Restaurants in Barcelona you have to try

If you found yourself in Barcelona, without any clue how to spend your vacation fun and tasty, let me save you the headache of deciding where to go this weekend. This guide is more about aesthetics and taste, but let's not forget that during the day, we can be strict businesswomen. So, you can use this list for a business dinner when closing a deal, a romantic date, or a girls' night out.

• Boca Grande – In the heart of Barcelona, near Paseo de Gracia, tucked away on a narrow street, you'll find the famous restaurant-club-bar. Here, you get everything in one place. The restaurant specializes in the freshest seafood; live lobsters, mollusks, and oysters are displayed right at the bar. You can politely point at your pick, and they'll serve it to you. Pro tip: book a table in advance, as it’s always fully booked during lunch and dinner. One of the restaurant's highlights is its bathroom, filled with vintage mirrors and candles, where a DJ plays on weekend evenings. It's an unusual experience I definitely recommend.

Personal menu recommendation: Won't mention the seafood—it's obvious. Instead, try the Galician beef tartare with black truffle mayo, duck in orange glaze, and, of course, Breton oysters.

• Feroz – I call their interior "luxury on the brink of excess," with dozens of crystal chandeliers dazzling throughout the restaurant. It’s mesmerizing and, of course, incredibly Instagram-worthy. There are two rooms: one with a smaller number of tables and soft music for an intimate dinner, and the other with a bar, cocktails, glam guests, and loud playlists on weekends. Their bathrooms come with a surprise too—mirror ceilings in the stalls. And as they say, who am I to not take a photo for you?

Personal menu recommendation: Zucchini flowers stuffed with anchovy cream and mozzarella—divine, I swear. Palamós shrimp carpaccio with wasabi mayo and vongole pasta are also must-haves.

• Jacqueline – Since its opening, this place has always been packed. You must book a table in advance, or the wait time, especially on weekends, might get long. Jacqueline, like the previous spots, combines a restaurant, bar, and club, which is super convenient for a Friday or Saturday night. The restaurant often features live music in the evenings, with beautifully set tables and impeccable service. The dragonfly-shaped napkin rings stole my heart. Personal menu recommendation: Grilled scallops, octopus in lemon sauce, and rigatoni with sturgeon caviar. Just trust me—you need to try these.

• La Dama – 11This restaurant is hidden not only from tourists but even from long-term Barcelona residents. The entrance is inside a residential building’s hallway, with no signs or markers outside. The stunning entranceway will charm you before you even step into the restaurant. A small gold plaque near one of the apartments will guide you. Ring the bell, and a courteous waiter will lead you to your table, past the bar where James Bond himself should be standing.

Personal menu recommendation: Sorry, but the truffle fries they serve here are my weakness. The chicken with stewed peppers and tomatoes, along with the swordfish crudo, deserve your attention too.

• Babula Bar 1937 – A place created in honor of all the grandmothers in the world. The owner deeply loved his grandmother, who inspired this restaurant. Cozy, quirky, and slightly grunge interior, but most importantly—polite staff always at your service. They’ll happily share the story of the place and make your visit as comfortable as possible.

Personal menu recommendation: Start with the shrimp and scallop tartare on red cabbage foam, then order the anti-ceviche sea bass for your main. If you're craving meat, try the cannelloni with béchamel sauce.

• Ikoya – What I love here is the open kitchen. Sitting at the bar, you can watch the sushi chef skillfully wielding a sharp knife. Fatty salmon, meaty tuna, smoked eel, and pink shrimp are expertly sliced and plated right in front of you. A word on the interior: hanging above the tables are decorative lights made from real dried fish. It's captivating—the delicate beauty of ocean dwellers.

Personal menu recommendation: I know you might be tired of shellfish, but here they serve seared oysters with dashi—a must-try.

• Adobo – First of all, I’m in love with the interior. Clay plates and jugs arranged as decor elements, crisp white tablecloths, paintings resembling cave art, and a massive mirrored wall in the dining room. And the service? Absolutely top-notch. The staff are polished and polite, as they should be, but Barcelona isn’t known for stellar service, so Adobo earns an extra point for its team. Secondly, this is a Catalan cuisine restaurant.

Personal menu recommendation: Go through the entire menu, pick the Catalan classics, and enjoy how uniquely and deliciously they’re presented. The croquettes are divine, and the Turbot a la brasa deserves special attention.

• Harry’s – Good, classic Italian cuisine is a win-win for dinner. But be prepared—it’s loud here. Very loud. Somehow, all Italian restaurants are filled with a constant buzz that drowns out the music. You just have to accept it and focus on the food. While waiting for your order, take a look at the interior—every chair is different, giving the place a very homey vibe.

Personal menu recommendation: From the mains, I loved the asparagus risotto, pumpkin ravioli, and classic penne alla vodka. For dessert, get the lemon pie—the delicate meringue top combined with the tangy lemon curd on a buttery crust will win you over. If you love tiramisu, they assemble it right at your table.

• Gala – Probably the quirkiest restaurant on this list, Gala has four different areas to choose from. The main hall is circus-themed, with a massive carousel at the entrance. If that’s too much for you, move to the garden, where a fountain-sculpture made of giant noses is located. Yes, you read that right. Giant noses. It feels like stepping into Alice in Wonderland. If that’s still overwhelming, there’s a sushi room with a calm interior and, wait for it, a private library room. As you can imagine, this place is an Instagram paradise.

Personal menu recommendation: From the Italian menu, try the pumpkin risotto with Gorgonzola cheese. From the sushi bar, go for the sea bass ceviche with mango. The wine list here is impressive too.