As if you needed another reason to visit the vibrant Gaudí-clad city, Barcelona’s food and drink scene is one of the best in the world. The bars are bursting with character; the drinks are delicious; the restaurants are fabulous. Oh, and the rooftops are some of the best I’ve ever experienced. While you’re exploring the city, make sure to enjoy some Catalan cuisine – some of my favorite dishes include paella del mar, pan con tomate, calçots with romesco dipping sauce, arròs negre, and churros. PSA: Choose a hotel with a killer rooftop because many of the hotels put Cava – sparkling Spanish wine – out in the lobby for guests in the afternoon. Pour yourself a glass and head up to enjoy the city views!
Most of the restaurants I highlight are concentrated in the El Born, Gothic Quarter and Eixample neighborhoods – these are the neighborhoods I find the most enjoyable. El Born is super trendy with a great balance of lively nightlife, hip restaurants and old-style buildings; the Gothic Quarter is the most famous as it is the “old city;” and Eixample is characterized by its upscale shopping and modern architecture. No need to frantically search for a good restaurant last minute, here are Barcelona’s best restaurants and bars along with a map to help you find them!
This list of Barcelona’s Best Bars & Restaurants is broken up into the following sections. Click to the corresponding link to jump to that section.
Google Map of All Restaurants & Bars Mentioned
Breakfast, Brunch and Lunch
- Milk (Gothic Quarter) – Regarded as one of the best brunch spots in the city thanks to its ‘recovery brunch,’ this Irish-owned cocktail bar is intimate and familiar. Here you’ll find strong flavors with global influence and an impressive spread of cocktails.
- LULU (El Born) – A quiet café during the day that turns into an energetic bar in the evening. The food is primarily plant-based, with some salmon and tuna options. LULU is a fabulous spot for refreshing food and coffee.
- Teresa’s Stairway to Health (El Born) – If you’re like me and prefer cold-pressed juice in the morning or need a break from all the paella, this healthy eatery is your place. Think healthy and fast with plenty of take away options. Teresa Carles is the mastermind behind this gem as well as Teresa’s Juicery and the much-loved Flax and Kale.
- Alsur Café (El Born, Eixample) – A good American-type brunch spot with several locations throughout the city. Home to a strong list of brunch cocktails. PSA: this is not the place to go for a healthy option.
- El Nacional (Eixample) – A gastronomic experience in a stunning, open-concept venue with four areas that each feature traditional recipes from the Iberian Peninsula. La Braseria focuses on meat with a charcoal grill; La Llotja specializes in seafood; La Taperia serves tapas; and La Parada offers appetizers and pastries. Delicious food in an aesthetically pleasing room! Consider El Nacional for dinner as well.
- Cuines Santa Caterina (El Born) – A great spot for authentic Catalan food located inside the Santa Caterina Market. This lively restaurant is a can’t miss for lunch or dinner. PSA: Sit at the bar in front of the chefs’ area and ask if they have calçots, Catalan spring onions found in the winter and served grilled with a tomato, pepper, and almond dip.
- Fratelli la Búfala (Eixample) – A traditional Neapolitan pizza that tastes like it’s straight out of Campania. Ranks among my all-time favorite pizzas. Choose from a menu of options or select your own toppings. The brand, headed by three Italian brothers, prides itself on high quality ingredients with big taste.
- Bacoa Burger (El Born, Eixample, Ciutat Vella, Barceloneta) – Grilled burgers handmade with quality local ingredients. Great for a quick and tasty meal as you fill out what protein, bread, sides and sauces you want and wait for your creation.
Sweets
- Xurreria Laietana (Gothic Quarter/El Born) – Churros are a Spanish dessert staple, and this hotspot, located right on the edge of the Gothic Quarter and El Born, serves up some of the city’s best. Not all churros are made equal. Spanish churros are made with olive oil and are coated in sugar and dipped in a chocolate sauce. Mexican churros are made with egg and butter and are coated in cinnamon sugar.
- O.G.G.I. Gelato (Gothic Quarter) – I’m a sucker for good Italian gelato so we stopped here frequently, and by frequently, I mean daily. It has Pope Francis’s seal of approval, soat least our sins will be forgiven.
Apéritifs – best mid-afternoon and into the evenings
- Skybar at Grand Hotel Central (El Born/Gothic Quarter) – The Skybar is reason enough to stay at the Grand Hotel Central. With a plunge pool, expansive views, cozy seating, and tasty food and drink – go for the truffle swiss cheese fondue – it’s a great place to post up for the afternoon, sunset or dinner. The rooftop is open to hotel guests daily, year-round. Outside guests can access the rooftop April through October after 8 pm for a fee (includes a complimentary drink), and November through March on weekends between 12 and 6 pm. Read my full hotel review of the Grand Hotel Central here.
- Panoramic Terrace at Hotel Colón (Gothic Quarter) – Located next to the Barcelona Cathedral, this rooftop provides front row seats to the gothic wonder. With laid back vibes set over two levels, the Panoramic Terrace is open daily to everyone.
- Terrassa del Gòtic at H10 Madison Hotel (Gothic Quarter) – Exclusive (only for hotel guests) rooftop with great views of the Barcelona Cathedral and a lovely pool. Click here to read my hotel review of the property.
- Ohla Barcelona rooftop terrace (Gothic Quarter) – Chic hangout with scenes stretching from the nearby cathedral to the Mediterranean. Most impressive though are the several seating areas, glass-walled pool and appetizing bites. Ohla Barcelona’s Culinary Director, Romain Fornell, is Michelin-acclaimed. For those staying elsewhere, check with reception on accessible hours.
- Terrat at Mandarin Oriental (Eixample) – One of many gems within the top-rated Mandarin Oriental Hotel. Terrat is home to stunning 360° views of the city, a picturesque pool surrounded by greenery and delicious Peruvian cuisine by admired chef Gastón Acurio. Opens in April for the season.
- 1881 per Sagardi at Museu d’Història de Catalunya (Barceloneta) – A lesser-known spot with great cocktails, food and amazing scenes of the port and city. If museums aren’t your cup of tea, just take the elevator to the top and bask in the sun while admiring the yachts below, drink in hand.
- Batuar at Cotton House Hotel (Eixample) – Batuar’s décor, along with the rest of the Cotton House Hotel’s, is some of my favorite in the city – elegant whites accentuated by lush palms with nods to its namesake. The hotel’s location has an intertwined history with cotton textile. With both indoor and outdoor seating, come here to enjoy the atmosphere on a lazy afternoon. The bar is famous for its Mediterranean inspired Gossypium Cocktail. However, the Cotton Spritz is one of my all-time favorite drinks.
- El Cercle (Gothic Quarter) – A lovely elevated terrace restaurant close to the Barcelona Cathedral. PSA: Enjoy a drink outside before heading elsewhere for dinner.
Dinner & After-Dinner Drinks
- La Plassohla at Ohla Barcelona (Gothic Quarter) – Another fabulous product of luxury hotel Ohla Barcelona and their Michelin-recognized Culinary Director – so you know you’re in for something special. The menu presents a contemporary take on Catalan cuisine. We dined on fantastic tapas over a long dinner while enjoying the lovely décor. Alternatively, go for lunch to get the same haute cuisine at a better price point.
- Oaxaca (El Born) – A chic Michelin-starred restaurant offering some of the most authentic Mexican cuisine in the city. Located along the Pla de Palau square, the contemporary yet informal ambiance accentuates the incredible flavors.
- Arcano (El Born) – An upscale Mediterranean restaurant that imports meats from Argentina and uses ingredients sourced from specialty markets throughout the city. Built in an 17th-century barn with stone walls and Romanesque arches, Arcano makes you feel like you’re in a hidden cave. Great atmosphere and food for lunch or dinner.
- Moments (Eixample) – A top Michelin-starred Catalan restaurant located in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. Famed chef Carme Ruscalleda is no stranger to fine cuisine having been awarded a total of seven Michelin stars for restaurants in Spain and Tokyo. Managed by Ruscalleda and her son, Raül Balam, Moments offers creative and healthy Catalan cuisine. The restaurant is also open for lunch on Friday and Saturday.
- Clubhaus (El Born) – A trendy restaurant, bar and club spread out between three main rooms that perfectly encompass the concept of food, art, and play. At ground level is the spacious Show Room – food and art – serving tostados, tacos, and delicious vegetable options while showing fun paintingson the walls. Downstairs is the Jungle Room – play – filled with another bar, a ping pong table, darts, retro arcade games, and even a karaoke room! End the night in the Galaxy Room with dancing and live DJs.
- Creps al Born (El Born) – A small cocktail bar with big character. Crepes are served early on, but as the sun goes down the fun begins. Lights are swinging, ice is flying, music is blasting, and drinks are flowing. The bartenders thoroughly enjoy themselves and the fun is infectious. A great spot for a late-night experience you’ll never forget.
- Paradiso (El Born) – To reach this trendy and secretive speakeasy, you’ll have to navigate past a freezer door and through a pastrami shop. Paradiso offers extravagant and intricate cocktails – our drinks were served in a hot air balloon, cactus, treasure chest and Trojan horse – made with seasonal and locally-sourced ingredients.
- Bobby’s Free (El Born) – A password-protected cocktail bar hidden behind a barbershop, Bobby’s is a speakeasy in the truest sense of the world with fabulous drinks to boot.
- Obama Gastropub (Eixample) – A famed English pub in Barcelona. Here you’ll find lots of sports and daily live music. PSA: it’s an English pub, so expect quality music and drinks with average pub grub.
Map of Barcelona’s Best Restaurants & Bars
How to Use this Map: Red markers indicate the restaurants and bars around Barcelona. Click the markers for more information on each place. To zoom in or out, click the plus and minus buttons in the bottom left corner of the map (on your computer) or pinch the screen (on your phone). Click the arrow in the top left corner to view the map index. To save this map to your Google Maps, click the star next to the map title.
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