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    Paco Alcalde

    4.3 (65 reviews)
    ModerateSeafood, Spanish
    Open 12:30 pm - 10:30 PM

    Paco Alcalde Photos

    PACO ALCALDE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - Paco Alcalde

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    gambas al ajillo (garlic prawns)
    Phoebe S.

    On our last night in Barcelona, we found this spot tucked away within the neighborhood of La Barceloneta (but still close to the waterfront). We thought that this location would have peak Spanish food but were let down as we've had better elsewhere throughout our trip. Tomato bread: soggy and cold. Garlic prawns: presentation was ... lacking. The plate was quite big in comparison to the actual amount of shrimp. Grilled razor clams: Not the freshest; was a bit rubbery. Roasted Padron peppers: good, but a little salty. Seafood paella: There is a lot of flavor for sure, but it's so salty :| We were hungry tho so we ate it all anyway lol The waiter was quick and efficient until the check; he came to our table twice and realized each time that he forgot that we were still waiting for it.

    Crema catalan
    Vivian Z.

    A lovely spot for paella near the waterfront! Interior is well-decorated and the service is quick. The paella prices are per person but not everyone has to order it (for example, you can order a two-person serving for any number of people to eat). The tapas were alright; we would probably not order them again. I LOVED the cheesecake -- it was definitely a highlight!! Patatas bravas (4/5 stars): Potatoes were warm and the sauce complemented the dish well. The inside was soft but outer edges could have been crispier. Toast with tomato and garlic (2/5 stars): Tomatoes were fresh and sweet. The bread was a bit disappointing as it was quite soggy and fell apart easily. Peppers (3/5 stars): Decent peppers, a little salty at times. Vegetable paella (4/5 stars) & seafood paella (4.5/5 stars): Paella was savory and not too salty. There was some crispiness, particularly around the edges near the pan; we would've enjoyed it even more if it was crispier in the center. Crema catalan (3.5/5 stars): Light pudding interior, caramelized top. I liked the ratio of caramelization to custard. The top was too burnt in my opinion, and this ended up dominating the flavor profile of the dessert. Cheesecake (7/5 stars): So good it broke the scale!! Thank you to the server for recommending this... it was rich and creamy and I would come back again just to have another slice.

    Best paella

    All great! It's definitely a family business and it's exactly how you feel there Food is great, serving is excellent. Don't misd this place if you're around!

    Paella!
    Brandon S.

    Paella was amazing but the the Cheesecake was the best we've ever had! It's not on the menu but order it, you won't be disappointed!

    Paella Especial Seafood
    Mark S.

    Delicious paella! Arrived for lunch around 2pm on a Sunday after a couple hours at the beach. We had to wait about 20 minutes outside before they had a table for us. They have menus in various languages and some of the servers can speak English. We had the Ensalada Mixta which was a large salad of romaine lettuce, tomatoes, red pepper, onion, egg, olives, corn and radicchio. Came undressed with olive oil and vinegar on the side. Plenty for two or even three people. Also had the breaded fried artichoke - so good. Then the seafood paella especial. Loaded with prawns, clams, mussels and other assorted tidbits. Ate it with some good bread on the side and glasses of white wine. So much excellent food. Maybe we will have gelato for dinner. It sounded like they don't take reservations. Friendly staff.

    Ruben G.

    Wow, just... wow. Barcelona is a city renown for its fresh seafood. The seafood paellas here are arguably among the very best in Spain. Having lived here five years now and having eaten LOTS of paella, I think I have a new FAVORITE. We made a reservation for a Friday at lunchtime, a really good idea in these times of Covid. We were greeted at the door and welcomed into a nicely lit, very inviting space. Our table was near the (almost cliché) fish tank, but I was very happy with it all. Paco Alcalde (the restaurant, not the guy) turns 100 years old this month... so the charm exuded by that dining area is well-earned. The four of us opted for the menú. It started with a "pica-pica" that included a generous platter of steamed mussels, pescadito frito, fried calamari, cod fritters, ham croquettes and of course, "pa amb tomàquet," the traditional glass-bread with a schmear or tomato, olive oil and salt. There was plenty for each of us to eat. The paella, though, was the star of the show. The rice was perfectly done (and believe me - I don't use that word lightly) and loaded with very delectable pieces of seafood. The aroma was captivating. The presentation was beautiful. The mouth-feel was out of this world. Oh, and the wine selection was absolutely right. By the time we'd finished our desserts and café, the world looked much brighter. Well done, Paco Alcalde. We will gladly be back!

    Seafood paella
    David F.

    The food and ambiance was perfect, exactly what I was looking for. The seafood paella was amazing!

    Big green salad!
    Brenda K.

    We loved walking by the water and seeing street performers, boats, and all of the people enjoying a summer evening in Barcelona! Thankfully Yelp led my husband in a few streets to the original, untouched fishing village of Barcelonita -- and ultimately to Paco Alcalde for authentic Spanish paella! We got the Seafood Paella at the recommendation of our server, a big green salad to share, and a pitcher of sangria. It was all simple, authentic and PERFECT! Highly recommend! And fun atmosphere, too! Very joyous!!!

    House wine and sangria
    Dakota M.

    What a lovely restaurant. Josh and I had been looking (and craving) Paella all afternoon. We walked most of the La Barceloneta looking for something welcoming, well priced and friendly. Coming up to Restaurante Paco Alcalde, the owner was outside in the streets trying to encourage us to come in. When he realized we only understood partial Spanish, he ran inside and got a younger waiter to come talk to us. He brought out an English section to the menu and the prices were fair so we took a gander and came inside. The ambiance is very classic- white table clothes, lobster tank, old-world décor and charm. The restaurant was fairly empty with only one family seated. We ordered Sangria and a white wine. The Sangria was well sized and really well made! Probably my favorite during my time in Barcelona! Josh ordered a chicken Paella and I a seafood. They were very big, flavorful and filling! We had plenty of room for them as we had been fasting all day for the right meal! I'm glad we took a chance on this restaurant. You will be too!

    Seafood paella
    Chase S.

    The seafood paella was wonderful. Definitely an old school place that knows how to make a paella. The inside is small and quaint. We also got the seafood salad, which I would not recommend. The potato bravas were also average.

    Grilled baby cuttlefish.

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    1 year ago

    One of the best seafood. service is great. Highly recommended. Drinks are great too

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    1 year ago

    Rice was uncooked no flavor:( would not recommend as someone who thought it was good from seeing the food reviews

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    Page 1 of 2

    Paco Alcalde Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Paco Alcalde

    We had the seafood paella and the fideuá, both were amazing but the fideuá stole the show for us.

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

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    Cerveseria Catalana - fried artichoke

    Cerveseria Catalana

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

    It's been a decade since I came here for my first Tapas in BCN. This is where I realized there was…read morea lot of my peeps that works there and it's nice to feel at home, lol. This was recommended by friends awhile back, I remembered the modern ambiance, amazing Tapas, friendly service and the place was as busy then until now. For this big restaurant caliber, it's pretty crowded yet they do a good job with a fast turnaround. We did the early Dinner and by the time we got out there was already a long line for late Diners. The fact that even after a decade, it's rare that I go back to the same spot let alone they're still around after all these years. You already know that tells a lot and I feel bad for those who didn't have the same great experience, hope they give it another shot. See y'all soon! Salut, Vermouth!

    Walking down the street on Rambla and a "Huge Line" has gathered outside Cerveseria Catalana…read more Something special must be happening here to have this big of a crowd waiting. My son had been here last year and thought, it was a solid. We put our name in, went to a nearby park bench to wait and watch people for 50 minutes. The servers outside are grumpy as to many people are crowding the sidewalk and impeding his service. Finally, our name was called, were seated at the bar, and watched a chef make the magic dishes. The menu is huge and I can't help but watch the delicious dishes flying by us. So little time and yet so many great choices, this won't be easy. We began with the beef tenderloin montadito foie gras. It was presented as a open face sandwich on a bagette. We split it as it had a huge piece of foie gras. The tenderloin was tough and the tapas tasted like indivdual components, not a blended or refined profile. The grilled razor clams were nicely cooked, slightly gritty and needed to be washed more thoroughly. The Spanish omelet wedge was spiritual, dish of the night award. The onion made the dish! The sliced fried artichoke was finely shaved, and again lacked a enjoyable flavor that I would order again. The chips with fried eggs and Jabugo ham was different, tasty and a concept I would not of thought about. Delicious! Casveseria Catalanahe was packed and stacked for a reason. A high vibe and energy even in the face of a revolt at the check in desk from hungry dinners. I came say without hesitation, we will give them a second try. The staff was friendly, engaging, warm and a good sense of humor, nothing but smiles. I can't wait for our next trip to Cerveseria Catalana and let them tell me what to order. Good luck and see you sooner than later.

    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?

    La Paradeta

    La Paradeta

    4.4(170 reviews)
    1.1 kmSant Pere, Santa Caterina i la Ribera-Born
    €€

    This restaurant was literally right next to our stay in Barcelona--skipping it felt like a crime,…read moregiven the rave reviews. So, on a rainy afternoon, we gave it a shot. We arrived just after lunch opening and were the first customers. The guy at the counter was... efficient. He simply told us to pick what we wanted, tossed it in a bin, and that was that. No explanation of pricing or preparation methods. When we asked how they'd cook it, he casually offered "fried or grilled." Obviously, we chose grilled--why fry fresh seafood? We picked two giant prawns, two octopus tentacles, and two fish (since hubby can't have shellfish). He asked if we wanted salad or soup--reviews hyped the soup, so we went with that. Then he handed us a receipt, told us we were order #3, and sent us to the bar. At the bar, we ordered two sangrias and a water. The bartender asked if we wanted bread and sauce. Sure, why not? We assumed they were included. Surprise! The tiny baguettes cost €0.50 each, and the mystery "house sauce" (a questionable mix of thousand island and horseradish) was an extra €1. We only realized the charge when we saw the total: €73. Oh well, too late now. Then came the food pickup experience--chaotic, to say the least. The server practically barked at us to bring our receipt, aggressively crossed off items, and handed over soups and octopus, crammed onto a greasy tray. No effort at plating, just food haphazardly dumped onto plates. The second round--grilled fish and prawns--was more of the same. Now, the verdict: Soup (5/5) - Delicious and reasonably priced at €6. Would order again. Bread & Sauce (0/5) - Not free, not worth it. Hard pass. Octopus (€31.80 for two tentacles, 1/5) - Overpriced, greasy, and drowning in molten salt. Basically, eating a sodium bomb. Grilled Fish (€10.50 & €8.50, 3/5) - Decent, but unnecessarily oily. Grilled Prawns (€5.59, 0/5) - Mushy, not fresh, and borderline inedible. Final thoughts? Not worth it. With so many incredible food spots in Barcelona, why waste your meal quota here? If you want quality seafood, go to Cervecería Catalana--we spent €5 more, but a meal a thousand times better. Spend wisely and eat like a king.

    [Food] - Oysters: Fresh and good with lemon…read more - Anchovies: Not our favorite as it was very fishy and oily tasting despite adding lemon. I've had fried anchovies before but this was too heavy for us - Octopus: This was a bit oily but but not as much as the anchovies. Potatoes were nice and soft and absorbed all the sauces. - Small Clams: My favorite dish out of all we've ordered. Although the clams were small, the sauce it was cooked in was delicious! [Service] - Line up, order what you want, some seafood have various cook styles so they will ask you which you'd prefer, pay, find a table, and pick up at the pick up window once your buzzer goes off. [Ambiance] - Mainly indoor seating with 2 tables outdoors [Overall] - Would come back again as I love this kind of seafood eateries! Will definitely try other dishes next time as well

    Photos
    La Paradeta
    La Paradeta
    La Paradeta

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    La Paradeta

    La Paradeta

    4.4(228 reviews)
    3.3 kmL'Eixample
    €€

    The name changed.. It's called Puertecillo Marisquerias. But I guess it's same place just…read moredifferent name.. It was long wait since you order the seafood and they cook them for you.. You get your orders as the food is done.. So I made about 4 trips to the window. First time coming to a restaurant where you pick your seafood and they cook them for you.. Over all the food was very fresh. Mussels are cooked with white wine, octopus steamed so i was told. Prawns and langoustine grilled I think. Over all food was pretty good. Price is pretty reasonable. I wouldn't say best seafood I've ever had but it was good and lots of food for price you pay.. Mussel were pretty good but not as good as ones I've had in Naples. You better know what you want.. They don't like you taking time and trying to decide what to get. I would come back here again.

    We are so lucky to stumble upon La Paradeta, a precious seafood market two blocks from Sagrada…read moreFamilia. Varieties of seafood are ready to be cooked the way you wanted. Two of us picked 5 types of seafood, a salad and a fish soup. We tried the sangria as our drinks. Everything is beyond fantastic! We would highly recommend this seafood gem to all our friends. Here are a few tips for the first timers: 1) The workers at the order area don't understand English well. We pointed at the seafood for ordering. 2) Recommended to have the fish soup over mixed salad as an appetizer. The fish soup is made with lots of fish and ginger; and it carries so much flavor. 3) The mussels are a must-have and are so cheap (Under 10 Euros for huge portions). It's recommended to prepare in two ways: white wine and tomato sauce 4) The La Paradeta sauce (I e. A green basil sauce) goes very well with shrimps and razor clams. 5) The fried calamari was so delicious and perfectly paired with drizzles of lemon juice. Yet, it's so expensive (24 Euros for a very small portion). It doesn't feel as worth it as compared to something like lobsters (29 Euros/single lobster). 6) I noticed many people ordered a bottle of wine instead of Sangria. Will need to try next time!

    Photos
    La Paradeta
    La Paradeta
    La Paradeta

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    Ciutat Comtal - beef tenderloin montadito with foie (7.15€)

    Ciutat Comtal

    4.3(1.4k reviews)
    2.3 kmL'Eixample
    €€

    During our three days in Barcelona, Cervecería Ciudad Condal was the very first tapas restaurant we…read morevisited -- and it turned out to be the absolute best! Our server, Amaya, was funny, knowledgeable, and incredibly attentive. He took great care of us, and every single recommendation he made was delicious. I wish I knew all the Spanish names of the dishes because everything was amazing. The highlights for us were the Bacalao -- so tender and full of flavor -- and honestly the best octopus I've ever had in my life. We also loved the soft steak with duck liver served on a slice of French baguette, the shrimp skewers, patatas, and the Spanish ham with tomato toasts. Every dish was unforgettable. On top of the incredible food, the restaurant itself has such an elegant atmosphere with beautiful décor that made the whole dining experience even more special. Highly recommend this place to anyone visiting Barcelona!

    Ciutat Comtal was a restaurant that I had seen recommended numerous times while I was searching for…read moreplaces to eat at in Barcelona, and after coming here I can see why. I came here for lunch, and thankfully I didn't have to wait too long before I got seated inside. The interior is a bit on the smaller side, but it's quite bright with a lot of natural sunlight inside. For the food, I decided to get squid, codfish with honey allioli, and iberian ham montaditos. While all of the food was great, for me the codfish was hands-down the star of the show and probably one of the best dishes that I ate on the trip. The flavor of the sauce combined with the texture of the fish actually blew me away, and I can see why my server highly recommended this to me. If you just get one things when coming here, definitely make sure not to miss this dish. Highly recommend checking this place out for Spanish tapas, they represent the cuisine well!

    Photos
    Ciutat Comtal - Interior

    Interior

    Ciutat Comtal - Calamares

    Calamares

    Ciutat Comtal - The entrance

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    The entrance

    Chao Pescao - Choose your seafood

    Chao Pescao

    4.1(19 reviews)
    2.5 kmL'Eixample

    We were walking around looking for La Paradeta but our gps brought us here at Chao Pescao!…read more(formerly La Paradeta)! We had a great time having our late lunch here. The entire staff was incredibly friendly and helpful, making our first visit unforgettable. A special thank you to Rafael, our server, who was attentive, kind, and made sure everything was perfect from start to end of our visit. Also, big appreciation to Hassan, who was at the drinks and counter area. She helped us with our drinks and checked in to make sure we had everything we needed her warm and welcoming attitude made a huge difference. The seafoods are unbelievably fresh, and the best part is they'll cook it exactly the way you like it. Every dish we tried was delicious and prepared to perfection, we had our two orders of sardines fried but it's lightly breaded yet light and crispy, 2 orders of Pulpo we requested it to be grilled and it was cooked to perfection and the 2 sea-breams one is grilled with side of fresh olives that was grated with herbs and olive oil it really complimented the fish well and then, one fried , lightly breaded but very light yet the fish was crunchy and tender, my taste buds were very happy. The dining area was clean and well maintained. If you're looking for great seafood and exceptional service, Chao Pescao is a must-visit. We said we will comeback and we did! (After 2 days of being in Barcelona). Sisters in Brooklyn, New York 5.25.2025

    This restaurant was close by the place we were staying. You choose the seafood from the front…read more(market style) along with any other food dishes. Then you move to the next station and order oysters, then drinks. We had reservations so we were served ahead of others on line. The service was friendly and attentive. The octopus was excellent as were the clams. We were underwhelmed with the shrimp - they didn't taste fresh to us. The salmon salad was solid. Overall a nice seafood meal at a reasonable price and friendly service.

    Photos
    Chao Pescao - Sign in seated area

    Sign in seated area

    Chao Pescao - Grilled shrimp

    Grilled shrimp

    Chao Pescao - Inside

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    Inside

    Paco Alcalde - seafood - Updated May 2026

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