Katya’s Cosmopolitan Guide to Barcelona’s Best Restaurants

Katya enjoying a seafood platter.

When Katya* (@propertyshopper) is not in Barcelona consulting for Urbane International Realtors or on the set of House Hunters International. She is in New York, London or Paris. Likely somewhere high up with a view and a martini glass in the shot. Hard work means she wants and knows how to celebrate and has an uncanny knack for finding the best seafood tower. Here she shares 9 of her favourites for her Cosmopolitan Guide to Barcelona!

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When I first came to Barcelona 12 long years ago, I remember locals telling me that nobody here would have sushi for lunch or oysters for dinner.  Actually no raw fish nor oysters at all, ever, full stop. Because they already had all that they felt they needed.
Born and raised in cosmopolitan Moscow and possibly handling chopsticks better than a knife and fork, surprised I was to say the least. It’s Spain, it’s on the Mediterranean Sea, there is the Galician Atlantic coast. Spain has shellfish and the best fish and seafood ever and yet at the beginning, I encountered only one way of cooking mussels!?  (That way was al vapor – steamed, no added flavors) Calamari came as crunchy deep fried hoops. There is something romantic and comforting in all these wonderful little tapas places “de toda la vida” where you go after work, dressed as is, and where they serve you “lo de siempre”. But what if a long week comes to an end and you want to celebrate – no, you need to celebrate, switch sneakers to heels and do your hair and step into some beautiful world of flavours, colours, music, amusement. What if it’s time for seafood towers, grilled lobsters, champagne and, dare I say, fun?

Fast forward 12 years and Barcelona is still not London or New York and perhaps for the best – but there are a good number of cosmopolitan bars and restaurants. Here elegance meets exquisite cuisine and unforgettable ambience. So if you are with me, and now and then you’re seeking a blend of chic surroundings, top-notch service, tantalizing cocktails, and fresh seafood, you’re in for a treat. Here, I’ve curated a list of our top 10 must-visit establishments in the vibrant city of Barcelona.

Velissima
www.velissima.com
Pg. de Joan de Borbó, 103, 08039 
An amazing take on an Italian restaurant supposedly run by its Italian family which in reality are a troop of singers and entertainers that add to the wonderful ambience. Fabulous looking crowd so take your best handbag and be ready for a party after having devoured their prawn carpaccio with melon and warm calamari salad.

CDLC (Carpe Diem Lounge Club)
www.cdlcbarcelona.com
Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta, 32, 08003
Same group, a different vibe but a party and stylish crowd stay. Night club by night and chic fusion restaurant during the day – if they know you, they’ll treat you with a glass of cava as you walk in. Oysters, sashimi and sushi are of wonderful quality, but be sure to try other Asian dishes such as Thai-style curries and soups. I have my personal out-of-menu order which is a simple green goddess salad.

Mr. Porter
www.mrportersteakhouse.com
C/ del Rosselló, 265, 08008 Eixample
From the Dutch group of the same name, it’s a twin to their main Amsterdam-based restaurant. Fabulous ambience, DJ on Friday and Saturday nights, porn star martinis, open kitchen. You have to order their spicy shrimp and corn salad and their oysters have a special place in my heart.
(Foodie in Barcelona wrote about Mr. Porter in 2019 here.)

Boca Grande
www.bocagrande.cat
Passatge de la Concepció, 12, 08008 Eixample
Perhaps the very first “cosmopolitan” restaurant in town with chic interiors, oysters, crab and lobster on ice. Don’t leave without a cheeky drink at Boca Chica – their upstairs is bar – and if I told you they have a DJ in the toilet, would you believe me?

Nobu
www.noburestaurants.com/barcelona
Av. de Roma, 2, 4, 08014 
Yeah, we’ve all heard about Nobu, Kardashian’s favourite and the only place serving lychee martinis in Barcelona. You need to be here at sunset to take in the Barcelona skyline at its best and go traditional Japanese after having tried all their classics though like the black cod and the crunchy shiitake mushroom salad.

Jay’s Japanese 
www.jaysjapanese.com
C/ de Tuset, 19, 08006
It’s a beautiful, stylish restaurant affiliated with Gatsby Barcelona. Here do try their speciality cocktails and their sashimi platter with fabulous raw calamari and shrimp. Ask your waiter to take you through to Gatsby right after for a sneak peek of their cabaret show.

Ikibana Parallel
www.ikibana.com
Avinguda del Paral·lel, 148, 08015
There are several Ikibanas and we love the Parallel one the most: sit at the bar, enjoy their DJ, and order spicy edamame, oysters, and cava. You’ll have the best time with their Brazilian-Japanese fusion food.

La Perla Club/71Oysterbar
71oysterbar.com
C/ d’Enric Granados, 71, 08008 
The best place when not that hungry but need a drink and a pick me up and a bite to eat. They have a special – fabulous price – for 12 oysters and a bottle of champagne. You sip it at perhaps one of the prettiest bars in Barcelona.

Coya Barcelona
www.coyarestaurant.com/barcelona
W Barcelona, Plaça de la Rosa dels Vents, 1, 1st floor, 08039 Barceloneta
The newest addition to the Barcelona gastronomic scene, a Peruvian restaurant with the most decadent Inca style decor you’ve ever witnessed. Definitely order their guacamole, their corn salad, their ceviche samples and their grilled lobster.
(Foodie in Barcelona wrote about Coya here.)

A bit more about our guest post author Katya*
“I’ve been working in Barcelona real estate for more than 10 years now and quite soon into it I realized that it’s not really about the real estate – it’s the city, its lifestyle, it’s food. Of course real estate matters as it’s the key that unlocks the lifestyle of people who relocate here. While happy to help people find their new home in Barcelona, I’m delighted to help them discover its cafés, bars and restaurants and finally, there are enough for each and every taste and mood.”

W Barcelona, Plaça de la Rosa dels Vents, 1, 1st floor, Ciutat Vella, 08039 Barcelona, Spain

C. d'Enric Granados, 71, L'Eixample, 08008 Barcelona, Spain

Av. del Paral·lel, 148, L'Eixample, 08015 Barcelona, Spain

Carrer de Tuset, 19, Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, 08006 Barcelona, Spain

Av. de Roma, 2, 4, Sants-Montjuïc, 08014 Barcelona, Spain

Passatge de la Concepció, 12, L'Eixample, 08008 Barcelona, Spain

C/ del Rosselló, 265, L'Eixample, 08008 Barcelona, Spain

Pg. Marítim de la Barceloneta, 32, Ciutat Vella, 08003 Barcelona, Spain

Pg. de Joan de Borbó, 103, Ciutat Vella, 08039 Barcelona, Spain