Insider's Guide:
Our Favourite Barcelona Restaurants

Christine Tucker

Spain | Catalonia

barcelona-restaurants-intro The combination of Mediterranean cool and Catalan spirit makes for Spain’s most exciting culinary scene.

In the second part of my Insider’s Guide to Barcelona, I’ve narrowed it down to eight Barcelona restaurants not to be missed.

My Top 8 Barcelona Restaurants

Absolute Musts

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Tickets

This Ferran Adria super-tapas experience is an absolute must – if you can get in.

Abac

With two Michelin stars, Abac (pictured above) is one of the best restaurants in town.

The classic décor and impeccable service perfectly complement to the elaborate nouvelle cuisine.

Tapas

While other Spanish regions are better known for tapas (Madrid, San Sebastian and Andalucia all come to mind), below are a few of my favourite spots in Barcelona.

Situated within the W hotel, this restaurant is among chef Carles Abellan’s portfolio of tapas bars and restaurants in town. Tapas 24, another of Abellan’s creations, is another spot worth trying and doesn’t require a reservation.

Cal Pep

A fantastic small restaurant and tapas bar located on one of the smaller squares in the centre of the city.

Eat at the bar or if you are a group of four or more you can make a reservation for a table in the back. Pep, the owner, is often there.

This place often draws a crowd so make a reservation if you have a group, otherwise arrive at the beginning of meal times!

Experience Catalonia With B&R

Scheduled Group Biking Trip

From your bike, you can see the peaks of the Pyrénées looming on the horizon as volcanic flats stretch out ahead, leading to unbelievably pastoral fields. This is no dream. On our Costa Brava Biking trip, the unexpected happens every day.

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Private Group Biking Trip

Pedal with the peloton of your own choosing as you stretch your legs through the Pyrénées on our private Costa Brava Biking trip. Sweep through Roman villages and Dali’s real-life inspirations—you’ll melt like a clock for this sensuous region.

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Classic

La Venta

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A true classic for Barcelona locals, this relaxed spot offers a great view from of the city from Tibidabo.

Ca l’Isidre

Enjoy the best truffles in town at this true Barcelona classic.

Japanese Fusion

Pakta

Pakta means “together” or “union” in Quechua, the language of native Peruvians, and this Nikkei restaurant blends together the best of Japanese and Peruvian cuisine.

Dos Palillos

Dos Palillos describes itself not as a Japanese restaurant, but as a fusion of flavours from the far east, including Japan, China, Thailand and Vietnam. This is a great spot for families to enjoy a light and local atmosphere.

Just Outside of Town

Carme Ruscalleda

About a 40-minute drive north of the city in Sant Pau lies this three-Michelin starred gem that’s worth the trek.

El Celler de Can Roca

Located in Girona, about an hour outside of Barcelona proper, and considered one of the world’s best restaurants, this one could easily be included in the “musts” list above. You’ll usually need reservations about a year in advance in most cases, but trust me—it’s worth it!

Insider's Guide to Barcelona Eat + Drink

Christine Tucker

After growing up on the Texas shores of the Gulf of Mexico, Trip Designer Christine Tucker spent fourteen years working as a means to travel, and then travelling as a means to work. Her experiences are a testament to her approach to life—a subtle mixture of playfulness and seriousness.