Restaurant of the Month
I come across a lot of outstanding restaurants while researching for this blog. So, when I find one that stands out I feature it on this page, whether that’s one of the best restaurants in Barcelona or further afield.
As more are added, you’ll be able to browse the list, which includes the cost, the must try dish of each place and website links, to add to your own list of great places to eat.
Browse my recommended Best Restaurants of the Month list below
Mar-2024
Los Tortillez
- Universidad · Barcelona
- Tapas Restaurant
The most famous of Spanish dishes, tortilla de patatas is the star of the show at this family run restaurant. There are multiple different versions of this Spanish omelette on the menu. Ingredients include succulent prawns, cod, Iberian chorizo sausage or Manchego cheese, and more. However, one of the best choices is the classic ‘Grandmother’s Tortilla’. Ask for it medium rare or well done. Come for the tortillas, but stay for all the other incredible tapas on offer, like the melt-in-your-mouth meatballs, perfectly cooked croquetas, or sublime Russian salad.
Feb-2024
Mr Firewater cafe & takeaway
- Crouch End · London
- Chinese Restaurant
This Hong Kong-style café in North London is one of the Best restaurants around for good quality Chinese food. My go-to takeaway when I’m in the area, although the restaurant has a nice layout as well. Everything is cooked to order with top-of-the-range ingredients. The dishes at this family-run restaurant are authentic to Hong Kong, so not super greasy, or have lots of added colouring.
Jan-2024
Bodean's
- Covent Garden | Soho | Tower Hill · London
- American BBQ Smokehouse
Bodean’s is no newbie, first opening in 2002, but it’s still one of the best restaurants to go to in London for authentic American-style BBQ. Although many similar places have opened up in London since, Bodean’s is the original, and still going strong, with 3 venues across the capital. Their baby back ribs, pulled pork, burnt ends, or Texas smoked sausage are hard to beat.
Dec-2023
Speedboat Bar
- Chinatown · London
- Thai street food bar
Speedboat Bar in London’s Chinatown takes its inspiration from another Chinatown, that of Bangkok. Expect to find exciting street food like crispy chicken skins with zaep seasoning, the sort you’d find on Yaowarat Road in Thailand. A sort of Thai/Chinese equivalent to pork scratchings. The signature dish is minced beef with holy basil (Pad Kaprao). It’s pretty spicy, perfect for that December UK weather. Also, there’s a cool area upstairs with a pool table for drinks and bar snacks.
Nov-2023
Antonia's Burgers
- Sant Gervasi | Barceloneta | Sants · Barcelona
- Smash Burger Bar
Smash burgers are everywhere in Barcelona these days, but my pick of the bunch is Antonia’s Burgers. With three venues across the city, the latest venture from the Allam brothers (The Fish & Chip Shop, Baby Jalebi), offers burgers with top-quality ingredients at unbeatable prices. Currently €6 for one of their famous smash burgers. Plus, I love the complementary super spicy sauce which goes great over the crispy fries.
Oct-2023
Seoul Nadri 서울나들이
- Eixample · Barcelona
- Korean BBQ Restaurant
If you’re looking for the most authentic Korean BBQ experience outside of South Korea, then look no further than Seoul Nadri in Barcelona. Recently opened, this restaurant has a large selection of incredible side dishes that accompany the top-quality certified meats. However, it’s more than just BBQ on the menu. There’s also Korean Fried Chicken, the spicy tteokbokki, bibimbap, and more, plus a tofu soup that rivaled any I’ve had in Seoul itself.
Sep-2023
Compà |Panini de Calabria
- Gràcia & Barceloneta · Barcelona
- Italian Deli
Without sounding too dramatic, the chorizo and grelo leaf sandwich, oozing with provola cheese, was one of the most incredible sandwiches I’ve ever had. This little deli style bar use quality ingredients, and the freshest focaccia bread, to make flavour-filled, slightly crispy, mouth-watering panini’s. A taste of the Italian region, Calabria, here in Barcelona.
Aug-2023
La Mar Salada
- Barceloneta · Barcelona
- Catalan seafood restaurant
If your looking for a great paella spot this summer in Barcelona, then I have one here for you. La Mar Salada is on the somewhat touristy Passeig. de Joan de Borbó, which leads to Barceloneta Beach. However, this is no tourist trap. The menu includes top quality rice dishes, seafood, and the most incredible Iberian ham croquettes.
Jul-2023
Three Uncles
- Liverpool Street · London
- Chinese restaurant
Crispy pork or char siu roast pork with rice are the type of options available at this little Chinese restaurant near Liverpool Street Station. There’s a few tables inside, but the food boxes, which also come with that Chinese vegetable pak choi, make it perfect to take away.
The menu includes roast duck and dim sum like roast pork buns as well. However, it was the crispy pork I most wanted to try. Mainly to compare it to all the ones I just had on a recent trip to Bangkok. I have to say it was right up there with the best. At about £10 a box, it’s roughly 5 times more expensive than the ones I had in Thailand, but then again this is central London, and the quality makes it well worth the price.
Jun-2023
Bronzo
- Eixample · Barcelona
- Italian restaurant
In this trendy Italian tavern in the heart of Eixample, the focus is on plates to share. Bronzo was recommended to me by an Italian as one of the best Italian restaurants in Barcelona. I can see why it’s popular with the Italian expat community. It’s not just the modern, rustic feel, with exposed brick walls. The food is really good as well.
They use Fresh and seasonal ingredients to create dishes like delicious white asparagus, cured egg yolk & garlic mayonnaise or the divine tagliata beef with herb butter.
The quite extensive menu also consists of plenty of the best Italian meats, pastas, salads and wood oven pizzas
May-2023
Royal China (24-26 Baker St.)
- Marylebone · London
- Chinese restaurant
Royal China still serves the BEST DIM SUM in London. Evident by the queue of people waiting for it to open on a rainy Thursday this month. I hadn’t been back in over 10 years, since my days living in London, but I can assure you standards haven’t dropped and it’s as popular as ever. Within 30 minutes, every table of their flagship restaurant was taken.
WHAT IS DIM SUM? Delicious Chinese dumplings and other small steamed or fried dishes with meat, seafood and vegetable fillings. Usually served no later than 4 or 5pm.
No where does it better than the Royal China, located on the famous Baker Street (24-26), just down the road from the fictional Sherlock Holmes residence.
Some of my MUST-ORDER dim sum dishes include the divine HONEY ROAST PORK PUFFS, the fluffy ROAST PORK BUNS, and my absolute favourite the DEEP FRIED PRAWN DUMPLINGS, that come with a little salad cream type dipping sauce.
Apr-2023
FiskeBar
- Port Vell · Barcelona
- Mediterranean restaurant
Not only does FiskeBar have some of the BEST VIEWS in Barcelona, but the food is also exceptional. Take for example, the lobster croquetas, or the tracciatella cheese salad with tangerine, basil and tomatoes. I honestly didn’t think a salad could ever be that good.
The restaurant, with floor to ceiling windows, overlooks the boats below in Port Vell, and has probably the BEST OUTDOOR TERRACE you can find in Barcelona.
The design appears Nordic minimalist, and the dishes are fresh Mediterranean in style. As you’d expect, there’s great seafood options, as well as meats and pastas. However, I couldn’t come to this location and not try the crayfish sticky rice paella, which was outstanding.
This is a special restaurant that I’m already looking forward to revisiting.
Mar-2023
Casa Bangla
- Raval · Barcelona
- Indian restaurant
The tables seem to be turning in Barcelona for TOP QUALITY Indian food. Thanks in part to last months restaurant of the month, Baby Jalebi, and now CASA BANGLA as well.
It wasn’t my intention to feature two Indian restaurants in a row, but Casa Bangla was by far the BEST RESTAURANT I visited in the last month, and without a doubt the BEST VALUE.
Bangladeshi owned (meaning there’s fish curries on the menu too), and located in a Raval side street, not too far from Sant Antoni metro station, the menu is HUGE, the dishes, spices and flavours DELICIOUS.
For those who like their dishes with a real kick there’s plenty to choose from, my JALFREZI was on point. For non-spicy lovers they do one of the best BUTTER CHICKENS in Barcelona.
They even have 10 different breads on offer, including my favourite, the steak filled KEEMA NAAN.
Also, if you book a table through The Fork website you can get up to 50% off.
Feb-2023
Baby Jalebi
- Poble Sec / Gracia · Barcelona
- Punjabi restaurant
Baby Jalebi serves some of the BEST Indian & Pakistani style food you can find in Barcelona. One thing I do miss about London is the vast array of top quality Indian restaurants. The opening of this Punjabi restaurant, by the Alam Brothers, in 2019 was the answer to my prayers.
It’s not just the choices on the menu, like the spiced tandoor sheek kebabs, selection of chicken, lamb or veg curries for mains, varies naan breads or the classic desserts like the gulab jamun or the famous baby jalebi with ice cream, that make this my number one, but the high level ingredients, cooking and care that goes into each dish.
Jan-2023
Pez Vela
- Barceloneta · Barcelona
- Mediterranean restaurant
To kick off the new year I visited one of the most talked about beach-side restaurants in Barcelona. I get that paella can be seen as a summer thing, but with it being sunny practically all year around in this part of Spain, it seemed like a no brainer to go in winter, with less crowds. It made it easier to get a reservation too. I’ve tried some of the best paellas in Barcelona, but the squid, prawn and clam version I had here probably tops all of them.
On top of that, the location and views are beautiful.
Dec-2022
Sebastian's Italian
- Richmond · London · UK
- Italian
My final restaurant of the month for 2022 can be found in the affluent West London area of Richmond. At the end of the District Line on the tube, this Thames-side town has plenty of great options for eating out, and Sebastian’s is among the best. Authentic dishes including homemade pasta and wood fired pizza are served in a spacious dining area, that has a covered and heated terrace as well.
Located just steps away from Richmond Green, where in the summer you can watch a game of cricket being played, Sebastian’s is a solid choice for fresh and quality food when in this part of town.
Nov-2022
Tayyabs
- Whitechapel · London · UK
- Punjabi
For November’s restaurant of the month I’ve gone for a curry house in the East End of London. The food and flavours at this Whitechapel institution, that opened in 1972, are on a different level. Curries of all different spice levels, dhals, flame-grilled marinated meats, and some of the best tandoori chicken you can find outside of the Punjab. Also cooked in the tandoor ovens are the wide selection of naan breads, including the meaty and delicious keema naan.
Set over two floors, this spacious restaurant was recommended to me by the owner of The Fish & Chips Shop, Durango and Baby Jalebi in Barcelona. It’s apparently where the Pakistani community go for the most authentic food in the UK’s capital. The only oddity is that it currently only has a rating of 3.9 on Google. Don’t let this put you off though, I can honestly say Tayyabs is one of the best restaurants I’ve ever been to for Indian or Pakistani style food. I highly recommend the mixed grill which includes the divine lamb chops.
OCT-2022
Cerveceria Catalana
- Eixample · Barcelona
- Tapas Restaurant
Neighbourhood: Eixample
Cost: €€
Must try dish: Spanish omelette with onions
Website: Cerveceria Catalana
Not a new restaurant, but an absolute classic, and one of the best places in Barcelona to try traditional tapas. Like the to-die-for chicken and ham croquetas, that you’d be hard pressed to find better anywhere else.
Until recently I hadn’t visited in a while. The thought of queueing to get a seat at this super popular venue had put me off. However, I couldn’t leave it any longer. The selection of different seafood, meat and other tapas were calling me. On a recent Sunday at 10:30am, beating the queues, I was seated straight away on arrival. And, wow was it worth it.
The menu’s extensive, but the pick of the bunch for me was the perfect Spanish omelette, with thin crispy tomato bread called flauta, the freshest tasting tuna salad with tomatoes and onions, succulent juicy prawns on a stick, and one of the best value steak and foie’s you’ll find in the city.
For other great tapas selections in Barcelona see my full guide here.
SEP-2022
Buon Appetito
- Born · Barcelona
- Italian
I can’t recommend this fantastic Italian restaurant, close to Ciutadella Park, enough. Italian owned and staffed, the food is traditional, think beautiful creamy egg carbonara or authentic Italian meatballs bolognese. They use different doughs for the wood oven cooked pizzas (more info here in my best pizzas guide), with multiple choices of toppings. And the tiramisu takes your taste buds to Italy itself. A nice relaxed environment, either inside or out front on the terrace. Plus the prices are great value. Oh, and the calamari fritti starter, was the best I’ve ever had, crispy on the outside, but not chewy at all.
AUG-2022
Duck & Rice
- Soho · London · UK
- Chinese Restaurant
Top quality Chinese food and craft beers in a pub-style restaurant in the heart of Soho, London. The food is authentic, the atmosphere is buzzing, and the service is friendly, unlike some of the other Chinese restaurants round the corner in China Town. Duck is the specialty here, and to name just two from the menu there’s the 72 hour roasted version in a sticky sauce or one of the best shredded duck and pancakes with plum sauce you’re likely to get anywhere.
Duck & Rice is the brainchild of Alan Yau, creator of Wagamama and Hakkasan. So, you know the standard of food is going to be high, like some of the dim sum you can also get round the corner in his MICHELIN star restaurant Yautcha. Prices are slightly higher than you might find elsewhere, but the calibre of cuisine make it more than good value.
Although opened in 2015, the restaurant still feels new and exciting. Everything we had was delicious, from the venison puffs and char siu buns to the chicken with cashew nut, and the sweet and sour pork, which was crispy on the outside with just the right amount of sugary stickiness.
JUL-2022
The Lowback - Hawksmoor
- Canary Wharf · London · UK
- Steakhouse / Bar
Home to The Big Matt Burger, The Lowback bar is part of Hawksmoor Wood Wharf. Located on the ground floor of it’s floating Island restaurant in Canary Wharf. Creative cocktails, bar snacks and classic Hawksmoor steaks. Read my full review here.
JUN-2022
Rooq
- Eixample · Barcelona
- Fried Chicken
Rooq was opened in 2019 by a couple of friends with the aim of providing Barcelona with seriously good fried chicken. I finally tried it for the first time recently and can see what all the hype is about. Homemade sauces, sides and incredibly flavoursome chicken.
You can tell only the freshest, locally sourced chickens are used for their burgers and nuggets. Even though it looks like a fast food joint, everything is cooked fresh to order. Meaning there is a bit of a wait at peak times, but the wait is well worth it.
My spicy fried chicken sandwich was juicy as hell and super delicious. I added the crunchy spiced fries to go with it.
Prices are good and they serve cocktails too.
MAY-2022
Rick Stein - Barnes
- Barnes · London · UK
- Seafood Restaurant
After a couple of cancelled trips to London over the last 2 years, I finally managed to fulfil a reservation at Rick Stein – Barnes last week. Rick Stein being the famous Cornish chef, restaurateur, TV personality and cook book author.And this being his London restaurant in the affluent area of Barnes, with inspiring views of the River Thames.As is the case with his other restaurants the main focus here is on seafood. From fresh dover sole or English classic fish & chips to dishes inspired by his many travels like the Indonesian seafood curry.The restaurant itself is situated in a little courtyard that backs onto the river.We tried a few dishes including the incredibly refreshing crab with rocket, basil & lemon olive oil (my favourite), salmon fishcakes and clam chowder.If you want to dine on some of the best seafood you can get in London, in an inviting and relaxed environment, Rick Stein Barnes is a fantastic option.
Also, the desserts are to die for, like the incredibly indulgent treacle pudding with clotted cream.
APR-2022
La Cachapera
- Eixample · Barcelona
- Venezuelan Restaurant
Before visiting La Cachapera I used to pass it regularly, and the one thing I noticed was how busy it always was. After trying the food this month for the first time I can now see why. This is a highly rated Venezuelan restaurant next to Urgell Metro station in Eixample.
Popular among the Venezuelan community and locals too. Traditional dishes include the arepa, with up to five fillings including shredded stewed chicken and guacamole.
Then there’s the cachapera itself. A corn dough type of sweet bread with a number of fillings like pulled pork or shredded beef and a gooey white cheese. The mix of sweet and savoury are what makes this dish so tasty.
As well as a selection of starters they offer a menu deal of the day and warm service.
If you haven’t tried Venezuelan cuisine before, or if you’re missing home, this is the place to do it.
MAR-2022
Beso Sitges
- Terramar Beach · Sitges · Barcelona
- Mediterranean Restaurant
FEB-2022
La Textil
- Eixample · Barcelona
- Brewpub & Restaurant
La Textil is a recently opened (April 2021) microbrewery with a restaurant, bar, events space and a street side terrace. They have numerous different craft beers on tap, as well as homemade soft drinks. Food is taken seriously here, with quite a refined menu in the restaurant including aged steaks and fish dishes. And a more relaxed bar menu that has things like slow cooked brisket and one of the best burgers I’ve had in Barcelona, the hang over double cheeseburger.The venue is pretty large, at over 1000 m2, but has a sleek modern design, as well as looking part industrial.Run with passion, La Textil has a great vibe, drinks, food and live music events!
JAN-2022
Teatro Kitchen & Bar
- Poble Sec · Barcelona
- Tapas
Tickets used to be the most famous restaurant in Barcelona. Part owned by Albert and Ferran Adria, of El Bulli fame (El Bulli having won best restaurant in the world five times before it shut its doors for good in 2013). A victim of the pandemic, Tickets closed down, and the chance to experience it’s magic gone forever.
Although wait, fast forward to 2022 and the other part owners, the Iglesias brothers, have reopened, changed the name to TEATRO KITCHEN & BAR, kept a lot of the same staff, including chefs, kept the fun and colourful layout and design, and most importantly kept a lot of those MICHELIN Star tapas dishes, like the liquid olive (that was created in El Bulli) or the jamon ibérico air baguette. Plus they’ve added some new and exciting dishes like the truffle ‘mollete’, which is soft, warm and like most things on the menu, incredibly delicious. Or the mini pluma ibérica steak burgers.Go now before there’s a 6 months waiting list again. Before it’s almost impossible to get a table. It’s as if Tickets lives on… just called Teatro Kitchen & Bar now instead.
DEC-2021
Melo-Jia
- Eixample · Barcelona
- Chinese Food
My new go to Chinese restaurant in Barcelona. Dim-sum, stir-fries, Peking duck, and fish dishes served in a simple yet stylish establishment with indoor trees and flowers. The ethos is quality, authentic, healthy home cooked food. There are some classics like the sweet and sour ribs. Exciting combinations like the beef sachet with foie, and some standout amazing dishes like the Spicy chilli crab with ginger and green onion.
Related Articles
See my full list of the other places in Barcelona here.