Barcelona is full of restaurants and takeaways. Many of them have adapted to international tastes due to tourism and immigrants and offer French fries, hamburgers and steaks. To find original Spanish or Catalan food, you have to search a little.
Barcelona is known for its experimental cuisine, but finding the unique restaurants is an art in itself.
Here is a guide to original Catalan restaurants in Barcelona.
The best-known and most popular specialities in Catalonia are churros with chocolate, paella, patatas bravas, squid (calamari) and sangria. There is also merluza, anchovies (anchoas) and many other types of fish.
Familiarise yourself with the names of these specialities so that you can find them on the menu, as you will find these special dishes outside the tourist areas where the waiters may not speak English. Catalan is the main language in Barcelona, but almost every inhabitant also speaks Spanish.
Look for small family businesses instead of large restaurant chains.
Barcelona's main market is La Boqueria. Even though many things are very expensive there, we recommend buying turron or chocolate there.
Opposite Las Ramblas at the front of the market is the small bar La Pinotxo. There you can order the speciality of the day. You should combine your meal with a draught beer.
Con K is a popular restaurant with generous portions. Con K is located in a side street in Barri Gottic, close to Santa Maria del Mar. There is a good selection of wines and even more good food.
When it comes to ice cream, you absolutely must try a turron ice cream in a Heladeria Italiana on the Plaza Revolución.
Unfortunately, the only real sangria is homemade at a Spanish fiesta. What is offered in the restaurants is red wine with lemon and a few pieces of fruit. But if you still want a sangria, go to one of the pubs by the water, where at least you have a nice view.
The genuine Catalan flavour is available in the restaurant Inopia at C/ Tamarit 104, where they make delicious anchovy fillets, torta Canarejal, tomato salad with fresh salted cod and tuna.
Near the Picasso Museum you will find one of the most beautiful bars called El Xampanet. All generations meet there, residents and tourists mingle in an ambience of old and modern.
