Gastronomy in Spain is well-known all over the world. If we take a closer look at Catalonian cuisine, we can say that it is based on the Mediterranean lifestyle, a healthy and varied diet that everyone wants to taste. When coming to Barcelona you will definitely want to try some Spanish tapas, paella and tortilla de patatas. In this blog we recommend you visiting five of the best Catalan restaurants in Barcelona.

Check our Tour in Barcelona with tapas tasting!

Restaurant Cal Boter

It is a catalan restaurant located in the quarter of Gràcia, founded in 1986, you should not miss it if you want something classic, one-of-a-kind and absolutely delicious. They serve traditional Catalan dishes such as xatonada (a sauce made with almonds, hazelnuts, breadcrumbs, vinegar, garlic, olive oil, salt, and the nyora pepper), botifarra, cargols picants, and other dishes to their clients.

You’ll love it much more if you’re a wine connoisseur. Why? The house wine is served in a «porrón,» a typical Catalan bottle with a long spout that allows you to drink directly from it.

Its walls decorated with press clippings, posters and photos of the neighbourhood, as well as its wooden furniture and the ubiquitous ceramic objects contribute to reinforcing this time travel feeling.

  • Address: Carrer Tordera 62
  • Phone: +34 934 588 462
  • Opening hours: Monday – Friday Breakfast: 9:00 am- 12:00 pm, Monday – Sunday Lunch: 13:00-16:00 pm, Tuesday – Saturday Dinner: 21:00 – 12:00 am
  • Price: 20-30 Euros

Restaurant 7 Portes

This catalan restaurant is located in el Born and it is known as one of the best traditional restaurants in Barcelona. It was founded in 1836 This restaurant, owned by the Catalan businessman Josep Cuyàs and featuring one of Barcelona’s best paellas, entices newcomers not only with its attractive atmosphere, but also with the unquestionable excellence of its food.

It has a great service, and a special atmosphere with live piano music. It will be an unforgettable experience! You won’t regret it, that’s for sure.

As a fun fact, it should be noted that this was the first building in the city to have running water and was the subject of the first photo taken in Spain. In addition, it is also said that Pablo Picasso himself left many unpaid bills here.

  • Address: Passeig d’Isabel II, 14
  • Phone: +34 933 193 033/ +34 933 192 950
  • Opening hours: Monday – Sunday, 13 pm – 1 am
  • Email for reservations: reserves@7portes.com
  • Price: From 30-45 Euros

Restaurant Fonda Espanya

This famous catalan restaurant is located in the “Hotel España”, next to “las Ramblas”, the Boqueria market and the Gran Teatre del Liceu. It is the perfect combination: founded by  the Spanish chef with more Michelin stars, Martín Berasategui, and a small modernist gem, where it is located. It has been active since 1850 and refurbished at the beginning of the 20th century.

In addition to its extensive menu of Catalan cuisine, which includes delicacies such as ripened ribeye with potatoes and piquillos, cap-i-pota croquettes with eel, and hake cooked to its essence, the restaurant features a magnificent modernist fireplace designed by the renowned modernist sculptor Eusebi Arnau.

  • Address: Carrer de Sant Pau, 9, 11
  • Phone: +34 935 50 00 10
  • Opening hours: Thursday and Friday, from 13:00 to 15:00 and 20:00 to 22:30; Saturday, from 13:00 to 15:30 and 20:00 to 22:30; Sunday, from 13:00 to 15:00.
  • Price: From 32 Euros

Restaurant 15 Nits

A catalan restaurant located next to “las Ramblas”, in the Plaça Reial. It is a good option to choose if you are not willing to spend a big amount of money for eating and tasting the catalan cuisine. 

Its gastronomy, its magical interior design, its always in demand terrace, its carnations on the table, its cotton tablecloths, its attentive and always smiling team, but above all its energy and joy at all hours of the day give the Plaza Real part of its charm. It offers you classical dishes as black rice, “fideuá”, cannelloni, and so much more.

Les Quinze Nits becomes the best proposal for lovers of good food, an ideal place to start or end the day, a must on your agenda if you visit Barcelona.

  • Address: Plaça Reial, 6.
  • Phone: + 34 933 17 30 75
  • Opening hours: Monday – Friday, from 10:00 to 23:30; Saturday – Sunday, from 09:00 to 23:30
  • Price: From 15-18 Euros

Boqueria Market

Last but not least, we wanted to recommend a place that is not as a catalan restaurant, but you can taste catalan cuisine as a local visiting the different food spots. “La Boqueria” is a large public market in the Ciutat Vella district of Barcelona with an entrance from “las Ramblas”.

Right in the city centre, many tourists who visit Barcelona have the opportunity to visit the market and sample the food on offer in the bars and restaurants, prepared with products fresh from the market. 

Over time, the interest shown in the market of Boqueria-Sant Josep, by Barcelona residents and visitors has transformed it into a symbol that has placed Barcelona on the map of the globe.

  • Address: Rambla, 91.
  • Phone: +34 934 13 23 03/ +34 934 13 23 45
  • Opening hours: Monday to Saturday: 8:00am – 8:30pm
  • Price: From 5-8 Euros