Barcelona, Spain — Food and Dining
Restaurants in Barcelona, Spain
Restaurants
Expensive
Alkimia
Alkimia is one of Barcelona's best modern restaurants, thanks to the creative cuisine of audacious young chef Jordi Vilà, whose avant-garde twist on traditional Catalan cooking has gained him a Michelin star. Signature dishes include guinea-fowl terrine with pistachio and green apple guacamole and steak tartare served with olive-oil ice cream. The stark white minimalist dining room is a perfect backdrop for imaginative cuisine and the ultra-cool clientele. Booking essential.
Carrer Indústria 79
Tel: (93) 207 6115.
Website: www.alkimia.cat
Arola
Since its opening, the eponymous restaurant of the dazzling Michelin-starred Catalan chef Sergi Arola at the ultra-chic Hotel Arts has been the talk of the town. Its informal menu is based on the regional tradition of pica-pica (sharing a variety of different dishes with friends), and includes such tempting flavor combinations as smoked sardines with romesco sauce, tuna carpaccio with jamón oil, and his signature patatas bravas with a piquant chilli sauce. The ambiance is contemporary and laid back, with a garden terrace during summer months, and a DJ every evening.
Hotel Arts Barcelona, Carrer Marina 19-21
Tel: (93) 483 8090.
Website: www.arola-arts.com
Jean-Luc Figueras
Housed in the former atelier of fashion designer Balanciaga, the elegant, classically Catalan surroundings (all polished wood, lamps and tiled floors) are almost as outstanding as the food. Frenchman Jean-Luc Figueras creates modern, original dishes, such as fried prawn and ginger pasta in mustard and mango sauce, without submitting to the demands of food fads or egotism. The menu tends to lean towards seafood but meat dishes are also included. Master patisero Jordi Butrón's sublime puddings are outstanding. Booking essential.
Carrer Santa Teresa 10
Tel: (93) 415 2877.
Moderate
Arc Café
Arc Café is a ‘gastrobar' run by German duo Thomas and Willi. Hearty Mediterranean, Caribbean and Asian-influenced dishes, such as Thai curry and sublime spicy veggie burgers, are prepared in the spotless open-plan kitchen, amid warm, softly lit surroundings and a backdrop of mellow sounds. Tending towards the vegetarian, there's nevertheless a good selection of meat dishes too. Its location in a narrow, picturesque street near Plaça Reial makes it an ideal pre-club dinner venue.
Carrer Carabassa 19
Tel: (93) 302 5204.
Website: www.arccafe.com
La Fonda
La Fonda offers good-priced Catalan classics (such as butifarra sausage with haricot beans or the national dessert, crema catalana) and various Mediterranean dishes in well-designed, attractive surroundings. An abundance of plants, wood and a gallery create a light and spacious atmosphere. The restaurant is very popular, especially at lunchtime, so booking is essential. Les Quinze Nits (www.lesquinzenits.com), part of the same chain, is just around the corner at Plaça Reial 6.
Carrer Escudellers 10
Tel: (93) 301 7515.
Website: www.lafonda-restaurant.com
Set Portes
The building housing Set Portes is a national monument and has the distinction of forming the backdrop to the first photograph ever taken in Spain, in 1840. Past diners have included kings, politicians and an array of famous names from Alexander Fleming to Ava Gardner. The large dining room is traditionally Catalan, as are the individually decorated private rooms seating two to 80 diners. Its old-world charm and legendary paella, zarzuela (fish stew) and fidueà (seafood and spaghettini) maintain its status as one of Barcelona's favorite restaurants.
Passeig Isabel II 14
Tel: (93) 319 3033.
Website: www.setportes.com
Cheap
Cantina Machito
Even though the décor verges towards the unsophisticated, with its riotous colors and abundance of Mexican kitsch, the food here is authentic and surprisingly good. Many of the ingredients are imported from Mexico and lovingly prepared by the Mexican-born chef. Standards, such as margaritas, tacos and guacamole, make an appearance, as do unusual puddings, such as lime and tequila mousse.
Carrer Torrijos 47
Tel: (93) 217 3414.
Euskal Etxea
Situated in an idyllic tiny square near the Picasso Museum and the church of Santa Maria del Mar, and part of the Basque Cultural Center, the atmospheric Euskal Etxea serves some of the best tapas in town, ranging from simple to the most intricate creations. Tapas appear around noon and again around 1900, so arrive early.
Placeta Montcada 1-3
Tel: (93) 310 2185.
Mama Café
Microwaves and processed or tinned foods are strictly prohibited in this stylish, fun vegetarian café-restaurant located in the Raval district, just off La Rambla. Using only the freshest ingredients, a range of innovative dishes, such as melon gazpacho, are prepared daily. The use of bold, rainbow colors, recycled materials and laid-back sounds creates a happy and informal atmosphere.
Carrer Doctor Dou 10
Tel: (93) 301 2940.
Website: www.mamacaferestaurant.com
Nightlife
Barcelona is one of Europe's best party cities. Things may start slowly with some food and a few drinks, from around 1800 onwards, but they soon gather pace and by 2300 the city is buzzing. Friday and Saturday nights are when the city is at its liveliest, although the drinking and dancing keeps going throughout the week.
Port Olímpic is particularly buzzing on summer nights, as is Port Vell, where the Maremagnum shopping complex changes into a nefarious collage of cafés, bars and nightclubs, open late into the night. In the last few years, bars modernos with music and designer décor have been popular with a young ultra-hip clientele across the city. The trend is to dress quite smartly when going out in Barcelona.
The free seasonal guide See Barcelona (www.seebarcelona.com), available in hostels, and the Guía del Ocio booklet (www.guiadelocio.com/barcelona), available from newsagents and newspaper stands, both provide information on nightlife in Barcelona.
Bars
El Quatre Gats
One of the most famous artists' hangouts in Barcelona is El Quatre Gats, a Modernista bar with good beer and live music from 2100. The original menu, designed by Picasso, is on show in the Museu Picasso.
Carrer Montsió 3
Tel: (93) 302 4140.
Website: www.4gats.com
El Xampanyet
Xampanyerías (champagne bars), serving sparkling Catalan wine (cava), are a specialty of the city. One of the best places for cava in Barcelona is El Xampanye, where champagne is affordable. The place also serves cider and tapas, in vibrant surroundings.
Carrer Montcada 22
Tel: (93) 319 7003.
L'Ovella Negra
L'Ovella Negra (Black Sheep), is a favorite as much with the international backpacker set as it is with local students. It serves great beer.
Carrer Sitges 5
Tel: (93) 317 1087.
Website: www.ovellanegra.com
Clubs
Bikini
A young, down-to-earth crowd boogie to the latest sounds at Bikini. This trendy club has two rooms, one playing pop and hip pop music, the other playing sexier Latin rhythms.
Avinguda Diagonal 547
Tel: (93) 322 0800.
Website: www.bikinibcn.com
Moog
The split-level Moog club, in the Chinese Quarter, offers the best of European techno and electro music and also hosts big international DJs. If you head upstairs, you'll be surprised to find a small room specializing in indie retro pop numbers. Ideally located right in the center of Barcelona, Moog is small but is very popular and always crowded.
Arc del Teatre 3
Tel: (93) 301 7282.
Website: www.masimas.com/moog/movie.html
Razzmatazz
Razzmatazz is a very popular and busy nightspot in Barcelona. This huge complex is actually made of five nightclubs each playing different styles of music. There's indie rock in Razz Club, tech-house in The Loft, techno and electro pop in Lolita, 1960s pop in the Pop Bar, and techno and electro rock in the Rex Room. The admission fee gives you access to all five rooms (and a drink), though the gigs are normally ticketed separately.
Carrer Almogàvers 122
Tel: (93) 320 8200.
Website: www.salarazzmatazz.com
Live Music
Center Artesà Tradicionarius
Traditional folk music from Catalonia, Spain and the rest of Europe is on offer at the Center Artesà Tradicionarius, which hosts concerts on a variety of evenings.
Travessera de Sant Antoni 6-8
Tel: (93) 218 4485.
Website: www.tradicionarius.com
Jamboree / Los Tarantos
Every night, the cavernous Jamboree hosts jazz, Latin and blues gigs. On Mondays, the outrageously popular WTF (What the F**k) vocal jam session is crammed with a young local crowd. Upstairs, slicker sister venue Los Tarantos stages flamenco performances and later in the night connects with Jamboree to become one big fun nightclub playing Latin or funk sounds.
Plaça Reial 17
Tel: (93) 319 1789.
Websites: www.masimas.com/jamboree; www.masimas.com/tarantos
Palau Sant Jordi
Large-scale rock and pop concerts by international stars can be heard at the Palau Sant Jordi. For loud music and concerts, also check out the Estadi Olímpic, Montjuïc, and Camp Nou football stadium, Avinguda Aristides Maillol.
Passeig Olímpic 5-7
Tel: (93) 426 2089.
Website: www.agendabcn.cat
