I’m heading to Barcelona in early May—it’s my first time there. I’d love to hear your suggestions for restaurants (ideally near the tourist center, Las Ramblas). That said, I’m happy to travel if needed. I’m looking for a place renowned for its gastronomy, a spot serving typical Spanish or Catalan food, or somewhere with a unique vibe you wouldn’t normally find... In short, which restaurant did you love most during your stay in Barcelona?
Le Taxidermiste Plaza Real (the lovely little square on the left as you go down Las Ramblas Catalunya). One of the best European restaurants. Make sure to book well in advance.
Otherwise, there’s "Los Caracoles," which is *very* touristy at the bottom of Las Ramblas C., also on the left in a small street. It’s a bit of a tourist trap, but visitors love it.
Alternatively, around the market near the center of Las Ramblas C., look for a small restaurant serving "Arroz negro" (black rice). It’s rice cooked with cuttlefish ink—absolutely delicious. It’s a "working-class" dish, but as my dad used to say, if it weren’t a poor man’s meal, the rich would eat it every day. 😎
Hi,
We try a different one every day, but the one we’ve loved the most so far is Senyor Vermut at 85 Carrer de Provence (Entença metro). It’s really nice—the tapas are delicious and original, and it’s three times cheaper than the touristy restaurants. Plus, the owner and his wife speak a little French. We’ll definitely be going back...
Hi there,
At the risk of disappointing you, Barcelona is like all European capitals—meaning those "traditional" restaurants have turned into tourist traps!
As everywhere, the more touristy the area, the more you’re the pigeon waiting to be plucked ;)
Same as anywhere, get off the beaten path and eat where the locals do.
One suggestion: in and around the markets, there are little spots where you’ll be less disappointed.
Happy travels!
We went back today—it was still just as good! We avoid the touristy restaurants that really let us down.
This morning we checked out the flea market at Plaça de les Glòries. It’s not in the guidebooks, but it was really nice.
We’re here for another week and we’re loving our trip!
Hi, I really like the resto Elisabets, which is located at the corner of Carrer Elisabets and Carrer Ramalleres (and its quiet square).
At lunchtime, there’s a full menu at a great price, with a drink included (like most restaurants for lunch).
And in the evening, tapas and good wine at reasonable prices.
To get to Carrer Elisabets, take Carrer Bonsuccès, perpendicular to the Ramblas, on the right side as you go down. Carrer Elisabets is an extension of Carrer Bonsuccès.
(Worth noting: on Carrer Ramalleres, at number 17, on the façade of the old "casa d'infants orfens" (orphanage), there’s a round niche (like a big mailbox) that was used to receive abandoned babies...
I agree with EdeNancy—restaurants like "Los Caracoles", "Can Culleretes" (on Calle Quintana), "Les Set Portes", and "La Casa Leopoldo" are certainly "historic" Barcelona restaurants, but they’re too expensive for the fairly average quality...
Agreed with EdeNancy—restaurants like "Los Caracoles", "Can Culleretes" (on calle Quintana), "Les Set Portes", and "La Casa Leopoldo" are indeed Barcelona’s "historic" spots, but way overpriced for the pretty average quality...
That’s not the case with "Taxidermista", though—it’s a truly gourmet restaurant (probably one of the best in Europe). Exactly what Cathee15 was asking for: not just a good spot, but a proper gourmet address.
Request from Cathee15 asking for the address of not just a good spot, but a gourmet restaurant.
Hi, I don’t know Taxidermista, which is why I didn’t mention it in my reply (I only talk about what I know).
And without being nitpicky😎, here’s what Cathee15 said:
"I’m looking for a restaurant renowned for its gastronomy, a place that serves typical Spanish or Catalan food, or even a restaurant with a different vibe from the usual ones... Basically, during your stay in Barcelona, which restaurant did you prefer?"
Thanks so much for all your replies! You're all absolutely right :) My question was a bit vague, but I'm mainly looking for restaurants known for their gastronomy or atmosphere. That said, if the places you prefer are both pleasant and affordable, that’s the best of both worlds XD
Also, it’s true that in touristy spots it’s easy to get ripped off, but sometimes they’re more convenient in terms of opening hours and food variety (or so I think...). Plus, I’ll be staying in the city center. Anyway, I’m open to all suggestions!
We all agree that meals add flavor to our trips abroad and that we share our best memories over them. But it’s not easy to choose when you’ve just arrived in an unfamiliar place...
That’s why I’ve got a great double tip to share with you:
I came across the blog bonjourbarcelone.fr and simply clicked on the "où manger à Barcelone" tab. First, the top restaurants are updated, and there’s plenty to choose from, with mouthwatering descriptions that tell you exactly how to get there and what you can enjoy. All of this tailored to your budget and preferences.
But here’s the best part (and it’s not insignificant): among these places, which I unfortunately didn’t have time to try all of, you’ll find a little trick to get a free aperitif (and a warm welcome to boot)!
My personal favorites:
- Tapas Season: for tapas, just like the name suggests
- Xera Restaurant: a mix of tradition and creative reinterpretations of typical dishes (the owner speaks French, and the team provides top-notch service!)
Hi there, I m looking for typical Catalan restaurants in Barcelona! Any suggestions for areas or little hidden spots? I know to avoid places like La Rambla,…
I’m from West Africa and I’d love to introduce a Russian friend to a traditional product from my region: soumbara.
For those who don’t know, soumbara is a condiment made from fermented néré seeds. It has a pretty distinctive smell and a very strong, salty, fermented, umami-rich flavor. In West Africa, we mainly use it to add flavor to sauces, with rice, vegetables, meat, etc.
I’m curious to know, from Russian cuisine lovers: which traditional Russian dish do you think soumbara would pair particularly well with?
I’m looking for a real Russian dish where the combination could be interesting—not just rice or an adapted African dish.
Hi there, we’re heading to Cagliari for one night in April, staying at a hotel without a restaurant. Would you happen to know of a restaurant near Via Giuseppe Garibaldi for a typical dinner that’s not too pricey? Thanks.
I’m looking for typical Catalan restaurants in Barcelona! Any suggestions for areas or little hidden spots?
I know to avoid places like La Rambla, the beachfront restaurants in Barceloneta, and anywhere where they greet you with a menu asking if you want to eat, but are there any specific restaurants to avoid? Any bad experiences or unpleasant surprises?
Maybe you already use it in your recipes? Just to let you know that here in Quebec, the maple water harvest has started in several regions. The next step will be to boil this water to turn it into syrup. A sweet nectar, it works well in salad dressings, desserts, with salmon, and more. 😋
If you ever pass through here, don’t miss the chance to visit one of our wonderful sugar shacks. You can taste maple taffy on snow, among other things. 😄
Do you drink wine with your meal, and how often—every day, just on weekends, or only occasionally for special events?
What are your favorite wines, from which country, and what grape variety?
I drink wine with my evening meal every day. I’m particularly fond of wines from Australia and Spain—I really like grape varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz.
Leaving in 15 days for Brittany, specifically the southern Finistère and Bénodet...
Tourists expected to boost the culinary restaurant industry!
Haven’t read the guide for latecomers yet, and I’m really wary of online reviews.
Where can I eat without getting ripped off, enjoy quality food—crêperies, seafood, nice atmosphere...
Thanks to all you savvy foodies!
The title might surprise you, but you’ll understand my point of view.
1/ MEAL STRUCTURE
I’m talking about the standard meal, not the one for those who have to budget for financial reasons (generally fewer in northern and central Italy than in France, but more in the south, which makes up 35% of Italy—Eurostat figures), nor for those (mostly women) watching their figure.
The tradition (once the meal of the well-off, widespread among the general population in the 1950s) starts with soup or pasta (or rice, gnocchi, ravioli, lasagna)—this is the *primo piatto*.
Next comes meat or another animal-based product (fish, cured meats, eggs, etc.)—the *secondo piatto*, which can be replaced by cooked vegetables (the only known example in France: eggplant parmesan).
If the meat dish doesn’t already include vegetables, one is served. Salads, whether green or tomato-based, are side dishes, not starters.
The meal ends with dessert—no difference from French habits: cheese, fruit, or sweets.
*Antipasti* (appetizers) are reserved for festive meals or receptions and are served *in addition* to the main courses at the start.
4 practices unknown in France:
- If the menu includes pasta and ham, you start with the pasta.
- If the menu includes pasta with a meat sauce and fish, you start with the pasta too.
- Pasta is never a side dish for meat.
- It’s not unusual for Italians to start with pasta in a meat sauce and then have a meat dish—most do this several times a week.
Modern adaptations:
- People eat pasta less often (on average 5 times a week, according to recent figures) and soups, which are being replaced by *antipasti*.
- The main meal is now mostly dinner, so it’s much heartier, while lunch isn’t usually eaten at home.
2/ THE CUISINE
What do we know in France? Pizza, pasta Bolognese, carbonara, arrabbiata, ravioli, and lasagna. Fried scampi, Milanese or Bolognese cutlets, carpaccio, and finally tiramisu.
In short, a few basic dishes, but nothing of the gastronomy—whether regional traditions or high-end restaurants.
2 anecdotes:
**Bolognese sauce**
In Italy, the most common homemade sauce is a meat-and-tomato-based sauce called *ragù* (pronounced *ragoo*). Every region, even every town and family, as well as every restaurant, has its own recipe. *Ragù alla bolognese* is just one of these countless *ragù*—and no one in France knows the real recipe (I can share it with those interested). The name *bolognese* given abroad to any *ragù* comes from a canned sauce manufacturer who once branded their product that way. Until the early 1960s, it was called *sauce à la viande* (meat sauce).
**Pizza**
Before World War II, it was practically unknown north of Rome.
Today, Italy is one of the countries where it’s eaten the least (twice as much in France, four times as much in Germany).
Top 15 Brazilian eating habits that surprise the French 😮
Brazil is a multicultural country, and its history has shaped a very unique cuisine, influenced by European, African, Japanese, and Indigenous traditions. Its food culture is quite different from what we’re used to in France, and Brazilian eating habits often surprise French travelers exploring the land of samba and soccer.
We live in Réunion and we're looking for places where we can learn to cook authentic Réunionese Creole cuisine.
We're based in Saint-Denis and are searching in that area.
