points if it happens to be served in an aesthetically pleasing environment.
That said, I assume it’s cool for me to include a few coffee options in the Barcelona foodie guide, so let’s start there since coffee is naturally where my best days begin. My pre-travel research included a coffee shop emphasis since I knew the crew I was traveling with values this morning ritual as much as I do.
Coffee in Barcelona: The Barcelona Foodie Guide
Onna Coffee
This cozy coffee shop in the Gracía neighborhood uses beans they roast themselves, grown in and imported from Costa Rica. The menu at Onna Coffee offers all of the classic drinks you’d expect to see at a coffee shop and also serves an array of pastries, bread, and cakes if you want to start your day with some food alongside your espresso.
If you head past the counter to the right you’ll find a beautifully designed room to start your morning in. Onna Coffee is the perfect first stop before visiting Sagrada Familia. It’s one mile away from the Gaudi masterpiece and is an easy, flat walk. // CARRER DE SANTA TERESA, 1, 08012
Nomad Coffee
Tucked away on the most charming private street, Nomad Coffee nails it with both aesthetic and beverages. The entire experience felt closely related to that of a high-end craft cocktail bar, where you can see that attention to detail goes into every drink.
Everything we had was excellent, but there was a banana latte drink that was out of this world. I think it’s seasonal, so forgive me if you miss it, but I highly recommend trying whatever their seasonal beverage is on the menu.
The baristas here appear to be making everything fresh and by hand, measuring things out perfectly, so service is a bit slower than that of your local Starbucks. It didn’t bother me one bit, but I say that as a warning so you don’t show up and complain that your drink wasn’t served quick enough. Nomad Coffee is must-visit for coffee lovers. // PASSATGE SERT, 12, 08003
Black Remedy
Located in the heart of the Gothic Quarter, Black Remedy is the place to go if you’re looking for more than just coffee, or maybe one person in your group wants coffee but others are looking for additional options. Black Remedy serves coffee, tea, fresh juices, and a menu full of breakfast and lunch items. The food options appeal to those who are on special diets or want to eat light, as many of the items are healthy and fresh.
While I didn’t get to try one, the sandwiches on the menu also sound great and I read on their website that they slow smoke meat in-house. And as you can see in the photos below, the interior isn’t a bad place to hang out either. I love the overall vibe, particularly the lights and exposed ceilings. // CARRER DE LA CIUTAT, 5, 08002
Food in Barcelona: The Barcelona Foodie Guide
Restaurante O’Retorno
The crew here has been serving fresh seafood since 1992 at this location and now have multiple restaurants in the city. Since Barcelona is on the coast, we were pretty set on going big with at least one solid seafood dining experience and decided to give Restaurante O’Retorno a try since it was clear to see from the photos online that they specialize in seafood dishes.
In my opinion, no Barcelona foodie guide is complete without a meal focused solely on seafood.The octopus was done perfectly and laid over a bed of potatoes that we could hardly put a dent in. The prawns were large and so flavorful; the only other place I’ve had prawns like this was in Lisbon—both were amazing.
The seafood options on the menu are extensive, but with only three people in our group we had to control ourselves and make an effort not to over-order. Overall, this a great dining option for seafood lovers and they have plenty of non-seafood options on the menu as well. // CARRER COMTE D’URGELL, 168, 08036
La Paradeta
If you can never have enough seafood, look into dining at one of the numerous La Paradeta locations around Barcelona. The La Paradeta group describes the concept of its restaurants as self-service seafood.
The menu items are laid out on ice as you’d see at a fish market stall. Diners simply walk in, select which fresh-caught items they want, how they want it cooked, and the meal starts being prepped. // CARRER COMERCIAL, 7, 08003
El Quim de la Boquería
Now I know I’m not the first traveler to seek out this dish, because it came highly recommended to me by multiple people before my trip. But I was living for the idea of eating one of El Quim de la Boquería’s most popular house specialty dishes, the fried eggs topped with baby squid.
And let me tell y’all, I was not at all disappointed and found it to be completely worth whatever hype there may be. The patatas bravas and croquetas (pictured below) were also great! Same goes for their sangria. All have earned a well-deserved place in this Barcelona foodie guide.
The U-shaped counter restaurant is a food stall within Barcelona’s busy La Boqueria market. We tried arriving a few hours after it opened and found crowds of people waiting around the counter for a spot. Rather than battling other hungry tourists, we decided to come back the next day 30 minutes before opening and secured three bar stools without issue.
I definitely recommend making the effort to arrive early and allow yourself to enjoy this incredible dining experience. // MERCADO DE LA BOQUERIA, LA RAMBLA, 91, 08002
Restaurante La Perla BCN
I love me a restaurant that feels like I’m eating in someone’s family dining room, and that’s the vibe I got at Restaurante La Perla BCN. The food here is authentic, Catalan cuisine; the meals are traditional and much of which were unlike anything else I was seeing served at other restaurants in Barcelona.
The counter was lined with a number of dishes that had been prepared for the day and the staff were excited to explain each and every one to us. We decided to try a paella here since we hadn’t had one yet, along with a very traditional stew-like dish that featured tripe. Both were amazing choices and great for sharing and eating family style. // PASEO DE LA EXPOSICION, 62, 08004
Tasca El Corral
The Gothic Quarter is incredibly touristy so I put in extra work to try and find a few places in the area where we could get some quality food that wasn’t an overpriced, mediocre tourist trap. Thankfully, I came across Tasca El Corral which is exactly the type of place I was hoping to find.
This cozy tapas bar was super close to our Airbnb and served all of the classic Spanish tapas and beverages we were hoping to find. We indulged in our fair share of jamon, chorizo (the meat lit on fire in the photo below), Spanish tortilla (potato and egg), pan con tomate (tomato bread), and a tasty pitcher of cava sangria. All amazing, fairly priced, and great place to relax over food and drinks with friends. // CARRER DE LA MERCE, 17, 08002
La Tasqueta de Blai
In Northern Spain you will find ‘pintxos,’ traditional small snacks on toothpicks often found served in bars. In college I studied abroad in Spain’s Basque Country and fell in love with these little self-serve snacks. Even though we were in a different region of the country, I knew there were a decent amount of pintxos bars in Barcelona and I wanted my friends to experience it since we have nothing like this in the U.S.
La Tasqueta de Blai made for the perfect pregame snack before we head to the FC Barcelona match. You’ll see in the photos below how plates of pintxos sit on the bar—you simply walk up and grab what you want.
When you are done and ready to leave, the bartender counts your toothpicks and charges you based on how many you ate. Pintxos are a must-try on the Barcelona foodie guide and something you should seek if you are traveling anywhere in Spain—such a fun way to eat!
For those curious about pricing, at the time I visited La Tasqueta de Blai the regular toothpick items cost 1 euro and the “fancy” red toothpick items cost 1.80 euro. // CARRER DE BLAI, 17, 08004
Irati Taverna Basca
Looking for more pintxos? Irati Taverna Basca is located just off of La Rambla and in the heart of the Gothic Quarter. You’ll likely pass it multiple times because it’s located so central to many common tourist routes. Because it’s in a high-traffic area, the pintxos were a bit pricier than those at the previous location.
These pintxos were about 2 euro each, so not terrible depending how heavily you are eating. But they sure are delicious and share the fine art of food that hails from San Sebastian and the Basque Country. // CARRER DEL CARDENAL CASANAS, 17, 08002
Taverna El Glop
I read somewhere, at some point in time, that a place called Taverna El Glop served a delicious paella in a homey environment. When I saw on the map that it appeared to be off the beaten tourist path, I was even more convinced it was worth a visit. The portions are large so the paella here is a delicious option for a group of friends to share and leave completely satisfied. // CARRER DE SANT LLUIS, 24, 08012
Bodega La Tinaja
If you want to feel like you are in an authentic AF setting, all while enjoying amazing tapas and a vast selection of wine, then dining here is a must. The interior walls of Bodega La Tinaja are lined with endless bottles of wine. Where there isn’t wine on the wall, you’ll find gorgeous rustic pots, jars, and dinnerware, adding to the undeniable character and charm.
I wish I had better photos to share of the food and decor, but it was a late night meal in dim lighting and I only had my iPhone camera. You’ll have to go see for yourself! // CARRER DE L’ESPARTERIA, 9, 08003
Citizen Cafe
If you’re looking for a brunch scene reminiscent of what you’d find in cities like San Francisco, Seattle, or Portland—these are the cities I’m familiar with, obviously—then Citizen Cafe is the spot for you. The menu here is trendy and, again, what you’d expect to see on a classic brunch menu—avocado toast, beautifully-plated pancakes surrounded by fruit, you get it.
We shared a few dishes but the standout for us was the ceviche, and I loved my fresh-pressed juice. So if you need a break from the abundance of cured meat and cheeses being served around Barcelona (not complaining at all), Citizen Cafe is a great place to switch it up for a meal. // PLACA D’URQUINAONA, 4, 08010
Xurreria Laietana
My Barcelona foodie guide will never be dominated by sweets because I’m such a savory person, but we all need a little sugar every now and then. Xurreria Laietana specializes in the fried-dough goodness that is known as the churro, and they know how to do it right here.
The menu offers only one item, which is the chocolate con churros. No thinking required, just walk in and enjoy this tasty treat located near the Barcelona Cathedral. Three of us shared one order—it’s quite a bit, or maybe that’s just because we’d been eating non stop all day. // VIA LAIETANA, 46, 08003
Sensi Bistro
Now for the nicest and most expensive meal we had in Barcelona, but one that was worth every penny. Sensi Bistro is said to serve some of the city’s best tapas and the dishes surely did not disappoint. Compared to most of the other tapas, if not all, that we had in Barcelona Sensi almost felt like a fine dining experience.
That said, it’s still casual enough that you can go for a fun dinner with friends; I don’t want to make it sound like it’s overly formal by any means. Also, when I say that it’s the most expense meal we had in Barcelona, it was—but for three of us food and drinks came out to $100 (USD) total.
So in reality this is still an incredibly affordable meal compared to what we’d pay back at home in California. Note that Sensi has multiple locations in Barcelona. // CARRER DEL REGOMIR, 4, 08002
Looking for more things to do? Check out these secret places in Barcelona
Drinks in Barcelona: The Barcelona Foodie Guide
When it comes to choosing bars to visit, sometimes I lean toward quality and value, while other times I weigh my decision more heavily on things like aesthetic and killer views. The bars I visited in Barcelona offer a mix of all these things that I like to take into consideration.
El Sueño de Picasso Rooftop at The Serras Hotel
The Serras Hotel Barcelona is a luxury boutique hotel with a chic, modern design. We were not staying here during our trip, but luckily the hotel has a rooftop bar that is open to the public. The bar, named El Sueño de Picasso, has a hip vibe, comfortable seating, and sits next to the rooftop pool.
They serve drinks and light food, although we only had one pitcher of sangria here to enjoy the sunset over the marina. Prices are higher than average, but it’s a boutique hotel bar so it wasn’t anything that I found shocking. Sharing a pitcher of sangria here was worth it for the sunset views alone. // PASSEIG DE COLOM, 9, 08002
Casa Mariol
If this is your first time in Barcelona you will most likely be paying a visit to Sagrada Familia—heck, it was my second time and I still found myself back over there. Casa Mariol is a wine bar with light bites just a few blocks away from the chaos of the church. I say chaos because each time I have been there, once in August and again in October, it’s so incredibly busy and crowded.
That said, we were quickly ready to get away from the tourist madness and Casa Mariol is just enough off the beaten path to give us the quiet, relaxing setting we were looking for. And there’s a ton of great wine to enjoy—what’s not to love? You’re in Spain, so get yourself a bottle of cava to share with few tapas on the side. // CARRER DEL ROSSELLO, 442, 08025
Hotel Colón
You might notice I’m a sucker for bars with good views, and I’m generally willing to pay a premium on drinks for it. Hotel Colón is located directly across from the Barcelona Cathedral and has a panoramic terrace offering unbeatable views. A waiter serves guests who grab a seat on the terrace so find a spot and enjoy the breathtaking scene.
This is another place we timed our visit according to sunset. Again, drinks were priced a little higher than normal for Barcelona, but the experience and photos made it worth it for me. Not to mention drinks here are affordable compared to my home city of San Francisco. // AV. DE LA CATEDRAL, 7, 08002
Old Fashioned Gin Tonic & Cocktail Bar
Two of my drinks spots are more for the views and overall vibe, but Old Fashioned Gin Tonic & Cocktail Bar is 100% for the art of a brilliantly-crafted cocktail. The cocktail experience here is one of the best I’ve ever had; this place really takes it to the next level and turns a cocktail into a thoughtful masterpiece.
The drinks are not cheap, I’d say they’re on par with cocktails in major U.S. cities. It’s worth it for at least one drink to experience what it’s all about, plus the bartenders are awesome, knowledgable, pleasant people. // CARRER DE SANTA TERESA, 1, 08012
Collage Art & Cocktail Social Club
The Collage Art & Cocktail Social club is a cool space located in the Born and a short walk from where we were staying in the Gothic Quarter. The menu offers bar classics along with an awesome selection of really creative cocktails. The interior is eclectic and cozy, with a small downstairs bar area and additional seating in charming vintage furniture on the loft above the bar. // CARRER DELS CONSELLERS, 4, 08003
Barcelona Travel Tips
Even though this post if focused on food in Barcelona, I like to include a few travel tips and recommendations for each destination that I write about. Here are a few things that come to mind that I always share with friends and family who are planning a trip to Barcelona.
- Entry tickets to Sagrada Familia always sell out! Buy your ticket ahead of time if you want to check out this beautiful masterpiece. I loved having a guide to share the fascinating details and history of Gaudi’s creation. This Sagrada Familia Tour includes and guide and access to one of the towers for an amazing view.
- If you aren’t interested in a guide tour or tower access, this fast-track entrance ticket to Sagrada Familia will provide you with skip-the-line access to explore at your own pace.
- For more foodie experiences outside of the city, check out this wine, tapas and cava tour of the Catalan countryside.
- For on-the-go internet access in Spain, rent one of these portable WiFi devices that you can take with you everywhere and keep your phone connected. This thing has been a lifesaver for me.
