RAÓ absolutely lives up to the hype. An acquaintance of mine told me they serve some of the best tapas you'll find in Barcelona and he was NOT wrong. Every single dish my friend and I ordered was incredible from the crispy patatas bravas and rich tortilla de patata to the perfectly cooked octopus and melt in your mouth Iberian pork cheek. I also started the night with a mango mojito that was dangerously good. The service was attentive and friendly from the moment we walked in, and the restaurant itself has such a warm rustic atmosphere with low calming lighting that makes you want to sit there all night ordering "just one more plate." One thing I will say: Please make a reservation or you will be left outside looking goofy! This place stays packed and you will probably not get a table without one. All in all, RAÓ hands down provided one of my favorite dining experiences in Barcelona. read more

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What a wonderful dinner to start our trip to Barcelona. Our party of 5 enjoyed pretty much everything on their menu. We made reservations in advance that guaranteed us a table near the window. The place is small so planning in advance is critical. We enjoyed all the dishes we ordered except the paella which was ok. I think the ceviche and scallops is a must order. after dinner, our server took us to the next bar and gave us free shots! Way to go! read more

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After 5 days in Barcelona, this was our overall favorite. We got their version of bread with tomato, their cod dish, potatoes bravos, and pork cheeks. This was plenty for the two of us. We finished off with their version of Catalan crème and the Trajidilo (fried brioche bread) with smoked ice cream. Every dish was excellent. (Though we did have a favorite dessert elsewhere). Our Sangria and Claro were very good. What made this stop the best was the amazing attention to detail and service from all the staff. They are obviously preparing and serving food with a love for the business and for customer satisfaction. The interior was quantity, clean, comfortable and well kept with ample space. Excellent choice in a city of many, many choices. read more

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Off the beaten path from Ramblas and Catalunya. Focusing more on unique and less traditional tapas. Service was very friendly, the restaurant checked in with us the day before our reservation and offered a drink at their sister bar next door. The menu is less extensive but features interesting and large dish items than your standard tapas fare. We tried and shared a variety of dishes including paella, sea bass, eggplant, burrata and steak. The steak was beautifully cooked and tender. Great place to try something different! read more

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Beautiful ambiance. Excellent tapas, especially Patatas Bravas. Great octopus as well. Surprisingly delicious bread pudding for dessert!

Another great dinner at Rao's. We typically stop here twice when we're in Barcelona and they seat us at the same table. The staff is great and the food is great. Note that you will need reservations and they don't open the door until 7. They have a sister restaurant a few doors down for people without reservations but it's often full. read more

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Food was wonderful and so delicious. One of the best meals we had in Barcelona! Service was attentive.

Absolutely fantastic! Perfection from reservation to the check. They accommodated our changing party size with gentility and utmost hospitality. Our little private room was a presidential experience. The server guided us through the menu and made sure we didn't miss the house specialties like the Ceviche, Incredible and the Lamb unctuous. Drinks were equally delicious but there wasn't a single short coming. read more

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My top meal in Barcelona! Rao is tucked away on a small street seemingly in something of a basement. No need to let that get to you as they more then set a great atmosphere. Start with the tomato bread. Yes, it's easy and you see it all over town but still. I'd also recommend the ceviche, which comes with a lime sorbet and was perfectly balanced. If you aren't sick of octopus by this point in your trip, get it here and enjoy a perfectly cooked tentacle. The pork cheek was also worth ordering, especially if you are looking for a non-seafood option. If you are in a drinking mood, they have wine, beer, and cocktails. I enjoyed my spicy coconut mojitos, however, it did have a slight kick as the name suggests. Service is quick and clean. They won't rush you out nor crowd you. They do encourage reservations and having seen how many folks they turned away towards the end of my meal, I recommend one as well. Enjoy! read more

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These guys do it right! They have great food, service, and personalities. Everything we had on the menu was delicious. I was hesitant to try the sweetbreads, but they were fantastic. Ask for their after dinner drink, it looked like American Baileys, but much more flavorful. read more

I very good tapas experience in the heart of the old town. Went with a group and we ordered almost everything on the menu. Nothing was bad, everything was tasty and well prepared. I would say portions are on the small side, rather than the 2-3 they recommend, I would go with four dishes per person (but I am American). My favorite was the duck and pork cheek, the ceviche was also excellent. Not normally a dessert person but we tried all four and they were all good. Ironically, everyone in my group had a different favorite, so try whatever appeals to you, though the crème Catalan was said to be different (in a good way) from other versions they had in Barcelona. read more

Nice tapas & small plate menu. Small, intimate restaurant. Food was hot, fresh & tasty Drinks were on point We loved it Staff was friendly & efficient. read more

Overpriced. I had the set men suggested and there wasn't anything about it. Order off the menu is my suggestion. Overpriced read more

We waundered into this restaurant and selected to sit at the bar. The bar tender Andre was a true professional. The drink presentation and his recommendations including the tomato bread, burrata, and pork cheeks were out of this world. Just a block off La Rambla this is a great choice. The staff speaks English and French. read more

Food 10/5 - BEST food we had in Spain. Before visiting, I was afraid this would be a tourist trap restaurants based on some reviews, but trust me. It may seem "touristy" due to them being able to offer English menu, but definitely NOT a trap. Food was authentic, delicious, and so easy to order! We ordered pretty much everything on their menu and our favorites were the Pulpo (Octopus) and the Lamb. Scallops were cooked to perfection as well. Tip: Try their Tomato bread. It may seem very simple and underwhelming, but it was the most memorable dish haha. I tried to recreate this once I got back to the US and could not. Goes to show the quality of ingredients Rao uses! Drinks 5/5 - Their wine pour is so generous and their cocktails/non alcoholic drinks were all delicious. Service 10/5 - Everyone we encountered were so friendly and knowledgeable. From the moment we walked in to when we were walking out, staff were SO welcoming and nice. They really went above and beyond what we expected. Ambiance 5/5 - Intimate, perfectly dimmed restaurant. There was enough space to take groups as well! Seemed perfect for a date night, group celebration, and for us, this was a perfect last meal on our family vacation. read more

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Delicious food and drinks. Make sure to sit at the bar for the best service from Andre.

Raó Restaurant is another spot in Barcelona taking Spanish cuisine in new directions. Roast Beef: Chilled medium rare slices of roast beef are shaped into a rose and topped with fennel, microgreens, and pomegranate seeds. There is a light peppery vinaigrette. What is really thought provoking is the mustard ice cream. It is still cold and a little sweet, but you also want to eat it with the beef like you would a spicy horseradish sauce. Pulpo a la Brasa: The octopus tentacle is grilled nicely and is paired with a kalamata oil sauce and creamy potato sauce with paprika. Magret de Pato: The perfectly cooked rare duck breast is juicy and tender and it comes with a smooth green apple sauce that tastes more like pears. It is garnished with a couple crunchy mini carrots. Paella Raó Platillo: Raó's paella has hit the sweet spot with the rice, tender and firm, and flush with flavor from the seafood and marine plankton broth. The red prawns from Palamos are sweet, and the squid and clams are tender. read more

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RAÓ is one of those rare gems where every plate has you saying "wow." Located just off Las Ramblas and tucked down an alley, this unassuming spot was one of the best meals we've ever had. The ambience inside was great - warm and lively. Service can be a *little* slow at times - there were some gaps between some plates and they seemed understaffed - but everyone was incredibly friendly and helpful, including the manager who recommended desserts. Our personal favorites were the Burrata Pugliese, Lamb Terrine and Iberian Pork Cheek. Desserts were also incredible and drinks were tasty. RAÓ definitely lived up to its reputation and their sister restaurant Xera (directly across the street) was equally as busy. Make sure to get a reservation for either, you won't be disappointed! read more

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Wow. This meal left me speechless. Every dish was perfect. Packed with flavor, fresh, and left me tempted to lick each plate clean! I will dream about this experience for the rest of my life! Service was fast and friendly. We asked for recommendations and they did not miss! We had a reservation and were sat right as the doors opened! The ambiance was just perfect. I seriously cannot recommend this Raó enough. read more

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We did not have reservation but was able to get a table luckily. The food was amazingly prepared and the dishes were coordinated to come out in succession so it was greatly appreciate it. The chef knew what he was doing. One of the dishes we ordered was the scallops. It was prepared perfectly and it was wonderful. It didn't have that metalic taste to it because the scallops were fresh. Temperture of the food was on point. And the food presentation was very appealing. We really enjoyed dinner and the fine wine. The ambiance was perfect...intimate and chic without the white table cloths formality to it. We had a pleasant and enjoyable dinner here and would recommend it. read more

We were only in Barcelona a short time, and mostly explored the city on a whim. I wanted our last dinner to be representative of good Spanish cuisine, and Rao did not disappoint. I made reservations online. The service was friendly and helpful. Our server recommended his favorites from the menu, and they were great. The grilled octopus was the best octopus I've ever had. Tender and flavorful. Even my husband who doesn't like octopus enjoyed this dish. We also tried the scallops and beef cheek, both were wonderful. The paella had good flavor but I tasted a few bites of sand and the shrimp was not super fresh. All in all a great meal that left us no room for dessert. My husband and I ordered 4 dishes between us, one drink and water. Total was about 70€. read more

We loved it so much here we went twice during our trip to Barcelona. We accidentally stumbled upon this place but so glad we did! My husband and I are such foodies and this place blew us away!! The sea bass ceviche was so fresh and the flavor combination was fantastic. All the other dishes were amazing as well, we sat at the bar (our favorite) and got to know the chefs and staff, they were so nice and fun , hence we came back a second time. If you're a foodie and in Barcelona you must check this place out. Oh, and make a reservation the restaurant is small read more

Wow. Place is fantastic. Upscale Tapas is an understatement. These are exceptional tapas. Service was friendly and attentive. Fuco loves pleasing his customers and the scene is as lovely as the food. Very relaxed experience. Please take their suggestions for the menu. Dont skip the dessert!! I will return. read more

We have made the reservation well ahead of time before arriving to Barcelona and they are very busy so having one is very important. We have tried quite few restaurants in the city but this is absolutely one of the best in my opinion. The place itself is very small but with great interior design and wonderful stuff. After getting great bottle of Albarino we had ordered few dishes and all of them were definitely matching our expectations. Tomatoes Variety--this was a flavorful blast, tomatoes made few different way served with goat cheese, basil oil and bread crisp. Definitely somethin I would try again, no doubt. Tuna Tartar--that was so delicious that we had to take one more at the end of the dinner Grilled Octopus--made to perfection and tender. A little bit too salty in my opinion but still very good. Ceviche--absolutely fantastic, fresh, citrusy and addition of sorbet was brilliant. Thank you Rao for gorgeous dinner we had and we will definitely visit if we come back to that beautiful city!! :) read more

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Amazing place! From the entrance to the exit you'll feel like at home! The staff is just amazing, they'll make you feel super welcome. They are fluent with all the major languages (English, Spanish, French). Tapas are tasty! Also really nice and cozy atmosphere. read more

RAÓ RESTAURANT - Bread pudding with yogurt ice cream and jam! - Mediterranean Near Me - Barcelona, B

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Seated promptly without a reservation, although I do recommend securing one as it is quietly popular. The food was melt in your mouth delicious and we enjoyed all that we ordered: vegan falafel salad, Iberian pork cheek, duck Margret. Classic and cozy feel made this restaurant even more than we could have asked for. read more

Phenomenal food in a charming setting. We arrived early for our reservation and had gorgeous crafty cocktails at their bar next door (No 3). Food was among the best of our Spanish travels. Sea Bass ceviche with a lime mint sorbet was transcendent. Staff was efficient and adorable. Don't miss it. Reservations a must. read more

Great newer tapas restaurant near the Meridian Hotel in Barcelona. Service was friendly and informative, the vibe casual chic. We enjoyed their patatas bravas, scallops, duck, lamb terrine and octopus tapas. Desserts were excellent as well, we ordered french toast bread pudding and deconstructed pumpkin pie. At the end m, they gave us complimentary shots of their special after dinner drinks which were also tasty. All in all a great meal and experience. read more

This is my family's favorite restaurant in Barcelona. We enjoyed everything on the menu, and we really did order almost everything on the menu. Everything was as good as expected or even better. The food was colorful, flavorful, and delicious! The atmosphere and decor are very trendy and modern. The service was excellent as well as they described the dishes to us and how everything works and were able to provide some great recommendations. read more

Outstanding from the front of the house to the back of the house. Their pride really shows. All was great, especially the pan de coco, ceviche and scallops. Cuban soul cocktail was outstanding! read more

They were fully booked when we called for a reservation. When we arrived, they found us a nice table in the back. Very nice ambiance. The sangria was very good. We ordered Tapas dishes including potatoes, scallops, falafel balls, salmon, barrata, and tomatato bread. Everything was excellent. The bill was similar to other restaurants in Barcelona. Bottom line, this was our best meal of 5 nights. read more

Hidden gem of a restaurant with delicious food and great staff. The ceviche and scallops were definite winners as was the pork entree. We sat at the bar and Andre (our bartender and waiter) was a delight! Highly recommend! read more

Wow, we love this place! Tucked away behind the main La Rambla, the food here is fantastic. Each tapa dish is excellently prepared, perfect size. We tried scallop, duck, lamb, ham and paella, all superb. Service is excellent as well. We will return! read more

These tapas are incredible. Menu prices are a bit high but worth it honestly for the atmosphere and service.

In two trips to. Barcelona, we had our best dining experience on our last evening today. Rao's is que bueno and highly recommended! Even though it's off La Rambla, it is NOT a tourist trap. - Cristal Bread - Catalan coco bread, tomato, olive oil (best we've had and we order it everywhere here) - Bravas Rao - potato bravas perfection - Grilled octopus - super tender and delicious - Iberian Pork Cheek - Pan Seared Scallops - Catalan Crema - fluffy Creme brûlée like dessert - a dark chocolate ganache dessert that I failed to get the name for that had avocado, salt, and a wafer of some kind. Everything was amazing. Service was spectacular with the staff being fluent in English as well and extremely attentive and helpful. Ambiance is perfect - chic casual and welcoming with good spacing for the tables. Don't hesitate - make a reservation as it was needed for a seating an hour out on a Saturday. Later in the evening might not have got a table. read more

Great service and the best tapas we've had on this vacation. Can't wait to come back! The restaurant has the perfect vibe.

AMAZING! Next level. Ambience is so amazing! Service is soo great, ask for Juan. Food was everything you want from a Spanish restaurant. A must on your things to do in Barcelona read more

Everything was perfect! The food was amazing! I had the ceviche and scallops. Great service and the place had a great vibe.

Best meal on our European vacation - Portugal, France, UK / out of this world good! Kind, knowledgeable and. Generous staff! Highly recommend! read more

We came here at 7:00 and were very pleased with our experience! The ambience is amazing and the food is as well. First tip: You need a reservation! All night we watched people walking in and being turned away for not having a reservation. This restaurant caters to tourists but does not feel like a tourist trap. There was no language barrier which made it easy. The authenticity of the food combined with creativity made it truly feel special! They suggest 3 tapas dishes per person. They are served to the table one at a time to share. As a group of 2, we ordered 6 dishes total and left more than satisfied. Our meal took 2 hours, which we heard them tell a table is the typical time. We ordered the croquets, smoked burrata, tuna tar tar, paella, duck, and red mullet with foie gras. They were all amazing but the tuna tar tar and duck really stood out. For dessert we shared the chocolate & caramel with salt and the textures of pistachio. Also both amazing, but textures of pistachio was out of this world! Highly recommend this place. Reservations are available on Open Table! read more

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