Best Paella Restaurants in Barcelona
Fantastic paella can be found in abundance in Barcelona, as long you know where to go. There are some not so great ones as well. Places that reheat frozen paellas and serve a lower quality product. These venues should be avoided. This list, and my dos & don’ts, will point you towards only the best paellas in Barcelona.
Dos & Don’ts
- Don't eat paella in restaurants that have pictures of a paella outside on a board.
- Don't eat paella in a restaurant where someone is enticing you in.
- Generally don't eat a paella on Las Ramblas.
- Do eat paella at lunch time. Paella is not an evening meal.
- Do try other variations as well, e.g. lobster broth, rice with squid ink or fideua (Catalan noodles).
- Do ask if there is a peeled version, if you don't like doing the de-shelling yourself.
Where to find the 14 Best Paella Restaurants in Barcelona
1. Pez Vela
A great place to start for the best paella in Barcelona is Pez Vela. This relaxed beachfront restaurant serves a number of exceptional seafood and meat rice dishes, with generous amounts of quality ingredients like the juicy prawns or clams. Paellas are done in the Catalan style, thin and crispy. Gets very busy in the summer.
2. Maná 75
For the ultimate paella experience in Barcelona you need to visit Maná 75. Hidden round the back of The W Hotel, a stones throw from the beach (although no actual view of the beach), there are loads of different exciting paellas to choose from. More than any of the others on this list actually. Watch them being prepared on the counter top of the open kitchen. This modern spacious venue has plenty of tables inside and out but fills up quickly. Make sure to book ahead, especially in the summer.
3. Terraza Martinez
Paella with a view doesn’t come much better than this. Located at the top of Montjuic, overlooking the city, port and Mediterranean sea, depending on where you’re seated. Next on our list of the best paella in Barcelona is Terraza Martinez. They serve tapas, seafood and rice dishes using the best ingredients. If you’re not driving or getting a taxi there, be prepared for a bit of an uphill walk. However, for food and a setting like this, it’s well worth it.
4. Can Solé
If you want one of the best paella restaurants in Barcelona with some history, almost 120 years of history to be exact, try Can Solé in Barceloneta. Opened in 1903 to serve the local fisherman, and still going strong today. Traditional décor in the dining rooms, set over two floors, they serve exceptional seafood and rice dishes, including of course first-class paellas.
5. El Cangrejo Loco
New Location: C/ d’Aribau, 115, Eixample
Old Location: Moll de Gregal, 29-30 Port Olímpic
Must try dish: Seafood paella
UPDATE JULY 2023: New location due to the refurbishment of the Olympic Port, which will re-open in 2024
El Cangrejo Loco (The Crazy Crab in English) in the Olympic Port, was first opened in 1992 for the Barcelona Summer Olympics. There are four terraces to choose from. The sea terrace or the beach terrace offer the best views of the Mediterranean Sea. The restaurant itself can seem a little dated and the service can be a little slow. However, the paellas here are of really good quality. The seafood paella is delicious. And, that’s why it has made our best paella in Barcelona list.
6. Salamanca Restaurant
Location: C/ de Pepe Rubianes, 34
Must try dish: Seafood paella or black rice with squid ink
At Barceloneta Beach you’ll find this institution, serving Paella since 1969. If you ask locals or expats for the best paella in Barcelona, Salamanca Restaurant is usually the first place they suggest. With a large terrace overlooking the sea, this place is always packed with tourists and locals alike. This has to be one of the most famous places for a Paella in Barcelona. And with good reason.
7. Fiskebar
Out of all the best restaurants serving Paella in Barcelona, the panoramic views of the port here are the best. There isn’t a long list of different paellas to choose from at this modern Catalan restaurant, about 3 rice dishes in total. However, it’s a case of quality over quantity. For example the crayfish sticky rice doesn’t have mountains of seafood, but is thin, flavoursome and cooked to perfection.
8. Can Majó
This family run seafood restaurant in Barceloneta, has been serving the area since 1968. Famous for fresh produce and good quality dishes. A large terrace opposite provides views of the beach, where you can enjoy one of the various rice dishes or paellas from the menu.
9. La Mar Salada
Location: Passeig de Joan de Borbó, 58, 59
Must try dish: Fideuà with white shrimp and aioli
Usually I don’t recommend restaurants on Passeig de Joan de Borbó, the street leading to the beach from Barceloneta metro station. Reason being the amount of tourist traps here. However, this Catalan restaurant is the exception. On top of the terrace and bistro style dining area, there is a wide choice of excellent paella’s (seafood, meat & veg), and fideuà, Catalan noodles (pictured).
10. Can Fisher
Another location with Mediterranean sea views is Can Fisher at Bogatell Beach. Opened in 2017, it’s a more recent addition than most of the other restaurants on our best paella in Barcelona list. It has a clean and modern feel to it. Fresh fish and seafood on offer from along the Spanish coast and locally sourced vegetables. In addition, they have an exciting selection of paellas to try including the non-seafood chicken paella with rib steak and artichokes and a seaweed and cockle paella with green aioli. Also note the Fideua (pictured), the Catalan noodles, with monkfish and crayfish are particularly good.
11. Xiringuito Escribà
Next up on our list of the best paella restaurants in Barcelona is Xiringuito Escribà. A beach front restaurant right in front of the popular Bogatell Beach. They’ve been serving tapas, fresh seafood and most importantly top quality rice dishes, including paellas, for over 30 years. There’s a variety of different paellas like the ‘surf & turf’ which includes chicken and lobster, vegetarian ones, and classic seafood versions. All at good prices with wonderful sea views.
12. Restaurant Casa Varela 1986
Slightly off the beaten track in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, very close to the venue of the annual World Mobile Congress, you will find a culinary gem. A mix of fresh modern ideas, along with traditional tapas and rice dishes, including paella. The paella is more Catalan in style. A thinner layer of a slightly more crispy rice. You really don’t need to be in front of the sea to have one of the best paellas in Barcelona. Read my interview with owner Toni Varela here.
13. Gallito
Location: Passeig del Mare Nostrum, 19, 21
Must try dish: Arroz en paellade gamba y calamares
Gallito has a great beach side location underneath the impressive W hotel. A restaurant with a chilled vibe serving a mix of tacos, seafood and very good paellas using fresh ingredients. If you want a seafront location, this is a good option for you.
14. Arume
Arume, in the Raval neighbourhood, is a good choice if you want a paella for one person. Most places are minimum two people. The quality is pretty good and you get a lot of ingredients for around 16 euros. You can have a seafood paella or a meat one, with ingredients such as duck. So, if you’re dining solo or the only person in your group who wants paella, you can still have one of the best paellas in Barcelona. Full review here.
These next two are not actually in Barcelona itself, but in the beautiful little costal town of Sitges, about 30km down the road. Easily reachable by bus or train, and well worth the trip, as Sitges is where you can get some of the best paellas in the whole Barcelona area.
Overlooking the boats in Sitges port is where you’ll find this traditional seafood restaurant. The outside gazebo next to the water is my recommendation on where to sit. They serve excellent dishes like black rice in squid ink and fideuà, the Catalan noodles. But, it’s the seafood paella that’s done so perfectly here and my number one choice.
Also located in Sitges Port, just a few doors along, is Can Laury. Again, they have a similar gazebo next to the waters edge, where you can enjoy fresh fish and rice dishes over looking the boats. Check out more great places to eat in Sitges here.
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See my full list of the other best restaurants in Barcelona here.