Where To Eat In Barcelona, According To A Local Chef

Home to the world’s best restaurant, alongside an eclectic mix of buzzy food markets, late-night tapas bars and seafront eateries, Barcelona is one of Europe’s most exciting foodie destinations right now. You could easily spend weeks eating your way around the city – but if you’re just visiting for a couple of days, fear not: we’ve enlisted local chef Fran López to pick out the must-visit culinary spots.

Fran López

Fran grew up in the small village of L’Aldea before moving to Barcelona to study at the prestigious Hofmann cooking school. After a stint at Alain Ducasse’s Plaza Athénée in Paris, he returned to Catalonia to open Villa Retiro, which quickly secured a Michelin star (impressively, Fran was just 25 at the time). Nowadays, he splits his time between his eponymous outpost at Time Out Market Barcelona and Xerta, opened in 2016 in the Ohla Eixample Hotel. Here, he shares his favourite restaurants in Barcelona. 

Best Restaurants In Barcelona: Fran López’s Pick

La Vinya del Senyor

This cosy wine bar, with its generous outdoor seating, sits in one of the city’s most charming neighbourhoods, El Born, right across from the stunning Santa Maria del Mar Gothic church. With over 3,000 wine selections – including a wide range of Catalan and Spanish varieties – and a bi-weekly rotation of more than 20 wines by the glass, it’s a must-visit spot for wine lovers.

Plaça de Santa Maria 5, 08003 Barcelona, lavinyadelsenyor.es

BaLó

Lena Maria Grané (Catalan) and Ricky Smith (British) met while working together at Galvin La Chapelle in London. In 2021, they brought their culinary talents to Barcelona, opening a restaurant featuring an avant-garde, seasonal tasting menu. Don’t miss their shrimp tartare, available exclusively at their Time Out Market Barcelona kitchen.

Déu i Mata 141, 08029 Barcelona, restaurantebalo.com

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Caelis

Thanks to my formative years in Paris, I have a deep appreciation for French cuisine. Toulousain chef Romain Fornell masterfully blends classic Gallic and Catalan flavours with bold, innovative touches. His three tasting menus (including a vegetarian option) have earned him a well-deserved Michelin star.

Hotel Ohla, Via Laietana 49, 08003 Barcelona, caelis.com

Can Xurrades

If you’re a meat devotee, this is your heaven. Head chef Rafa Martínez boasts a 40-year career focused exclusively on meat maturation and traditional techniques. I can’t get enough of his hyper-matured beef carpaccio matured on its bone. Can Xurrades isn’t just a restaurant – it’s a meat temple.

Casanova 212, 08036 Barcelona, canxurrades.com

Estimar

‘Estimar’ means ‘to love’ in Catalan, and that perfectly sums up chef Rafa Zafra’s passion for anything that comes from the sea. Specialising in fish, shellfish, and seafood, Estimar serves simple yet exquisite dishes that let the quality of the ingredients shine.

Carrer de Sant Antoni dels Sombrerers 3, 08003 Barcelona, estimarbarcelona.com

El Passadís del Pep

Whether you’re in the mood for meat, fish, or traditional Catalan fare, this restaurant delivers. Its tasting menus (€85 and €105) feature classics like suquet de rap (monkfish stew) and fideus rossejats (crispy noodles cooked in fish broth). Be sure to explore the wine list – it’s full of hidden gems.

Pla de Palau 2, 08003 Barcelona, passadis.com

Koy Shunka

Going to a Japanese restaurant might not be the first thing that comes to mind in Barcelona, but Koy Shunka is far from ordinary. Owned by Tokyo-born Hideki Matsuhisa, this Michelin-starred gem has become a pilgrimage site for sushi aficionados since earning its star in 2013.

Copons 7, 08002 Barcelona, koyshunka.com

Bar El Tomàs de Sarrià

If tapas were royalty, patatas bravas would be the queen. At Bar El Tomàs de Sarrià, its signature tapa – crispy fried potato cubes topped with a mildly spicy paprika sauce and garlicky allioli – is worth venturing out of the city centre for. It’s a favourite among locals from all corners of Barcelona.

Major de Sarrià 49, 08017 Barcelona, eltomasdesarria.com