Restaurants Barcelona Guide

In the 1980’s Barcelona began to compete with Paris as one of Europe's top destinations for gourmet dining. Dining in Barcelona is a unique experience. Like most of Spain, dinner is served late and includes several courses, fruit, cheese, wine and coffee. Eating out in Barcelona is never quick or casual, but always fun. Even lunch in Barcelona usually consists of at least two courses and can be expected to last several hours.

People living in Barcelona do not consider the act of eating to be just a basic need; for them it is much more than that. It is taken seriously and it is associated to social matters and entertainment. An important part of the day is devoted to eating.
Barcelona’s gastronomy is characterized by its great variety. It has received the powerful influence of different cultures such as Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans and Arabs. This can be easily perceived when tasting the spices, oils, sauces and meats used in Barcelona’s cuisine. People in this city considered eating as a ritual. They often visit tapas bars or other kind of exotics restaurants.

Among all meals, breakfast is the most insignificant. Spanish people usually drink a cup of coffee with milk and occasionally they drink hot chocolate with breakfast fritters (churros). On the other hand, lunch is a strong attraction. People generally have lunch at 2 pm or 4 pm which means the dinner is not eaten until 9 or 10 pm.

Between meals you can go a taste some delicious snack such as tapas which are served in large portions and comes of different types. An excellent dish for lunch is Catalonia’s staple dish (botifarra amb mongetes) which is a stew of pork sausages and white beans. If you happen to be there during Christmas time then you should try a traditional stew called escudella. This dish is made with chickpeas, pasta, sausage, and pork.

As you can see, pork meat is very popular in Barcelona. Most typical recipes include has pork as their main ingredient. Spanish are fond of bacon, longanissa and chorizo and jamon Serrano. The diet changes a bit in summer and lighter dishes are preferred. Some of them are esqueixada which is made with red pepper with cod and onions; and escalibada which is made with red pepper mixed with eggplant and onions. There are some farmhouse restaurants outside the city where you can taste traditional dishes. There is a dish you would like to try if you go to Barcelona and it is called crema catalana, it is a sweet egg custard topped with caramelized sugar.

In Barcelona, restaurants have a “menu del día,” which is the menu of that day, and it includes a starter, bread, main dish, dessert and coffee or tea. These menus are often cheaper than buying the dishes separately and besides in this way you can taste different types of food.

What about drinks?

People seem to prefer coffee over tea but if they opt for the latter they would drink it black, that is to say without milk. There are different ways of drinking coffee, you can have it with milk, and you even can drink iced coffee. Other types of non-alcoholic drinks are natural orange juice, soft drinks, milk shakes,

When it comes to alcoholic drinks, wine is the chosen for most meals. The main characteristic about Spanish wines is that they are robust because of the climate. There are different types of wine: white, red and rose and the prices range from really cheap to expensive ones. Sangria is a common drink made with wine and fruit which is refreshing but powerful.

Els Quatre Gats, Montsió 3, bis, Barcelona, Spain 08002 • 93 -02-41-40, is a standard Barcelona Tapas bar which was originally built in 1897. The walls of this bar were once home to original artworks by Picasso and other famous Spanish artists; though the originals have since been moved, the reproductions add to the atmosphere. Try their fried calamari and potato omelets (called tortillas).

La Estrella de Plata, Plaça del Palau, 9, Barcelona, Spain 08003 • 93-319-6007, is a traditional Tapas restaurant in Barcelona with no menu. Because there is no menu, patrons must discuss the specials of the day with the friendly staff. The restaurant is known for its traditional food and is open until midnight on most days.

Barcelona is also home to many fancy restaurants, with some of Europe's greatest chefs. The following are some of Barcelona's famous and sought-after dining establishments.

La Dama, 93-202-06-86, is one of Barcelona's few Michelin-star restaurants. Decorated in art nouveau style, in one of Barcelona's famous 19th century buildings, this gourmet restaurant serves up specialized Spanish cuisine. There is a fixed menu for 50 Euros or a tasting menu for 70 Euros. Reservations are almost always necessary, here but the experience is said to be unforgettable.

Neichel (93) 203 8408, is another Michelin star Barcelona restaurant. This establishment is owned and run by French chef Jean Louise Neichel. Serving up Spanish food with a French twist, this restaurant has an extensive wine list and a satisfyingly diverse menu.

Barcelona knows how to eat, and this is evidenced in their wide array of high quality eateries. Barcelona is a true foodies’ city, with gourmet snacks in every bar and great restaurants on every corner.