Barcelona is full of incredible restaurants all over the city, but if you’re reading this post, it’s likely that you intend on spending time in the Gothic Quarter. If we haven’t met, I’m Gina, and I’m an aesthetic traveler who was fortunate enough to live in the Gothic Quarter for a summer. During this time, I was able to accomplish one of my lifetime goals of eating my way through the city, and there wasn’t a single calorie that I regret. By time I left, I had a curated list of places that I loved the most, and I can’t wait to share my top dinner restaurants in the Gothic Quarter with you! If you need breakfast rec’s also, check out The Best Breakfast/Brunch Restaurants in the Gothic Quarter.
This post may contain affiliate links that I earn a small commission from at no cost to you. I only promote places that I love and have gone to in real life. All restaurant opinions expressed here are my own.
- Related Post: The Best Things To Do in Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter
- Related Post: The Perfect 3 Day Barcelona Itinerary (For Your First Visit!)
Getting to Know Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter
Whenever you hear people mention the “ciutat vella” – or “old city” – of Barcelona, they are referring to the Gothic Quarter. You can think of the old city as being comprised of 3 main parts: Las Ramblas, the Gothic Quarter, and El Born.
- LAS RAMBLAS is very touristy and famous for its long pedestrian walkway with souvenir shops, street performers, and restaurants.
- The main GOTHIC QUARTER is centered around the Barcelona Cathedral and surrounding area. It attracts a lot of tourists, especially near the cathedral.
- EL BORN is where you will find a lot of romantic alleyways with string lights. This area is my favorite section of the ciutat vella.
However, because these 3 areas are all situated right next to each other and look very similar, whenever people talk about “The Gothic Quarter,” they are usually referring to all 3 areas.
Arcano
Location: El Born
Best For: Dinner
Arcano was my favorite meal I had in Barcelona, so I figured it’s only right that we start here. Their restaurant is located in a former 17th-century stable, and it’s beautiful. They have a 3-tier tasting menu for 2 that lets you sample some of their best dishes, and you can also order à la carte. Everything was amazing – food, drinks, ambiance, all of it! The staff is so welcoming and friendly and makes your already great experience even better.
Arcano
Arcano
I wanted to try as much food as I could, so naturally, I came here twice. I tried the tuna and pistachio tartar, braised beef cheek ravioli, octopus, steak, fries, and cheesecake cannoli. For cocktails, get the Negroni if you’re a gin fan – it was perfectly balanced.
Sucre Cremat
Recently, Arcano opened Sucre Cremat – a small dessert shop that sells authentic crema Catalana. This is a popular Catalan dessert consisting of sweet cream with a caramelized sugar top layer…oh, and they caramelize it right in front of you! This shop is also located in El Born and is the perfect treat if you want to try one of Europe’s oldest traditional desserts that’s authentic to the region.
La Alcoba Barcino
Location: Main Gothic Quarter
Best For: Dinner
Ready for some history to go along with your dinner? Barcelona was settled by the Romans under the name “Barcino” during the reign of Caesar Augustus, and that’s how La Alcoba Barcino got its name. The restaurant is tucked into a little street located near the ancient Barcino walls built to protect the city. If you ask me, that’s a cool enough reason to eat there. Not to mention, they have some of my favorite tapas in the Gothic Quarter!
If this is your first time on this website, let me introduce you to my love for a bar or restaurant with a dark, moody aesthetic. All it took was one walk past La Alcoba Barcino and I knew I was going in. The menu has some traditional Mediterranean tapas along with toasts, salads, plus a tapa of the month. They also have a wide variety of drinks – from beer, wine and cocktails to juices and teas.
Just when you think it can’t get any better, La Alcoba Barcino has some sister bars/restaurants: La Alcoba Azul, La Alcobita, and El Bandoler by La Alcoba. These 3 are located close to each other, about an 8 minute walk from La Alcoba Barcino. You are able to get food at all 4, but the other 3 give me more “bar” vibes.
Sensi Tapas
Location: Main Gothic Quarter
Best For: Dinner
Sensi Tapas blends Gothic charm with a tropical, jungle-inspired vibe. Their seasonal menu includes creative versions of classics like patatas bravas, croquettes, oxtail, octopus confit, squid-ink paella, prawns with leeks, and more. Personally, I’m a fan of their tuna tartare, which they casually set on fire right in front of you. Make reservations, especially if going during tourist season.
Sensi Tapas
Similar to La Alcoba, Sensi has other sister restaurants in the city: Colección by Sensi, Sensi Bistro, and Gourmet by Sensi. They all offer the same cozy, relaxed-yet-elevated feel with similar style tapas. In other words, if you can’t get a resy at the OG Sensi, you have options.
Tapeo
Location: El Born
Best For: Dinner
The first thing I’m going to say about Tapeo is you need to make a reservation. As a solo traveler, there were plenty of nights when I couldn’t even get a seat at the bar because they were full (yes, their bar is reserved seating too). The time I did manage to snag a bar seat, the bartenders were lively and the playlist was fire. Think 2000s hip hop. I could tell I was in for a good meal (and I was right).
My favorite thing I got here was the beef burger with foie and wild mushroom mayonnaise, but I also loved their burrata with tomato, croquettes, and patatas bravas. But word on the street is you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. FYI – The inside is small, and not ideal for big parties.
Bar Brutal
Location: El Born
Best For: Dinner
The vibe of Bar Brutal is exactly what it sounds like. With the red neon lights and wood paneling walls, it’s giving warehouse dungeon (in a good way). Their tapas are drawn from local and Veneto influences, and change seasonally based on market availability. However, you’ll always be able to find vegetarian, seafood, and meat options. When I was here, I tried the squid, bread and tomato, and burrata with zucchini and it was 10/10.
Now, the downside: I was not a fan of most of their wines. The wines are natural and organic, and they tasted different than what I’m used to. I suggest sampling a couple, as I struggled to find one that was full-bodied enough for me.
- Pro Tip: This bar looks equally enticing from the backside, but the entrance is on Carrer de la Princesa
- (Another) Pro Tip: There’s also a Bar Brutal in Madrid, which has a fancier vibe than the one in Barcelona plus a different menu. If Madrid is on your list, I recommend the Bar Brutal there as well.
Honest Greens
Location: El Born (but there are others throughout the city)
Best For: Lunch/Dinner
Honest Greens
After days of eating carbs and starchy tapas, your body might be in the mood for a vegetable or 2. Enter: Honest Greens. If you’re from America, this is basically the Spanish version of Sweet Greens. When I lived in Barcelona, there was an Honest Greens 5 minutes down the street from where I lived and I was a frequent flier. My favorite was their Wild Mediterranean bowl, but I also loved the Summer Burrata (seasonal), sweet potato fries, and Honest Salmon. They have water that’s infused with herbs, fruits, and vegetables, along with wine and cava. I love that their food is healthy AND affordable…oh, and ps. – they have free wifi!
Cañete
Location: El Raval
Best For: Dinner
The first thing I noticed about Cañete was the sign that read “F*CK YOUR DIET” when I came in the door. Some may be appalled, but I love the confidence. Cañete is styled similarly to Vinitus from my restaurants in Eixample post in the sense that you can sit at the bar and get a front row seat of what you’re about to be eating. This restaurant was recommended to me by a girl that I met in Paradiso bar, and ended up being one of my absolute favorites. They have a larger tapas menu, and I loved everything I tried. If you’re a chocolate fan, ask for the chocolate coulant (essentially, a chocolate lava cake) with a side of coconut ice cream. You probably guessed this, but make a reservation.
- Fun Fact: Cañete was awarded a Michelin Star in 2025!
Story
Location: El Born
Best For: Dinner
Tucked into the end of an alleyway in El Born, Story caught my eye not only because of its dark, moody aesthetic, but also because of the library vibes that I anticipated finding inside (and I was right). It’s incredibly cozy and the perfect spot for a quiet, romantic dinner…unless you come on a live music night! Like many places in Barcelona, they are known for their tapas, so come in and try a variety of food while picking out your next novel from the wall. If you’re on the fence about what to order, ask your server – they have great rec’s!
Mercat St Josep La Boqueria
Location: Las Ramblas
Best For: Sampling different things, or buying fresh produce to go
First things first: this is not your typical restaurant. Spain is famous for their large street markets that sell everything from meats, cheeses, and fruit to sandwiches, wine, dessert, and more. The Mercat St Josep La Boqueria is the largest food market in Barcelona and an incredibly popular tourist destination. You can buy food that’s already prepared and eat it there, or you can buy food to take home and cook later.
FYI…this market will likely be VERY crowded. That’s partially because of its location in Las Ramblas but also partially because it’s such a cool thing to experience. Let’s be honest…we have nothing like this in America! I have gotten food here before and had to eat standing up because there were no seats left.
Even if you don’t eat at Mercat St Josep La Boqueria, I would suggest at least walking through it. This was the first Spanish mercado that I ever saw and I was amazed by all of it: the size, the variety of food, the hanging slabs of meat, the colorful fruit and smoothie drinks, the wine bar, the seafood, the different types of gelato and cakes and other dessert all under one roof!
- Pro Tip: You will also see this written as “mercado” instead of “mercat” – both words mean “market”
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