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Top 4 Must-Try Restaurants in Barcelona

Top 4 Must-Try Restaurants in Barcelona

Barcelona's food scene is a delightful mix of traditional flavors and modern culinary innovations.

Whether you're a local or just visiting, here are four standout restaurants that promise an unforgettable dining experience.

Table of Contents

1. Cinc Sentits

Cinc Sentits - Top 4 Must-Try Restaurants in Barcelona

Located in Barcelona's Eixample neighborhood, Cinc Sentits offers a fresh take on traditional Catalan cuisine, led by Chef Jordi Artal. This Michelin-starred restaurant features a seasonally changing tasting menu where no main ingredient is repeated. Each dish is crafted to be a moment of pure enjoyment, with new flavors arriving one after the other.

Dining Experience

The tasting menu at Cinc Sentits is priced at 200€, with an optional wine pairing for 125€. The wine selection focuses exclusively on small, boutique producers from Catalonia and Spain, with an emphasis on local grape varieties. Each wine is carefully chosen to complement the courses, enhancing the flavors and making the entire meal an unforgettable experience.

The Spring menu includes a range of dishes such as bluefin tuna, foie gras, chestnut, sweet potato, prawn, jamón ibérico, and many others. Seasonal ingredients like butternut squash, sage, braised beef, and smoked eel are featured, all expertly prepared to showcase the best of Catalan and Mediterranean flavors.

For those looking for a lighter option, the Light Menu is available for 185€ with a wine pairing priced at 115€. This menu offers a more streamlined yet equally satisfying experience.

Cinc Sentits Dining Spaces

Cinc Sentits offers three distinct dining options depending on the size of ytheir group:

  • Dining Room: For 1-4 guests
  • Chef's Table: For 2-8 guests, offering an up-close view of the kitchen and the cooking process
  • Private Room: For 10-26 guests, ideal for larger groups or special events

Cinc Sentits Hours and Reservations

  • Open Tuesday to Friday for dinner starting at 7:00 PM
  • Open Saturday for lunch at 1:30 PM and dinner at 8:30 PM
  • Closed on Sunday and Monday
  • Closed from April 27-May 1, August 10-25, and December 21-29
  • Reservations can be made online or by phone, and it's recommended to book in advance due to the restaurant's popularity.

Cinc Sentits Contact Information

2. Disfrutar

Disfrutar - Top 4 Must-Try Restaurants in Barcelona

Opened in December 2014, Disfrutar is the result of years of intense collaboration between three acclaimed chefs— Mateu Casañas, Oriol Castro, and Eduard Xatruch—who met while working at the world-famous elBulli. After gaining further experience at Compartir in Cadaqués, they opened Disfrutar in Barcelona to bring their avant-garde approach to Catalan and Mediterranean cuisine to the forefront.

A Unique Location and Design

Located in the Eixample district, right across from the Ninot Market, Disfrutar combines both innovative design and a deep respect for Mediterranean history. The restaurant's interior is inspired by the region's rich culture and features ceramic as a unifying element. The entrance area draws from the iconic wrought iron of the Ninot Market, while the central corridor, adorned with clay-colored ceramics, leads directly to the open kitchen. The dining room itself evokes the feel of small fishing villages, offering a bright, white space that connects to the terrace, blending urban and natural elements in perfect harmony.

Innovative and Playful Gastronomy

At the core of Disfrutar is its tasting menu, an avant-garde culinary journey that celebrates bold Mediterranean flavors. The dishes are designed to surprise, delight, and transport guests through a series of fun, daring, and creative presentations. Whether it's a classic creation from the restaurant's menu or a new dish from the current season, the food is always intended to evoke emotion and make dining an unforgettable experience.

Menus and Pairings

Disfrutar offers two main tasting menus:

  • Menu Disfrutar Classic: This menu includes the restaurant's signature dishes, which have become classics since its opening. It's priced at 295€.

  • Menu Disfrutar Festival: A seasonal menu that highlights the creativity and seasonal ingredients of the moment, also priced at 295€.

Both menus can be complemented by the Disfrutar Wine Pairing, a curated selection of wines chosen to enhance the flavors of each course. The wine pairing is priced at 165€.

For those seeking a more immersive experience, Disfrutar also offers The Living Table Experience, an exclusive opportunity to dine in the restaurant's R&D kitchen, where guests can interact with the chefs and witness the culinary process up close. This unique dining experience is limited to Table M#01 and is an entirely different way to enjoy Disfrutar's creations.

Recognitions and Awards

Disfrutar has been widely recognized for its exceptional cuisine, earning numerous prestigious awards:

  • Three Michelin Stars (2024)

  • #1 in The World's 50 Best Restaurants (2024)

  • Three Soles in the Repsol Guide (since 2018)

  • National Gastronomy Awards for Best Head Chef (2023)

  • Best Restaurant of the Year by the Catalan Academy of Gastronomy (2015)

  • The Best Chef Awards (since 2019)

  • Consistently listed in the OAD list since 2016

The Team Behind Disfrutar

The vision of Disfrutar is driven by a dedicated team led by chefs Oriol Castro, Eduard Xatruch, and Mateu Casañas. They are supported by a talented front-house and kitchen team, ensuring that every guest receives exceptional service and an unforgettable meal.

Events and Custom Experiences

True to its creative DNA, Disfrutar also caters to private events, offering customized dining experiences that translate the restaurant's culinary magic to a variety of settings. Whether it's a corporate event or a special celebration, the team at Disfrutar brings their innovative gastronomy and playful spirit to any occasion, ensuring a truly personalized experience for every guest.

Hours and Reservations

  • Open: Tuesday to Saturday for dinner (starting at 8:00 PM), with lunch service on Saturday (from 1:30 PM)

  • Closed: Sunday and Monday, along with holidays like April 27-May 1, August 10-25, and December 21-29

Reservations are essential due to the restaurant's popularity, and guests are advised to book in advance to secure a spot.

Contact Information

Experience the cutting-edge of Catalan and Mediterranean cuisine at Disfrutar, where each meal is designed to captivate the senses and offer an unforgettable culinary adventure.

3. Bar del Pla

Bar del Pla - Top 4 Must-Try Restaurants in Barcelona

Located in the heart of El Born, Bar del Pla has been serving locals and visitors for over 14 years. With its laid-back yet professional service, the restaurant is a great spot to enjoy authentic tapas, local wines, and a welcoming atmosphere.

Their Concept

At Bar del Pla, they focus on offering a relaxed dining experience without sacrificing quality. Their goal is to create an authentic gastronomic experience with an open kitchen that runs all day. They serve traditional dishes like Canelón, Callos, Crispy Oxtail, and a mushroom salad with Shiso and wasabi sauce. They specialize in slow cooking, particularly with Chup-Chup—a technique that brings out the deep flavors of every dish.

The Menu

They take pride in using local, fresh, and seasonal ingredients. Their menu reflects their commitment to honest cooking, inspired by both their grandmother's recipes and their own experiences in the kitchen.

Wines and Sommeliers

Their wine list is just as diverse as their food menu. They offer a variety of wines, focusing on natural, biodynamic, organic, and sulfite-free options. They also feature wines from family-run wineries, local Catalan selections, and some French wines. They invite a wine producer from El Born to visit once a month, offering their guests a chance to explore the world of winemaking in-depth.

Opening Hours

Location & Contact

  • Address: C/ de Montcada, 2, 08003 Barcelona
  • Phone: +34 932 68 30 03
  • Email: info@bardelpla.cat
  • Bar del Pla Official Site
  • Mon - Thu: 12:00 PM - 11:00 PM (open until midnight on Vigils)
  • Fri - Sat: 12:00 PM - 12:00 AM

Enjoy local flavors, authentic tapas, and a fantastic wine list at Bar del Pla. They look forward to welcoming you!

4. Sartoria Panatieri

Sartoria Panatieri - Top 4 Must-Try Restaurants in Barcelona

At The Sartoria, they prioritize authenticity and respect for the product. Every ingredient that arrives at their restaurant is carefully selected from a variety of options, each one chosen for its quality and alignment with their principles of sustainability. They take pride in working closely with artisan producers, especially when it comes to crafting cured meats and cheeses.

They ensure that they know the story behind each ingredient, from their tomatoes to their herbs and cheese. Pizza, for us, is the ultimate expression of their commitment to quality—a result of respecting the time and effort required to perfect each element, from the dough to the wood-fired oven.

Their Pizzas

Their pizzas are crafted by hand, following traditional methods and baked in a wood-fired oven. The dough is made with local, stone-ground organic fltheir and ferments for 72 hours.

They focus on using fresh, organic, and seasonal ingredients, prioritizing local products. However, they occasionally source unique ingredients from other regions when they offer exceptional quality.

Sartoria Panatieri Official Site

Exploring Barcelona's diverse culinary landscape is a journey filled with flavors, traditions, and innovations.

Each of these restaurants offers a unique experience that captures the essence of the city's vibrant food scene.

Note: Dates and details may change over time. Please check the restaurant’s official website or contact them for the most current information. Images sources: Restaurant Sites, WikiMedia