13 of the Best Restaurants in Barcelona by Neighborhood

The international community in Barcelona makes up about 20% of the population. It is the most-visited city in Spain. It’s among the top 10 best places to visit in Europe. The expats, exchange students, digital nomads, and foreigners have undoubtedly influenced the city’s gastronomy.

During your trip to Barcelona you can experience all of the Spanish classics like pimientos de Padrón, patatas bravas, calamares, croquetas, and pan con tomate. However, being the cosmopolitan city that it is, you’ll just as easily be able to find cuisines from all around the world.

If you’re interested in doing a guided food tour or a paella cooking class, take a look at Viator, Get Your Guide, and Tripadvisor for more options.

I lived in Barcelona from January 2020 until the COVID-19 lockdown in mid-March. Since then, I’ve been back to visit twice. This list of restaurants and cafés is from the time I’ve spent in Barcelona over the years. In it, you’ll find places to eat tapas, brunch, health food, pasta, Mexican food, bocadillos, and more.

Eixample - the large, centrally located district.

La Pepita

A humble, edgy, and bustling tapas restaurant. You can’t go wrong with anything on this menu. The inside seating is basically just one long bar. If you enjoy having personal space and prefer to have some elbow room, opt to sit outside.

2. Citizen Café

An urban and funky, industrial-chic brunch cafe. The fried green tomatoes are a must.

3. Alsur Café (Llúria):

Their motto is lo que quieras cuando quieras, or “what you want when you want it” because all of the items on their menu are available all day long. Alsur Café is a colorful and fun brunch spot with beautifully-plated creations. I recommend the grilled cheese waffle sandwich, the mac & cheese croquetones, and the banana bread. They also have another location in El Born (near the Gothic Quarter).

4. Honest Greens (Rambla Catalunya):

If you need a cleanse from all of the patatas bravas, check out Honest Greens. When you order the plate you select the protein which comes with a side salad and a slice of sourdough bread. Highly recommend a side of Ben’s Sweet Potato Fries to share with a friend.

5. Macchina Pasta Bar (Carrer de Balmes, 12)

A Chipotle-style pasta bar, you choose your pasta, toppings, and sauce. They have four locations in the city.

Gothic Quarter - the historic center of Barcelona’s old town.

6. Bar Lobo

An super popular tapas restaurant in Barcelona. Their patatas bravas and fried eggplant with honey are some of the best I’ve had. The cava sangría was our favorite.

7. Rosa Negra (Via Laietana)

A truly delicious and funky Mexican restaurant, the walls are brightly colored, adorned with handmade dolls. All of the interior decor is designed and created by Lorena Zertuche, Guadalajara native. The restaurants (they have another location in El Raval) were opened by Eric Otto, who had a desire to bring California-style Mexican food to Barcelona. Their combined visions have created a creative and inviting dining experience. They also serve up some banging mojitos and margaritas.

8. Bo de B

An iconic to-go bocadillo (sandwich) shop with top-tier patatas bravas. They are cash-only and often have a line out the door, but it is well worth the wait. I recommend grabbing the bocadillo de pollo (chicken sandwich) and walking 15 minutes to the beach for a picnic.

9. Maoz Vegetarian

An unexpected favorite, Maoz vegetarian specializes in falafel. You get to choose either a hummus bowl, sandwich, falafel bowl, or salad.

La Barceloneta - the seaside neighborhood.

10. Carabela Café

Another wonderful Mexican restaurant. The fajitas comes on a three-tiered cake stand, perfect for sharing. They have the perfect terraza in front, equipped with heating lamps and umbrellas for any time of the year.

11. Surf House Barcelona

Located right on the beach, Surf House is a traveler’s dream. You’ll also find a lot of study abroad students brunching here on the weekends. Their menu is a fusion of avocado toast and acai bowls, nachos and tacos, ribs and burgers, and poke bowls and spring rolls. In other words, there is something to satisfy everyone’s craving.

12. FOC Barceloneta

A Latin American fusion restaurant by the beach serving burritos, burgers, nachos, and more. My personal favorite – the sandwich milanesa, a classic Argentine sandwich with a thin cut of breaded beef.

El Poblenou - the hipster tech hub.

13. Palo Market Fest

Located just outside of El Poblenou neighborhood, this park festival is something you’ll definitely want to check out while you’re in Barcelona. Tickets cost 5.50€ and go on sale the Monday before the festival, which happens about once a month. The ticket includes admission to all concerts and DJs. You’ll also be able to purchase food, drinks, desserts, jewelry, and other items from vendors in the park.

If you need help planning your Barcelona Itinerary, check out this article for a list of the best things to see and do.

For the best paella, consider taking a trip to Valencia, the birthplace of the classic Spanish dish. Take a look at this article for the best restaurants in Valencia. Otherwise, you can find some highly-rated paella cooking classes on Tripadvisor, Get Your Guide, and Viator. “Authentic Spanish Culinary Experience” is the class I took when I was studying in Barcelona and it was so much fun (available on Tripadvisor and Viator).