Where Is The Best Calçotada In Barcelona?
THE SEASON OF THE BARCELONA CALÇOTS HAS STARTED!
The calçot onion (pronounced “calsots“) is a winter green onion that Catalan farmers grow in a particular way: they keep covering it with earth as it grows, to prevent the sun from turning the leaves green. That’s how it grows long as a leek and stays tender and sweet.
During the calçot season (starting as early as December and ending as late as March), locals meet up for a calçotada (read “calsotada“): BBQ parties where every participant gets a portion of 12 to 20 calçots that will be dipped in calçots sauce before eating them. Calçotadas usually go together with a regular meat and veggies BBQ, but the star of the party is always the calçot.
No Catalan has a proper social life if he or she isn’t invited to a calçotada. But what about you? You might not be lucky enough to know someone that can invite you to one…
These are our favorite calçot restaurants in Barcelona:
1
La Cerveseria de Gracia
They claim to be the largest restaurant in Gracia, and considering their large indoors venue and their outdoors terrace, it could be. This informal tapas bar is a fun place to meet with friends to watch soccer matches, but also to eat calçots in season. They have a calçotada menu (lunchtime only) including calçots, tomato bread, a complete grilled meat platter, fried potatoes and white beans, plus desert.
2
El Mussol
This chain of Catalan restaurants are specialized in traditional Catalan food. Their recipes are cooked with seasonal Catalan products. Every month they have a special Seasonal Dish. Guess which is their specialty in February! 😉
3
El Disbarat
4
Font Les Planes
If you are feeling adventurous, take the FFCC train from Plaça Catalunya and head to the suburban district of Les Planes in the middle of the Collserola woods. Take the bridge over the road that leaves the station and you’ll get to two “merenderos” cheap restaurants where the working class gathers for their BBQs.
Leave the first one behind and keep walking until you find the Merendero Font Les Planes. If you’ve bought your own calçot onions in some local market, here you can rent one of their BBQs to grill them yourself. Or if you prefer, inside the restaurant they make awesome grilled onions as well. There is also a small playground for kids outside.
5
Cerveseria Catalana
If you aren’t willing to join a full calçot BBQ meal but would still love to try it, there is a way to do it. This busy and central tapas bar usually serves calçot tapas during the season, as part of their Daily Specials. Ask if they have them on the list before being seated, as they might not serve it every day.
AND BONUS! Want to join the fun? Discover where is the biggest calcotada party in Catalonia!
6
Festa de la Calçotada de Valls
The best part are the three competitions taking place: the best calçot grower, the biggest calçot eater (how many can you eat in 45 minutes?), and the best dip sauce (called salvitxada).
Have you ever tried calçots and how was the experience?
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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