Top 5 Barcelona

A guide to my Top 5 places by sector. If you are in town for a weekend and want a guide to central Barcelona then read my Barcelona: Where to Eat City Guide post. Coffee your thing? Don’t miss my Coffee Guide to Barcelona.

In the list you will find: Gastro Restaurants, Fine Dining, Tapas, Vegetarian, Breakfast, Coffee,

Top 10 Gastro Restaurants (Top 5 Barcelona)
(This category is growing exponentially- here are 10 great addresses.)
→ Agreste de Fabio y Roser – C/ Funoses Llussà 2. 08023 El Coll. Far up in the hills. Bright vibrant food from an Italian chef and front of house by his partner, the pair met on the Camino de Santiago where this restaurant was conceived.
→ Bambarol – C/ Santaló, 21. Sant Gervasi / Galvani. A neighbourhood favourite way of the beaten path. Desserts are excellent.
→ Berbena – C/ Minerva 6, Baixos. Gràcia. Exciting things happening here, not often seen coupled with delicate yet relaxed plating.
→ Bicnic – C/ Girona 68. Eixample. Gastro rustic means they serve things like fat slices of coarse pate with house pickles. Excellent.
→ Cruix – C/ Eneteça 57, Eixample. The place to go for a paella more soccarat. A competitive menu with lots of surprising dishes.
→ Denassus – C/ Blai, 53, Poble Sec. From 2 Bar del Pla alumni. The wine is phenomenal, as you would expect, and the sharing dishes are spectacular.
→ Fismuler – C/ Del Rec Comtal 17. El Born. In the Hotel Rec, opened by 2 El Bulli Alums. Large space, beautiful plates of food. Legendary cheesecake.
→ Fonda Pepa – C/ de Tordera, 58. Gràcia. Catalan food at it’s best with well-sourced local ingredients.
→ Gresca Bar – C/ de la Provença, 230. Eixample. They invented this concept in Barcelona. Accomplished food, served on chipped mismatched plates from an open kitchen.
→Palo Verde – C/ Corsega 232, Eixample. Small smokey bites. Unusual things like minced duck thigh glazed in teriyaki and served on a stick.
→ Santa Gula – Plaça de Narcís Oller, 3. Gràcia. Best canelones in town. Cosy, comfortable space. Best representation of Catalan food around.

*****

Top 5 Fine Dining (Top 5 Barcelona)
2021 saw the closing of the Adria brothers popular Tickets and Pakta.
→ Cinc Sentits – C/ Entença, 60. Eixample. Kaiseki like dining from chef Jordi Artal.
→ Direkte Boqueria – Locals 4-5. Pòrtics de la Boqueria. An 8 seat restaurant off the Boqueria market-making remarkable fusion dishes.
→ Disfrutar – C/ Villarroel, 163. Eixample. A fantastic contemporary restaurant from El Bulli alumni.
→ Oria – (Oria at Monument Hotel) – Passeig de Gracia 75. Eixample. The many Michelin starred Martín Berasategui (12 at last count) offers Barcelona a glimpse of what he is capable of.
→ Yakumanka – C/ Valencia 207. Eixample. No Michelin stars here but this Peruvian restaurant is  at the more expensive end for Barcelona.  The fish here is extremely fresh and sustainably caught. Vivid flavours in the ceviche.

*****

Top 5 Tapas (Top 5 Barcelona)
→ Bar del Pla – C/ Montcada 2. El Born. Serving a few of the classics but many of their own concoctions – like shaved mushrooms with strawberry and wasabi. Good wine list.
→ Bormuth – Plaça Comercial 1, El Born. Flanking the wonderful square in front of the CCB. One of the best vermouths in the city with great tapas. (Facebook Bormuth)
→ Morro Fi – Various locations. With their own Vermouth and canned food brand. They get the tapas concept better than most.
→ Tantarantana – Tantarantana, 24. El Born. Everything you would expect to find on a good Tapas menu. (Instagram/tantarantanabcn/)
→ Tapas 24 – C/ Diputació, 269. Eixample. The wait can be long and you will be dining with tourists but this Carles Abellan spot is still good.

*****

Top 6 Vegetarian
→Fat Veggies – C/ París 168. Eixample. Vegetables every which way but particularly on the barbecue. They have a solid fermented drinks menu.  Their vegan brownie is even better than the real thing!
→ Flax & Kale – C/ Tallers 74B. El Raval. The first hipster vegetarian, flexitarian, cold-pressed juice flagship of the city.
→ Flax & Kale Passage – C/ de Sant Pere Mes Alt 31-33. Sant Pere (El Born). The second iteration of Flax & Kale. This one with a fermentation chamber.
→ Green Spot – C/ de la Reina Cristina, 12. Barceloneta. An elegant vegetarian restaurant from the En Compania de Lobos group. Even non-veggies eat here for the space.
→ Honest Greens – Rambla de Catalunya 3. Eixample. Fast affordable food mostly vegetarian, gorgeous space. (A few more have since opened, check their website for locations)
→ Teresa Carles – C/ de Jovellanos, 2. El Raval. A more traditional offering of vegetarian food although this was the restaurant that preceded Flax & Kale and is the same group.

*****

Top 6 Bakeries (Top 5 Barcelona)
→ Baluard – C/ del Baluart, 38. Barceloneta + more locations. From a 4th generation baker, Anna Bellsolà, the pan de pagès is the one to order. (www.baluardbarceloneta.com)
→ Cloudstreet Bakery – C/ Rosello 112. Eixample. Micro bakery.
→ Mayer Bakery – C/ Diluví 11. Gràcia. French-style bakery. Beautiful Viennoiserie.
→ Origo Bakery – C/ de Milà i Fontanals, 9. Gràcia. Sourdough bread using ancient grains sourced locally.
→ Pa de Kilo – In the former Reykjavik kitchen in El Raval. Thick sliced, crusty sourdough. (www.padekilo.com)
→ Yellow Bakery – 4 Biz LOC 1 C/ Regomir. Gothic. Tremendous sourdough bread, this bakery supplies the best brunch places in town.

*****

 Top 7 Breakfast / Brunch (Top 5 Barcelona)
→Can Dende – Ciutat de Granada 44. Poble Nou. Small, popular with heaps of heart. Still my favourite eggs Benedict in town.
→Caravelle – C. Pintor Fortuny 31. El Raval. The chef-owner is Australian, so expect good coffee and top brunch choices, expertly executed.
→Cremat11 – C/ Cremat 11, El Born. A menu that gets straight to the point. Poached eggs on thick bread and stacks of pancakes. Plus fancy cocktails. Small restaurant with a good terrace. (Instagram Cremat11)
→Levante – Sant Domènc del Call, 11. Gothic Quarter. A gorgeous cafe serving breakfast with a Middle Eastern lean.
→Little Fern – C/ de Pere IV 168. Poble Nou. A couple from New Zealand brings us this gem. Brunch options are creative here – think corn fritter pancakes smothered with guacamole.
→Lulu – Av. del Marquès de l’Argentera, 7. Delicious tartines, scrumptious bowls, super service.
→ Picnic – (Picnic)  – C/ del Comerç, 1. A much-loved corner restaurant close to the Arc de Triomf that mixes it up a little with dishes like fried green tomatoes and my personal favourite Huevos Rancheros!

*****

Top 10 Coffee Spots (Top 5 Barcelona)
(Read Coffee Guide Barcelona for a complete list)
→ Brunells by Cafe El Magnifico – C/Princesa 22, El Born. A coffee shop with an adjacent patisserie in a collaboration with the original coffee roasters of Barcelona. (Also check out Mag opened weekends only)
→ Casa Taos – C/ d’Àlaba 100, Poblenou. Part coffee stall, part sustainable living experience, in the lobby of a green coworking space.
→ Dalston Coffee – C/ de Ramelleres, 16. El Raval. The smallest coffee shop in town but still mighty!
→ Espai Joliu – C/ Badajoz 95. Poble Nou. The prettiest coffee shop in town. Pick up a couple of succulents, a zine and an excellent coffee.
→ News & Coffee – Numerous locations. Celebrating the magazine renaissance, these kiosks will set you up with reading and coffee. (newsandcoffee.eu)
→ Nomad – There are a few of these so check their website. They have an excellent coffee subscription service to keep you buzzing.
→ Satan’s Coffee – C/ de l’Arc de Sant Ramon del Call, 11. Coffee with heaps of implied attitude, in case the name didn’t tip you off. Some creative eats as well. They have another coffee shop in Casa Bonay.
→ Slow Mov – C/ de Luis Antúnez, 18. Gràcia. A thoughtful coffee shop going to great lengths to be the best and fairest it can.
→ Syra Coffee – Various locations. What started as a small shop in Gracia now has branches all over the city. (syra.coffee)
→ Three Marks Coffee – Ausias Marc 151. Eixample. A relative newcomer, this cafe is spread over two light-filled floors.

*****

Top 4 Food Tours  ( Top 5 Barcelona)
→ Bear on Bike Market to Table – www.bearonbike.es –
→ Culinary Backstreets – culinarybackstreets.com –
→ Devour Tours – devourbarcelonafoodtours.com –
→ Wanderbeak – www.wanderbeak.com –

*****

Top 5 Cocktails
→ Boadas – One of the oldest cocktail bars in the city.
→ Dry Martini – Listed in The World’s 50 Best Bars 6 years in a row.
→ Clubhaus – They have a karaoke room to enjoy your cocktail in. They do an excellent Espresso martini.
→ La Confiteria – In an antique shop that retains all it’s charm.
→ Paradiso – The cocktail speakeasy accessed through a refrigerator door.

*****

Top 8 Food Shops – (Top 5 Barcelona)
→ Casa Perris – Plaça Comercial, 2. El Born. Flours, pulses, unsweetened peanut butter, dried fruits, spices – you can find it all here.
→ Ferment 9 – C/ de Sepúlveda 135. Sant Antoni. The shop no one knew we wanted but all loved when it opened. A temple to fermented things from water kefirs to kimchi to olives. Your gut will thank you.
→ J.K. Asian Supermarket – C/ De Sant Pau, 25. El Raval. An essential resource for Asian ingredients. I’m routinely amazed at how much stock they manage to squeeze into this small shop. (www.jkasianfoods.com)
→ La Salumeria – C/ Comte Borrell 8-14. An Italian deli with little emphasis on a charming interior but all its concentration on top Italian fare. From fresh mozzarella to all the pasta shapes in Italy. (Facebook La Salumeria)
→ Oriental Market – C/ Sicilia 212. Eixample. Asian products, particularly Japan. They have a good website for ordering online.(www.orientalmarket.es/shop)
→ Simo Formatgeria – C/ Sant Pere mes Alt, 40. El Born. Cheese! With some incredible small producers. (www.formatgeriasimo.com)
→ Vila Viniteca – C/ Dels Agullers, 7. El Born. The best Jamón, cheeses, canned foods and of course wine.
→ Xin Yang Kuang – Paseo de San Juan, 12. Arc de Triomf. The largest, best-stocked Chinese supermarket I’ve found. Their walk-in fridge is a must-visit.
*Have a look at the Best Eats Page – the Specialty Grocery Stores at the bottom has lots more excellent addresses)

*****

Top 6 Ice Cream Shops (Top 5 Barcelona)
→ Delacrem – 2 shops. 1. Enric Granados, 15. Eixample or Passeig de Sant Joan, 59. Delicate, delightful artisanal gelato. One of the originals.
→ Gocce di latte – Pla de Palau, 4. El Born. Italian artisanal gelato with a vegan branch around the corner.
→ Natas Heladas – C/ Elisabets 6. El Raval. Unusual flavour combinations like tahini and banana, expertly made by Manuela.
→ Swiit Ice Cream – Baixada de Viladecols 2c, Bajos 2. Gothic Quarter. Excellent gelato and sorbets.
→ Parallelo Gelato – C/ de Sèneca 18. Gracia. Italian gelato.
→ Selvatica – C/ Martinez de la Rosa 65. Gracia Italian gelato from some South Americans with some unusual and funny flavours like cheese and Guyaba jam, the jam is made in house.

*****

Top 5 Interiors (Top 5 Barcelona)
→ La Barra Carles Abellan – C/ Rosa dels Vents, 1. Barceloneta. Fine dining with a view at the W Hotel.
→ Cafeteria Industrial – C/ Pallars 154. Poble Nou. Cool, yellow and retro. This Poble Nou cafe is worth a visit.
→ Cañete – C/ de la Unió, 17. El Raval. The succulents alone are worth a visit, hanging from the ceilings like many legged creatures. The food here is excellent.
→ El Nacional – P/ de Gracia, 24. Eixample. Just off Paseo de Gracia in a former car dealership, this huge space with various themed restaurants will definitely impress.
→ Baldomero – P/ Mercador, 16. An oasis of orangey-pink that could be in Mexico.

*****

 Top 5 Japanese (Top 5 Barcelona)
→ Fan Shoronpo Japones – C/ Seneca 28, Gràcia. Delicious ramen, particularly the sesame one and delicate dumplings.
→ Kak Koy – C/ Ripoll 16. Gothic. A Japanese bistro with a Robata grill at its heart contributing smoke to some of the dishes. Try the miso eggplant!
→ Ramen Ya Hiro – C/ Girona 156. Eixample. The original ramen joint. Line curling round the blog usually.
→ Sato i Tanaka – C/ Bruc 79. Eixample. Exquisite nigiri and sashimi. Expertly made by either Chef Sato or Chef Tanaka.
→ Shunka – Sagristans, 5 bajos. Gothic. This remains the best all-around Japanese in the city.

*****

Top 5 Menu del Dia (Top 5 Barcelona)
→ Berbena – Minerva 6, Baixos. Gràcia. 16.50€ will get you a basket of homemade bread, 2 starters, a main, a dessert and filter coffee. Huge effort going into it.
→  Can Kenji – C/ del Rosselló, 325. Eixample. Delightful Japanese cooking.
→ El Casal – Plaza Víctor Balaguer, 5. El Raval. Done up like the quirky living room of some eccentric aunt, El Casal offers a great value menu for 11.25€.
→ En Aparte – C/ Lluís el Piadós, 2. Sant Pere (El Born). French-themed lunch in a bright space filled with French flea market finds.
→ La Pubilla – Plaça de la Llibertat, 23. Gràcia. An institution. Across from the market, the food is fresh and often Catalan themed.

*****

Top 5 You Would Never Expect It (Top 5 Barcelona)
→ Bambarol – C/ Santaló, 21. Sant Gervasi – Galvani. Excellent food from this unassuming, almost basement restaurant. Desserts are delightful, leave room for them.
→ Chennai Masala Dosa – C/ de Galileu, 326. Les Corts. South Indian food. Good thalis and dosas, all delicious.
→ Embat – C/ de Mallorca, 304. Eixample. Great cooking happening here, no ego, no fanfare, just excellent food, and hardly anyone seems to know about it.
→ Leka – C/ de Badajoz, 65. Poble Nou. A Mediterranean, fusion, with some Scandinavian thrown in – it sounds odd, but they make it work. Interesting space and furniture.
→ Lluritu – C/ Torrent de les Flors, 71. Gràcia. Some of the best seafood in Barcelona, miles from the sea, up in the hills of Gracia. Small, easy to walk past but don’t, you will be smitten with this place.

*****

Top 5 Cheap Eats (Top 5 Barcelona)
→ A Tu Bola – C/ Hospital, 78. El Raval. Balls. Falafel, meatballs, all manner of round things.
→ Bao Bao – C/ de n’Aglà, 4, Gothic. Steamed Asian buns with funny names like the “Obama”.
→ Can Paixano (La Xampanyeria) – C/ de la Reina Cristina, 7. Barceloneta. Can Paixano is a Cava producer and La Xampanyeria is their restaurant. Tapas, warm sandwiches, canned food is all served. Extremely popular and busy. So go for breakfast (Cava for breakfast!).
→Lady Dumpling – C/ Escudellers 30. Sneaking this one in at #6. The veggie dumplings are delicious as are most things here. (ladydumpling.com)
→ Pikio Taco – C/ de Còrsega, 376. Gràcia. Gobble them up in two bites. The tacos at Pikio are so good you must order at least four.
→ Ramen Shop – C/ d’en Gignàs, 3. Gothic. A big bowl of ramen, good flavour – even the odd milky white soda popular in Japan.

*****

Top 5 with Kids (Top 5 Barcelona)
→ Chivous – C/ del Pintor Fortuny, 15. El Raval. – C/ de València, 204. Eixample – C/ del torrent de l’olla, 175. Gràcia. Choose from 3 different locations. Kids will love the cheese on wedge fries and parents will love the burgers or the pulled pork. (But probably also the fries.)
→ Cuines Santa Caterina – Francesc Cambó 16. Gothic. A large restaurant next to the Santa Caterina Market. Skilled at dealing with bigger groups, getting the food out fast and offering a range of foods to please everyone. Oh, and there is a little train that rides along the ceiling of the place.
→ Koryo – C/ Reus, 4. Sant Gervasi. The Bento boxes are just the thing for kids who want to keep their food from touching. Good bibimpab bowls.
→ Parking Pizza – Passeig de Sant Joan, 56. Eixample. A huge noisy place with plenty of parking for prams (it used to be a parking garage).
→ Tomasso – C/ Londres 93. Eixample. All kids love pizza and this one is large enough that you can wrap smaller kids in one, should they misbehave. Excellent New York style pizza.
→ Yatai – C/ del Comte d’Urgell, 112. Eixample. Rice with a face for them a nice Donburi bowl for you. Fun space with vintage Japanese advertisements on the wall.