Noti
Carrer de Roger de Lluria 35
93 342 66 73
A glamorous establishment decorated in a rich red, black and gold colour scheme. The menu has hints from Japan to Italy with dishes including steak tartare, creamy monkfish and rocket risotto, lobster carpaccio with crispy seaweed and duck’s breast with cherry sauce. Jazz music is played in the background.
Cinc Sentits
Carrer d’Aribau 58
93 323 94 90
Chef Jordi Artal spent much of his life in Canada but has returned to create his take on Catalan dishes. These include foie gras coca with caramelised leeks, pork belly on green apple and pistachio risotto, and sea bass with a crust of bacon dust. The tasting menu gives a great selection of this fusion food, and this is the most reasonably priced of the top end restaurants in the area.
Oleum
Palau Nacional
93 289 06 79
Situated in the Museu Nactional d’Art de Catalunya, Oleum offers some of the most stunning views across the city, with ceiling mirrors to reflect these. The Mediterranean menu includes St Peter’s fish poached in fennel broth and scallops on squid-ink noodles with lime.
Tapioles 53
Carrer de Tapioles 53
93 329 22 38
Australian chef Sarah Stothart created a cosy atmosphere at this restaurant in which to enjoy simple, tasty dishes prepared with fresh ingredients bought from the city’s markets daily. Asian influences can sometimes be seen in flavours produced.
Comerç 24
Carrer del Comerç 24
93 319 21 02
The red, grey and black décor creates a sexy atmosphere that is in tune with the experimental dishes on the menu. These include beef, pork and mushroom cannelloni, salmorejo with wild prawn, tuna pizza-sashimi, and beef entrecot with potatoes and wasabi.
Agua
Passeig Marítim 30
93 225 12 72
A very relaxed place to eat with a large terrace on the beach, and a summery blue and yellow dining room with large windows. The menu doesn’t change that often but features fresh pasta with prawns, risotto with partridge and other meat and fish grilled over an open fire to create simple but delicious flavours.
Saüc
Passatge Lluís Pellicer 12
93 321 01 89
The neutral coloured interior complements the complexity and variety of flavours on the menu. Dishes include marinated and roasted suckling pig with sautéed potatoes and shallots, Mallorean sobrassada sausage with potatoes and poached egg, and cod with apple aïoli, cherry tomatoes and spinach.
Alkimia
Carrer de l’Indústria 79
93 207 61 15
Alkimia has been awarded a Michelin star for its Catalan classic food with a twist. Rice with Nyores and crayfish, and fried eggs, Mallorean sausage with preserved quinces are examples of the sort of cuisine served here.
Tragaluz
Passatge de la Concepció
93 487 01 96
The flagship restaurant for the successful Tragaluz group, excellent modern Catalan cuisine is served here. Diners can enjoy turbot with romesco-sauce based stew, or braised oxtail with cabbage under a glass sloping roof.
Espai Sucre
Princesa 53
93 268 16 30
Dedicated to desserts, Espai Sucre also has a menu of so called salty dishes, which include lentil stew with foie gras and ginger couscous with pumpkin. However the sweet dishes are the main attraction and are imaginative combinations such as soup of litchi, celery, apple and eucalyptus.
Organic
Junta de Comerç 11
93 301 09 02
A vegetarian restaurant that has an all-you-can-eat salad bar and a self serve dessert area. Main courses feature pasta, rice and tofu, as well as vegetables on pizzas and in stir fries. At the weekend, Brazilian music is played.