Best traditional Catalonian restaurants in Barcelona

Best traditional Catalonian restaurants in Barcelona

by Miles Greene
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Table of contents

  • 1. Wine and ink
  • 2. A hot pot of Capipota
  • 3. The cod symphony
  • 4. A small culinary committee
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Quick, name three things that Barcelona is famous for! Gaudi, soccer and that Queen song, right? Well, sure but there’s more to the city than these three clichés, especially for foodies like us. The Catalonian cuisine is a happy marriage of Spanish, French, and Mediterranean with a working-class or fisherman's spin: hearty, fatty, but nonetheless quite intricate and very distinct. Let’s get lost in the City of Counts to see what unique local flavors we can discover!

1. Wine and ink
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Món Vínic - Bar de Vinos y Quesos
#15 of 12563 pubs & bars in Barcelona, Spain
C/ de la Diputació, 251, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Closed until Tuesday
Squid balls
Squid balls

Squid balls are one of the most beloved street foods in the Philippines. They are made of squid, flour and some flavorings, and are often served as part of a Dim Sum selection.

First stop – Monvínic on Carrer de la Diputació – a fantastic little restaurant and bar! When you’re done with the wine list of more than 3000 items, pay attention to the menu – you can find something truly outstanding.

Monvínic is one of the best spots in Barcelona to try the seafood version of traditional Catalonian meatballs! The dish is prepared from the head and tentacles of a Mediterranean squid as a meat substitute and the squid's ink makes it almost jet black. Garnished with fresh herbs the squid balls melt in your mouth leaving you hungry for more. Tiger prawns with peach in a cold bisque is also a delight. This brightly lit and modernist designed restaurant is ideal for a romantic dinner or a warm family gathering. Just be sure to book a table in advance.

2. A hot pot of Capipota
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Restaurant Sergi de Meià
Carrer de Laforja, 83, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Closed
Capipota
Capipota

Capipota is a rustic stew made of veal head and hocks. The name of the dish consists of two words in Catalian: cap (the head) and pota (leg), which are the cuts used for cooking.

Take a walk down the Carrer d'Aribau to taste the best Capipota in town! The small family owned place is called Sergi de Meià and it is as Catalonian as it gets.

The restaurant is one big modestly decorated hallway, but the smells are amazing! Capipota is a Catalonian stew made from veal tripe, veal head, ham, onions, garlic, tomatoes and a variety of spices. Traditionally peasants ate it for breakfast to keep their strength in the fields. Still, you won’t find a more fulfilling breakfast in the whole Spain! The chef Sergi’s mom will gladly cook it for you in the morning. The rest of the menu is equally great and as a bonus, there’s a large vegetarian section for all you herbivores out there!

3. The cod symphony
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La Pubilla
#3840 of 19278 restaurants in Barcelona, Spain
Plaça de la Llibertat, 23, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Closed until Tuesday
Cod ratatouille
Cod ratatouille

Cod ratatouille is a stew made with cod fillets, potatoes, onions, chopped zucchinis, eggplants, red pepper, and other ingredients. It is a perfect dish for those who are on a diet since it is very low-calorie meal.

While we are on the breakfast vibe – did you know that there’s a morning Catalonian seafood dish served with a glass of white wine? The dish is called Bacalla amb samfaina, or cod ratatouille. Direct your feet to the place called La Pubilla on Plaça de la Llibertat to steal a bite!

The recipe is very simple: fresh Torres cod from the market nearby, locally grown vegetables and Catalan olive oil. The rest is chef’s magic! Come evening they serve fantastic tapas, and the prices are pretty affordable too. The spot itself is relatively new and quite upbeat, but with respect to Catalan traditions and heritage, which definitely deserves a mark on your map.

4. A small culinary committee
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Petit Comitè
#2329 of 19278 restaurants in Barcelona, Spain
Passatge de la Concepció, 13, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Closed until tomorrow
Crema catalana
Crema catalana

Crema catalana, also known as 'the cream of St. Joseph', is a dessert, a traditional dish of Catalan cuisine. It is similar to the French crème-brûlée, but it is not cooked on cream, but on milk. The main components are milk, egg and sugar, sometimes spices, cinnamon, vanilla and zest are added.

Those craving for something more substantial should definitely try the Black sausage with green peas, as served at Petit Comitè in the city center. This small homely restaurant and bar run by chef Nandu Jubany are well known for its fantastic tasting menu and a great selection of wines.

The dish – like the Catalonian cuisine itself – is far from being complex and is simply designed to keep you full for long. The black sausage, or blood pudding, is made from the pig’s head and is called parracs. The second ingredient – the lard – is prepared by chef Jubany beforehand with a special technique to make it as tender as possible. The rest – lettuce, onions and green peas are all locally grown produce. While it may not sound that appealing the dish itself looks gorgeous and that combination of taste and texture is out of this world!

There are many more traditional Catalonian dishes to try in Barcelona. We haven’t even touched upon the black Paella with cuttlefish (very different from Valencian) or Crema catalana which looks a lot like Crème Brulee but not quite the same. And of course, there are much more good restaurants in the City of Counts to taste those dishes at. Now go! Barcelona waits!

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