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Food tips for first visit to Barcelona?

I'll be in Barcelona for three days (I know--not enough time!) next month. I love the culinary arts and would like to explore the city's food scene. Do you have any recommendations for the best tapas restaurants and/or markets in the city? Is there one neighborhood that has the most modern/hip restaurants? Thank you!

Posted by
198 posts

I've posted this before, but I'd watch I'll Have what Phil's Having and get some ideas there. It's probably too late to go to Tickets (you could try for lunch or to get a reservation), but you could go across the street to Bodega 1900. The olives really are sublime.

I liked Formatgeria La Seu in the Barri Gotic as well.

I plan to go to Barcelona in September, and I'm looking forward to checking out the Sant Antoni neighborhood.

Posted by
78 posts

There are many good choices. I would avoid the restaurants with pictures posted by the front door. The lunch places usually have a Menu del Dia including appetizer, main course, dessert and one drink for about 15 euros per person. Some of the restaurants only present you with the a la carte menu which is more expensive unless you ask specifically for the Menu del Dia.
Here are some of our favorite places: Cafe De L'Academia, Bar Cañete, Cervecería Catalana, Gourmet Tapas by Sensi, Tapeo, Xaloc and El Bar Barcelona.
We enjoyed the traditional Catalan dishes and our favorite dessert the crema catalána.

Posted by
234 posts

I was just there and loved Bar del Pla in El Born (make sure to get the crispy oxtail with foie gras!). Also: Bar La Plata, Bar Brutal, La Pineda, and another vote for Tapeo and Fromatgeria La Seu. I stayed in El Born and found the food scene there to be awesome. Definitely lots of hip places as well as traditional places, but not as touristy as the Barri Gotic.

Posted by
266 posts

We liked our meals at Ciudad Condal, Xaloc and Paco Meralgo in Barcelona. Wanted to try Tapas 24, but it was too crowded every time we walked by (might be good for lunch).

Posted by
208 posts

Yummmmmmm. I'm flagging this thread so I can find it again later.

Posted by
44 posts

Markets: try to visit La Boqueria on la Rambla even crowded and touristy. I like the smaller Santa Caterina
Barcelona has pintxos bars more than tapas

Posted by
70 posts

Our best meal experience in Barcelona was a cooking class with "Marta's Paella Cooking". If you would like to meet 4-10 travelers from all over the world and learn to cook paella in a relaxed atmosphere overlooking Plaza Tetuan and the coastline this is a good choice. This was a highlight for us.