Barcelona Restaurants

Widely considered to be the best seafood restaurant in Barcelona, Botafumeiro consistently presents the finest regional cuisine of Galicia and prides itself on the freshness of its fish, clams, mussels, lobster, crayfish and scallops, which are either kept in large tanks near the entrance or flown in daily from Galicia. The impeccable treatment of customers and the private atmosphere makes this a perfect dining experience for both business and pleasure. Open for lunch and dinner daily. Reservations essential.

Address: El Gran de Gràcia 81; Tel: 93 218 4230; E-mail: info@botafumeiro.es

An old favourite, Can Gaig was started in 1869 by the great grandmother of the present owner as a travellers' inn and today its stylish appearance retains an old hospitable atmosphere that is celebrated for the quality of its market-fresh ingredients. Cuisine is based on traditional Catalán home cooking that the chef combines with modern, innovative ideas. The menu includes specialities like roast partridge with Iberian ham, as well as game and seafood dishes that are complimented with an impressive wine list. Desserts are also superb. Lunch daily, dinner Tuesday to Sunday. Closed in August.

Address: Carrer Arago 214; Tel: 93 429 1017; E-mail: info@restaurantgaig.com

For almost a century this restaurant has been a family-run business and today the homey atmosphere still welcomes with its old-fashioned wooden panelling, and time-tested culinary fare. Catalán paintings from the 1950s serve as reminders of Agut's time as a meeting place for artists and writers. The hearty food includes such dishes as sweet and sour wild duck, layers of pastry filled with Catalán sausage and mushrooms, or monkfish with prawns, while desserts are light and creative. Not to be confused with the Agut d'Avignon restaurant nearby. Closed Monday; no dinner on Sunday. Closed in August.

Address: Gignàs 16, Ciutat Vella (Gothic Quarter); Tel: 93 315 1709

On the short list of Barcelona's top restaurants, Jean Luc Figueras ensures that the 19th-century townhouse continues to produce an award-winning cuisine by using only the freshest in-season ingredients. The Catalán dishes are enhanced with a subtle French emphasis, with a prominence of seafood on the menu evident in outstanding creations such as the fried prawn and ginger pasta in a mango and mustard sauce. Menus change frequently but the meat dishes like the pork with goat's cheese and peach honey are good and the selection of homemade breads and sumptuous desserts must be sampled. Open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner. Reservations essential.

Address: Santa Teresa 10; Tel: 93 415 2877

Celebrity chef Jaume Bargués has developed a well-earned reputation for deliciously original variations on traditional Catalán cuisine blended with southern French cooking. A favourite of the King of Spain this cosy restaurant features tempting dishes such as sole stuffed with seafood; mushrooms and oloroso sauce, Fillet with truffle sauce and Madeira wine or rabbit loins. The extensive wine list covers Spain, France and Catalonia. Closed Monday, Sunday evening.

Address: Provença 88; Tel: 93 430 0029

On the beachfront, Can Majó serves delicious seafood that can be enjoyed on the outdoor terrace overlooking the Mediterranean. Specialities include paella, but the fish is also superb. Choose from a daily catch including barnacles, prawns, crab, oysters and clams. Reservations required. Closed Monday. No dinner Sundays.

Address: Almirall Aixada 23, Barceloneta; Tel: 93 221 5455

One of the many unassuming sidewalk café-bars on Placa George Orwell in the Gothic Quarter, Oviso offers reasonably priced food and an intimate, bohemian ambiance. Good for breakfast or an afternoon snack, this bar restaurant often serves as a place to begin a night out or to end a long day. Great for people watching, Oviso attracts many artists and students and is a good choice for idling away a few hours in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Expect to pay only €7 for a soup and a main.

Address: 5 Calle de Arai, Placa George Orwell

Not called Rubi for nothing, this vibrant restaurant and nightspot is ideal for couples and friends looking for a chic but understated modern restaurant. With bright crimson booths, an elegant bar and high ceilings, Rubi has become one of Barcelona's quintessential nightspots. In true Barcelona style, Rubi is friendly and laid back. Serving contemporary fusion cuisine made from only the freshest produce from local markets, Rubi also bakes homemade breads and deserts. After 11.30pm the restaurant shifts gears and the venue is transformed into a groovy bar with Latin American and funk tunes, heating things up a little. Open for dinner, Tuesday to Sunday.

Address: Calle Banys Vells, 6 bis; Tel: 933 106 824

A great place for a wholesome lunch, Petit Safra is the sister restaurant of Safra 18, sharing a similar character and good quality Mediterranean and Catalan cuisine. With affordable lunches (three course set menu €9.50) and a winelist with over 50 local wines, diners could spend a few hours enjoying the hospitality of this small Barra Gòtic gem. Enjoy pasta elbows with ham, black olives, walnuts and cream or prawn kebabs with saffron au gratin. Boasting homemade deserts, sample the yoghurt mouse with mango coulis or famous chocolate crepes with ice cream to name a few.

Address: Santa Caterina Market; Tel: 933 191 121

Serving creative vegetarian cuisine, with dishes from all over the world and a keen eye for presentation, Amaltea is a well-known and frequented Barcelona vegetarian eatery. The décor is stylish but down to earth, ensuring that the all the limelight is afforded to the colourful dishes of food that emerge out of the kitchen. For lunch there is a choice of four starters, mains and various house deserts with a fixed menu of €10. Open for lunch and supper, Monday to Saturday.

Address: Diputació 164; Tel: 934 548 613

A classy but affordable tapas establishment in the Gothic Quarter, Onofre will get wine and cheese lovers' hearts racing. Combining only the good things in life, food and wine, patrons of Onofre can expect an unhurried afternoon sampling different varieties of red and white wine, accompanied with boards of cheese, Iberian ham and pates. The lofty restaurant has a sophisticated air, combining the décor of a traditional wine bar and café. Meals are carefully created and beautifully presented and can include goat's cheese, tomato and anchovy salad, tuna carpaccio and mouth watering profiteroles. Open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner.

Address: Magdalenes 19; Tel: 933 176 937