Four of them spill the beans.
1. Albert Adria of Enigma
The younger brother of Ferran Adria and formerly the pastry chef of legendary restaurant El Bulli, Albert Adria was behind various Michelin-star restaurants in Barcelona, most of which closed down for good during the Covid-19 pandemic.Enigma survived and reopened in 2022 with a “fun dining” tasting menu featuring more than 20 courses of cutting-edge, bite-sized snacks. It was awarded a Michelin star in 2023. Here’s where he recommends to go in Barcelona.
Granja Viader
This is a historical venue in Barcelona where one can eat a toasted sandwich called a bikini, or churros with chocolate.Adria especially loves the old-school vibe and the mix of locals and tourists.
C/ d’en Xuclà, 4, 08001 Barcelona, Spain; Tel: +34 933 18 34 86
Bar Cañete
This bar is a great place to eat tapas. Adria always orders the roast chicken cannelloni (filled pasta cylinders) or the juicy Spanish tortilla.Carrer de la Unió, 17, 08001 Barcelona, Spain; Tel: +34 932 70 34 58
Amar
Amar, the Palace Hotel, is one of the most luxurious restaurants in Barcelona. Adria especially likes head chef Rafa Zafra’s seafood dishes, such as the sole meunière, and the desserts.
Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 668, 08010 Barcelona, Spain; Tel: +34 931 03 99 88
Come by Paco Méndez
When in Barcelona, Adria recommends taking a trip to this restaurant to try what he considers the best Mexican food outside Mexico.
Av. de Mistral, 54, 08015 Barcelona, Spain, Tel: +34 938 27 59 77
2. Eduard Xatruch of Disfrutar
Xatruch is the co-owner of Compartir, in the northern Catalan city of Girona, and two-Michelin-star Disfrutar, in Barcelona.
He trained at Heston Blumenthal’s restaurant The Fat Duck, in the UK. He also spent 15 years at El Bulli – which gave him the experience to execute the highly technical cuisine he cooks at Disfrutar. Here’s where he recommends to go in Barcelona.Granja Elena
For those who enjoy a hearty breakfast, Xatruch suggests Granja Elena by Chef Borja Sierra for its focus on traditional Catalan cuisine, with influences from the Basque Country, in northern Spain, where Sierra trained.
Try the cap i pota amb xamfaina (fish with ham), fricandó (Catalan beef stew) and cod omelette.
Pg. de la Zona Franca, 228, 08038 Barcelona, Spain; Tel: +34 933 32 02 41
Al Kostat
Al Kostat is a casual restaurant by Chef Jordi Vilà that serves traditional Catalan cuisine with contemporary twists.
The menu changes based on the seasons, so it’s best to ask for the chef’s recommendations.
Xatruch adores the macaroni, as well as the potato and onion omelette.
Rda. de Sant Antoni, 41, 08011 Barcelona, Spain; Tel: +34 932 07 61 15
Lasarte by Martin Berasategui
Xatruch says a visit to this three-Michelin-star restaurant is a must for lovers of fine gastronomy. The Italian pastas and risottos on the tasting menu are especially worthy of attention.C/ de Mallorca, 259, 08008 Barcelona, Spain; Tel: +34 934 45 32 42
Colmado Murria
The best souvenir one can buy from Barcelona is extra virgin olive oil. While retail options are plentiful, Xatruch suggests Colmado Murria, an establishment selling local and international products that opened in 1898.
C/ de Roger de Llúria, 85, 08009 Barcelona, Spain; Tel: +34 932 15 57 89
3. Sergio Torres of Cocina Hermanos Torres
One of the twins behind Barcelona’s Cocina Hermanos Torres, which recently earned a third Michelin star, Sergio Torres trained at Le Jardin des Sens, in Montpellier, France, and Alain Ducasse, in Paris, as well as in Spain and Brazil.
In 2018, he opened the Barcelona restaurant with his twin brother in a former tyre warehouse near the Camp Nou stadium – the home of FC Barcelona. Here’s where he recommends to go in Barcelona.
Ultramarinos Marin
For a full Catalan breakfast with wine and hearty food, Torres recommends Ultramarinos Marin.
Pick the “knife and fork breakfast” for a thorough understanding of how breakfast is traditionally eaten in Catalonia – think escalivada (smoky grilled vegetables), chistorra (a type of chorizo from the Basque Country) with garum (fermented fish sauce), or butifarra (classic Catalan sausage) with aioli.
C/ de Balmes, 187, 08006 Barcelona, Spain; Tel: +34 932 17 65 52
Gresca
Gresca by chef-owner Rafa Peña is ideal for a simple, good meal in a casual atmosphere. Torres especially likes the beet salad and the grilled quail, but the other meat dishes are well executed too.
C/ de Provença, 230, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Tel: +34 934 51 61 93
Koy Shunka
Torres prefers a heavy breakfast and a lighter dinner, and Japanese is a perfect option for the latter.
One-Michelin-star Koy Shunka is where he goes for in-season sea urchin during summer, as well as gyoza and sashimi.
Carrer d’en Copons, 7, 08002 Barcelona, Spain; Tel: +34 934 12 79 39
Paradiso
The Torres brothers once created a special menu to pair with Paradiso’s cocktails, and the experience left such an impression on the twins that they gave the Barcelona bar by Giacomo Giannotti top billing in one of their books.
Carrer de Rera Palau, 4, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
4. Jordi Roca of El Celler de Can Roca
One of the three brothers behind the inimitable El Celler De Can Roca, in Girona, Roca is a pastry genius and his imprint is evident in all aspects of the family business. Here’s where he recommends to go in Barcelona.
Pasteleria Hofmann
Croissants may not always be the breakfast of choice for tourists in Barcelona but when you need to scratch that itch, Roca recommends Pasteleria Hofmann.
C/ dels Flassaders, 44, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; Tel: +34 932 68 82 21
Turris
If it’s bread you’re after, look no further than Turris, an exceptional bakery that uses good-quality flour and works with sourdough in a very traditional way.
Carrer d’Aribau 158, 08036 Barcelona, Spain, and other locations
Tapas 24
One of Barcelona’s busiest tapas bars, Tapas 24, by Carles Abellan, is not for the faint-hearted – there is a permanent queue that takes a good 30 minutes to get to the front of.
Roca’s favourite dishes here are the ham and truffle bikini, and bomba Barcelona (a deep-fried potato ball stuffed with meat and served with a special spicy sauce).
C/ de la Diputació, 269, 08007 Barcelona, Spain; Tel: +34 934 88 09 77
Museu de la Xocolata
A great souvenir to take home from Barcelona is a chocolate bar from the Chocolate Museum. While you’re at it, why not explore the museum that takes a deep dive into the origins of chocolate, and what it means to the Catalonia region?
C/ del Comerç, 36, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; Tel: +34 932 68 78 78
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