La Mestressa is such a great vibe and one of the defining experiences from my trip to Barcelona!…read moreHere are a few highlights: 1. The neighborhood - I stayed at the AC Hotel Sants while visiting Barcelona. The Barcelona Sants train station was adjacent to the hotel, and the property was in a walkable neighborhood surrounded by restaurants, convenience stores, and other businesses. There was also a deceptively nondescript alley right next to the hotel that I didn't explore right away. Turns out, that alley leads to a vibrant, hidden plaza (Plaça d'Osca) with restaurants and shops, where locals in the Sants neighborhood hang out. This is also where La Mestressa is located. 2. The food and drinks - I got dinner with two friends at La Mestressa one evening. We ordered a pitcher of sangria, a bottle of wine, and a wide selection of tapas, croquettes, and a couple main dishes. My personal favorites from the meal were the sangria, patatas bravas (crispy potatoes with sauce), octopus, and the salmon salad (not pictured). Each of those dishes were well-seasoned, had great textural contrast, and provided either familiar comfort (patatas bravas and octopus) or a completely new flavor experience (salmon salad). The sangria was light and refreshing. 3. The service - Our server was bilingual and provided satisfactory service. She was warm. The service was well-paced, and she attended to all of our needs as a group. 4. The ambience - As I previously mentioned, both Plaça d'Osca and La Mestressa were a whole vibe. If the terms "off the beaten path," "honeycomb hideout," "in the cut," or "rural retreat" mean anything to you, this area similarly provides a nice place to "retreat" and immerse yourself in a local neighborhood right in the heart of Spain's second largest city. It's the perfect place to drink wine and sangria and while away your evening. :)

We were in the neighborhood on vacation, and were looking for someplace to eat. They had room so…read morewe stepped in. Honestly the rest of Barcelona has been ruined for us now. We ate other places, but none of them compare. Not the market, none of the other small tapas places we tried. It's as if the others aren't even trying. If you are near Plaça de Sants, you will not be disappointed.

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.

I first had the opportunity to try Basque cuisine about 5-6 years ago during a work trip to Boise,…read moreIdaho (home to one of the largest Basque communities outside of the Basque Country in France and Spain). That meal turned out to be one of the highlights of that trip, so I was ecstatic to find a Basque restaurant near my hotel in Barcelona. I quickly beelined over to the restaurant for a solo dinner that delivered in spades. While both the service and ambience was satisfactory, the food is what truly mesmerized me and singlehandedly salvaged an otherwise dull day that I had spent resting and recuperating from Barcelona's stealth attack on my sinuses. Le sigh. In terms of the food, the tomato and tuna belly salad was refreshing and delightful. The octopus and pig's feet carpaccio was hands down the single best dish I ate in Spain. The richness of the dish along with the texture and exquisite flavor was akin to eating a gourmet version of souse (or hog's head cheese), which I grew up eating in the US Deep South. I ended the meal on a high note with Basque cheesecake. In summary, here are my final thoughts on this remarkable three course meal: Perfecto! Me gusta mucho Cocina del País Vasco!

Everything was top shelf! Reviews are on point.the food, beverages, atmosphere, and service is top…read morenotch. You leave full and still light on your toes.

My experience at Terra d'Escudella was a little confusing…read more But it was kind of my problem because I could not speak or understand Spanish... It was quite challenging. We were hungry and it was late. After trying to drop by a few places in the area and nothing really open for business, we decided to give Terra d'Escudella a try based on the 4 star rating on my Yelp App. Place was busy, which was a good sign! We quickly grabbed a table in front of the restaurant and thinking we can get some food and beers..and then we found out that all these people at the bar were waiting for a "restaurant" tables at the back! We ended up just have a quick beer and off we go to somewhere else for real food... PS they do have an English Menu

My fiancé and I came for dinner on the recommendation of our guide from Culinary Backstreets and…read morewere pleasantly surprised at the hyper-local feel of Terra d'Escudella. We'd thus far seen a lot of touristy areas of Barcelona, so getting to feel a bit like an insider was such a treat here! My Spanish is conversational, so I could mostly get through the menu (after asking for the Spanish one, rather than Catalan where I definitely struggle), but I would recommend coming here with a dictionary or translation app if you're English-only. I thought the service was excellent, our waitress was very understanding and patient with my language mistakes and chatted easily with us about different menu options. We ended up getting a sandwich, the meatballs, and a couple of other things to share, as well as a bottle of wine. We spent the better part of an evening snacking and chatting away, surrounded by boisterous laughter and conversation of locals who clearly adore this spot.

Near the Cataluna museum of art but off just a bit to the side road and not on the main drag is…read morethis gem. Their sangria is wonderful, the dishes are tasty and reasonably priced. We didn't o see the octopus and I can remember if they have it on the menu. Though there are plenty of "stables" to choose from.

The food and service were incredible! The peppers, chicken wings and cheese plate were perfect for…read morea late afternoon lunch. The interior was decorated like an adorable wine bar. Affordable and delicious.

A lot of options on the menu. It was good food for the price. The chorizo, pimento de pardon,…read moreboquerones fritos and mussels are our favorite. The service is fast. Nice and Clean.

The bravas were surprisingly good, and the price tag was great. I had two beers and an individual…read moreserving of patatas bravas for five euros. The ambiance is lacking, but if you are just looking to have a beer in the open-air and a little snack, this is a great place.

The reviews are spot on... Had the white sparkling sangria,…read morethe ham and the fried sardines. Loved all. Bartender offers a lovely aperitif at the end. Small quaint environment, really enjoyed chatting with guests. Had a great time and good food. A simple 5 stars!

Very good tapas! We were starving so none of the tapas survived the picture taking phase lol, we…read moreordered a pita and hummus which was unfortunately too hard to finish, I recently had a surgery on my teeth so I'll attribute it to that, we got the pollo tacos and the meat was delicious but the portion of guac was probably too small, croquettes were also very good. Service was good as well, waiters were very on top of all of their guests, the ambiance was dimly lit which only aided in our sangria pitcher finishing process. maybe im picky with my 5 stars but the food just couldve been a bit better.

Very nice spot for lunch. Has four tables on the side walk or dine inside. Really enjoyed a couple…read moredifferent tapas plates. They don't speak english so be ready to help translate or work through it, service was good though. Also seem to remember they were cash only.

Very charming cafe with huge portions of fantastically delicious food and amazing staff! Came here…read moreon the recommendation of fellow travelers. They said the food was delicious and it was very close to our hotel near the Place d'Espanya, so we gave it a try. Absolutely awesome! My friend and I ordered the mixed paella for two (18 Euros per person) and it probably could've fed four! It was chock full of different types of seafood and chicken chunks. The whole dish was flavorful and satisfied like a warm blanket on a freezing night! The young lady waitperson was so friendly and we laughed as we tried to communicate with each other (she with no English and me with no Spanish). After we were stuffed to the gills, she brought us a complimentary plate of 4 pieces of olive oil cake and two glasses of a very tart brightly colored yellow liqueur that my friend said had a definite kick. When I told our waitperson that I don't drink alcohol, she brought me a glass of the same fruity base liquid sans the alcohol, which I found to be very tart and very pleasing on the palate! When I finished it, the young lady offered me more, but there was no way for me to fit anything else into my completely full satisfied belly! This place might look touristy with the menu posted at the door and its plastic covered menu inside, but the food and staff are wonderful. Don't let your prejudices keep you from enoying the amazing place. Might be a bit pricier, too, since it's close to the plaza and hotels, but it's worth it! The charm of this restaurant was a highlight of our day; made for a wonderful end of a very active day of sightseeing in Barcelona!

Food. Service. Ambiance. Yes. Yes. Yes…read more The first night we went without a reservation but they managed to accommodate us in a lovely private room. That was a great start to a delicious meal that everyone enjoyed. I wish I could have tried all the appetizers. In hindsight, this might be the way to go! The food and service were so on point that our group went back a second time (with a reservation) in our four days in Barcelona. This time we ordered the epic Chocolate Bonsai dessert to cap the meal. It had a satisfying amount of chocolate with textures and tastes that leave you wanting more. I shared this dessert... and wish I didn't The noise level was high but otherwise this one scores high on every aspect of the dining experience!

My last visit was in 2022, but as of 2024, they've still got it!…read more Excellent food and service with classic dishes as well as many more adventurous options. Everything is beautifully presented and they handled our large group with ease. Definitely make a reservation, especially if you've got a large group. They may not have a Michelin star, but they're as good as or better than any place I've been that has one. If you're in the main part of Barcelona, it can be a trek out here (it is SO worth it), but if you're staying by the convention center and its nearby shopping mall, it is an easy walk and I haven't found anything else in the area that comes close.

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!