DestinationBCN’s hand-picked restaurant recommendations for Barcelona

Discover the perfect union of tradition and innovation at RiasKru, where over 30 years of seafood excellence come together in a unique menu. The iconic Rías de Galícia and the creative Espai KRU have merged to offer both the timeless dishes of a classic seafood restaurant and the bold flavors of modern, inventive cuisine. With the finest seasonal products the sea has to offer, the menu celebrates both heritage and creativity—bringing you the best of both worlds in every bite.

For a truly fresh take on market-to-table tapas, don’t miss this Catalan-Asian fusion gem helmed by chef Arnau Muñío. Known for his bold flavor pairings and passion for working with fish, seafood, and vegetables, Muñío masterfully blends traditional Catalan roots with Mediterranean ingredients and Asian influences. You can choose from a selection of surprise tasting menus (Direkte, Boqueria, and Eixample), so be sure to reserve in advance.

This casual seafood restaurant offers down-to-earth dishes that highlight the outstanding quality of the ingredients. Nearly everything is prepared on the grill or griddle, including octopus, baby squid, razor clams, prawns, scallops and more. A great, unfussy choice for seafood lovers to enjoy fresh tapas and meals downed with a glass of wine or beer.

Market-to-table seafood fare has never been fresher. From oysters and cod-of-the-day to fried eggs and baby squid (a house speciality), you’ll see why this busy tapas bar and restaurant in the Boqueria Market is an established favourite with locals and visitors alike. Navigating the many menu options for fresh grilled fish alone will be a tough choice.

This relaxed, down-to-earth bar and grill boasts a simple selection of excellent paellas at reasonable prices. Choices include meat, vegetable or seafood-based paella, as well as black rice with calamari and squid ink. Plenty of grilled meat and fish dishes are also available, along with a diverse tapas menu.

Right Side Coffee is an award-winning roaster that offers great specialty coffee and pastries at a minimalist and bright space. Their owners travel each season around the world to select unique coffee beans from a range of local producers who grow, harvest, ferment and dry their lots at source.

Founded in 1959, this family-run restaurant offers mouth-watering authentic paella and rice dishes made with high-quality ingredients, including lobster, prawns, scampi and cod. In addition to paella, diners will find a wide variety of tasty starters and tapas, as well as traditional meat and seafood main courses.

The name (almost) says it all: lovers of pastrami will find the best pastrami sandwiches from Rooftop Smokehouse at this bar in El Born, as well as grilled cheese with caramelized shallots. What the name doesn’t say is that Pastrami Bar is actually the discreet entrance to El Paradiso: a speakeasy cocktail bar hidden behind a fridge door.

When you’re hungry for a late-night nibble, the scrumptious hot sandwiches at Bar Torpedo hit the spot. Think grilled sandwiches of Iberian pork loin with comté cheese, soft-shell crab sandwiches and juicy burgers, with craft beer and natural wine to wash it all down. If fast-food gourmet exists, this is it.

This tiny and unassuming shop in the vibrant Raval neighbourhood brews coffee fit for connoisseurs. Have a coffee there, grab a cup to go or buy a bag of high-quality beans. Those with a sweet tooth will probably want to try the giant cookies on display.

Nomad is where coffee aficionados go for their fix. Beans are freshly roasted in Barcelona, with varieties coming from Colombia, Kenya, Myanmar and beyond. Enjoy expertly made coffee in-store or buy whole beans to take home. Nomad also runs classes on coffee tasting and brewing.

This spacious, relaxed cafe and restaurant with an outdoor terrace has a diverse menu. Featuring delicious brunch options, yummy hamburgers, tapas, fish and chips, and sweet bites like carrot cake and pancakes. There’s something for even the pickiest eaters. An excellent kid-friendly dining experience that’s only blocks away from the Sagrada Familia.