Last updated on May 8, 2019
Food tour guide Renée Christensen from Devour Barcelona Food Tours shares her personal favourite foodie spots in Barcelona. Whether you’re looking for the best places to eat breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner in Barcelona, you’ve just struck gold.
If there is one thing Spain is known for beyond the stereotypical bulls, sangria and flamenco, it’s the incredible food and wine this country has to offer! From melt-in-your-mouth jamón iberico to dozens of delicious regional specialities, the gastronomy in Spain is impressive to say the least.
And one of the best things about eating in Spain? Discovering the places that do it right. We are firm believers at Devour Spain that food doesn’t just happen. There’s a story behind every delicious bite: a person or a couple or a family that felt so passionate about sharing good food, that they’ve dedicated their life to it.
So here go the top ten places to eat, drink and be merry in Barcelona, from the old-school hidden gems to the latest and greatest coffee trend-setters.
Best Places to Eat Breakfast in Barcelona
Xurreria El Trebol (Eixample/Gracia) ~ Traditional Spanish Breakfast
Nothing says classic Spanish breakfast like freshly fried churros. El Trebol is a tiny shop located on the border of Eixample and Gracia, and is a bit of a dinosaur of its kind. You won’t find many people frying churros these days in Barcelona.
Address: Carrer de Còrsega, 341, 08037
Nearest Metro: Diagonal (Blue Line)
Onna Cafe (Eixample/Gracia) ~ Coffee Heaven
Good coffee is sometimes hard to come by in Barcelona. That’s why we love Onna Cafe. Perfectly roasted and prepared coffee, and great cakes to boot. Oh, and they also have a spectacular brunch menu!
Address: Carrer de Santa Teresa, 1, 08012
Nearest Metro: Diagonal (Blue Line)
Federal Cafe (Parlament Street, Sant Antoni) ~ Australian-Chic in Barcelona
Everyone knows that brunch is big here. The Australian-owned Federal makes one of the best in town, priding themselves on their top-notch, organic ingredients. Now you can visit their second location tucked away in the Gothic Quarter.
Address: Carrer del Parlament, 39, 08015
Nearest Metro: Poble Sec/Sant Antoni (Purple/Green Line)
Best Places to Eat Lunch in Barcelona
La Pubilla (Gracia) ~ Traditional Spanish ‘Menu del Dia’
Nobody does a menu del dia (a fixed lunch menu) quite like La Pubilla, or for that price. For 14 euros, enjoy a hearty Spanish lunch that is carefully prepared yet far from pretentious.
Address: Plaça de la Llibertat, 23, 08012
Nearest Metro: Fontana (Green Line)
Luki (Poble Sec) ~ Healthy. Tasty. Iconic.
Another great lunch option can be found in Poble Sec’s emblematic Plaça del Sortidor. Whether sitting on the shady terrace or in the quirky dining room, nobody leaves unsatisfied after a lunch (or dinner!) at Luki.
Address: Plaça del Sortidor, 3, 08004
Metro: Poble Sec (Green Line)
Best Cheaps Eats and Afternoon Snacks in Barcelona
Bar Calders (Sant Antoni) ~ Vermouth Sipping Hipster Haunt
La hora del vermut, or the vermouth hour, is a sacred practice in Barcelona. No foodie would miss it, especially on sunny weekends before a big lunch with family or friends! Bar Calders offers vermouth and a whole lot more on their happy corner of Parlament street.
Address: Carrer del Parlament, 25, 08015
Metro: Poble Sec (Green Line)
Granja M. Viader (Just off Las Ramblas) ~ Sweet and Sultry
La merienda, or the afternoon snack, is an important meal of the day! How else will you last until a late Spanish dinner? We love the classic Spanish-style diner Granja Viader, also the home of the famous Cacaolat.
Address: Carrer Xuclà, 4-6, 08001
Metro: Liceu (Green Line)
Bodega Cal Pep (Gracia) ~ Rustic Bodega and Tapas Bar
There’s nothing like a good bodega in Barcelona, and our favorite, hands-down, would be Cal Pep up in Gracia. It’s amazing that places like these still exist, and we thank our lucky stars they do! If you’re curious, be sure to read what Ben wrote about his experience on our Gracia Neighborhood Food Tour!
Address: Carrer de Verdi, 141, 08012
Metro: Fontana (Green Line)
Best Places to Eat Dinner in Barcelona
Casa Alfonso (Near Plaça Catalunya) ~ Traditional Elegance Since 1934
One of the most beautiful restaurants in all of Barcelona, with a lot of history behind it as well. For a traditional Catalan meal, in the most classic way possible. Plus, it’s just a stone’s throw from the central Plaça Catalunya!
Address: Carrer de Roger de Llúria, 6, 08010
Metro: Catalunya or Urquinaona (Red, Green or Yellow Line)
Bar Fidel (Raval) ~ Serious Sandwiches, Sensational Salads
Who knew a sandwich could be so, so good? This hidden gem has dozens of them, and each one is maybe better than the last! One of the best plans for a relaxed dinner with friends are a few tapas and bocadillos at this little bar in the Raval.
Address: Carrer de Ferlandina, 24, 08001
Metro: Sant Antoni (Purple Line)
About the Author
Renée Christensen has been living, working and eating in Spain since 2009. What was supposed to be a year abroad turned into several after quickly becoming a passionate fan of Spain’s markets, tapas bars and long sobremesas. After many years in the education sector, she began working with Devour Spain in 2014 and took part in the launching of the first ever Devour Barcelona Food Tour.
[…] This, naturally, means I now have a decent excuse for sauntering around the city’s bars and restaurants. The blog post I wrote about Barcelona’s vermouth scene here on my blog is probably one of my […]