
What to Eat in Barcelona
In Barcelona, expect to find a mix of traditional Spanish dishes along with Mediterranean-infused Catalonian classics. While here, make sure to sample Spanish staples including jamón ibérico, manchego cheese, tortilla española (potato omelet), gazpacho (cold soup), and patatas bravas (sautéed potatoes typically served with a spicy aioli). And considering the city borders the Mediterranean Sea, you should indulge in paella accordingly. But when in Catalonia, try the Catalan versions of paella. There's arròs a la catalana, which features much of the same ingredients of paella except the dish doesn't use saffron, a key ingredient in Spanish paella. Fideuà is another paella-like dish with a Catalan spin, only instead of rice you get noodles.
Catalonian cuisine is big on meat and fish. And while that may not sound too far off from the rustic, meat-heavy fare found throughout the rest of Spain, the difference here is that the Catalans like to mix both of them together in one dish. Mar i muntanya is the name of the phenomenon, so don't be alarmed if while in a restaurant, you notice a dish coming out with chicken and shrimp together on a plate. If that sounds too heavy for your liking, there are plenty of lighter options that are quintessentially Catalan. Grilled vegetables are surprisingly big for a place that loves pork. (Sausage is another staple here. Instead of focusing on chorizo, go for the regional botifarras sausage). One of the most traditional Catalan dishes available is escalivada, which is grilled eggplant and red peppers mixed with olive oil and garlic (sometimes with anchovies) served on top of bread. There's also the vegetarian-friendly, and favored pa amb tomàquet snack, or bread spread with a mix of olive oil, garlic and crushed tomatoes. And if you're visiting from December to early May, seek out a calçot cookout. Calçots are a type of spring onions native to the province, and it's a Catalan pastime to char them on a grill and dip them in romesco sauce. Also part of the pastime? Wearing bibs (often emblazoned with calçots) and eating outside, where the grilled calçots are spread among newspaper. (If that sounds familiar, it's the same way crab and lobster is consumed in the USA.)
Whatever you decide to eat while in Barcelona, make sure to leave room for dessert. Crema catalana is the Catalan version of creme brulee. Cheese is also dessert here. Mel i mató is a goat cheese drizzled with warm honey and accompanied by walnuts. Cava, or Catalan sparkling wine, goes great with these too.
Find the Best Restaurants in Barcelona
- #1La Patsa Lab#1 of 10,653 Places to Eat in Barcelona
Tripadvisor (388)$ - $$ | Italian, Mediterranean, European, Northern-Italian, Southern-ItalianCalle Casanova 94, 08011 Barcelona SpainRead More » - #2La Gastronomica#2 of 10,653 Places to Eat in Barcelona
Tripadvisor (187)$ - $$ | Mediterranean, Spanish, CatalanCarrer de Calabria, 118, 08015 Barcelona SpainRead More » - #3BelleBuon#3 of 10,653 Places to Eat in Barcelona
Tripadvisor (2522)$ - $$ | Italian, Neapolitan, Campania, Sicilian, Southern-ItalianTravessera de Gracia, 441, 08025 Barcelona SpainRead More » - #4Babula Bar 1937#4 of 10,653 Places to Eat in Barcelona
Tripadvisor (275)$ - $$ | Mediterranean, European, Spanish, FusionCalle Pau Claris 139, 08009 Barcelona SpainRead More » - #5Pizzeria Da Nanni Barcelona#5 of 10,653 Places to Eat in Barcelona
Tripadvisor (1686)$ | Italian, Pizza, Fast Food, Mediterranean, European, Neapolitan, Campania, Southern-ItalianCalle Llibreteria 10, 08002 Barcelona SpainRead More » - #6The Coffee House Barcelona#6 of 10,653 Places to Eat in Barcelona
Tripadvisor (89)$ | Cafe, EuropeanCarrer de Valencia 143, 08011 Barcelona SpainRead More » - #7Don Kilo Gourmet#7 of 10,653 Places to Eat in Barcelona
Tripadvisor (72)$ - $$ | Pizza, Southern-Italian, Italian, Neapolitan, Campania, MediterraneanCarrer Corsega 398, 08037 Barcelona SpainRead More » - #8Pizzeria Da Nanni BORN#8 of 10,653 Places to Eat in Barcelona
Tripadvisor (148)$ | Italian, Pizza, Mediterranean, Neapolitan, Campania, Southern-ItalianCarrer del Rec 30, 08003 Barcelona SpainRead More » - #9Le Romane#9 of 10,653 Places to Eat in Barcelona
Tripadvisor (1159)$ - $$ | Italian, Pizza, Mediterranean, European, Healthy, Romana, Lazio, Central-ItalianCarrer Muntaner 103, 08011 Barcelona SpainRead More » - #10Swiit#10 of 10,653 Places to Eat in Barcelona
Tripadvisor (130)$ | CafeBaixada de Viladecols 2C Placa dels Traginers, 08002 Barcelona SpainRead More » - #11El Jardinet D'Aribau#11 of 10,653 Places to Eat in Barcelona
Tripadvisor (551)$ - $$ | Mediterranean, European, SpanishCarrer De Aribau, 133 Eixample, 08036 Barcelona SpainRead More » - #12Bodega Biarritz#12 of 10,653 Places to Eat in Barcelona
Tripadvisor (3643)$ - $$ | Mediterranean, Spanish, Wine Bar, European, CatalanNou de San Francesc 7, 08002 Barcelona SpainRead More » - #13Chaka Khan#13 of 10,653 Places to Eat in Barcelona
Tripadvisor (2068)$ - $$ | Healthy, Central Asian, Dining barsCarrer Hospital, 104, 08001 Barcelona SpainRead More » - #14Don Kilo Restaurant#14 of 10,653 Places to Eat in Barcelona
Tripadvisor (1449)$ - $$ | Italian, PizzaCarrer de Girona 133, 08037 Barcelona SpainRead More » - #15Paisano Bistro#15 of 10,653 Places to Eat in Barcelona
Tripadvisor (771)$ - $$ | Italian, Cafe, Mediterranean, European, HealthyCarrer Lepant, 277, 08013 Barcelona SpainRead More » - #16La Gastronomica#16 of 10,653 Places to Eat in Barcelona
Tripadvisor (1099)$ - $$ | Mediterranean, European, Spanish, CatalanCarrer Vilamari 9-15, 08015 Barcelona SpainRead More » - #17Eixampeling Brunch Cafe & Bar#17 of 10,653 Places to Eat in Barcelona
Tripadvisor (918)$ - $$ | Cafe, Healthy, FusionDiputacion 158, 08011 Barcelona SpainRead More » - #18Billy Brunch#18 of 10,653 Places to Eat in Barcelona
Tripadvisor (769)$ - $$ | Cafe, European, Healthy, InternationalCarrer de Bailen 115, 08009 Barcelona SpainRead More » - #19Anita Flow#19 of 10,653 Places to Eat in Barcelona
Tripadvisor (1519)$ - $$ | International, Mediterranean, Spanish, Healthy, Dining bars, Beer restaurantsConsell de Cent, 413, 08009 Barcelona SpainRead More » - #20Bella Italia#20 of 10,653 Places to Eat in Barcelona
Tripadvisor (889)$ | Italian, PizzaCarrer de Roger de Lluria, 87 Esq. Valencia, 08009 Barcelona SpainRead More »
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