Where to eat in Barcelona: tapas, what to order and where to book
Barcelona eats Catalan: bread rubbed with tomato, cured meats, rice, seafood and crema catalana. Lunch is at 2pm and dinner after 8.30pm, with vermouth in between. The best places are in El Born, Gràcia and Poble-sec, not on La Rambla. Walk in for tapas and book for dinner.
The short answer
- Best area to eat
- El Born and Gràcia for small restaurants, Poble-sec for tapas, and Barceloneta for seafood.
- Order this
- Pa amb tomàquet, jamón, patatas bravas, fideuà and crema catalana.
- When to eat
- Lunch from 2pm, dinner from 8.30pm. Vermouth before lunch is a local habit.
- Book or walk in
- Book dinner at restaurants and walk in for tapas bars.
- Tipping
- Optional. Round up or leave a euro or two.
What to eat in Barcelona
- Pa amb tomàquetBread rubbed with tomato and olive oil, served with ham or cheese.
- Patatas bravasFried potatoes with a spicy sauce.
- FideuàA noodle dish cooked like paella, with seafood.
- Crema catalanaA custard with a burnt sugar top.
- CalçotsGrilled spring onions with romesco sauce, in winter and early spring.
- EsqueixadaA salad of salt cod with tomato and olives.
- BotifarraA Catalan sausage, served with beans.
- VermouthA local aperitif, served with olives before lunch.
Where to eat in Barcelona, by neighborhood
El Born
Small restaurants, bars and tapas, near the sea. Busy at night.
Gràcia
A local district with squares, cafes and small restaurants.
Poble-sec
Tapas on Carrer de Blai and the surrounding streets.
Places worth a booking or a queue
-
Cal Pep
€€€Tapas bar · El Born
OrderThe seafood of the day at the counter
A tiny counter-only seafood bar with a queue at opening.
- Book
- Queue for the bar, or book the small dining room
Confirmed open: barcelona-metropolitan.com
-
Bar del Pla
€€Tapas bar · El Born
OrderCroquettes and the beef cheek
A small bar with modern Catalan tapas.
- Book
- Book ahead
- Closed
- Sunday
Confirmed open: barcelonanavigator.com
-
Quimet i Quimet
€€Tapas bar · Poble-sec
OrderMontaditos with a glass of wine
A tiny bar known for small sandwiches.
- Book
- Walk in, no reservations
- Closed
- Saturday and Sunday
Confirmed open: barcelonanavigator.com
-
Can Solé
€€€Restaurant · Barceloneta
OrderRice with seafood
A traditional seafood restaurant open since 1903.
- Book
- Book ahead
Confirmed open: barcelonanavigator.com
-
Mercat de la Boqueria
€€Market · El Raval
OrderFresh seafood and ham
A big food market with stalls and small bars.
- Book
- Walk in
- Closed
- Sunday
Confirmed open: boqueria.barcelona
Food markets in Barcelona
- La BoqueriaA large market off La Rambla with produce, seafood and small bars.Monday to Saturday from 8am, closed SundaySource: boqueria.barcelona
- Mercat de Sant AntoniA local market with produce and a Sunday book market.Monday to Saturday, and a Sunday book marketSource: barcelona.com
How Barcelona eats
- Meal timesLunch from 2pm, dinner from 8.30pm.
- TippingOptional. Round up or leave a euro or two.
- ReservationsBook dinner at restaurants. Tapas bars are walk in.
- VermouthA glass before lunch on a weekend is a local habit.
Signs of a place to walk past
Restaurants on La Rambla with photographs and a server calling people in.
Paella that arrives in five minutes, which is usually frozen.
Menus with sangria by the pitcher at tourist prices.
Eating in Barcelona: questions people ask
What food is Barcelona known for?
Pa amb tomàquet, jamón, fideuà, crema catalana and seafood.
What time do people eat in Barcelona?
Lunch from 2pm and dinner from 8.30pm.
Do I need to book in Barcelona?
For dinner at restaurants, yes. Tapas bars are walk in.
Is Barcelona expensive to eat in?
Near the sights, yes. Local bars and the menú del día are much cheaper.
What is a menú del día?
A set lunch with a starter, main course, dessert and a drink at a fixed price.
Where should I eat in Barcelona?
El Born, Gràcia and Poble-sec, away from La Rambla.