roxxanaa
Lifestyle, food and fashion content creator
Casual Dinner in Barcelona
Restaurants to have a delicious relaxing dinner with your partner or friends
About this guide
This is a list of my favorite restaurants for a spontaneous date or a fun group gathering. I chose places with a relaxing cozy atmosphere and exceptional cuisine. They are not about luxurious platting, world-famous chefs and a snobbish fuss which follows you all the way. These places provide the most important things: delicious food and a nice setting to enjoy your company.
General Tip
I recommend booking a table in any of the restaurants below in advance. It can be difficult to find a place to sit, especially on the weekends. So, do not risk and make a reservation.
Parking Pizza
🍕 Traditional pizza with an edgy viberoxxanaa
It is a modern pizza joint with a cool industrial feel. It is located in a former parking garage. The place is very spacious and great for a big group of friends. You will get here simple, well-cooked appetizers, focaccia, classical pasta, and, of course, pizzas. My favorite one is with gorgonzola cheese. Before going, pay attention to their working hours: They are open from 1 to 4 pm for lunch and then from 8 to 11 pm for dinner.
🍽 Menu
La Balabusta
👩🏻🍳 Jewish cornerroxxanaa
I discovered this place last year after the restaurant was included in the 2023 Barcelona Michelin Guide. It serves traditional and modern Jewish cuisine (Balabusta means “a talented home cook” in Yiddish). The place is great for discovering some new flavors. The menu is kosher and has many vegan and vegetarian options. Don’t miss their breads and roasted cauliflower: they are delicious.
Bronzo
🤌🏻 Venetian tavernroxxanaa
I love this place's authenticity and its elegant, rustic vibe. They call themselves a bàcaro, which is a Venetian word for a small bar or tavern. The place specializes in classical Northern Italian cuisine. Unlike Naples and Sicily in the south, which are known for their tomato sauce-heavy dishes, Northern cuisine tends to be more buttery and cheesy. That's why the menu might look unfamiliar to pizza and pasta lovers. My favorites are the delicious goat cheese pizzettas and the perfectly made pasta Parmigiana.
🍽 Menu
Tragaluz
🪴 Urban greenhouseroxxanaa
This is the perfect place for a romantic dinner with your loved one. Located right by Passeig de Gràcia, Tragaluz has a beautiful glass roof that floods the space with light. To enter, you go through the kitchen, which also adds to the experience. They serve modern Mediterranean cuisine. I adore their starters: light amanidas (salads), delicious burrata, and carpaccio.
🍽 Menu
El Cercle
🍹 Terrace in the historic centerroxxanaa
I have been here countless times. Just a block from the Barcelona Cathedral, it is the place to feel the vibe of historic Barcelona. This place has a beautiful terrace overlooking a lovely square in the Gothic Quarter. I come here to vibe and feel the city. As for the food, it is one of my favorite tapas places in the city. For the main course, everything is delicious and worth trying. They have classic patatas bravas, seafood paella, and delicious steamed mussels. They also have an extensive Japanese menu, which is uncommon for places like this.
Note: In the colder months, they put out outdoor heaters. So, the terrace is cozy all year round.
🍽 Menu
La Balmesina
🏆 Gourmet pizza restaurant
roxxanaa, Alma Foodie
My go-to place if I want a really good pizza. It was founded by three Italian guys. They make gourmet pizza from sourdough with 72 hours of fermentation. For several years in a row, La Balmesina has been on the list of the top 50 best pizza restaurants in the world. They have traditional Margherita and Bufala but also unique flavors like artichokes and guanciale (cured pork cheeks) or blue cheese and pear. I can't say I have any favorites here, so just grab what you like.
🍽 Menu
El Set
🥘 Traditional tapas barroxxanaa
It is a quintessential Barcelona tapas place. With wooden beams on the ceiling, a cheese counter, and strings of onion hanging behind the bar, the space is super cozy. The place to have a glass or two of wine with patates braves, classical Padrón peppers, pork sausage, and delicious cheeses. My friends and I would go here to celebrate a birthday or just have a special Spanish tapas night. Note: it is open from 7pm till midnight and closed on Mondays.