El Nacional
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Recommended Reviews - El Nacional
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Beautiful space! Honestly I never planned on coming here because it felt really touristy but I was hungry and just wanted something to eat to kill an hour but honestly---easily one of my better meal in Barcelona. The pork was so juicy and everything paired perfectly. I only was able to get in without a reservation because it was early/not usual Spanish dinner hours and I'm so glad I did. I was right by the kitchen so I got to see them grilling and cooking the food. I'd definitely come back.
This is a dining hall with several separate restaurants inside and bar areas. Each area/restaurant/bar has different menus and concepts. This isn't a food stall market/hall like others, this is actually sit down restaurants. A couple restaurants take reservations while others are walk-in but may require a wait at busy times. It was close to my hotel so I dined there 2 different times and then we stopped by one of the bar areas on another night. They also have a separate gelato stand for a quick dessert option on your way out or if you want something sweet. I dined at La Parada, and La Taperia - both were very good options with some vegetarian offerings. Dress ranged from slightly dressy to casual.
There are several restaurants here and I really really enjoyed the small plates on the front right when you walk in. My absolute favorite was the ravioli which was to die for. When I had the paella in the back right it was just OK but I absolutely loved the cheese and ham. Ambience is a 10 out of 10 and the gelato was a home run every time. My coworkers and I came back to the spot multiple times because there were so many great things to try and it was comfortable and beautiful!
The vibe at El Nacional is different. I feel it's a little more than your Boqueria and Time out market. All restaurants had its own scene but yet it is molded into one bogie vibe. If you are a tourist in town, I say go.... Take in the scene and the food. We tried the tapas bar in the middle and waited about 45 mins to try the La LLotja which is the seafood restaurant. As always, dinner starts around 9:30pm and the place is still bustling with energy.
It was kind of cool - a bunch of restaurants serving food representing regions all over Spain. We stopped at one and had a drink, but it was fairly pricey, and not really our vibe. Kind of felt corporate or Vegas-like.
Gorgeous indoor dining hall with many food options. I did the tapas place and the fried shrimp were great but the rest of the food was too salty the cup of sangria was watered down. I also bought gelato twice from the stand they have some interesting flavors like Ferraro Rocher. Service is good. They have a large indoor bar area. It exudes sexiness.
WOW do I have a story about this awful place. I initially found it on tik tok, it seemed to be a popular restaurant with great food. My friend and I ordered the cod and the lamb chops. The cod tasted like absolutely nothing and super fishy. The texture was off as well. It was truly was the worst I've had. The lamb chops are the star of the show though... they were absolutely NOT edible. They were pink, chewy, gamey, and just not appealing in any way. I was shocked when they brought this to the table. We expressed our concern to our waiter, he took our plates away, and we figured we would pay for our drinks and find dinner elsewhere. Nope. He brings back the bill with the dishes both still on there even though they were not eaten. We spoke with manager Marco, who completely dismissed us and didn't even apologize. He told us "in Europe just because you don't like it doesn't mean you don't have to pay" that felt like a jab a because we're obviously American. He was so beyond rude and told us to pay for the uneaten dishes or he will call the police. It's truly not about the money, it's about being completely dismissed as if we're not paying customers? I do NOT recommend this place and please do yourself a favor and RUN. There are so many delicious restaurants in Barcelona with amazing staff. Unfortunately, this place is not one of them.
Family came up from Tarragona to Barcelona to have a family dinner before we left to go back home. El National is an upgrade food hall located in the Passeo de Gracia in Barcelona. We ate in Llotja, which specializes in fresh sea food. It was amazing. The food in Spain is to die for! You must go there when in Barcelona,
An upscale food hall with multiple restaurants and bars. Super high ceiling, simple but elegant decor in soft golden lighting present the place with a subtle sophisticated ambiance. We arrived at the typical Spanish dinner time of 9:30pm on a Sunday and the place was packed. However even when crowded , it had a nice orderly feel to the whole place. We chose a restaurant with a seafood focus called La Llotja. They didn't take reservations and there was a line to get in so we went on the wait list. The hostess said it would be about 45 minutes. She took down my phone # to call me when our table was ready. We went to the bar next door and had a couple glasses of cava. About 25 minutes later she called to say our table was ready. We were allowed to bring our wine glasses from the bar to the restaurant which was brilliant and very accommodating. The entrance to La Llotja was lined with a display of fresh whole seafoods on ice. Occasionally I would see a cook pluck a whole fish to bring into the kitchen. We started our meal with raw oysters. There were 4 varieties on the menu and we tried one of each. These were definitely some of the tastiest raw oysters I've had. They were the perfect temperature, not too cold or warm, plump, moist, with a mild briny flavor and no milky residue. The grilled red shrimp from Huelva with seaweed salt were absolutely addicting. A deep water shrimp with an intense deep red color similar to lobster is plucked from the Mediterranean Spanish town of Huelva. The meat is firm, sweet, moist with a hint of charred smokiness. Oh and the rich tomalley from the shrimp head left us speechless. Figure out how to bottle that and you will be filthy rich. Twice-cooked Galician octopus with potatoes and aioli was not such a successful dish . We made it a point to eat a lot of octopus on our 12 days in Spain and this was the first disappointment. The skin was a bit brittle and dry. The interior were on the verge of tough. But we saved the dish with a generous cascade of Spanish olive oil which gave the dish a nice velvety texture. The potatoes on the other hand was magnificent. Super tender and with the skin still on. Good service and the staff spoke English but I always made it a point to say "thank you" and "please" in Spanish. Happy Eating!$
The food was great. The service was great. It was decorated great. Nothing to complain, I would recommend the pesto pasta. The place also had gelato and it was good. I would recommend this place if you are wanting to go so were fancy!!!
Must stop for your gastronomical experience. Gelato. Tapas. Drinks. Yes please!! What's not to love here. Yes lots of people but so many restaurants and choices and wow, serious food and drink overload but so good. Enjoyed a drink and some tapas on our first trip but so many more to come. Lots of different tapas and meals here. Many places to grab a drink and enjoy the vibe. And of course did I say gelato? Service was great. Very friendly and attentive even though busy. Came back and the ox burger was great. Along with some red vermouth. So good
Loved my visit to el nacional. The Christmas ambiance is gorgeous and the vibes were vibing. Food was fantastic , prices were a bit more than other spots but you are paying for the location and ambiance as well I guess. Service was not the most attentive since it was really busy and crowded around s the tapas bar but I was able to order and pay around the times I needed. Would recommend folks pop in during Christmas for a really beautifully decorated spot with good food
17 days ago
This popular food hall in Barcelona is walking distance from Casa Batllo. All of the center bars stay open all day and serve cold tapas. The surrounding restaurants have varying hours and reopen for dinner. Food was delicious but overpriced for what you can get outside of the tourist areas. There are plenty of options to choose from. This is a great place to try a variety of local favorites. The bathroom is also so unique and the overall decor has a classy feel to it. read more
Dined at El Taperia - recommended by my AI... Located in the El Nacional food hall - tried the ham croquettes, fried eggplant, grilled vegetables, garlic shrimp, patatas brava, all pretty good. Service was good. read more
This was a had to see this place on my recommendation list. The building is breathtaking. Interior is spectacular and many places to choose from. We wandered to a bar and tried their egg whites with crab meat - their version of a deviled egg. They had a delicate flavor as can be expected. Now, the flan was extraordinary - smooth and creamy served with whipped cream. Perfection! I've tried many flans from various travels and this one ticked all the boxes! We also tried orange chocolate icecream from the kiosk at the entrance and it was delicious! If time permits, we will return! read more
Beautiful space! Honestly I never planned on coming here because it felt really touristy but I was hungry and just wanted something to eat to kill an hour but honestly---easily one of my better meal in Barcelona. The pork was so juicy and everything paired perfectly. I only was able to get in without a reservation because it was early/not usual Spanish dinner hours and I'm so glad I did. I was right by the kitchen so I got to see them grilling and cooking the food. I'd definitely come back. read more
This is a dining hall with several separate restaurants inside and bar areas. Each area/restaurant/bar has different menus and concepts. This isn't a food stall market/hall like others, this is actually sit down restaurants. A couple restaurants take reservations while others are walk-in but may require a wait at busy times. It was close to my hotel so I dined there 2 different times and then we stopped by one of the bar areas on another night. They also have a separate gelato stand for a quick dessert option on your way out or if you want something sweet. I dined at La Parada, and La Taperia - both were very good options with some vegetarian offerings. Dress ranged from slightly dressy to casual. read more
There are several restaurants here and I really really enjoyed the small plates on the front right when you walk in. My absolute favorite was the ravioli which was to die for. When I had the paella in the back right it was just OK but I absolutely loved the cheese and ham. Ambience is a 10 out of 10 and the gelato was a home run every time. My coworkers and I came back to the spot multiple times because there were so many great things to try and it was comfortable and beautiful! read more
The vibe at El Nacional is different. I feel it's a little more than your Boqueria and Time out market. All restaurants had its own scene but yet it is molded into one bogie vibe. If you are a tourist in town, I say go.... Take in the scene and the food. We tried the tapas bar in the middle and waited about 45 mins to try the La LLotja which is the seafood restaurant. As always, dinner starts around 9:30pm and the place is still bustling with energy. read more
It was kind of cool - a bunch of restaurants serving food representing regions all over Spain. We stopped at one and had a drink, but it was fairly pricey, and not really our vibe. Kind of felt corporate or Vegas-like. read more
28 days ago
2 months ago
4 months ago
2 years ago
Gorgeous indoor dining hall with many food options. I did the tapas place and the fried shrimp were great but the rest of the food was too salty the cup of sangria was watered down. I also bought gelato twice from the stand they have some interesting flavors like Ferraro Rocher. Service is good. They have a large indoor bar area. It exudes sexiness. read more
3 months ago
WOW do I have a story about this awful place. I initially found it on tik tok, it seemed to be a popular restaurant with great food. My friend and I ordered the cod and the lamb chops. The cod tasted like absolutely nothing and super fishy. The texture was off as well. It was truly was the worst I've had. The lamb chops are the star of the show though... they were absolutely NOT edible. They were pink, chewy, gamey, and just not appealing in any way. I was shocked when they brought this to the table. We expressed our concern to our waiter, he took our plates away, and we figured we would pay for our drinks and find dinner elsewhere. Nope. He brings back the bill with the dishes both still on there even though they were not eaten. We spoke with manager Marco, who completely dismissed us and didn't even apologize. He told us "in Europe just because you don't like it doesn't mean you don't have to pay" that felt like a jab a because we're obviously American. He was so beyond rude and told us to pay for the uneaten dishes or he will call the police. It's truly not about the money, it's about being completely dismissed as if we're not paying customers? I do NOT recommend this place and please do yourself a favor and RUN. There are so many delicious restaurants in Barcelona with amazing staff. Unfortunately, this place is not one of them. read more
Family came up from Tarragona to Barcelona to have a family dinner before we left to go back home. El National is an upgrade food hall located in the Passeo de Gracia in Barcelona. We ate in Llotja, which specializes in fresh sea food. It was amazing. The food in Spain is to die for! You must go there when in Barcelona, read more
An upscale food hall with multiple restaurants and bars. Super high ceiling, simple but elegant decor in soft golden lighting present the place with a subtle sophisticated ambiance. We arrived at the typical Spanish dinner time of 9:30pm on a Sunday and the place was packed. However even when crowded , it had a nice orderly feel to the whole place. We chose a restaurant with a seafood focus called La Llotja. They didn't take reservations and there was a line to get in so we went on the wait list. The hostess said it would be about 45 minutes. She took down my phone # to call me when our table was ready. We went to the bar next door and had a couple glasses of cava. About 25 minutes later she called to say our table was ready. We were allowed to bring our wine glasses from the bar to the restaurant which was brilliant and very accommodating. The entrance to La Llotja was lined with a display of fresh whole seafoods on ice. Occasionally I would see a cook pluck a whole fish to bring into the kitchen. We started our meal with raw oysters. There were 4 varieties on the menu and we tried one of each. These were definitely some of the tastiest raw oysters I've had. They were the perfect temperature, not too cold or warm, plump, moist, with a mild briny flavor and no milky residue. The grilled red shrimp from Huelva with seaweed salt were absolutely addicting. A deep water shrimp with an intense deep red color similar to lobster is plucked from the Mediterranean Spanish town of Huelva. The meat is firm, sweet, moist with a hint of charred smokiness. Oh and the rich tomalley from the shrimp head left us speechless. Figure out how to bottle that and you will be filthy rich. Twice-cooked Galician octopus with potatoes and aioli was not such a successful dish . We made it a point to eat a lot of octopus on our 12 days in Spain and this was the first disappointment. The skin was a bit brittle and dry. The interior were on the verge of tough. But we saved the dish with a generous cascade of Spanish olive oil which gave the dish a nice velvety texture. The potatoes on the other hand was magnificent. Super tender and with the skin still on. Good service and the staff spoke English but I always made it a point to say "thank you" and "please" in Spanish. Happy Eating!$ read more
1 year ago
The food was great. The service was great. It was decorated great. Nothing to complain, I would recommend the pesto pasta. The place also had gelato and it was good. I would recommend this place if you are wanting to go so were fancy!!! read more
Must stop for your gastronomical experience. Gelato. Tapas. Drinks. Yes please!! What's not to love here. Yes lots of people but so many restaurants and choices and wow, serious food and drink overload but so good. Enjoyed a drink and some tapas on our first trip but so many more to come. Lots of different tapas and meals here. Many places to grab a drink and enjoy the vibe. And of course did I say gelato? Service was great. Very friendly and attentive even though busy. Came back and the ox burger was great. Along with some red vermouth. So good read more
1 year ago
Loved my visit to el nacional. The Christmas ambiance is gorgeous and the vibes were vibing. Food was fantastic , prices were a bit more than other spots but you are paying for the location and ambiance as well I guess. Service was not the most attentive since it was really busy and crowded around s the tapas bar but I was able to order and pay around the times I needed. Would recommend folks pop in during Christmas for a really beautifully decorated spot with good food read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
The tapas were great, even for my picky kids. They also said they liked the chicken tenders. The service was also amazing. 5 stars! read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
2 years ago
*Lengthy but worth reading Super cool concept with multiple bars and restaurants and some of the food was decent. We thought the paella lacked flavor. The service (shouldn't even be called that), was some of the worst I've ever had. To start, we ordered bread and one small plate to share, and I made sure to tell the waiter we were just starting with those dishes and that we would want to order more, but our menus were taken and he said "later" and walked away. We never saw him at our table again, only socializing at the front with other wait staff with seemingly nothing to do. I had to flag down a random waitress after 30 minutes of no service to order the paella, which we were told would take 30 minutes, fine. It would have been nice to be able to order earlier. Eventually our original waiter did come by to clean off the table beside us, and never once acknowledged us or asked if we wanted drink refills, more dishes (like we initially stated we wanted), nothing. This place could be great but it's just not, sadly. We won't return. read more
8 months ago
I had an amazing experience at El Nacional in Barcelona! The space itself is stunning, with a beautiful historic interior that feels both elegant and lively. I love that there are multiple dining areas to choose from, each offering something a little different, so it's perfect whether you're in the mood for tapas, seafood, or steak. The food was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented, and everything we tried tasted authentic and high quality. The service was friendly and attentive without feeling rushed. I would absolutely recommend El Nacional to anyone visiting Barcelona who wants a memorable dining experience in a vibrant setting. - Christian Osuna read more
1 year ago
Had a delicious meal. Marina was our server and she was so patient, spoke great English, and gave great recommendations. I got the duck confit and it was a terrific meet. The croquettes were the best I've had in Spain. I loved the interior lighting and light music. The place looks expensive but it wasn't too bad. It looks like a big market. The gelato was less than amazing. Forgettable. Coffee was really strong but good. read more
5 months ago
1 year ago
1 year ago
3 years ago
This place is such a nice area to eat! Ambiance is great for a night out! It has a couple different restaurants. We chose La Braseria. The wait was around 45 mins, so I def recommend making a reservation. We got the bread, cheese, ham, baked suckling lamb, duck magret, bread with chocolate, and honey roasted pineapple. The cheese and ham were solid, but nothing special. The lamb had a nice, gamey taste and was pretty tender. The duck magret had a good sauce, but was a little chewy. The bread with chocolate was a little weird, but interesting to try read more
Spanish food hall with a fish, meat, wine bar, dessert & tapas stations. We chose La Planca starting with a salad to share & a local flatbread. Reasonable prices, a beautiful setting & great service. Music played, this was perfect for people watching and hysterical to watch everyone taking photos of the setting & food.. The lamb lettuce, blue cheese, caramelized apple with grape seed vinaigrette was exceptional. The flatbread was equally wonderful the crust was like a light, crispy Asian noodle. The fresh mozzarella, salad, walnuts sweet sauce it was delicious; I never had anything like it! read more
1 year ago
4 years ago
This is a New restaurant concept!! Love it!! Great ambiance, all under one roof/ and they have a Tapas section, a bar section, a fish restaurant, a pasta section- and something else all sectioned out. We chose the Tapas section and you should too! You will not be disappointed whatever you choose, but for us: tapas was the way to try new foods in small portions and enjoy the ambiance. Everything was delicious! Be daring- we chose navajas and were not disappointed ! Enjoy!! read more
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More info about El Nacional
Passeig de Gracia, 24
08007 Barcelona
Spain
L'Eixample
Directions
935 185 053
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http://www.elnacionalbcn.com
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