A Guide to Barcelona Food & Drinks | The Ultimate Barcelona City Guide

From Tapas Bars to Michelin Star restaurants, Barcelona food has literally every craving for the palate covered. With authentic Catalan dishes at every corner and barbeque parties in the summer with the side of some of the most refreshing drinks, Barcelona is every foodie’s dream come true. Every person who comes to Barcelona should indulge themselves in a Barcelona food tour for the best way to explore the city’s culture. Every dish that you get in Barcelona has a story and exploring the food market is the only way to get around in the city.

Best Food in Barcelona

Local Delicacies

Desserts

Street Food

Popular Drinks

Paella

Paella is one of the best-known dishes in Spanish cuisine. It contains rice, saffron, chicken, seafood, etc., cooked and served in a large shallow pan.

Where to eat it?
Barceloneta restaurant, Arume Restaurant, Vigo Restaurant Tapes, Xiringuito Escribà.

Bombas

Inspired by a grenade or ‘la bomba’, the Bombas is a potato-filled croquette served with a garlic white sauce and a spicy red sauce.

Where to eat it?
La Cova Fumada, La Bombeta, Bar jai-ca, Cañete

Calcots and Romesco Sauce

Calcots are a type of onion paired with the Catalan salsa sauce called Romesco. They bring life to roadside barbeque parties in the city.

Where to eat it?
El Glop, L'Antic Forn, Can Martí Restaurant, 7 Portes

Pa amb Tomaquet

The Pa amb Tomaquet is a simple slice of bread with a fresh tomato sauce seasoned with olive oil, salt, and pepper.

Where to eat it?

Paco Meralgo, Palosanto, Elisabets Restaurant, Tickets

Escalivada

Escalivada is a traditional Catalonian dish that typically consists of roasted eggplant and bell peppers with olive oil, onion, tomato, minced garlic, and salt.

Where to eat it?

Taverna El Glop, Cervecería Catalana, Teresa Carles, Sesamo

Arròs negre

Arròs negre is a Valencian and Catalan dish made with cuttlefish (or squid) and rice, somewhat similar to seafood paella.

Where to eat it?

L'Arrosseria Xàtiva, Barraca, Kaiku, Elche

Fideua

Another local version of the classic paella, Fideua is made with noodles instead of rice. It is a blend of seafood and meat and is found in smaller eateries.

Where to Eat it?

Can Majo, Garlana, El Merendero de la Mari, Tapeo del Born

Fricando

Made with a silverside cut of beef, Fricando features small mushrooms in a traditional sauce.

Where to Eat it?

Restaurant Can Fuste, Can Paneda, Bodega Montferry

Botifarra

The Botifarra is a Catalan sausage believed to have its origins in Ancient Rome. It is made using a combination of raw pork and spices.

Where to Eat it?

Canete, La Botifarreria de Santa Maria, PORK… boig per tu, Debutis

Creme Catalana

Crema catalana or crema cremada, is a dish that is similar to a crème brûlée, almost virtually identical.

Where to eat it?

Granja La Pallaresa, Pastisseria Escribà, Julivert Meu, La Pastisseria Barcelona

Panellets

These little sweet morsels have an inner core of almond paste with diverse toppings, the most classic one being toasted pine nuts.

Where to Eat it?
Mauri, Pastisseria Escribà, ,Pastisseria Badia Roca, Casa Vives

Xuixo

The Xuixo is a deep-fried, sugar-coated cylindrical pastry filled with crema Catalana. It is a breakfast food but can be eaten at any time of the day.

Where to Eat it?
Hoffmann Patisserie, Mercado de La Boqueria, Pinotxo Bar, Bubó Sant Pere

Mel i Mató

This Catalan dessert is a simple combination of honey and mató, a kind of fresh cheese made from goat or sheep milk topped with walnuts.

Where to Eat it?
Granja M Viader, Restaurante Sanabres, ,Frankfurt el racó de la Mel, La Pubilla

Patatas Bravas

An authentically Spanish dish, the Patatas Bravas is a pile of unevenly cut potatoes with cheese and a spicy sauce.

Where to Eat it?

Rekons, Pulperia Patatas Bravas, Bar El Tomas de Sarria, Palosanto

Entrepa

Catalans can make the experience of a plain sandwich extraordinary by pairing the most delicious ingredients.

Where to Eat it?

Bo De B , La Pineda, Ikastola, Can Ros

Croquetas

Crunchy-on-the-outside and creamy-on-the-inside delicacy is a perfect snack that goes with an ice-cold can.

Where to Eat it?

Croq and Roll, Cañete, La Pepita, Palosanto

Tortilla

A simple, flavourful, and sustaining snack, a pincho de tortilla is a staple of Spain.

Where to Eat it?

El Xampanyet, Flash Flash, Taktika Berri, La Esquinica

Cava

Cava is champagne which is produced in Penedes and is Spain’s authentic answer to the traditional French Champagne

Where to Try it?

Cava Bar, Can Paixano, El Xampanyet, La Champaneria

Cerveza

A cool glass of Cerveza (local beer) is best with empanadas or patatas bravas.

Where to Try it?

Fabrica Moritz Barcelona, ,Garage Beer Co, Kælderkold Craft Beer Bar, Ale hop

Vermut

A sweet and fortified red or white wine, Vermut in Barcelona is consumed with plenty of embellishments.

Where to Try it?

Story, Morro Fi, Quimet & Quimet, Bodega Cal Pep

Tinto de Verano

Some red wine mixed with a fizzy lemonade, Tinto de Verano is what the locals prefer on a hot summer afternoon.

Where to Try it?

El Bosc de Les Fades, Bodega Biarritz 1881, Irati Taverna Basca, Bar del Pla

Rebujito

Your classic cocktail of sherry and sprite, the Rebujito is a refreshing drink especially with a little mint leaf up top.

Where to Try it?

Boadas Cocktails, Viana Barcelona, Tickets, Cañete

Horchata

Horchata is a refreshing summertime drink which is tiger nut milk with a pinch of cinnamon in it.

Where to Try it?

Horchateria Sirvent, Orxateria Sirvent, Horchatería El Tío Che, Orxateria Verdu

Granizado

Granizados are fruit frappes that help beat the heat. They come in all citrus flavors but the best one is the Limon Granizado.

Where to Try it?

Solange Cocktails, Horchatería El Tío Che, Sirvent Orxateria, DeLaCrem

Cafe

One of the most famous non-alcoholic drinks has to be a good old cup of Spanish coffee.

Where to Try it?

Onna Cafe, Hidden Café Barcelona, Satan's Coffee Corner, Nomad Coffee Lab & Shop

Top Restaurants in Barcelona

Barcelona is a city with a culinary mix. Many Michelin star-studded restaurants dot the city and you could find yourself fine dining at any one of these if you fancy that. If not, there are other mid-level and economic restaurants that promise you a hearty meal, if you are not a gourmet food enthusiast. If you are up for a food tour of the city you have got to try all the famous restaurants though. There are places where fusion foods take the center stage and there are some restaurants that bring the Catalan delicacies to gourmet perfection.

Budget Restaurants

Mid-Level Restaurants

Premium Restaurants

Bakeries

Cafes

Pubs/Bars

Las Brasas del Tio Manolo

This restaurant serves Mediterranean barbeque and classic steakhouse cuisine at a value price. Other than that, they have vegetarian options and some classic Spanish street food options as well. (Image Credits)

Timings: 9 AM to 5 PM

A Guide to Barcelona Food & Drinks | The Ultimate Barcelona City Guide

Best Food in Barcelona

Paella

Bombas

Calcots and Romesco Sauce

Pa amb Tomaquet

Escalivada

Arròs negre

Fideua

Fricando

Botifarra

Creme Catalana

Panellets

Xuixo

Mel i Mató

Patatas Bravas

Entrepa

Croquetas

Tortilla

Cava

Cerveza

Vermut

Tinto de Verano

Rebujito

Horchata

Granizado

Cafe

Top Restaurants in Barcelona

Las Brasas del Tio Manolo

The Coffee House Barcelona

Swiit

Pizzeria da Nanni Barcelona

Bar Santa Fe

Blanc

Thali

SPOONIK

Hetta

BEAM

Lasarte

Cocina Hermanos Torres

Moments

ABaC

Koy Shunka

Forn Mistral

Baluard Barceloneta Bakery

Patisserie Santa Clara

Macxipa

Cruixent

Nomad

Three Marks Coffee

Hush Hush Cafe

Syra Coffee

Cafés El Magnífico

Red Garter Barcelona

Futballarium Barcelona

La Confiteria

Paradiso

Kiltro Restobar

Best Tapas Bars in Barcelona

Bar Canete

Jai-Ca

Bar Del Pla

Cal Pep

Lolita Taperia