Seafood restaurants in Spain
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Restaurante Tintero
A longstanding, fun, seafront eatery where plates of seafood are brought out by the waiters and you shout out for what you want. Shout loud if you want it sizzling hot.
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Botafumeiro
It is hard not to mention this classic temple of Galician shellfish and other briny delights, long a magnet for VIPs visiting Barcelona. You can bring the price down by sharing a few medias raciones to taste a range of marine offerings or a safata especial del Mar Cantàbric (seafood platter) between two. Try the percebes, the strangely twisted goose barnacles harvested along Galicia’s north Atlantic coast, which many Spaniards consider the ultimate seafood delicacy.
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Restaurant 7 Portes
Founded in 1836 as a cafe and converted into a restaurant in 1929, this is a classic. In the hands of the Parellada clan, which runs several quality restaurants in and beyond Barcelona, it exudes an old-world atmosphere with its wood panelling, tiles, mirrors and plaques naming some of the famous – such as Orson Welles – who have passed through. Paella is the speciality, or go for the surfeit of seafood in the gran plat de marisc (literally ‘big plate of seafood’). We dare you to finish it!
reviewed
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El Cangrejo Loco
Of the hive of eating activity along the docks of Port Ol í mpic, the ‘Mad Crab’ is the best. It inevitably has a thoroughfare feel, attracting swarms of tourists, but the difference is that the food is generally of a reasonable quality. Fish standards, such as bacallà (salted cod) and rap (monkfish) , are served in various guises and melt in the mouth. The rich mariscada (seafood platter) for two includes half a lobster.
reviewed
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Alfonso Valderas
The city’s most famous restaurant for bacalao (salt cod) prepared around 20 different ways, including al pil-pil (with a spicy chilli sauce), with the local queso valdeóon cheese and with a salsa de oricios (sea urchin sauce). There are also meat, fish and rice mains. The dining room is grandly elegant, with a magnificent grandfather clock and a baffling display cabinet of antique shoes. Reservations recommended.
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Els Pescadors
Set on a cute square lined with low houses and bella ombre trees long ago imported from South America, this bustling family restaurant continues to serve some of the city’s great seafood-and-rice dishes. There are three dining areas inside: two quite modern, while the main one preserves its old tavern flavour. Better is sitting outside. All the products – fish, meat and vegetables – are trucked in fresh from various parts of Catalonia.
reviewed
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El Varadero
El Varadero brims with mouth-watering seafood and opens late. Go for a selection of dishes, which might include tigres (stuffed, breaded and fried mussels), ostrón (fat oyster) and cigalas a la plancha (grilled crayfish). You can sit inside (head upstairs) or take a seat at one of the outdoor tables. Hour-long queues at midnight on summer weekends are not unheard of.
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Can Ramonet
Perching at one of the little tables across the lane is the perfect way to pass a warm summer evening, perhaps over some vieires al cava (scallops in cava ). Or step inside and enjoy your tapas around a barrel-cum-table. Rice dishes cost around €20 for two and the catch of the day is around €20 to €25. It claims to have been in business since 1763.
reviewed
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Es Cranc
If you're happy to pay, head for this congenial spot on a street a couple of blocks inland. It has a simple dining room and a strong reputation. You can splash out on caldereta de llagosta (around €65) or even paella de llagosta (around €130 for two). Fresh delivery of lobster from a half-dozen local fishing vessels is guaranteed.
reviewed
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Ribeira Do Miño
This riotously popular bar and restaurant is where Madrileños with a love for seafood indulge their fantasy. The mariscada de la casa (€31 for two) is a platter of seafood that is so large that even the hungriest of visitors will leave satisfied. Leave your name with the waiter and be prepared to wait for up to an hour to get a table.
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Can Ros 1911
Little has changed over the decades in this seafood fave. In a restaurant where the decor is a reminder of simpler times, a simple rule guides: serve up succulent fresh fish cooked with a light touch. It also does a rich arròs a la marinera (seafood rice), a generous suquet (fish stew) and a mixed seafood platter for two.
reviewed
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El Lobito
A coquettish corner spot with pleasingly cluttered decor, dark timber tables and lime-green linen, the ‘Little Wolf’ is a seafood lover’s paradise. Avoid the seriously busy Friday and Saturday nights. The usual procedure is a set menu, with a long procession of sea critters (preceded by a few landlubberly amuse-gueules) coming your way.
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El Passadís del Pep
There’s no sign, but locals know where to head for a seafood feast. They say the restaurant’s raw materials are delivered daily from fishing ports along the Catalan coast. There is no menu – what’s on offer depends on what the sea has surrendered on the day. Just head down the long, ill-lit corridor and entrust yourself to their care.
reviewed
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Restaurante Antonio Martín
On the beach and with a large terrace, Antonio Martín is a somewhat stuffy dress-up-and-be-seen restaurant serving a range of fried fish and meat in a starched-tablecloth zone. If you want something cheaper and more down-to-earth, walk a few hundred metres along the promenade to one of the tented beach dives.
reviewed
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Es Plá
You can live without lobster but want melt-in-the-mouth seafood? Try this spot, with tables literally at the water's edge. The lenguado (sole) is prepared in a rich seafood sauce and vegetables. The menú del día (around €18) is good value for this town.
reviewed
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Es Molí de Sal
In a tastefully renovated mill, Es Molí de Sal boasts a lovely terrace and magnificent sea views. It serves some of Formentera’s finest seafood. Try one of the rice dishes or the house speciality, caldereta de llagosta (lobster stew).
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Churrasco
It's meat eaters' heaven at this long-established place with jamón Ibérico a speciality, although there's decent fish and seafood as well. A good bet is the day's centros (shared platters of ham, squid and other treats).
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Suquet de l’Almirall
At this family business run by one of the acolytes of Ferran Adrià’s El Bulli restaurant, the order of the day is top-class seafood. A good option is the pica pica marinera (seafood mix; €38) or you could opt for the tasting menu (€44).
reviewed
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La Flor de Tetuán
A simple seafood delight, offering anything from a crayfish-filled salad to a slab of catch-of-the-day lightly grilled. Most shellfish are sold by weight. It's the best of a strip of four small, packed seafood eateries on this street.
reviewed
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Can Forn
Family-run Can Forn specialises in island cuisine, offering dishes such as calamar a la bruta (‘dirty calamari’, with potato, Mallorcan sausage and squid ink). It’s at the northern limit of the main street.
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Kaskazuri
Upmarket Basque seafood is all the rage in this flash restaurant, which is built on a raised platform allowing views of the former home of your dinner. It cooks up a storm with their €18 menú del día. Book in advance.
reviewed
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L’ancora
The quintessential Tarragona seafood experience can be had in Serrallo, the town’s fishing port. A stand-out here is L’Ancora, which brims with mouth-watering seafood and opens late.
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Restaurante Es Cupiná
At the eastern extremity of the beach, Restaurante Es Cupiná is a big name on the island. In business for nearly 40 years, this breezy restaurant is noted for its freshly cooked fish of the day.
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Bar Del Puerto
With its grand windows looking out towards the waterfront of the Puerto Chico, this is the perfect spot for damn-near-perfect seafood. Your choice of critter will have a huge influence on the fiscal outlay.
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