Restaurants in Barcelona

In Barcelona you have a big variety of restaurants for every taste. I have selected some restaurants, which are good and meet different needs. Especially important for my selection was the cost/benefit ratio, as students are short of money most of the time.

Inexpensive Restaurants/bars

Bar estudiantil
A student bar, the simple and best description for this bar. Equipped with simple furniture, disposes this bar of a big terrace and is located directly next to the university. The visiting audience are mainly students and young people, as this is a very good way to eat and drink for little money. You can get a lunch dish with drink for 4.50 €. The bar is open daily from 6.00 h in the morning until 2.00 h in the morning, which means that this is the perfect place to have breakfast after a long party night or just before your lectures start.
Address: Pl. Universitat
Subway: Universitat (L1, L2)

Xaica
A down-to-earth restaurant, which has been serving Spanish food for 40 years. Xaica consists of a small, cosy café-bar and a bigger self service restaurant.
You can get simple, inexpensive food. The variety of tapas and pizza is big, there are also “platos combinados” (dish with side orders) for 6.50 € as well as lunch menus between
6.80 € and 7.60 €. If you are looking for a cheap and fast meal in the centre, it is definitely Xaica, where you should go.
Address: c/Jovellanos, 5-7
Subway: Catalunya (L1, L3)

Diagonal 366
Nice sandwich bar near Sagrada Familia. You find a wide range of sandwiches, salads and home-made cakes. It is also possible to create your own sandwich by selecting the fresh ingredients. The cost / benefit ratio is good. Sandwiches cost 4 € on average and you can get menus for approx. 5 to 7 € during workdays.
Address: Avenida Diagonal, 366
Subway: Verdageur (L4, L5)

Vegetarian restaurant

Biocenter
This basic restaurant is specialised in vegetarian and/or biological food. The lunch menu for 7.95 € includes a big salad buffet, various main meals of the day and a variety of desserts to choose from. Meanwhile you can also get a menu in the evening between Thursday and Saturday. This is the perfect way to discover the specialities of the vegetarian cuisine.
Address: c/Pintor Fortuny 25

Tapas

Sagardi
Basque tapas bar, quite authentic. You can help yourself at the bar, where the tapas are arranged. There is a big variety of cold and warm tapas you can choose from. You have to pay according to the number of toothpicks, which you can find inside your tapas; 1.30 € per toothpick.
The bar is open daily until 0.30 h and on Fridays and Saturdays until 01.00 h. You should consider, however, not to come too late, as the variety of food shrinks and the warm tapas become cold.
Address: c/Argenteria, 62
Subway: Jaume 1 (L4)

Cervecería Catalana
The Cervecería Catalana is the oldest tapas bar in Barcelona. You will find it very comfortable to sit, eat well and enjoy the original atmosphere. The bar offers a wide range of tasty tapas and montaditos (small “bocadillos” = sandwiches). It is not cheap but very good.
Address: C/Mallorca, 236

Luz de Gas
This restaurant is located on a ship in the old harbour Port Vell. You can eat very tasty tapas here and/or sip a few drinks. The mojitos are delicious and you can also taste good wine and sparkling wine. It is not inexpensive but you can enjoy the unique location.
Address: Moll del diposit
Subway: Barceloneta (L4)

Authentic restaurants / Catalan cuisine

Can Margarit
Far away from tourist places you will find this old barn, situated in Poble Sec. The atmosphere is amazing, you can pour your own wine, directly from the wine cask. You sit at rustic wooden tables and enjoy fairly big portions. The speciality of this restaurant is rabbit on sweet onions. A main dish costs between 9 and 12 €.
Address: C/de la Concórdia, 21
Subway : Poble Sec (L3)

El Disbarat
This restaurant is situated in Gracía and offers next to Catalan cuisine also Mediterranean dishes. Especially suitable for a romantic dinner for two due to its’ cosy atmosphere, but also appropriate for lunch or dinner with bigger groups. The menu costs between 15 and 25 €.
Address: C/Montseny, 14
Subway: Fontana (L3)

La Fonda
La Fonda is a restaurant with Catalan cuisine, which offers very good and inexpensive lunch menus. It is definitely worth a visit. A similar concept, but without menus is being offered at the restaurant “Les Quinze Nits”.
Address: c / Escudellers 10
Website: http://www.casafonda.com

Les Quinze Nits
In this restaurant you can get regional specialities for affordable prices. The restaurant is equipped with nice and noble furniture and is situated at the Placa Reial, close to the Ramblas. It opens at 20.30 h but you can see a queue in front of it already before that time. If you can be patient and don’t care too much about waiting, the “Les Quinze Nits” is definitely a must. “La Fonda” has a similar concept but you are able to make a reservation and escape therefore the waiting in queue.
Address: Placa Reial 6

Gracía is the district with the highest concentration of folkloristic restaurants in Barcelona. In and around the streets called Calle Verdi and Calle Torrent de l’Olla you can find Arabic, Norh-African and oriental restaurants and bars abundantly.