CAL PEP This place has been here since September 1989 and is as much a tapas bar as it is a restaurant. In fact, it is said to be "the best tapas bar in the world" and certainly one of the first of its type. The London restaurant Barrafina is supposedly based on the concept of Cal Pep. There are only twenty of the coveted seats at the bar, so to grab one, you need to queue on most days around twenty minutes before each service, which starts at 1 pm or 7.30 pm. There is also a

elBulli Three Michelin Stars This is an old one from 2009, but it's good to look back sometimes, especially when the restaurant is no longer open. This review is from the world-renowned elBulli, which closed in 2011 and was run by Catalan chef Ferran Adriá. Restaurant Magazine judged elBulli Number One on its Top 50 list of the world's best restaurants for a record five times: in 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009. In 2022, the restaurant was voted number one in the best of th

SUCULENT Michelin Plate IIIO On our trip to Barcelona, we visited Restaurant Suculent. This is a great place with no pretensions in the somewhat dodgy area of Raval, and it lives up to its recent good reputation. It has a creative and relaxed interior with a good atmosphere, a little rough and ready rather than sophisticated, but the focus is on what comes on the plate. There are two tasting menus; we chose the classic, a seven-course menu plus two desserts. The Classics Me

DISFRUTAR Three Michelin Stars Disfrutar has just received its third Michelin Star and lives up to its name (which means 'enjoy' in English). Currently rated as number 1 in the Best 50 Restaurants in the World 2024 list. See here for the complete list: www.theworlds50best.com This restaurant is situated away from the main tourist area of Barcelona. Once you enter the restaurant, you feel like you are taking centre stage. The initial contact with the staff is very warm.

RESTUARANT EL RACÓ DE L'AGÜIR A guest review by Siddu Amin. We came to this restaurant in 2023, which the Agüir family has been running since 1990. It is a modern classic in the Sant Antoni neighbourhood and offers an innovative touch on market cuisine and excellent Alcoi-style rice dishes The restaurant is unassuming, but everything is prepared well with fresh ingredients. They turn even simple dishes like bread with tomato into something special. Which is what we started wi

EL CELLER DE CAN ROCA Three Michelin Stars The second part of the 2009 trip to Catalunya was to the Roca brothers ' restaurant in Girona, which has been ranked number one in the world on a few occasions. El Celler de Can Roca is a restaurant in Girona, Catalonia, Spain, which was opened in 1986 by the Roca brothers, Joan, Josep, and Jordi. It was first located next to their parents' restaurant Can Roca, but moved to its current purpose-built building in 2007. It has been

CERVECERIA CATALANA Michelin Plate IIO A return to this restaurant in April 2022 for a few tapas when Covid-19 restrictions were still in place. All tables were spaced out, and the bar area had plastic shields. A nchoas escalivar. V ieira y gambas . The restaurant was not as busy as on previous visits, which is understandable given the COVID-19 restrictions. A previous visit in more convivial times. This is an excellent spot for tapas at the bar or a full-blown meal in th

SHUNKA After arriving 15 minutes late, after some difficulty finding the restaurant, we were told there would not be enough time for the tasting menu. After a few pleading, encouraging words, they relented and served us the Shunka menu. It is a charming restaurant with good furnishings. Menu Shunka €75 per person. Raw oyster with ponzu sauce. Red Mullet with ponzu sauce. Deep-fried hake cheeks. Sushi of smoked sardine. Steamed cockles, with sake. Sashimi. Tuna belly, sea urc

RESTAURANT GRESCA Michelin Plate IIO This restaurant is a hidden gem, but from its discreet, tiny entrance, you would hardly guess it could be a fantastic culinary journey. We arrived early Monday night for a 9 pm booking, but the place looked closed, so we went for a drink around the corner. On our return, there was still only one other diner. Within half an hour, the place was full, including ex-Barcelona footballer and TV pundit Gary Lineker. He had local knowledge.

TAST- LLER Chef Mikel Peinador's small restaurant is in a back alley loft off La Rambla. It serves excellent, innovative food in a wonderful environment. The restaurant is like a quirky host's home and feels like a house dinner party. You think you are in his home, and he is cooking just for you. The loft is decorated with many interesting artefacts and close personal attention to detail. The only menu is the tasting menu, and everything is down to Mikel, who buys top-qualit