La Rambla Restaurants That Are Not A Tourist Trap
LAS RAMBLAS RESTAURANTS THAT WON’T FAIL YOU
Enjoy Las Ramblas with all your senses – including taste, finally! Las Ramblas are one of the main arteries of Barcelona and a well-known place that you shouldn’t miss. This 1.3km long street connects Plaça Catalunya with the old port and it’s always crowded: people walking, artists, music and terraces that makes this place a good choice for wander around.
Enjoy it with your eyes people-watching, enjoy it with your smell when you pass by the flower market, enjoy it with your ears with the rejoicing of kids and adults being surprised by the living statues tricks, enjoy it with your touch gently caressing the bark of the hundred-year-old plain trees along it.
This is our selection of restaurants on la Rambla:
1
Luzia
This brasserie offers a very Mediterranean proposal all day long: from morning to night. There are delicious salads, tapas, pasta, sandwiches and pizzas… all elaborated in their open kitchen with a real wood oven. The service is quick and the decoration, with wood and neutral colors, make it the perfect haven of peace for charging batteries and feeling like home.
Don’t miss their leek and truffled egg pizza – amazing! And if you can, get a table upstairs and be surprised at the stunning giant paper dragon that hangs from the ceiling (they kept it from when the venue was an Asian restaurant before becoming Luzia).
2
Ocaña
We probably shouldn’t call it strictly a “las Ramblas restaurant”, because technically it’s not exactly located in Las Ramblas but just off it, in the lively Plaça Reial. It’s a multipurpose fun space that changes from day to night: a cafe in the morning, an outdoor terrace when the weather is good, a restaurant during meal times, a club with a lot of rhythm in the evenings…
It offers a simple but original cuisine and tapas inspired in the Catalan tradition with some Asian and Moroccan fusion touch. Don’t miss either their cocktails, created by the international barman Mario Greenfield. Ocaña will surprise you, and you’ll understand how it was managed to attract Barcelonans back to la Rambla, when most locals had stopped coming after the explosion of tourist traps.
By the way, the venue decoration inspired in the sixties links to the name of the place: Ocaña was a famous transexual artist that lived in this plaza and organized performances way beyond his time.
3
Tapas bars in La Boqueria
While the number of take away stalls has grown a lot these last years, it’s always worth it to stay for lunch (or have a very rich breakfast) seating in a stool of one of its tapas bars.
The most famous bars are El Quim, famous for its fried eggs topped with baby calamari, fried baby fish, mushrooms or foie; or the Bar Pinotxo where you need to taste traditional Catalan recipes such as chickpeas with black pudding or white beans with baby calamari; or El Kiosko Universal, hidden in a corner, that specializes in the freshest fish, shellfish, and seafood in the market (get one of their daily menus – they are a very good deal!)
4
Amaya
This restaurant located at the bottom of Las Ramblas (near the Columbus monument) is a classic in the city and probably the oldest restaurant in the street. It offers a fusion of Mediterranean and Basque cuisine, and all dishes are cooked with fresh and good quality products.
You can choose between being seated at the terrace, the lounge or the attic. Good choice to rest and enjoy without paying much attention to the clock, specially if you like good old earthy recipes: honey-coated lamb shoulder, hake in green sauce… Traditional food and a great atmosphere.
5
Louro
Galicia is famous for their seafood, and that’s of course big in their menu. There’s octopus, there’s a variety of shells and fish… But meat lovers also have some lovely pork, chicken and veal options. And vegetarians shouldn’t miss their smoked eggplant rice!
AND BONUS! Where to go for exceptional dessert?
6
Escribà
The Escriba family has run their cake shop for three generations already. This was their second venue (the main one is on Gran Via avenue), opened already in the early 1900’s! They have tables inside and outside on the side street – so away from la Rambla rush. Their cakes are amazing, and it’s also fun to order a creme brulee and see them burn the top.
It’s also a perfect place for breakfast (as long as you do sweet instead of savory) or a coffee break. In such case don’t miss their cremadet: a milfeuille sandwich stuffed with crème brulée.
Any other las Ramblas restaurants that you’d recommend?
Marta
Marta is the founder of ForeverBarcelona. She is a passionate tour guide that loves Barcelona and loves writing too. She is the main author of our Blog, and is committed to sharing her knowledge about Barcelona and her best tips with our readers.
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