Many people forget that when they take a Barcelona Holiday they’re also taking a Catalan and a Costa Brava holiday. At the very bottom of the Costa Brava, and just above the Costa Dorada, Barcelona sits “like a jewel in the sun” to quote our own Freddie Mercury. 

Barcelona, the Costa Brava and Catalonia are renowned for their inventive and in many cases, Michelin starred cuisine, starting with Ferran Adria at El Bulli on the Catalan coast and culminating in the world’s most vibrant cuisine scene in Barcelona. El Bulli closed a few years ago and Ferran and Albert Adria went in different directions, but if you still fancy “a bit of Bulli” then we have three great recommendations in Barcelona for you directly related to El Bulli itself.

Like everywhere, Barcelona has suffered terribly with Covid-19 and has undergone frequent lockdowns and restrictions. Barcelona was placed under local lockdown again between January 7-17th and that has been extended until this Sunday (7th February) when lockdown restrictions are expected to be eased and the local Catalan’s can once again enjoy outdoor living in the evening as currently only breakfast and lunches are served to a 30% indoor and 100% outdoor capacity and a curfew is in place. However, with the easing of restrictions many restaurants will be back in business and we’re going to guide you towards the very best places to eat out in the city.

Barcelona experienced highs of 24c last weekend (compare that to the snow that hit most of the UK) and you can see why the locals are keen to eat out again. But it’s not just the locals. Us Brits can’t wait to get back to Spain and eat and drink in the sunshine too having lost out on a holiday last year. With the effectiveness of the vaccine programme in the UK with 10m people now having had their first jab we’re hopeful that a late summer weekend or week in Barcelona may well be on the cards so we can finally top up that tan and enjoy some dining al fresco.

The Paella Club

What happens in Paella club stays in Paella club, and gets eaten, by you. A cooking school and a restaurant in the world famous market, La Boqueria. The story of The Paella Club is the story of community, determination, passion, cultural heritage, and of course, passion for food. The Paella Club was the vision of a small and determined bunch of Paella lovers that started in Barcelona (hence the name), but more than a culinary school we are a place where people from all ages and background can come together in their share love of cuisine.

Tickets

For a decade now, Tickets has been the hottest ticket in Barcelona, hard to get into and not cheap either, however, once you’re in, you’re in love.

Albert Adria, brother of Ferran, started Tickets which has now grown into a small chain with Hoja Santa, Enigma, Bodega 1900 and Pakta making up the group.

Tickets explores the universal language of tapas and world cuisine. A place where the experience of the diner and the way of eating are reviewed cyclically. It is an explosive concept that makes the offer different and is constantly evolving, depending on the seasonality of the products available to us.

Disfrutar

Another innovation from the senior team at El Bulli, that has been wowing the Barcelona culinary scene for a decade.

A meal at Disfrutar is a performance: There's smoke, fire and ice, and lots of flavour and colour. Three chefs from the late, great El Bulli create tasting menus that are playful, unpredictable, often surprising by telling our eyes one thing but sending our taste buds on a completely different journey. Top dishes include the crispy egg yolk with mushrooms and the chocolate peppers with oil and salt, but at this two-Michelin-starred gem, it’s all good. The wine list is huge and not expensive with a bottles starting from 10€.