The Barcelona Hit List: Alapar, Mont Bar, Albé, and More

No trip to Barcelona would be complete without a seafood paella on a sun-drenched terrace overlooking the sea, and nowhere does it better than Pez Vela. Set at the foot of the glass sail-shaped W Barcelona hotel, this is the kind of place that never goes out of fashion.

Why? The setting is unbeatable (ask for a table en primera linea, or in the first line, to max out the sea views), the service is reliable, the seafood is fresh and, most importantly, the rice is done right. This means it strikes the perfect balance between juicy and toasty, with plenty of crisp socorrat (the name given to the slightly burnt edges around perimeter of the paella pan), which locals will assure you is the best part of the dish. And they’re right. Wash it down with a bottle of chilled white Godello, from Galicia in northwestern Spain.

Tapas bars may be ten a penny in Barcelona, but few come close to Bar Mut when it comes to either quality or style. Perfectly positioned for Gaudí (Bar Mut is two minutes from La Pedrera and on the walking route back to the center from Park Güell and la Sagrada Família), this small space harks back to the late 20^th-century Catalan Moderniste, or Art Nouveau era, with high wooden stools set around a marble-topped bar and walls lined with shelves stocked with countless bottles of wine.

As for the food, there is no menu per se, but the chalkboard is updated daily, based on what’s in season and looks good at the market. For non-fussy eaters, we suggest asking your waiter to put together a selection of the tapas of the day. Classics here include the egg carpaccio with skinny fries, which tastes a lot better than it sounds, the seasonal croquettes and the lobster cooked in brandy (the latter is life-altering and priced accordingly).

Locals can’t get enough of Albé, and with such a unique approach to seasonal cuisine. it’s no wonder why. We know, the word “unique” gets bandied about a lot these days, but we’d also venture a guess that this is the only restaurant with a Lebanese owner and a Venezuelan-American chef that bases all its dishes on what is in season in Catalonia.

The result is a distinctive and irresistible blend of Lebanese flavors mixed with the finest seasonal Mediterranean ingredients: think smoked labneh, with zaatar, eggplant and Lebanese bread, pulled lamb kibbeh with yoghurt and mint, lacquered eggplant with pomegranate, or the utterly decadent wild boar brioche with sauce royale. Cocktails are infused with Lebanese touches like cardamom and orange blossom, and there’s even Lebanese wine if that takes your fancy. As for the service, the staff’s never-faltering smiles and endless enthusiasm for what they do keep Barcelonians coming back for more.

Learn more here. For reservations, call +34 930 11 73 16. 

What do you think when you hear the word Barcelona? For most people, the Catalan capital conjures images of sunny days and balmy nights, of al-fresco food and drinks while hopping from bar to bar. And they’d (almost) be right. Because if there is one thing Barcelona lacks it’s great outdoor dining options. Sure, there are plenty of terraces where you can enjoy vermouth, beers and wine in the sun, but, once dinner time rolls around, the question is always the same: “Where can we eat outdoors”?

The answer is Casa Luz, the rooftop restaurant by Tomás Abellán who also runs popular Bar Alegria up the road. The name, which translates as house of light, is a suitable reference to the rays of sunshine that flood both the outdoor terrace and indoor rooftop dining room from morning till sunset. Order the tangy tomato tartare, and the truffled bikini (or ham and cheese toastie) and don’t forget to save room for the cheesecake.

There are many reasons why Benzina remains one of the most perennially popular spots in town. A buzzy outdoor patio, a banging 1960s and ‘70s and playlist and the finest carbonara in town are just three. The rest of the menu isn’t half bad – from the moreish eggplant Parmigiana with Parmesan ice-cream to more delicate dishes like the sea bream crudo with daikon and tangy leche de tigre – it has something for everyone. There’s the terrific service, the upbeat ambiance, and a strong cocktail list (the latter may have something to do with the overall upbeatness). But what we really love is that British restaurateur Badr Bennis has taken a little bit of all his favorite places and mixed them together. The result is somewhere that serves delicious Italian food, with a trendy vibe worthy of New York or London, but mixed in with that famously relaxed approach to hospitality that makes Barcelona such a great city to go out in.

Learn more here. For reservations, call +34 936 59 55 83.

Fine dining, tasting menus and Michelin stars are just some of the things not typically associated with tapas bars. Or at least they weren’t – until Mont Bar came along. Its addition to Barcelona’s star-studded skies is part of Michelin’s recent mission to make its selections more accessible and reflective of local culture. The accolade didn’t come as a huge surprise – at least not to Mont Bar’s loyal followers. Even though the interior may first strike you as a old-school Spanish bar de toda la vida, with its marble countertop, refrigerated food display and high wooden bar stools, the menu tells a more elevated story. Instead of the standard steak tartare, this one is made with Café de Paris sauce, the stingray comes with beurre blanc and caviar, while bar snacks include a squid and chicken skin canapé and a vol-au-vent with sea urchin and Jerusalem artichoke. There’s even a tasting menu – reasonably priced at €135 for 16 courses.

Alapar isn’t the kind of place you’ll stumble upon by accident. A discreet doorway in an unremarkable street, people tend to walk in with a purpose. Arguably Barcelona’s hottest opening of 2022, Alapar has taken Barcelona’s favorite fusion trend to a whole new level. Mixing Mediterranean ingredients with Japanese flavors and techniques, the menu is divided into three sections, starting with montaditos, or small Spanish-style sandwiches, moving through raw fish and nigiri into to the most Spanish part of the meal – dishes for sharing.

Before opening Alapar, founders Jaume Marambio and Vicky Maccarone worked in some of the finest establishments in Barcelona, and it shows. Not only in Marambio’s cooking where standouts are the tataki of 30-day aged sirloin steak with ponzu, or the seared eel and teriyaki nigiri that literally melts in your mouth, but also in Maccarone’s service that is so warm, so thoughtful, you’ll never want to leave. Try the tasting menu, or “Mediterranean izakaya” – a steal at only €75.

Learn more here. For reservations, call +34 938 87 20 96.

Anyone who’s ever spent more than five minutes in town will tell you to steer clear of restaurants purporting to serve “authentic, local food” in La Rambla or near tourist attractions like the Sagrada Família. And they’d be right – with some notable exceptions. Despite being located within spitting distance of the Moco and Picasso art museums, Bodega La Puntual is the kind of place that attracts a mix of locals and visitors. The latter mostly walk in off the street by accident, while the former come for the fine-tuned takes on dishes their grandmas used to make, like cod omelet or trinxat – a hearty mix of mashed potatoes, cabbage and pork meat, topped with a fried egg. These take pride of place on the menu alongside classic tapas like croquettes and spicy patatas bravas. If you arrive early, make a pit-stop next door at El Xampanyet, where you’ll spend just over €2 for a glass of cava in a beautifully tiled bar that has been serving thirsty punters since 1929.

Serious gourmands will tell you great food and beautiful design don’t tend to go hand in hand. But there are always exceptions that prove the rule, and nowhere in Barcelona does so more stylishly than La Dama. Set in a converted first-floor apartment in Casa Sayrach, a building designed by a student of Gaudí and emblematic of the Catalan Moderniste movement, La Dama is accessed through an imposing wrought-iron gate and a spectacular Art Nouveau lobby that leads you up a flight of stairs to a discreetly marked door. Once inside, you will discover a cocktail bar worthy of Gatsby himself and an elegant dining space full of plush sofas, gleaming mirrors, floral wallpaper, and rich velvet textures. As for the food, it’s a mix of classic French and innovative Mediterranean, from the Dover sole meunière to the spicy tomato tartare and the squid linguine carbonara. Service is as superb as the cocktails are punchy.

Learn more here. For reservations, call +34 932 09 63 28.

Ask a local where they love eating lately and one name that consistently comes up is Agreste – invariably followed by the words: “if only it wasn’t so far away”. And while it’s true that Italian chef Fabio Gambrirasi and his wife Roser Asencio’s latest venture is not exactly in the thick of things, don’t fret. It turns out this out-of-the-way location is surprisingly convenient for Antoni Gaudí’s vibrant Park Güell – a must for all first-time visitors to Barcelona.

The menu, based on slow food, or locally sourced, seasonal and mainly organic produce, is best described as laid-back Mediterranean fine dining, with Spanish, Catalan and Italian touches. Meanwhile, standout dishes like the deeply satisfying cappelletti del prete (or priest’s hat, due to their shape) ravioli with parmesan, the pig’s trotter medallion with sweetbreads, and the rich veal demi glace with wild radicchio from the Pyrenees. All these and more can be found on the affordable 10-course tasting menu, priced at €80.  

Forget everything you’ve ever known about top-tier dining as you cross the threshold at Slow & Low. There are no white tablecloths, snooty waiters, foams or smokes. Instead, you’re greeted by Francesc Beltri, a smiley, tattoo-sporting Catalan chef who was awarded his first star this year, and his Mexican copilot, Nicolás de la Vega. The open kitchen is abuzz with activity, as you scope the other guests: a motley crew of old and young, locals and visitors, some dressed up, most in jeans and sneakers. Snag one of six seats at the chef’s table to watch the magic unfold.

And then, the main event, as your taste buds are struck by dish after dish – 15 or 17 in total – one more packed with boisterous flavors and unexpected umamis than the next. From the sour cream and wasabi ice cream, with creamy tofu and fermented soybeans, edamame, basil sponge cake and mint lime pesto, to the Mediterranean green curry, pil pil, bergamot, stingray and mushrooms, they are all winners, as are you, for being here.

Learn more here. For reservations, call +34 936 25 45 12.

Fusion food tends to get a bad rap among the gastronomic elites, but not always with good reason. In Barcelona, Mediterranean-Japanese cuisine is the latest food trend to make its mark on the food scene and we’re certainly not mad about it. Chefs Enric Buendía and Arístides Ribalta cut their teeth at Disfrutar (one of the darlings of World’s 50 Best) before setting up Taverna Kamikaze last year, in what is fast becoming Barcelona’s new food-fetish epicenter on the upper left side of the Eixample. The dining room may have a laid-back feel but there is nothing casual about the food that includes a trio of Mediterranean-inspired nigiris (smoked eel with daikon, wild tuna with Korean yuke sauce and Galician beef), and our favorite, the crispy tofu cooked in Catalan chicken stew and pine nuts. Wash it down with a local Catalan wine or some sake.

Learn more here. For reservations, call +34 931 81 35 70.

When Fismuler launched in Barcelona back in 2018 it seemed like the kind of place that couldn’t possibly stand the test of time. The second outpost of a success story that started out in Madrid, it immediately attracted the glitterati of Barcelona high society with its post-industrial chic and hot new takes on classic Spanish and European dishes. It may not be the hottest new ticket in town anymore but, instead, Fismuler has evolved into a trusted favorite that locals know they can return to for special occasions, or when they want to impress an overseas visitor. The truffled schnitzel may be the best seller here, but we prefer the lighter dishes: like the perfectly balanced sea bream tartare with grapes and almonds, the grilled razor clams. All to save space for the real highlight: the ultra-gooey cheesecake that tastes more like a cheese course than a dessert – in true Spanish tarta de queso fashion.

Last year saw a slew of high-profile new openings in Barcelona, but few made as much of a splash as this. The team behind Batea had already achieved pandemic-era success with Besta, which opened in 2021, and her new sibling followed soon after. If Besta is where locals go to challenge their tastebuds with the most avant-garde of chefs Manu Núñez’s and Carles Ramon’s creations, then Batea is the place where they kick back and relax.

The menu here is less complex than the one up the street, featuring fish-forward comfort food like the Betanzos-style ultra-gooey omelet topped with baby squid or beef tartare, and the deep-fried baby monkfish tail with smoked paprika mayo and lime. It’s all local and in season, sourced from either Núñez’s home region of Galicia, or right here in Ramon’s Catalonia. Kick things off with a bottle of wine from the ever-smiling maître d’ and sommelier Marta Morales, and a sharing seafood “tower” overflowing with freshly plucked crustaceans, and settle in for an evening of fun.

Learn more here. For reservations, call +34 934 06 87 92.

If you’re looking for somewhere so under the radar that even the locals haven’t discovered yet, this is it. Imprevisto may not look like much from the outside, but those in the know are already whispering about this new secret hotspot – and with good reason. The restaurant was launched less than a year ago by four friends and coworkers who decided it was time to go it alone. And why not, if your squad happens to consist of two chefs, a front-of-house manager, and a sommelier? Better still if they all come with some serious Michelin-starred credentials. The concept is a simple one – three tasting menus, one long, one short and one served at lunch time. As for the fireworks, they are saved for the food. Menus change with the seasons but, with a bit of luck, may include highlights like the chilled ajoblanco almond soup with red shrimp, and the stingray with meuniere sauce and celeriac.

Learn more here. For reservations, call +34 931 45 11 52.