Barcelona — Eat and drink right!
Jul 24, 2017 · 7 min read

Last updated: 24th July 2017 by Ben Walker
A lot of people ask me about my recommendations for food etc in Barcelona so I decided to put them in a list.
I’ve been in Barcelona for 12 years, I love eating well, and I think I feel like I might just maybe have good taste, so here goes…
Brunches
- Cecconi’s (Barcelona, Spain) — Buah! What a brunch! A little on the pricey side but the scene is awesome. Your Italian favourites and literally all you can eat of it! If you’re a member of Soho House (or have a friend who is), head up to the rooftop for afternoon drinks!
- Flax & Kale — My favourite spot for brunch. There’s a healthy mix of good fresh food. From salads with ‘power’ ingredients like Kale to pancakes made with Quinoa. Also, the service and presentation is fantastic — Totally Instagrammable food and tastes even better! They also have incredible home-made juices to detox etc. This is a must in Barcelona!
- federal café barcelona gòtic — This space is just awesome. Ideal for long days in front of your computer starting with a brunch (mostly egg-based) or lunch (try the chicken) and then enjoy their juices and coffees. They even have pure coconut water which you should drink if you want to live forever. Like me.
- Picnic Restaurant — This is a small joint in Born which is great for hangover or pick-me-up brunches! Ordering a Pink Lemonade or a Bloody Mary will get you on the right track! Their menu is great to share and the Eggs Benedict with Salmon are my favourite. You also have to try the Quinoa Hash Browns! At the end of brunch, have a Cafe Latte then go for a stroll around Born.
- Makamaka Beach Burger Cafe — When the sun is out in Barcelona, head down to Makamaka for burgers and fries! Some great options on even better tasting burgers. You may have to wait a bit for a table as it get busy busy! There are also great salads and a carrot soup that you should try. Bloody Marys are served in an old school tin can! You could end up spending all afternoon here…
- FOC — Down by the beach, FOC is a great place for brunch in groups. The terrace gets the sun most of the afternoon which is a plus. The food is heavily influenced by South America; Cervices, Patacones and Fajitas! Also, the Huevos Rancheros are awesome! Try the oversized mojitos — they do the job!
- Milk — Bar & Bistro — The call it a recovery brunch and that’s exactly what it does for you! From big juices to lattes, from fruit and granola bowls to dripping pancakes! What you think you need to get over the hangover, Milk — Bar & Bistro has it!
Lunches
- OneOcean Club — Great place on the marina with some excellent food. You can sit there pretty much all day pointing at yacht that will never be yours. Offers some shaded terraces areas for when the sun is burning you.
- CAN SOLÉ — Located in Barceloneta, Can Sole doesn’t have a terrace but the food is second to none. Mainly seafood and of great quality.
- Xiringuito Escribà — If Paella is what you want, this is where you go! A little further north along Barcelona’s beach and great for all seafood. Take a look at the chefs working the giant paella dishes and make sure you eat all the crunchy bits at the end with a wooden spoon!
- La Gavina Restaurant — Great spot overlooking the port. Ideal for sunny days. Paella and fish are a must. Good shade hideout in the hot sun of summer.
- Terraza Martinez — Everyone loves a high viewpoint of the city and Martinez sits atop of Montjuic offering panorama zen. Cool vibes and great food combine to bring you a weekend plan. Tattoo-clad waiters will recommend the best dishes if you ask nicely. Drink and few G+Ts afterwards and bring a skateboard for the ride back down to reality.
- La Cúpula Garraf — Head out of town towards Sitges and stop in Garraf at La Cupula Sea Club for a fantastic experience dining over the sea. The terrace at La Cupula has beautiful views of Garraf beach and the sea beyond. Great for fish or a Paella with some cold fresh white wine! It’s a 25 minute drive.
- Note: Cecconi’s (Barcelona, Spain) also gets a mention for lunch and dinner!
Dinners
- Ikibana Borne — There are three locations; one in Born, one in Paralelo and now one in Sarria! Ikibana is a Japanese-Brazilian fusion restaurant with very inventive sushi combinations. Talk to the waiters and they will guide you through the menu and let you know what will be good to order! The white ceviche is spectacular! Also, save space for dessert! Amazing place! See also Ikibana Sarrià and Ikibana Paralelo.
- Gourmet Tapas by Sensi — Sensi now have about 5 restaurants (maybe more) within a 2-block radius. Gourmet Tapas is my favourite for it’s wide range of tastes. It’s like traditional Spanish tapas with French flavours. The best of all worlds!
- The Wittmore — If you’re looking for moody, loungey, cosy, intimate, cool, chic… go here for dinner. They have an interior courtyard wrap around lounge area. Almost a miniature Hotel Costes feeling. Excellent food and at great value. Candles everywhere. Take your other half, they’ll be impressed!
- Surya Pau Claris — Being English, I’m naturally a lover of Indian Food and Surya brings it you to street-style! Don’t fear the spice because you’ll rarely find it, but instead, wonderful buttery sauces with coconut, jasmines and more! Perfect for Instagram with all the colours! Try the Pakoras! Also the best Hummus in the city!
- Matsuri Sushi Bar — I’m a sushi addict and Matsuri is my local in the heart of the Gotico! It’s a hidden gem off the beaten track but well worth a visit! The hot sushi is a must and the (can’t remember the name) sushi with banana! Reserve because it’s a small place and gets full.
- CDLC Barcelona — This is a classic in Barcelona. MediterrAsian cuisine set on the beach front of Barcelona. There’s a dish for everyone. From sushi to kobe beef! You’ll find what your stomach is craving here. Also, the restaurant then rolls into a nightclub with deep beats and a sweet sound system!
- La Bodega — For a more traditional dining experience, head uptown to La Bodega. The quality of the food is second to none!
- Frijoles Negros — A Cuban/South American restaurant with great quality food! The Cerviche is awesome. They also have a lasagne with banana which is delicious! They have live music a lot of nights. A real good vibe.
- Parco — Moody sushi joint on Paseo de Gracia with deep house beats and low lighting. The quality of the food is incredible. Order the butterfish! If you’re unsure what to order, ask the waiter to bring ‘what people usually order’ and you won’t be disappointed. Very casual seating designed to spark conversation.
- Oaxaca Cuina Mexicana — An awesome Mexican restaurant near the port. Order the guacamole, they prepare it at your table while you IG story it! They have a meat dish for main to share between two people. I can’t quite remember the name… But order it! Oh, and the insects. Eat the insects.
- Toto Restaurante — Great little Italian restaurant in the Eixample area. They have an awesome cauliflower dish to start. Try that! Lots of variation on the menu. Good spot.
- Tanta Restaurante Peruano — Great Peruvian joint focused around Cerviche. Lots of raw fish dishes and the quality is amazing! Very large open space and the also serve great cocktails. Ask the waiter to make a suggestion if you’re not sure.
- El Nacional BCN — A new multi gastro-space on Paseo de Gracia! Different restaurants to choose from… Meat, fish, tapas and more. They don’t accept reservations so if you go on a weekend, be prepared to wait. The meat is excellent quality!
- Koku Kitchen Ramen — Hidden away in a Gotico back street, you’ll find a glowing red neon sign reading ‘RAMEN’… Go inside and eat. A slurping experience of noodles and enough explosive tastes to leave you wanting more. Try the ‘picante’ and add butter and garlic! Great place for a late night meal with friends. Expect to wait for a table. Also check out Koku Kitchen Buns.
- Elsa y Fred Gastrobar — I love this place! Such a great feeling especially on warm summer nights. The menu lets you order half portions of many things so it’s ideal to try lots and share amongst your group. Try to get the table by the window if it’s something romantic.
- Chicken Shop + Dirty Burger Barcelona — Get greasy at this spot in Gotico. Amazing value for money. The burgers just ooze and are finger-licking! Try the avocado salad with mustard dressing also!
- Bar Mut — Excellent food, excellent service, excellently tight spaces to get intimate. There’s even a table which is a wall piano. Try a selection of wines and ask them about Mutis upstairs. They may let you go in but shhhh!
Coffees / Hang Outs
- SKYE Coffee co. — This tiny coffee truck sits inside a huge architectural space in Poble Nou. Great coffee and ideal for an early morning visit. The also serve porridge and chia bowls packed with fruit so you’ll enjoy breakfast there.
- Nømad Coffee — Located inside a ‘private’ street on the edge of El Born, Nomad take their coffee very seriously. They roast their own beans in Poble Nou and run coffee tasting nights at their location in El Born. Simply awesome.
- La Esquina — Cool coffee spot along Pelayo. Nice vibe and very good service. The coffee is great and they have some dishes which are ideal for sharing. Check this one out… You’ll probably spend all afternoon there, depending on the company!
- Satan’s Coffee Corner — Tiny and hidden away but a gem! This coffee spot in the Gotico has some major science behind it, I’m sure but it’s great as a takeaway or sit in and work out where you’re going to get lost next.
- Soho House Barcelona — Does a mean coffee. But you can spend all day and all night there. If you’re not a member, maybe they serve the same coffee in Cecconi’s.
Feel free to hit me up with any questions!
