I usually dont eat at restaurants next to the main tourist streets because they are usually not…read moregood but this was the exception. Pros - beautiful ambiance with well decorated interior and attentive staff. The seafood here was so fresh and the paella was absolutely amazing. Definitely get the razor clams. The croquettes are also super good. They also make one if the best Catalonia crema that I have tasted Cons - none! Great location by the barcelona beach and fantastic food. Definitely check it out if you are planning a trip to the beach or docks.

We stopped into La Mar Salada on a Monday at 1pm (right when they open) with a reservation…read more Situated along a boardwalk-like avenue close to the beach, the restaurant itself is sleek with a Mediterranean-like vibe - white and blue accent pieces adorn a spacious outdoor eating area, though we opted for seating inside, coveting air-conditioning and a lack of mosquitoes. With sweeping floor-to-ceiling windows, bright, light-colored furniture, and minimalist decor, the restaurant's interior lends an upscale ambiance to the space. Our server was friendly and efficient, speaking fluent English, Spanish, and Catalan. Having reviewed the menu (and other reviews) ahead of time, we placed our order, and received our first appetizers within ten minutes! First to come out was the "La Nostra Bomba" ("Our Bomb", €4,70), which is a small fried potato croquette with an octopus bolognese and salsa brava (a smoky, spicy tomato sauce). The croquette is perfectly crispy with a tender, rich interior - you can taste the octopus inside, and the smoky sauce on top is perfect with the richness of the filling. We also ordered the Ventresca de Tonyina (Tuna Belly Salad, €9,80), which is described as "Tomato from the garden with tuna belly, spring onion and old mustard." The tuna belly is rich without being overly oily, and contrasts nicely with the sweet tomatoes and tart mustard. The crouton on top is made of some sort of thinly-sliced bread, lending a nice crunch to the dish. I thought that this dish was well-portioned for the price! The Tartare de Tonyino (Tuna Tartare, €20ish), off the Chef's Recommendation menu, was served with some of the freshest-tasting tuna I've ever had, with an artful smear of creamy avocado topped with tart mango - this was definitely overpriced for the small portion of tuna we were served, but a truly refreshing dish! Lastly, we couldn't leave without ordering the famous Paella (€24/portion, minimum two portions) - two large portions of their most well-known dish came out in a sizzling paella pan, generously garnished with crayfish, Barceloneta prawns, and mussels. All of the seafood was perfectly cooked and so fresh - the crayfish and prawns were plump, juicy, and just a bit sweet, and the mussels had a rich, almost smoky flavor. And unlike some other paella we've had, the rice was not an afterthought here - the signature saffron flavor of the paella accented the perfectly al dente rice (neither soupy nor hard in texture), and we loved scraping off the delightfully crunchy bits that gathered at the bottom of the pan (often called soccarat). This is a must-try dish here, and a good portion for the price! Overall, we enjoyed our meal at La Mar Salada - service was friendly and fast, the food was delicious, and the vibe was excellent. Some of their dishes are overpriced for the portions, though the paella is a great deal - with appetizers, we were able to get away with four people sharing two portions of paella as an entree (though my teenage brother was hungry soon after). I would come here (with a reservation) for a special occasion, and definitely get the paella!

I was responsible for locking a great dinner for my last night in BCN. Yelp reviews looked…read morepromising, but this place topped all expectations. Service was great, but the food? Oh my. The fish in the ceviche was a tender as sushi, perfectly marinated with a nice combination in pomegranate and corn nut crunches. The scallop in corn was one of may favorite dishes I've eaten in forever. The seafood paella was a perfect as I could have hoped. I would go back in a heartbeat if I wasn't thousands of miles away now.

This eatery blew me away with the authentic taste and quality that I expected. Brandon (calbo) was…read moreour waiter,server, jokester, and overall great guy. We ordered a number of specialties and they ALL were on point and soooo delicious. The restaurant was not crowded so we lucked out or perhaps maybe because it happened to be a Sunday. Will eat here again when in BCN.

I'd seen a couple of negative reviews and wasn't sure what to expect, but once we arrived, it…read morebecame pretty clear that some folks might just be viewing the experience through an American lens. When we showed up for our reservation, an American couple without one was shocked to hear they couldn't be seated. They argued, the hostess eventually gave in, and the couple ended up being loud and more than a little tipsy. Moments like that make it easier to understand how misunderstandings happen when traveling. A little politeness, not arguing, and making even a small effort with the local language go a long way. Self-awareness helps, too. As for us, we had a fantastic time -- warm service and excellent food. It's an upscale place, but we paid only €135 for a starter sampler, paella, lamb chops, a spinach side, two oysters, and three glasses of wine. We left very happy. Please try it! Relax and enjoy the fact you are experiencing another culture.

Our favorite restaurant in Barcelona. One of Barcelona's most iconic and historic restaurants, 7…read morePortes was founded in 1836 and is renowned for its classic Catalan cuisine--especially rice dishes and paella. Located under the arcades of the Porxos d'en Xifré near the waterfront, it has long been a gathering place for artists, writers, and intellectuals, blending traditional gastronomy with a rich cultural legacy. Excellent food and service--

My sister and I had a one of a kind dinner at Spoonik making it one of our favorite dining…read moreexperiences. From its humble exterior, Spoonik seems like an unassuming restaurant with nothing special to offer. However, the moment you step in, you are immediately transported into a colorful and bright interior with furnishings that match the uniqueness of the restaurant's name. A typical dining service requires guests to sit in a shared table seating that replicates the family style eating. However, my sister and I were fortunate enough to be the only guests signed up for that serving so we were able to have a special one-on-one dining experience with Chef Jamie. He was more than personable and explained the dishes with such passion that you could not help but fall in love with the food. Chef Jamie also made notes on making dining a sensorial experience. There are definite exciting bits throughout the meal that are surprising and fun unlike any other restaurant. Plus, not only was all the food good, but also very filling! Sometimes you can leave the restaurant feeling like you paid a lot for fancy food but something was not quite there. It helps that there are food items that are meant to mimic typical Spanish comfort foods that really feeds into the soul. We also did the wine pairing which may have also helped! When making a reservation, you do have to put in a deposit. At the end of the meal, you pay the balance and/or for the wine pairing. Friendly reminder to show up on time, but if you show up too early, they will not seat you! This is mainly because they take extra precautions to prepare for the guests because once you are inside, you feel like you are part of the family. Spoonik is located not too far from a bus stop or train station. Overall, Spoonik transports you to another world that makes it a must visit if you are in Barcelona!

It is always nice to see a restaurant that doesn't take themselves too seriously. From the eclectic…read moreand funky decor to the creative use of mirrors and dentures for plating, Spoonik manages to strike a great balance of high end and playful. The decor is kinda nightclub meets your living room, with book shelves, colorful statues, a bit of Aztec art, dayglow, and flashing lights for effect during the meal - it's an assault on your senses. Seating is family style, which can make for some great conversations with neighbors. When you arrive, they take each table on a tour through the kitchen, introducing the staff and doling out a couple of small bites to start off the meal. The menu isn't really up for debate. Everyone is served the same items. We actually never saw one, and may never remember exactly what we had, although the staff does explain the dishes once they are served. Compared to other similar gastro-style restaurants, the pricing is very reasonable, as is the additional wine pairing option. One of my biggest complaints is probably with the wine pairing though. Although I thoroughly enjoyed the local options served, they were brought out haphazardly and not exactly one to one with each course. As a result, we were never really sure which wine went with which dish, nor if we should try to save more for the next plate. Simple to remedy, but I think would improve the overall experience. As for the food, it was bright, colorful, and they definitely implemented some unique techniques. The items overall were a bit hit or miss for me, with some having more show and less flavor than I would prefer. Again, I didn't have a menu, so working solely on memory...My favorite was an assortment of shelled seafood (oysters, clams, etc.) served with different preparations. They were fresh and each one had a great flavor. There also seemed to be a couple of dishes inspired by Central and South America, like a mini arepa. Being from Miami these were more familiar, and I tended to prefer the items that were more authentic to Spain, like a traditional Catalan soup with shell-shaped noodles and meatballs, which a fellow diner told us is typically served around the holidays. Also, one of the dessert courses was a chocolate item dusted with edible gold pop rocks that was a lot of fun. Throughout the entire meal, the passion of the staff was evident (sometimes erring on the side of overzealous), and the chefs clearly paid a lot of attention to detail. Definitely a different from your average Fideuà restaurant or tapas bar for those looking to try something new.

A friend of ours recommended that we drink a cocktail or two at Mokai once we are in Barcelona, and…read morewe took the advice. The bar is located directly at the beach, which explains the prices. Staff is friendly, the smoothies are delicious, the G&T is strong, and the beer refreshing. They offer sandwiches, tapas and burgers as well. They also have their own sun beds for hire.

We enjoyed our time there, a terrace with drinks in front of the beach. We where looking for a…read moreplace we could relax and and we did. We didn't try the food. The prices are higher than other places since this area seems very touristy.