The details of each dish have been deliberated thoroughly. Other features that make Catalan cuisine unique are the creative approach to serving the dishes and the special cooking technique. Even so, the price of local food in Barcelona is quite affordable, even for high cuisine in a restaurant that has been marked by a Michelin star.
In Catalonia, you can taste traditional dishes such as alioli (garlic sauce), snails, escalibada (baked eggplants and sweet pepper), the famous bread rubbed with tomato, botifarra (pork sausage), and many others.
Traditional restaurants in Barcelona
7 Portes Restaurant
This restaurant was founded more than 175 years ago and opens its doors daily from 1 pm until 1 am. As a classic Catalan restaurant, this establishment serves traditional dishes from Barcelona, for example, the cod "Sra. Carme," monkfish "barquera," and family dishes like paella or casserole with seafood. The chef also participated in the creation of a book of ancient recipes called, Llibre de Sent Sovi, which contains instructions for concocting dishes considered to be the best authentic recipes of Catalan cuisine.
- Working hours: from 13:00 until 1:00, booking in advance.
- Address: Passeig Isabel II, 14, 08003 Barcelona
- Website: www.7portes.com
Restaurant Ca L’Estevet
In Catalan, “estevet” is a diminutive version of the name Esteban. This name also refers to the kitchen of L'Esteve and his daughter, Marion. Traditional dishes have been served in this location since the end of the XIX century. Ca L'Estevet first entered the city’s history as a place where representatives of various facets of Barcelona’s society used to meet and dine.
This restaurant specializing in Catalan cuisine in Barcelona offers homemade canals “a la Barcelona,” duck with oranges, botifarra with white beans, and cod baked in a special way.
- Working hours: Monday-Saturday from 13:00 until 15:30 and from 19:30 until 22:45, Sunday closed
- Address: Carrer Valldonzella, 46, 08001 Barcelona.
- Website: www.restaurantestevet.com
Restaurant Can Culleretes
This restaurant is included in the Guinness Book of Records. Can Culleretes is considered the second most authentic restaurant in Spain and the first in Catalonia. However, this restaurant’s fame is not the only reason for visiting this legendary place. Guests are sure to enjoy high-quality Catalan and Mediterranean dishes prepared from Boqueria’s best market products. The magnificent interior is eye-catching, as the restaurant walls are decorated with photos of outstanding people from the XVIII century, including artists, athletes, and singers from the Liceu Theater.
Can Culleretes offers visitors the chance to taste traditional dishes from Barcelona, such as bakalao with alioli, canelone, habas, and the opportunity to choose them from several fixed price menus, including homemade desserts and recommended "dishes of the day." The chef prepares meals according to recipes documented in 1786 from the special, homemade menu of the Agut Manuben family, the same family that brought fame to the restaurant.
- Working hours: Tuesday-Saturday from 13:30 until 16:00 and from 21:00 until 23:00, Sunday from 13:00 until 16:00, Monday closed. Closed during the summer period from 21 July until 21 August.
- Address: Carrer Quintana, 5, 08002 Barcelona.
- Website: www.culleretes.com
Restaurant Freixa Tradicio
This restaurant’s slogan is, "For over 40 years, we have been cooking according to the recipes of traditional Catalan cuisine." The saying is always upheld in the kitchen of Josep Maria and Ramon Freiks (a father and son) and Dori Riera. The restaurant opened its doors in the mid-1980s, and in the 1990s, Ramon began to manage the kitchen and converted its focus to authentic Catalan recipes. This improvement bears responsibility for placing the restaurant in the top-ten rankings. Today in Freixa Tradicio, you can taste the local cuisine of Barcelona with such delicious meals as pork knuckle with prunes and pine nuts and sepia with artichokes.
- Working hours: Tuesday-Saturday from 13:00 until 15:30 and from 21:00 until 23:30, Sunday from 13:00 until 15:30. Closed Mondays.
- A: Carrer Sant Elies, 22, 08006 Barcelona.
- Сайт: www.freixatradicio.com
Restaurant Cal Boter
An old carpentry shop in the Gracia district was the site chosen by Tony and Encarna in 1986 to create the Cal Boter family restaurant specializing in Catalan cuisine. The original premises soon became too small for the growing number of visitors, and the restaurant has since doubled its area and added a lounge hall where many family lunches and dinners are served. The restaurant’s menu constantly changes and new services appear. For example, nutritious breakfasts are available, during which you can taste callus with chickpeas, pork legs, and various dishes made from cod. The classic menu includes traditional dishes from Barcelona, such as a pear in wine, garlic soup, grilled "Grata Colloni," and meatballs with cuttlefish.
- Working hours: Monday - Saturday from 9:00 until 12:00, from 13:00 until 16:00, and from 20:00 until midnight. Closed Sundays.
- Address: Carrer de Tordera, 62, 08012 Barcelona
- Website: www.restaurantcalboter.com
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