723 Best Restaurants in Spain

Sleek Scandinavian interiors and striking water-edge views over Port Vell make this contemporary seafood restaurant a hit for special occasions or romantic meals, despite its somewhat surprising location near the Maremagnum shopping mall. Cold bar options, such as oysters and sushi, precede pasta, rice dishes, and mains that favor fish fans and carnivorous types.

The cosmopolitan crowd here doesn't just come for hip vibe and stylish decor; Fismuler Barcelona re-creates its Madrid-based mothership's precise, market-based cooking and adds interesting local touches. Star dishes include a translucent, semi-cured carpaccio of gilthead bream with grapes and almonds, and a complex cheesecake that tastes more like cheese than cake and is an utterly sinful, gooey delight.

Fontao may not look like much, what with its humdrum entrance and '90s banquet–like dining room, but the kitchen delivers well-executed Aragonese dishes with welcomed Galician flare. Delightful proteins and carbs abound, but don't miss their salad offerings, like the warm escalivada (roasted over coals) with goat cheese, which are a nice relief from the meaty cuisine of the region.

This former bakery turned restaurant (forn means "bakery" or "oven" in Mallorquin) dates back to the 19th century and features exposed brick walls, patterned floor tiles, modern art, and picture-perfect Mediterranean tapas. A cocktail bar on the ground floor overlooks the street, and one of the three distinct dining areas is where bread dough was once prepared. There's a good-value three-course lunchtime fixed-price menu.

Expertly pulled espressos, natural wines, and standout food—think velvety scrambled eggs, Korean fried chicken sandwiches, and homemade cakes and pastries—have made this café on Plaza del Biombo an instant hit with locals and expats, many of whom treat the roomy communal table like a coworking space (just be considerate and order more than a coffee if you plan on staying awhile). At the time of writing, the café was gearing up to launch dinner service.

There are days when only a pizza will do and this might be the best spot in Barcelona to satisfy the craving, with a combination of wood-fired sourdough pizzas, craft beer, top-notch artisanal ingredients, and a buzzing atmosphere. The eggplant parmigiana pizza is a best-seller, as is the tiramisu for dessert.

The tostas (open-faced sandwiches) are the tapa to try here. Whether your chosen toast-topper is smoked salmon, blue cheese, baked ham, or otherwise, you can't go wrong at this down-home bar. The economical prices make Fuentefría's finger food all the more palatable.

Gallo Nero is owned by a true Tuscan who knows his stuff. The first of two locations—the other one is on La Rambla—the menu skips the typical pasta and pizza you’re used to seeing and instead, focuses on charcuterie boards and Tuscan sandwiches (called a "schiacciata").

This busy bar and sedate downstairs restaurant near Plaza de la Constitución is run by the third generation of the same family. Exquisite minimalist morsels range from white Huelva prawns al ajillo to homemade foie gras to battered kokotxak (hake cheeks) and—the cult favorite—wild mushrooms topped with an egg yolk.

Traditional Andalusian cuisine comes in generous portions (tapas and sharing plates) at this popular venue with a small terrace opposite the Basílica de Santa María. Stars on the menu include carrillada al oloroso (pork cheeks), bacalao con crema de guisantes (cod with pea puree), and arroz con leche (rice pudding). Fresh seafood, caught on the nearby Atlantic coast, also features in the daily specials.

In a quiet square just off La Rambla, you could easily pass by Gats without being lured inside, but that would be a mistake if you're looking for a casual spot for seasonal tapas. Expect to see some familiar staples, such as jamón ibérico, pa amb tomàquet, and padrón peppers, along with more unexpected flavor combinations.

Savor a rare taste of Canary Island cuisine—with quite a few twists—at this envelope-pushing, Michelin-starred restaurant helmed by Tenerife-born chef Safe Cruz. Expect foaming, smoking concoctions that incorporate traditional Canarian specialties like green mojo, Gomero goat cheese, and—of course—gofio (stone-ground corn flour).

This pocket-size bar's raison d'être is its garlicky seared-shrimp brochette topped with zippy carrot vinaigrette.

On a square next to the Bretxa farmers' market, this traditional little bar that opens at 7 am is a well-priced standby with a genial old-school staff.

On the rooftop of El Corte Inglés, Spain’s largest department store, there's a gourmet food court with some of the best views in the city. Grab some tapas and a glass of wine here after perusing the shops around Callao. The space features outposts of well-known Spanish restaurants like La Máquina (seafood) and Asador Imanol (pinxtos, or skewered snacks) as well as international options (hamburgers, Mexican, Chinese, etc.).

Weather permitting, this French-inspired oyster bar puts tables and banquettes out in the Plaça Sant Vicenç, arguably the prettiest square in Sarrià. Make your choice among 12 varieties of oysters—especially the plump sweet ones from Normandy—shucked and served fresh with rye bread and pats of French butter, as well as other more elaborate tapas dishes.

The vegan and vegetarian options in Barcelona have improved remarkably in recent years, led by the likes of The Green Spot, with its extensive menu of flavor-packed plant-based dishes designed to please nonmeat-eaters and carnivores alike. The dining room's pale oak paneling elegantly frames an open kitchen and airy dining room.

Chef-owner Rafa Peña applies the skills he honed in the world's most celebrated kitchens at this excellent value restaurant---although most locals will tell you his adjacent wine-tapas bar is the real scene stealer here. Expect a well-chosen wine list and some of the most delightful dishes you can find in Barcelona: the tasting menu is the best way to sample what's on offer.

For a sweet treat, try Guirlache, where you can choose from at least 20 ice-cream flavors. Many of the cakes are made with that trusty island staple, condensed milk. There's a second location at Calle Simancas 2. 

This family-friendly restaurant off the tourist track serves a wide range of classic, lovingly prepared dishes ranging from creamy squid croquetas to griddled European lobster. The best value is the €18 weekday menú del día (prix fixe), which can be made vegetarian upon request.

Chili fiends are often disappointed that Spanish food is seldom spicy, but at this mom-and-pop Ethiopian restaurant, you'll find plenty of fiery stews and sauces. Vegans and vegetarians flock here for fresh crunchy slaws, lentil sambusas (stuffed pastries), and slow-cooked greens, while omnivores come for the doro wat (spiced chicken). Make like you're in Addis Ababa and forget your fork—the spongy, sour injera bread is the only utensil you'll need.

Even if you aren’t a vegan, the plant-based menu won’t disappoint at this quirky restaurant, located just a block east of Casa de los Tiros. You’ll find a good choice of food such as vegetable lasagna and seitan cordon bleu. Sit inside and take in the vibrant murals, or sit outside on the quiet terrace, blissfully sunny in winter and shady in summer.

The interior design of Oriol Ivern's small restaurant is minimalist, but his cooking is intricate—and wonderful. This is budget-conscious fine dining that avoids exotic ingredients but lifts local dishes to exciting new heights; the menu changes four times a year to take advantage of what's best in season. Local gastronomes come here for dishes like John Dory with truffle and salsify, and oxtail stew with burrata, delicately presented but always—and most importantly—delicious. The nine-course tasting menu is a steal at €85 (€110 with wine pairing).

The late Mey Hofmann, German-born and Catalonia-trained, was revered for decades for her creative Mediterranean and international cuisine based on carefully selected raw materials prepared with unrelenting quality. Her team carries on her legacy in this graceful designer space with a glassed-in kitchen as center stage. Sardine tart, beef cannelloni with foie, truffle, Mediterranean-style rice, or paella, with seafood, and pastries that are second to none are what keep people coming back to this carefully managed culinary tour de force. The adjoining Racó Hofmann is a relaxed, informal café featuring a short menu of classic tapas with a contemporary twist, such as the calamari with kimchi mayonnaise or steak tartare with mustard ice-cream. The Hofmann universe has further expanded in recent years to include a bakery at C/Flassaders 44 and a café nearby at C/Flassaders 40, both in the Born neighbourhood, as well as the Taverna Hofmann at C/Girona 145. The lunchtime set menu is a steal at €42. 

Spaniards love their morning cafés con leche and afternoon cortados (espresso with steamed milk), but until a few years ago, it was hard to find a truly great cup of joe in Madrid. Enter Hola Coffee, whose multilayered third-wave espressos and cold brews are made with beans the company roasts itself. From-scratch baked goods and open-faced sandwiches will make you want to stay awhile; printed "Cool Beans" T-shirts make zany souvenirs.

There are a few fish and meat options on the menu but most visitors skip the animal proteins and opt for the impressive selection of plant-based foods. Delicious salads, tasty vegetarian curries, and fresh grilled vegetables are a hit with the health-conscious and the vegan desserts are even tastier than regular versions. There are three outposts in the city: the Barcelona flagship in Rambla de Catalunya, plus El Born and uptown in Carrer de Tuset.

Cool down with handmade ice cream or horchata (a sweet, tigernut-milk concoction) at this family-owned parlor that’s been serving up creamy goodness on the Rambla del Poblenou since 1912. Lines can be long, especially on hot days, but it’s worth the wait.