Where and What do you like to eat in Barcelona

La Crema Canela in the Barri Gotic. A GREAT restaurant with outstanding food--not tapas, but full dishes--a fine wine list, and a wonderful, welcoming ambience. This was our favorite restaurant in Barcelona in December. My wife had risotto, and I had duck. Unbelievable!

Thanks for the great suggestion. I have read a lot of negative reviews about the Spanish food on one of the other travel boards and am feeling a bit discouraged about the dining prospects. (Bad food, bad service, bottles of water filled w/ tap water, being cheated on the check at the end of dinner ... Eeeek) I'm sure there must be good experiences. Keep sending the good suggestions!

I went TDY, side trip when I was in the Air Force. It was in the early Spring, so was cold and rainy. Everything seemed to be closed and the six of us finally found a restaurant. Everyone else ordered spaghetti to be "safe" but I had paella, which was wonderful.

I also ate at La Crema Canela - small, very good value for the money, and great food. The 3-course prix fixe meal was terrific.

I also enjoyed the tapas bar La Sagarda, near the Picasso Museum. A delicious Basque wine arches out of a spout from a wooden barrel into your glass.

I also had lunch at Els Quattre Gats (the 4 Cats) where Picasso spend his formative Bohemian years. The entree and dessert were really good, the plat a little tough, but it was very reasonable, and a thrill to be there. It's really pretty too.

Hi Rebecca,
We thought Taverna Basca Irati was fun--they serve Basque-type pintxos (small open-faced sandwiches.) You can try lots of different things--each one is about 1.60 Euro. Have some pintxos with a glass of Rioja or Sidra and you'll be set!

It's located near the Ramblas (1 block off) behind arcade--Carrer Cardenal Casanyes 15.

Rebecca,

We were in Barcelona last Oct. and used a couple of Rick's recommended rest. There are great restaurants behind the Boqueria Mkt...not especially scenic, but great food and inexpensive. I also have to say, every restaurant we just walked into on our own was good. We did not have a bad meal!

Hey, Rebecca. I do think, based on just one trip to Espana this year, that Spaniards eat to live, unlike the Italians, for whom this is an art form and a great comfort of life. I very much like Tortilla, a cold, thick omlette of eggs and potatoes, and the churizzo was to die for, served with just a chunk of bread, some type of vinegar sauce, and a cana (small draft beer). But in general, not once did I feel about a meal in Spain the way we've often felt about meals in Italy...just the way it is. The quality of tapas varies greatly from place to place and even item to item. Me, personally, I don't think people should travel to Spain in large part for the FOOD; now the architecture, and art, and history, and the people and their fascinating, unique cultures (that vary widely by region), found nowhere else in the world...those are great reasons to visit Espana. The food? Hmmmm. Interesting, but not amazing, in my experience.

Spanish tortilla comes in many varieties, not always cold. The best one I had was called tortilla guidsada, or stewed tortilla. It was the usual egg and potato tortilla, stewed in a sauce of tomato, green pepper, and onion, served in what looked like a deep dish pizza pan. It was exquisite.

We also liked Sargardi Tapas in the Bari Gottic area. Also in the BG area and listed in RS Guidebook, is Cafe Academia. We had excellent dinners there and it is moderately priced. It is small and we were lucky to get in without a reservation. We arrived at 8:30 when they opened for dinner and since there were just two of us they had a table. If we ever get back to Barcelona we will dine at this restaurant again. They serve a really great salad that is composed of four different salads--a sort of sampler--very good!

Spanish food can be amazing. To feel safe why don't yo get on a tapas tour with a local guide the first day, so you can get a few hints and tips? I have seen this on a site but cannot post it here - send me a Private message if you're intereted.