Restaurants in Barcelona

Despite the kitsh decor, the restaurant serves up cheap, authentic and surprisingly tasty Mexican fare. Many of the ingredients are imported from Mexico and lovingly prepared by the Mexican-born chef. Typical Mexican items such as margaritas, tacos and guacamole make an appearance, as do unusual puddings such as lime and tequila mousse.

Since its opening, the chic restaurant of Carles Abellan has been the talk of the town. Having learned his skills from Ferran Adrià of El Bullí fame, Carles adopts the master’s concept of ‘luxury tapas’ in his menu. Catalonian cuisine is the trademark of Comerç 24, although the chef boldly experiments with Asian, Italian, Andalusian and American flavours. The result: creative dishes in the likes of tuna pizza sashimi with wasabi vinaigrette sauce and hamburger topped with foie gras and truffles. The setting is minimalistic, with gray tones dominating the Asian-influenced décor.

La Fonda offers reasonably-priced Mediterranean fare and Catalan classics like butifarra sausage with haricot beans and crema catalana in well-designed, attractive surroundings. An abundance of plants create a bright and spacious atmosphere. The restaurant is very popular with locals, especially at lunchtime, so booking is essential. Les Quinze Nits, part of the same chain, is nearby at Plaça Reial 6.

Rumoured to be the best-kept local, Les Quinze Nits promises cheap, authentic and outrageously tasty local food. At lunch or dinner time, the restaurant is bursting at its seams, with long line of patrons snaking through Plaça Reial. The hectic atmosphere here can be overwhelming so don’t expect to while your day away here. If you’re a budget traveller looking to sample local foods at its best and cheapest, then this is the place to go.