760 Best Restaurants in Spain

This cozy tiled bar will teleport you to the coastal Andalusian city of the same name with briny olives, bone-dry Manzanilla sherries, and shatteringly crisp tortillitas de camarón (shrimp fritters).

Decidedly modern, dependably delicious, and shockingly cheap, Tapas 2.0 might pull you back for a second meal. The cool ensaladilla rusa (tuna-and-potato salad), croquettes, and callos (tripe stew) are award-winning; then there are more substantial dishes, like stewed broad beans with octopus and shrimp and saucy chicken cannelloni. If you can't snag a table, pop around the corner to Tapas 3.0, its sister restaurant.

Figurines of the Virgin Mary and other religious paraphernalia line the walls of this eclectic tavern with low ceilings and a cozy, countrified feel. Hand-cut jamón (ham) and runny-in-the-center tortillas make wonderful appetizers; save room for the conejo en salmorejo (roast rabbit in paprika-garlic sauce) and homemade desserts.

Inspired by her Catalan roots, Teresa Carles Borrás has been creating inventive vegetarian fare for 40 years and counting but this namesake was her first restaurant. Both the space and the food are more sophisticated than the typical vegetarian restaurant.

A perennial local favorite, this rustic spot has been roasting lamb in wood ovens since 1877 and serves a hearty menestra de verduras (vegetables stewed with bits of ham) that is justly revered as a mandatory sidekick. With rough hand-hewn wooden tables distributed around dark stone and wood-beam dining rooms, the medieval stagecoach-inn environment matches the traditional roasts.

Tondeluna has six communal tables (with 10 seats each), and all have views into the kitchen, where cooks plate dishes novel and familiar like glazed beef cheeks with apple puree and Getaria-style hake with melty panadera (thinly sliced and roasted) potatoes.

Triciclo serves inventive Spanish-style bistronomie—think tuna-avocado tostas and oxtail canelones with wild mushroom sauce. Raciones (sharing dishes), in one-third portions as well as half and full ones, are ideal for creating your own tasting menu whether at the bar or in the dining room.

This lively brunch spot is a breath of fresh air in a neighborhood perhaps best described as "up and coming." The name "trópico" (or tropical) refers to both the bright decor and the menu that takes inspiration from the tastes of the tropics—from Colombian arepas to Brazilian chicken coxinhas, Thai dragon fruit smoothies, Peruvian ají, and Indian-style curries. Founders Leonardo Tristancho from Colombia and Rodrigo Marco from Brazil have created a space that reflects their love of vibrant, unapologetic flavors, blended with all the warmth of Latin hospitality.

This long-established vegetarian restaurant has a large, pleasant dining space decorated with vibrant artwork. It's best known for its excellent, vast, and bargain-priced lunchtime buffet, which includes salads and hot dishes like red-lentil croquettes, vegetable paella, and soy \"meatballs.\" Leave room for the house-made desserts, all delicious. Vegans are well catered to. Biodynamic wines and beer are available, as are more mainstream Spanish varieties.

Open since 1967, this elegant, family-owned temple of fine Catalan dining was a favorite of Salvador Dalí and now attracts local sports stars and politicians. The menu is a mix of contemporary offerings punctuated by old-school classics, and you can trust the expert sommelier to guide you through the daunting 10,000-bottle-strong wine list. The starter of squid stew with Iberian ham and piparra chilis threatens to be a showstopper, but the theatrical presentation of roast baby duck, deboned and pressed at the table, provides a memorable second act. Looking for a romantic venue for a special occasion? This is it.

This chic, neutral-tone wine and cheese bar—with over 150 bottles and 60 slabs of creamy joy—also serves up unexpectedly stunning fromage-free options, such as Vietnamese rolls and tartares. You’ll have your table or counter spot for two hours (typical in Barcelona, where dining generally has “shifts” at 8 pm and 10 pm); how much cheese you can fit into that window is on you.

Offering dining in a dimly lit dining room or on the street-level terrace, this popular Argentinean-owned restaurant near the touristy alcázar has a menu full of surprises. All dishes—which come as tapas, half portions, or full portions (ideal for sharing)—are superb and sophisticated, especially the eggplant stew with tomato, goat cheese, and smoked salmon, and the pork with curried pumpkin and rocket. It can get very crowded and noisy, so it's not always an ideal place for a romantic meal for two.

The brainchild of two Venetian brothers, this Italian spot specializes in the cuisine of the Veneto region with exquisitely prepared dishes that lean heavily toward seafood and pasta.

Much of Xerta's menu is the expected swanky fine-dining fare, but stand-out options use unique produce from the deltas and rivers of the Terres de l'Ebre region, such as sweet miniature canyuts (razor clams), oysters, and fresh eel. The superb weekday four-course lunch menu includes two glasses of wine per person and is a steal at €45.

This traditional sagardotegi 7 km (4 miles) south of San Sebastián is where top chefs like Juan Mari Arzak and Martín Berasategui like to ring in cider season with a resounding ¡txotx! (\"cheers\" in Basque). Off the tourist track, Zelaia invites guests into its barrel-lined warehouses to chow down on an à la carte menu of bacalao-centric dishes, thick-cut steaks, and—for dessert—local cheeses with quince preserves and walnuts (vegetarian options are available).

Enjoy fabulous views of yachts sailing out into the glittering Mediterranean while dining on market-fresh seafood, quality steaks, and in-season specials, much of which is prepared on the wood-fired grill. This stylish restaurant is perched atop a renovated warehouse that now houses the Museum of the History of Catalonia.

At this wood-beamed barroom, dine on comfort-food tapas and mains like battered zucchini, meatballs bobbing in tomato sauce, fried eggs with sausage, and juicy steaks. Stay late for a supremely made gin and tonic. 

Chef Jordi Cruz is a celebrity in Spain, and pulls out all the stops with a panoply of artfully presented dishes that vary from season to season; no expense or effort is ever spared. ABaC serves only a set tasting menu, which you can request with or without paired wines. There are tables only for two or four; the coveted seating looks out on a lovely garden. 

Slightly off the beaten path but worth seeking, chef Julio Fernández's tasting menu takes you on a journey of the senses featuring seemingly ordinary local produce and traditional recipes elevated with unusual textures and preparations. The menu changes with the seasons, but always has nine dishes (€98) or 12 (€118) as well as extra-virgin-olive-oil menus. The long wine list includes local, Spanish, and international labels, and there are wine-pairing options. The place is relaxed and spacious, with fine crystal and freshly ironed linen on the tables. Booking is essential.

In this softly lighted dining room furnished with rustic tables and colorful ceramics, feast on top-of-the-line cured cecina (Leonese air-dried cured beef), roasted peppers, and chorizo. Grilled sea bream is a treat for seafood lovers; a refreshing lemon cream is a treat for just about everyone.

Hit Agua's beachfront terrace on warm summer nights and sunny winter days, or just catch rays inside through immense windows; either way you'll have a prime spot for people-watching and fresh seafood-eating. Expect good-if-not-spectacular fare and hit-or-miss service at this popular tourist favorite. Reserve in advance for a coveted seat on the terrace.

Chef José Miguel Olazabalaga's Aizian is anything but a "hotel restaurant," even if it's situated inside the Meliá Bilbao. Sure, his dishes err on the staid side—you won't find tweezed microgreens and dry-ice displays here—but they're dependably delicious: think sautéed wild mushrooms topped with foie gras and a runny egg or seared venison loin with beets and smoked chestnut puree.

The Txapartegi brothers—Mikel, Kepa, and Gorka—are the decorated chefs behind this restaurant in an elegantly restored house with a sunny terrace. Count on seasonally rotated combinations of carefully chosen ingredients, from fish and duck to vegetables.

Alberca's two-story stone dining room boasts a comfortable minimalist design and a fire-focused menu. Most dishes get some time on the grill, even the local goat cheese with ash and apple. The oxtail croquettes are truly exceptional as well, whether you find them in the tasting menu or order a-la-carte. And the grilled, smoky take on the torrija, a rich Spanish-style French toast, is beyond memorable.

Purists tempted to run screaming from The Alchemix's blend of creative cocktails and Asian-influenced, avant-garde gastonomy should think again. Against the odds, this strange brew is a transformative triumph, as with the umami-poached king oyster mushroom, with prawns and pork rinds, paired with Uni Mead, a cocktail made from sea ​​urchin, mead, soy milk, tobacco bitters, and lemon juice. Tapas and à la carte dishes, such as steamed cockles with green curry, also impress.

Take a historic luxury hotel and add one of Barcelona's most avant-garde, yet ultra-elegant fine-dining restaurants, and what have you got? Aleia restaurant at Casa Fuster. Set in a opulent dining room overlooking Passeig de Gràcia, Aleia is the kind of place you'll get dressed up for when you want to impress someone special. Choices are limited: there's one tasting menu, priced at €172 (or €134 at lunchtime), the contents of which may vary, but the quality of the produce will never disappoint---like white prawns from Tarragona, de-boned Bresse quail, or Kaluga caviar.

Alquemy in the cuisine and cocktails comes into its own at this funky venue at the heart of the city center. The restaurant has a laboratory vibe, with nods to pop art and the Simpsons, while waiters wear lab coats and appetizers come in test tubes. Stars on the menu combining local produce with traditional recipes include the Peruvian sandwich, ensaladilla de gambas rojas (red shrimp salad) and croquetas de Carmela Morales (with 90% Iberian ham). Live DJ sessions on Friday and Saturday evenings.