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    Alkimia

    3.9 (37 reviews)
    Ultra High-EndCatalan, Signature Cuisine, Mediterranean
    Closed 1:30 pm - 3:30 PM, 8:30 PM - 11:30 PM

    Alkimia Photos

    ALKIMIA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Upscale

    Recommended Reviews - Alkimia

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    09/05/17 @endoedibles on Instagram for more
    Michael U.

    Open from Monday through Friday at Ronda Sant Antoni 41, the relocation over one year ago apparently still a secret to the manufacturer of Audi's GPS (and several late arriving guests who were overheard telling the receptionist that they'd gone to the former location first,) Alkimia by Jordi Vila is one of those polarizing Michelin Stars that has many supporters but an equal number of people who claim the restaurant in "terrible," a visit on Tuesday afternoon validating both opinions In one way or another. Set-up as a sort of clandestine space, the buzzer near a small sign at the door allowing guests with reservations to be rang in before climbing stairs lined in wrought iron, it is upon reaching the top that a large wall of fluid-filled vessels looms with the foyer to the right, a reservationist speaking slow and monotone before leading parties to the dining area where things thankfully lighten up. Clearly an expensive restaurant, the Chef's agreement to design a menu for longtime Brewery Moritz in 2011 still an ongoing partnership that assuredly helped Vila build-out the space next door with a modern open kitchen, digital screens and elegant softening touches beneath the original painted ceiling, it was at a table only feet away from the line that a seat was offered, the menu divided into two tastings and an a la carte section with the shorter Jordi Vila menu described as "more traditional" across-the-board more appealing on this particular afternoon. Named after the Spanish word for Alchemy, though in reality not nearly as Modernist or 'molecular' as such a title would suggest as Chef Vila instead looks to rejuvenate tradition by way of technique-driven cooking featuring high quality products, it was with Wine declined and Water poured that the menu quickly got underway without an amuse, the Roasted Red Pepper Flat Bread smoky and sweet in front of a glass filled with bitter Granita and topped with a leaf of Lettuce filled with herbal crumbs and a sort of Cannelloni filled with Anchovy Paste. Continuing strong with Seafood, a plate of Tartare absolutely pristine with tender chunks of sweet flesh playing well off tangy Yogurt, it was next that a Red Prawn with Caviar was served, the flavor immediately 'off' with an intensely bitter liquid gushing forth as the Head was squeezed and something, that if intentional, seems severely misguided as it immediately made one wish the next course would come and additionally threatened to spoil the rest of the meal. Still reeling from the Prawn, a description of what had been experienced brushed away as "yes, it is intense" by the server who thankfully brought course three no more than two minutes later, suffice it to say that "Tuna with Sherry Tomato and Acidulated Lemon Juice" was definitely better than the Prawn but still not particularly well-made as the Fish got lost amongst competing ingredients, the Rockfish Rice pleasant and texturally intriguing despite the fact that the protein was slightly overcooked amidst tender Grains and a net of aged Manchego. Said to be a master of Catalonian cuisine, a focus on 'modern, fresh and light' methods used to coax the best out of his ingredients, it was finally with a meaty Filet of Turbot that Vila and his team served a dish that was truly remarkable as the Oyster Cream and Squash Blossom stuffed with earthy flavors each contributed something different yet complimentary, the Sourdough used to wipe up some sauce a nice touch while the "French Fries and Iberico" follow-up was a throwaway course that seemed far too gimmicky. Again showing some skill with flavor pairings by way of the Chicken and Pumpkin Ravioli, a very "Thanksgiving" sort of dish that found balance between freshly grated Ginger and a thick dollop of what tasted like Cottage Cheese, savories were rounded out by Medium-Rare slices of Beef set next to a Sweetbread cooked rubbery, the Almond Milk Palate Cleanser with Peaches pleasant enough as was the €14 a la carte add-on Lemon Soufflé served slightly browned with a sidecar of Fruit Salad and Orange Ice Cream that was added to the center of the red-hot baking dish immediately. Told that Chef Vila also creates his own pastries, an impressive fact considering the fact that the combined menus contain a dozen daily, it was prior to a double Espresso that Dark Chocolate Cake with a texture like Pudding was enjoyed alongside Pickled Plum Ice Cream, the flavors complimentary and without a doubt the meal's highlight besides the Turbot though the Mignardise of Caramelized White Chocolate and Vanilla Bean was also well executed with a clean break and smooth cream featuring restrained but lingering sweetness.

    Breadsticks, cava
    Nancy L.

    This was our first Michelin starred meal in Barcelona and what a great start! Service, food, and ambiance were all spot on. The "Traditional" five course menu was more appealing to our taste buds than the "Alkimia" 10 course so we went with that. It was more than enough food as we left stuffed to the brim! Amuse bouches were tomato gazpacho with salami, baby squid. Entrees: fig and sardines with lemon sorbet; chicken cannelloni in a bechamel sauce; saffron risotto with langoustine; sea bass with greens; lamb with mushrooms and pumpkin Desserts: nougat with raspberries and kumquats (too tart for my tastes); and chocolate cake with roasted apples, eucalyptus ice cream. Petit fours: Yogurt with fruit compote, chocolate truffles, passion fruit and white chocolate truffle, raspberry filled donut holes with ginger glaze. Delicioso.

    English menu
    Wei-Ping L.

    Reserved restaurant tonight for two after reading the introductions on Lonely Planet guidebook. I was barely getting over the shock of the set menu Alkimia Menu's price (everyone at the table has to order the same set menu). There is a cheaper, more affordable set menu and you could order the dishes separately as well. However, considering that this might very well be the last time I will ever be in Barcelona again, I convinced my wife into ordering the Alkimia Menu together by promising that I'll save more money from now on (thereby condemning myself to instant ramen meals for next few months I think). Alkimia menu supposed is about 10 courses with two appetizers several dishes and two desserts. The dishes are all very small portions reminiscent of french quisine style tasting menu. The dishes range from raw fishes, seafood soup, grilled pork cheek, to the famous ibérico pork. The dishes in general are extremely exquisite and delicately plated. We were in awe and enjoyed the look, the smell, and the taste of each dishes. Despite the menu's description, they gave us no less than fifteen items, including a serving each on the house of a very large and fresh prawn that was literally just carried into the restaurant as we sat down. Would I do it again? Probably not in the near future. But the memory of one of the most exquisite (and expensive) restaurant will be with me for the rest of my life. Oh as for service. While some other yelpers complained about the service, I didn't find any fault in it. They are a bit busy at times but always pleasant and responsive. Maybe it helped that we came on a night that isn't busy and we ordered a menu that naturally takes two and a half hour to finish. Enjoy the pictures. :)

    Codfish brandada with green beans
    Y C.

    4.5 stars. Incredible food, the codfish brandada with green beans and cured pigeon with plums were extraordinary. I've never had better pigeon, the texture.. The price was reasonable as well for the quality and breadth of the dishes. The decor itself was rather minimalist and the service a touch cold. Nonetheless, definitely worth trying out!

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    13 years ago

    Fantastic food and service. Try the tasting menu. This IS Spanish gastro food!

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    11 years ago

    Simply one of the best meals I've ever had...ESPECIALLY the liquid tomatoe course...Oh My!

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    11 years ago

    We had the tasting menu for lunch, every single dish was incredible. It's hard to get a table so please book way in advance!

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    Cerveseria Catalana - Beef tenderloin with foie gras

    Cerveseria Catalana

    4.4(1.8k reviews)
    1.1 kmL'Eixample
    €€€

    Oh my goodness this is so good. If I ever go to Barcelona again I would come here…read more Must get: Steak with foie gras on bread 8/10: sooo decadent and luxurious. It's abt 8 euros a piece. Very flavorful and fast experience. Oxtail and mashed potatoes 10/10: the oxtail meet is so tender and flavorful. The mashed potatoes pair so well with the oxtail. Mushroom, steak, and egg yolk 9/10: soo flavorful and balance of veggies and protein. Amazing textures and flavors. Sparkling sangria: 8/10 I don't normally live the taste of alcohol but this was great. Not tooooo strong and if tastes pretty good if you mix it with the orange juice. Fresh orange juice: 10/10 so tangy and delicious. I can't recommend it enough. Patatas bravas: 9/10 solid no complaints! Dessert Tapas: - bread dessert (Tarija): 11/10 amazing dessert that is creamy, cameralized, and has a mochi like texture. This fried chewy dessert is not too sweet and such an affordable price. - coconut pudding 9/10 solid and refreshing if you like flan - bread, chocolate oil, salt 7/10: I live the complex flavors. The chocolate mousse was light and the bread to mousse ratio was perfect. It's a smaller dessert tho I wouldn't recommend it if ur sharing. Service: amazing! Staff I'm everywhere so it was very easy to order more food. Also we were sitting buy the area where they made dessert and they allowed me to record them making it!! Comfortable ambiance great for date night or casual meals!!!

    As an international traveling food critic and unbeknownst to the staff, the following is what I…read moreexperienced: - The host seated us next to a table of three self-absorbed, loud and obnoxiously nonstop talking late teens early twenties girls. - The food bus'ers attempted to deliver the wrong order to our and nearby tables five times. - The 1/2 order (three small slivers) tomato soaked bread (1/2 PA AMB TOMAQUET) was certainly not worth the €2.5! - The Greek Salad (ENS GREGA) was the worst example of such we have ever had (my party included an authentic Greek). The feta cheese was absolutely disgusting, it tasted like imitation rubber cheese. - The "Al Ajillo" Style Shrimps (GAMBES AMB ALLADA) had a very strange flavor within it, which overwhelmed the garlic flavors. - The Beef Tenderloin (FILET VEDELLA), she had to spit 1/4 of it out because it was too tough. - Everything was overpriced there for the value. If you are in the area DO NOT waste your time nor money dining here!!!

    Photos
    Cerveseria Catalana - Dining room

    Dining room

    Cerveseria Catalana - Lenguado con calamares

    Lenguado con calamares

    Cerveseria Catalana - Open till 1:30am?

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    Open till 1:30am?

    Tapeo - Pork ribs - worth another trip to Europe just for this

    Tapeo

    4.6(632 reviews)
    1.5 kmSant Pere, Santa Caterina i la Ribera-Born
    €€

    Some meals stay with you forever, and this was one of them…read more The food here was, without question, some of the best I've ever had. The foie gras was absolutely unforgettable--rich, delicate, and simply to die for. The sangria was equally exceptional, fresh, balanced, and dangerously delicious. But what makes this place truly special is something that can't be captured on a menu. The atmosphere, the warmth, the way time seems to slow down... words simply can't do it justice. If you're visiting Barcelona, don't just come here for dinner. Come here to fall in love with the food, the city, the moment, or maybe even someone sitting across the table. An experience I'll never forget.

    My husband and I arrived to Barcelona late in the evening. We had read reviews that the food scene…read moreextended well into the night, so we decided that even though it was 10:30pm, we would still walk over to Tapeo and see if we had any luck getting seating. Well, the restaurant was cute and cozy with a great ambiance. With luck on our side, we found two seats at the bar and quickly ordered drinks. We ordered a pitcher of the sangria (because why not?). The sangria was delicious, refreshing, and made to order. It was definitely more authentic than what we're getting in America. We ordered the patatas bravas, tempura asparagus, the octopus, and the steak. It all came out as it became available. We couldn't decide what our favorite was, to be honest. We ordered an ice cream sandwich for dessert and quickly requested our bill. We didn't want to hold the staff up as we noticed they were cleaning the establishment and people were finishing up. Overall, what a great experience for our first meal in Barcelona! Cute and hidden gem.

    Photos
    Tapeo - Worked his butt off

    Worked his butt off

    Tapeo - Bone marrow with veal: exquisite

    Bone marrow with veal: exquisite

    Tapeo

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    La Taverneta - Anchovies in vinegar

    La Taverneta

    4.7(47 reviews)
    0.8 kmBarri Gòtic
    €€

    Highly Recommend Everyone give this amazing restaurant/tavern a try!! You'll find a new favorite…read moreplace in town!! My first day in Barcelona and I googled great place to eat and stumbled on this absolute gem! Service was great! They speak English BTW The staff were friendly and very helpful! The food was some of the most amazing, fresh, delicious bites I've had. I ordered from the Tapas menu so I could get a taste of more flavors. The portions were much bigger than I imagined tapas being. These were my first! They created a great desire for more! It was hard deciding what to try. They had duck risotto on the daily special menu and I wanted it, but it was a full meal and I would only get to taste that. I will definitely be going back during my two week stay here in Barcelona! Hopefully I will get to try the duck risotto! Highly recommend!!

    Quite pleased with my meal as a whole. Lot of positive a tad bit of negative during my dining…read moreexperience here. On the positive side, the food was very good and very fresh. My Greek salad was very authentic and was as good as any salad I had while I lived in Greece. Very fresh vegetables, great Feta and seasoned to perfection. The shrimp scampi under the Tapas menu with garlic was equally good and oh so tasty. The smallish inside restaurant is best described as rustic and a tad warm. Instead I opted for the outside dining area, which has just a few tables but offered a very pleasant ambiance in the small side street this business is located on with low foot traffic and a very nice breeze on the warm day I dined here. The relaxed dining on the outside is definitely the way to go here especially during the summer months. From a negative standpoint, certain aspects of the service were too slow. I was seated pretty quickly upon arrival but I waited a tad bit too long to get my order in. Once ordered though, the food came pretty quickly on a positive note. However, for all intents and purposes the service stopped at that point where I had no follow up and literally had to walk inside the business to get my bill. Overall, the dining experience was still great for me slow service aside as the quality of the food and outdoor ambiance far outweighed the negatives. I would say if you are in a bit of there rush you may want to look elsewhere. However, if you are looking for a relaxing dining experience with great food than this business will be definitely fit the bill!

    Photos
    La Taverneta
    La Taverneta - Ceps with Egg Yolk

    Ceps with Egg Yolk

    La Taverneta - Fig and ricotta

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    Fig and ricotta

    Taverna El Glop - Black Rice with Cuttlefish and Clams

    Taverna El Glop

    4.3(166 reviews)
    2.5 kmGràcia
    €€

    What a gem! Yes, it's a bit touristy -- but in the fun, festive, "you're on vacation and loving…read morelife" kind of way. Taverna El Glop wraps you up in its warm, lively atmosphere the second you walk in. We were a group of four, and from start to finish, we had an awesome time. The open kitchen is a great touch -- you can watch the chef in action, which adds to the energy and makes the whole experience feel more connected and authentic. We shared a bunch of dishes, and everything was on point. The paella was rich and delicious -- exactly what we came for. The patatas bravas were crispy, creamy, and gone in seconds, and the shishito peppers were the perfect salty, snacky starter. Of course, we had to get a pitcher of sangria (okay, maybe two), which was fruity, refreshing, and just strong enough to keep things festive. The space itself has this great, rustic charm -- complete with checkered tablecloths and even an old cigarette machine near the bar (haven't seen one of those since I was a kid -- aren't those banned in the U.S. now?). I don't smoke -- smoking sucks -- but it added a bit of unexpected nostalgia and character. Service was excellent. I always make a point to be friendly, ask people their names, and introduce myself -- and that's usually met with warmth. It definitely was here. The staff were quick, kind, and seemed to enjoy the place as much as we did. Personally, I loved it. It's the kind of place you remember -- not because it's fancy or trendy, but because it's fun, flavorful, and full of heart. Highly recommend if you're in the area.

    The best paella we had in Barcelona!! Highly recommended…read morethat you try this place. Their paella has a lot of seafood, the taste is flavorful, and the portion is generous. The service is also great. The manager (Aptiom) even allowed us to dine in even without reservation. When we saw the wait list...it is long! MUST TRY THIS AWESOME PLACE! For food quality, service, and ambience i will rate this experience with 4.8.

    Photos
    Taverna El Glop - Ambiance

    Ambiance

    Taverna El Glop - Snails to the Llauna

    Snails to the Llauna

    Taverna El Glop - Grilled Calcots with Romesco Sauce

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    Grilled Calcots with Romesco Sauce

    My Fucking Restaurant - tarte caprese con chocolate caliente y naranja

    My Fucking Restaurant

    4.4(178 reviews)
    1.0 kmEl Raval
    €€€

    If you are going to call your restaurant My Fucking Restaurant, I am going to visit Your Fucking…read moreRestaurant just based on name alone. And I'm going to order the Fuck Your Diet tasting menu as well. And it was fucking good. Now back to the G. Rated review... Bread with Smoke Butter. Smoked Butter is a beautiful thing, you don't see it in the states often, and for sure I would like to. It's a thing in Barcelona though, and I had it several places Raw Oysters and Grilled Oysters in pickled chicken soup. This was a nice two way presentation. I have to say I'm a fan of grilled oysters Burrata with seaweed pesto and candied tomatoes. This maybe sounded a bit more interesting than it tasted. Candied tomatoes kind of reminded me a stewed tomatoes. But burrata is always a good thing. Shiso Taco with steak tartare and horseradish. This was a miss for me. The Shiso leaf is getting way overdone at the moment, as it seems to be everywhere. It's obviously very common at Japanese sushi bars. I missed having some kind of crunch with the steak tartare. Maybe flash fry the Shiso leaf to make it crispy? This was all one texture Grilled Black Angus Hanger Steak. This was the best dish of the night. Smoked table side with a mini torch on wood embers, it smelled and tasted wonderful. Sweet and Sour Bonito with currents and radicchio. Hit all the right notes, no complaints here. Cuttlefish fried rice with Iberian pork. Had a beautiful crisp layer of rice on the bottom of the pan and the pork and cuttlefish went perfectly together as a surf and turf. It's Spain in a skillet. Passion Fruit Sorbet was a nice palate cleanser, wasn't super sweet, which led nicely into the dessert. Caprese Cake with Hot Chocolate and Orange. I love this flavor profile, which you never get in the US. The citrus of the orange cuts through the richness of the chocolate. Loved it. As far as tasting menus go, It's closer to 4 stars for me, but the place gets 1 extra star for the name and the vision that the chef always wanted to do things right when he owned his fucking restaurant. Now he does. Respect!!!!

    We came here based on its gluten free and the reviews were great…read more The food was great! We loved the food & wine pairing. We went early before the crowd, once the restaurant was filled there will be a wait. New owners took over so same great food. Hopefully they will notice they need more staff. Loved the decor- intimate, modern & rustic. Cool, hip vibe.

    Photos
    My Fucking Restaurant
    My Fucking Restaurant
    My Fucking Restaurant - Patatas bravas

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    Patatas bravas

    Alkimia - catalan - Updated August 2026

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