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    El Nacional

    3.8 (464 reviews)
    PriceySeafood, Tapas Bars, Brasseries
    Open 12:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

    El Nacional Photos

    EL NACIONAL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Loud
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

    Recommended Reviews - El Nacional

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    Reviews With Photos

    Millie B.

    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.

    Nick M.

    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!

    Very cool exterior and interior
    Amber E.

    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.

    Lamb chops
    Hanna W.

    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.

    Gelato adequate when you have a need
    Christine L.

    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.

    Black Sea food rice
    Arthur F.

    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,

    Pesto pasta (recommend)
    Wes M.

    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!!!

    Toan D.

    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!$

    Tapas
    Jina Y.

    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

    Heather H.

    The tapas were great, even for my picky kids. They also said they liked the chicken tenders. The service was also amazing. 5 stars!

    Menu
    Harry B.

    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

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    10 months ago

    Terrific place for lunch or a nice meal with several dinning experiences to choose from.

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    Page 1 of 12

    El Nacional Reviews in Other Languages

    Cerveseria Catalana - Beef tenderloin with foie gras

    Cerveseria Catalana

    4.4(1.8k reviews)
    0.6 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)
    1.3 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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    Restaurant Pasa Tapas

    Restaurant Pasa Tapas

    2.8(8 reviews)
    1.8 kmBarceloneta
    €€€

    Walking from Barceloneta Beach, I stumbled upon Pasa Tapas and lured in by a very affordable menu…read moredel dia at lunch. Alas it was pretty average but you do have a variety of options and it came with wine which was a nice bonus. Started with some fideuá but found this paella noodle dish a little one note. Ironically the fried whole fishes, which didn't look very appetizing, were surprisingly decent. Crispy fried and served next to some refreshing salad. A simple flan rounds out the meal on a sweet note. Mostly locals inside. Not a destination stop per se but good value at lunch if you happen to be walking by.

    Did not enjoy my experience at all, if not even ruined my experience with great paella!…read more Disclaimer: I went to this place as part of a Sandeman tapas tour. (Was absolute rubbish and waste of time) The service: minimal Food: Below average paella Portion: I have had bigger tapas for babies Drinks: I have no idea what was served. Some form of watered down alco that's neither here nor there All in all, not a good experience at all. Agree I went with Sandeman so part to blame would be them. But my view is that if you love food, care about your customers, love your business; then care for your brand and don't join crappy partnerships. And if you plan to do that; suck it up and serve proper food!

    Photos
    Restaurant Pasa Tapas - Special dishes - Pasa Tapas de la Barceloneta

    Special dishes - Pasa Tapas de la Barceloneta

    Restaurant Pasa Tapas - Special dishes - Pasa Tapas de la Barceloneta

    Special dishes - Pasa Tapas de la Barceloneta

    Restaurant Pasa Tapas - Special dishes - Pasa Tapas de la Barceloneta

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    Special dishes - Pasa Tapas de la Barceloneta

    El Nacional - seafood - Updated August 2026

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