Barcelona, a world of gastronomic possibilities:

Did you know that Catalonia is the region with the most Michelin stars? This can give you an idea of how good you can eat.

The main options according to the type of meals you are looking for are:

Meals of the world

Japanese, Thai, Hindi, Vietnamese, Mexican, Chinese … and hundreds more! In Barcelona you can find a restaurant from any part of the world. In fact, there are so many restaurants in the city that all of them try to offer something different from the rest. The price range is as varied as the type of restaurants.

Tapas (Appetizers)

To eat tapas is not a typical custom in Barcelona, but during the last few years, it has become more popular. It’s a cheaper and more entertaining option. But watch out! If you are really hungry, this option can turn out to be very expensive. Each tapa can cost between €1 and €2.

Eat-all-you-want buffets

If you are really hungry, this can be worth it. For about €10 or €12 you can eat all want. Like all other restaurants, there’s one on every corner.

Exclusive cuisine

Sergi Arola (Hotel Arts) and Santi Santamaría (Torre Agbar) are two of the most important chefs in Barcelona when talking about this type of cuisine. If you want to give yourself a caprice and try this cuisine, where every dish is a piece of art, you just have to go to one of these restaurants. The menu cost between €100 and €130 per person, not including drinks. However, you must know that the best chefs in this type of cuisine are Ferran Adrià (El Bull in Roses) and Arzak (Arzak Restaurant in San Sebastian).

Traditional cuisine

Barcelona’s typical cuisine is based on the Mediterranean style: Fish, salads, vegetables, pastas, meat, etc. And remember, Catalans main dish is pà amb tomàquet (bread with tomato). The average price of these restaurants is €18-20 per person and they are the best restaurant to eat a set menu for lunch (about €10).

The main option according to the area:

The Ramblas

Be very, very careful! If you’re not careful, eating at the Ramblas can be very expensive (more than €40). It’s the most tourist place in the city and while you’re walking along, the waiters will offer you a seat in their terrace. You also have to be careful with the set menus. Make sure they include cutlery, VAT, service and drinks. These are hidden costs that can make the final price be very expensive. For example, a coffee can cost €5, a jug of beer, €12, etc.

Our tip is: if you want to eat at the Ramblas, look for a nearby street where the prices are much cheaper.

The Olympic Harbour

There are two areas which are divided by the Arts Hotel.

The first area is full of small restaurants offer tapas and fish. If you look, you can find very reasonable prices.

The second area has the coolest restaurants of Barcelona; all sea front restaurants. Their decoration is spectacular and they offer different types of dishes: fish, pizzas, sushi, meat, etc. The price is about €30 per person. A tip, it’s better you book beforehand, since they are always full.

El Born

The district of El Born is where you can find the most original restaurants thanks to their style, their decoration and their food. All you have to do is go for a walk and choose.

Ciutat Vella

Good restaurants, good quality and excellent atmosphere. There are many traditional cuisine restaurants. They are ideal to relax and enjoy the variety. The average price is about €20. It’s also a good area to eat a set menu for about €10.

Paella in Barceloneta

The Barceloneta (near the harbour and next to the sea) is the typical place to eat a paella. But, to tell you the truth, the paellas are very expensive and they are not that special. In fact, we have spoken to expert chefs that say that they are pre-prepared paellas that aren’t very tasty. With an appetizer they cost about €20 to €25 per person.

A tip to save on food:

To eat out in Barcelona is not very expensive, however to eat out for breakfast, lunch and dinner can turn out to be expensive. We recommend you book a hotel room with a buffet breakfast, so you can eat a lot. That way you can eat tapas for lunch and then you can have an early dinner at a buffet or at very generous restaurant.

If you have a late breakfast, you can skip lunch. You will save a lot of money and you can make the most of the day, since the monuments are open at lunchtime and the queues are not that long.