Barcelona Restaurants

  1. Àbac

    This minimalist designer den continues to stun the critics. Neutral, clean lines and lighting seem deliberately conjured so as not to rob even a sliver of concentration from the imaginative dishes issuing from the kitchen. They change constantly, and might range from a tarte Tatin of eel and apple to various baby-goat offerings.

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  2. Agua

    You enter by what looks vaguely like an elevator shaft on the waterfront and wander downstairs into a brightly lit dining area at beach level. By day you almost feel you are on the beach itself. Food is bright, with some original options such as pastel d'escalivada, a light pie version of the Catalan red pepper and aubergine starter. The rice dishes are excellent.

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  3. Agut

    This warm, friendly family-run restaurant appeals to a sedate crowd that digs its traditional and robust Catalan fare. The suquet de rap (a monkfish stew) is finger-licking good, but succulent sirloin steaks await those in need of greater sustenance.

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  4. Alba Granados

    In summer, try for one of two romantic tables for two on the 1st-floor balcony, truly unique in this town. Meat dishes are king here. The carrillera de ternera (a dark, soft meat from the neck of the cow) can be followed by exquisite desserts.

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  5. Alkímia

    Jordi Vila serves refined Catalan dishes with a twist in this white-walled restaurant a few blocks from La Sagrada Família. Seafood dominates the menu in this one-star Michelin. Go for a set menu of about a dozen small courses - foodies' heaven.

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  7. Amaltea

    The weekday set lunch (around €9 ) offers a series of dishes that change frequently with the seasons. Savour an escalopa de seitan (seitan escalope) and empanadillas (pastry pockets stuffed with spinach or hiziki algae and tofu).

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  8. Bar Celta

    A bright, straightforward bar-cum-restaurant specialising in pulpo (octopus), Bar Celta does a good job - even the most demanding of Gallegos gives this spot the thumbs up. Sit at the bar, order a bottle of Ribeiro and dig in!

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  9. Bar Central

    This no-nonsense eatery towards the back of Barcelona's emblematic produce market is one of the best of several for a hearty lunch. Marketeers, local workers and the occasional curious tourist jostle for a stool. Go for the grilled fish of the day or perhaps some chunky mandonguilles (meatballs).

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  10. Bar Kasparo

    Pull up a stainless-steel pew for terrace dining beneath vaults at this friendly Australian-run place, on the corner of a pleasant square with swings for kids. It does a sturdy line in snacks, mixed salads, filled rolls and hot dishes that change daily.

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  11. Biblioteca

    In a long ground-floor setting, with bare brick walls and a stylishly simple white décor, the 'Library' presents a changing menu of mixed dishes. The food is rooted in a mix of Navarran and general Mediterranean cooking. The menú del día is worth a detour.

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  13. Bilbao

    You'll need to book for generous portions of hearty Spanish grub (the emphasis is on juicy meat). The low-lit lamps, dusty bottles along the rear wall and attentive service will make you want to linger in what seems, from the outside, no more than a scruffy, neighbourhood bar.

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  14. Biocenter

    You share your table with whomever at this large and friendly veggie restaurant, serving a great assortment of salads, casseroles and seasonal vegetables cooked using various techniques from around the world. A combinat is a good option - you select one of the hot meals of the day and then heap on salad from the buffet out the back.

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  15. Bubò

    Pastry chef Carles Mampel operates an exquisite shop and, next door, a small restaurant where you wade through a phalanx of tapas and small savoury dishes to then get down to the serious business of trying out his devilish desserts.

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  16. Ca l'Isidre

    Every morning, chefs from this seemingly unremarkable, backstreet restaurant wander across to the bounteous Mercat de la Boqueria to stock up on the raw materials for the day's cooking. Grand, traditionally decorated dining areas sweep back from the entrance, ready to accommodate you for some fine fresh-fish dishes.

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  17. Café de l'Acadèmia

    An old favourite with hungry, hard-working public servants in the nearby Ajuntament, this café never fails to satisfy their demands. The key to its success is a solid grounding in well-prepared local cuisine with the occasional inventive twist. The atmosphere hums good-naturedly at lunchtime but is rather more subdued and romantic in the evening.

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  19. Café de l'Opera

    This busy café is the most atmospheric on La Rambla, having stood the test of time. Bohemians and their buddies mingle with tourists beneath Art Deco images of opera heroines etched into mirrors.

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  20. Cafè Zurich

    The original 1920s Cafè Zurich was one of the city's landmark meeting places, but it was torn down in 1997 to make way for the department store that now occupies this corner. The café's shiny, pseudoclassic replacement may not have the same charm, but the tables are perfectly positioned for watching the world go by.

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  21. Cal Pep

    This boisterous tapas bar brims with energy and personality thanks to Pep, the owner and chef. Get here early for squeezing space at the bar and gourmet bar snacks, such as cloïsses amb pernil (clams and ham - seriously! - at around €12 .70). For one of the handful of tables out back, book a long way ahead.

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  22. Can Culleretes

    Founded in 1786, Barcelona's oldest restaurant is still going strong, with tourists and locals flocking to enjoy its rambling interior, old-fashioned tiled décor, and enormous helpings of traditional Catalan food. Service with a snarl is compensated for by the timeless setting.

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  23. Casa Calvet

    Set on the ground floor of a Gaudí apartment block, this sophisticated restaurant is patronised by VIPs from far and wide, drawn by creative Mediterranean cooking with a Catalan bent. Savour Gaudí's genius as you enjoy your foie gras or ravioli stuffed with oysters.

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  25. Casa Darío

    This traditional Galician restaurant serves up a cornucopia of gifts of the sea. White-jacketed waiters waft around with platters overflowing with scallops, octopus, crab and lobster, to name a few.

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  26. Casa Leopoldo

    Several rambling dining areas, sporting magnificent tiled walls and exposed timber-beam ceilings, make this a fine option for lovers of local tradition. The seafood menu is extensive and the wine list strong on local products.

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  27. Cata 1.81

    Treat yourself to a series of dainty gourmet dishes, such as raviolis amb bacallà (salt-cod dumplings) or truita amb tòfona (thick potato tortilla with a delicate trace of truffle). Since wines feature so prominently here, let rip with the list of fine Spanish tipples.

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  28. Centre Cultural Euskal Etxea

    One of the more established Basque tapas bars in Barcelona, this cultural centre still beats many of its flashier newcomer competitors for authenticity and atmosphere. Choose your pintxos (snacks), sip txacoli wine, and keep the toothpicks so the staff can count them up and work out your bill. You could almost be in San Sebastián.

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  29. Cerveseria Catalana

    Coffee and croissants are on in the morning, or wait until lunch to choose from the profusion of tapas and montaditos (canapés) . You can sit at the bar, on the footpath terrace or in the restaurant at the back. The variety of hot tapas, delectable salads and other snacks draws a well-dressed crowd (and we mean crowd) from all over the barri .

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