The hub and I were in Spain for two weeks -- visited Madrid, Valencia and Barcelona -- and this was…read moreour "splurge" meal, expensive compared to other meals we had in Spain, but a bit more reasonable than it would be here in NYC. We wanted to go back to Capet for dinner on our last night in Barcelona, but sadly, they are closed on Mondays. We sat on the upper level overlooking the downstairs dining area. Our server was friendly and understanding about the fact that we don't speak Spanish. The food was amazing. Here's what we had: -- Chicken croquette with kimchi (the best version of croquette we had in Spain; would have been happy just ordering more and noshing on these for dinner...so good!) -- Catalan tomato bread (the best version we had in Spain) -- Scallops with potato salad a yellow pepper sauce and coriander gelatin -- Grilled hake with cream of ortiguilla, leek and pine nuts -- Angus beef with red wine sauce, tender garlic, radish and Kale cabbage Two thumbs-up for Capet. If we ever find ourselves in Barcelona again, we will definitely be eating here!

Hidden gem with a Michelin star in the gothic quarter. The open kitchen is nice for a bar table.read more

We did not know what to expect, given this was our first day in Barcelona. We were on our way to…read moreCasa Battlo, looking for a good, but quick meal. Luckily for us, the restaurant was open in mid-afternoon and not far from our destination. Upon entering, we were immediately struck by the modern, elegant ambiance. We were even more pleased with the menu's variety. There was something to offer for kids and adults. Everyone in our group was pleased with their meal. From tasty rice dishes to succulent steak and chicken, we received a nice introduction to Catalan cuisine. Our first day in Barcelona was off to a great start!

We made a reservation and was seated immediately. Our server took our drink order and starters a…read morefew minutes later. The spicy potatoes and tomato bread were delicious. But then our server totally ignored us. He rushed by several times but even when we tried to get his attention he never turned to look at us. He appeared to be catering to others. After a while we called over a younger server who took our order. My beef medallions came out rare and only when we asked he brought over hot stones. We noticed that others were served with hot stones with their dishes. The chicken and meat were very tasty. I'd recommend this restaurant for the food but definitely not the service.

Possibly the best paella I have had. We had their classic seafood paella and some croquettes and…read morethey are delicious. Try to make a res. and go for lunch. I only wish they added less oil, I see could see it oozing in the paella pan but I was no vacation and didn't care and ate it anyway. Delicious meal with great service.

My wife and I were walking around Barcelona on Christmas Eve and were not having much luck finding…read morea place that was open for lunch. Luckily she saw a quick bit of movement in one of the windows. We took a closer look and noticed that El Raco was full of locals enjoying a meal. We grabbed one of the last tables available and were given some great attention by the wait staff. They served us the traditional bread, tomato, and garlic and we had a nice salad with cheese. For our main we had Paella de Mariscos. For some reason we had not had paella in Barcelona yet and thought a more locals joint might be a better option than many of the restaurants advertising it to the tourists on Las Ramblas. The paella was good and for desert we had a "lemon bomb" which was a delicious cap to the meal. It was a little pricey at around $80 US for two, but was a nice memorable Christmas Eve meal. El Raco made for a pleasant surprise in a neighborhood that is less frequented by most visitors to the city.

Cute decor. Friendly service. Great seafood…read more I stopped by for a quick dinner by the bar. I got the octopus with ground pork and potato and I was surprised with how tasty it was. Very filling and affordable. I dined by myself but this unassuming spot seems like a great place to get drinks with friends.

Great local corner restaurant in a quiet part of town. This is the kind of place friends meet up…read moreand enjoy a casual dinner. We dined here twice during our two trips to Barcelona in September 2019. Both times, we thoroughly enjoyed our experience. Very casual, very local place. We were the only non-locals there each time. They have a couple of English-language versions of the menu, but the staff struggles a bit with English, which personally I love when I'm in another country. The croquettes are super fresh and housemade. All of them are good but the mushroom one is amazing. The scrambled egg dish with fries (see pic) is a highlight. Comfort-food at it's best. Haven't had anything here that were didn't like, so eat around the menu and enjoy!

Wow, this place is outstanding! The waiters are eager to tell you what the local dishes are like,…read moreand they do not disappoint! The wine selection is very vast, and the deserts are fantastic. Small restaurant atmosphere, very clean, solid service, and quite a gastronomic selection, we had a great time, and we've been here now for two weeks. Highly recommended!!!!

Our first night in Barcelona was meant to be a very mellow and unplanned evening to ease ourselves…read morein to the trip. After visiting the magic fountain of Montjuïc's we set off in search of a nice simple restaurant before we headed back to the hotel and stumbled upon La Clara. We snuggled up to the bar (the football was on after all) and ordered a glass of vino tinto (red wine) and several tapas dishes. Every dish was better than the last and we left extremely satisfied and even more excited for the next culinary adventure in Barcelona. The staff was really friendly and accommodating to the Spanish speaking challenged couple that we are. Coming from San Francisco where we're not spoiled for choice on high quality, Michelin restaurants we were pleasantly surprised at how well prepared and delicious everything was. Highly recommended!

La Mestressa is such a great vibe and one of the defining experiences from my trip to Barcelona!…read moreHere are a few highlights: 1. The neighborhood - I stayed at the AC Hotel Sants while visiting Barcelona. The Barcelona Sants train station was adjacent to the hotel, and the property was in a walkable neighborhood surrounded by restaurants, convenience stores, and other businesses. There was also a deceptively nondescript alley right next to the hotel that I didn't explore right away. Turns out, that alley leads to a vibrant, hidden plaza (Plaça d'Osca) with restaurants and shops, where locals in the Sants neighborhood hang out. This is also where La Mestressa is located. 2. The food and drinks - I got dinner with two friends at La Mestressa one evening. We ordered a pitcher of sangria, a bottle of wine, and a wide selection of tapas, croquettes, and a couple main dishes. My personal favorites from the meal were the sangria, patatas bravas (crispy potatoes with sauce), octopus, and the salmon salad (not pictured). Each of those dishes were well-seasoned, had great textural contrast, and provided either familiar comfort (patatas bravas and octopus) or a completely new flavor experience (salmon salad). The sangria was light and refreshing. 3. The service - Our server was bilingual and provided satisfactory service. She was warm. The service was well-paced, and she attended to all of our needs as a group. 4. The ambience - As I previously mentioned, both Plaça d'Osca and La Mestressa were a whole vibe. If the terms "off the beaten path," "honeycomb hideout," "in the cut," or "rural retreat" mean anything to you, this area similarly provides a nice place to "retreat" and immerse yourself in a local neighborhood right in the heart of Spain's second largest city. It's the perfect place to drink wine and sangria and while away your evening. :)

We were in the neighborhood on vacation, and were looking for someplace to eat. They had room so…read morewe stepped in. Honestly the rest of Barcelona has been ruined for us now. We ate other places, but none of them compare. Not the market, none of the other small tapas places we tried. It's as if the others aren't even trying. If you are near Plaça de Sants, you will not be disappointed.

Very cute place (and waitress as well). Unfortunately, if you can't get by with a non-English…read morespeaking establishment, this won't be your place. I got by speaking English with aggressive hand language (pointing at the menu really and making shapes in the air). They have an English menu, not to worry, so you can simply smile and point. The cafe had a very french bistro atmosphere to it - very cute and quaint. The place filled up quickly, and at one point there was only one waitress (so expect slower service). However, as many of the patrons seemed to be locals, I think they didn't require fast service as they were pleasantly chatting away. I, on the other hand, had to go up to the waitress when she was making coffee in order to get my check (which is fine to do if you're in a hurry!) The food was fair - the soup, which was the soup of the day so unfortunately to me is unidentifiable, was sweet and creamy. Very similar to tomato bisque with some chives on top. The app I ordered, tuna belly salad, was okay - the tuna was pre-cooked as it was cold. The entree, salmon with asparagus, was very good as well. Definitely worth a venture, as this shop is fairly close to the popular high-end shopping street, Passeig de Gracia, so it's convenient to go to after a hard days worth of spending money.

Ok if your a fan of eggs benny this is a "must stop to try"…read more A friend of mine told me this was also a Michelin restaurant so you know I had to try this spot out! Small little intimate resto located near the pasa de gracia strip. They are clean and service is attentive! What we ordered from the menu. Must try the fresh orange juice! It totally adds the umph to your breaky. I had French onion soup it was awesome too! I was feeling a little sick but that didn't stop me from eating the eggs benny Please keep note the Benny's do not come with anything besides just two eggs. There are no hash browns that comes with it. So if your hunger level is a 10 do look at the menu for more. I loved it so much I came the next day

The authentic Spanish dining experience you have been searching for is nestled a minutes walk…read moreaway from La Rambla. Think Catalan cuisine, local Spanish wines, and Barcelona futbol playing on the corner tv. This is not your tourist trap spot with a large menu claiming the best tapas in the city. This menu is modest and includes some of the best tapas I had the pleasure of enjoying during my year stay. I frequented this spot mainly for their Vermouth Wings and Garlic Mushrooms - I will return to Spain just for these dishes. I would also enjoy a glass of their local vermouth or "vermut", served with an orange slice and two olives (the correct way to drink vermut). You also cannot go wrong with their Pan de Tomate or Spanish Omelette (Spanish tortilla). The staff is friendly, the beer is cold - what more could you want?

We stumbled across this place in our first evening in Barcelona in a small alley off of La Rambla,…read moreand it turned out to be the best food experience of our trip. We were the only foreigners in the restaurant, and the menu was only in Spanish at our table (though we later found out they had an English menu upon request). However, our amazing waiter whom I wish I asked for his name (young, tall Spanish guy with tied up hair) was so friendly and explained all the options. He even offered to move our table to a better view when one was available. He also brought free bread after he saw we had a lot of leftover sauce from our seafood dishes. We had no expectations coming in, but the tapas here made every other meal (including at nice reservation seafood restaurants) taste subpar. The octopus, snails, mussels/clams, and tomato bread were all PERFECT. The seasoning here has more of a strong, salty Cajun flavor to it which paired deliciously with their housemade cava and beer. I really wanted to gatekeep this tapas bar, but the service and food here was so amazing this place deserves to be recognized.