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Barceloneta and the Port Olímpic (Olympic Port) have little in common beyond their seaside location. Port Olímpic offers a somewhat massive-scaled and modern environment with a crazed disco strip, while Barceloneta has retained its traditional character as a blue-collar neighborhood, even if few fishermen live here now. Traditional family restaurants and tourist traps can look similar from the street; a telltale sign of unreliable establishments is the presence of hard-selling waiters outside, aggressively courting passing customers.
A long list of seasonal Mediterranean small plates, ranging from coal-grilled octopus to vegetarian risotto to traditional Catalan sausage stew, is chalked up on the boards here each day. Inside it's casually hip, with exposed brick walls and vintage furniture; there’s a small back patio for al fresco dining as well as tables out front on the Rambla del Poblenou for excellent people-watching.
A favorite with visiting gourmands, this often overcrowded little counter serves some of the best beer and tapas in town. The house-brewed artisanal draft beer—named after the Fort family who owns and runs the bar—is drawn and served with loving care by veteran, epauletted waiters who have it down to a fine art.
The sleek white-on-white dining room sets the tone for chef Pérez's contemporary take on Mediterranean cuisine. Tasting menus present around a dozen courses, most with a seasonal, seafood-centric focus, like a sea cucumber pasta with bone marrow and young artichokes. If your wallet allows, indulge in a wine pairing, which includes some wonderful surprises like a Spanish-made sake. Exemplary service and a posh location, inside the swanky Hotel Arts, make this a true two-Michelin-star experience.
There's no glitz, no glamour, and not even a sign outside, but the battered wooden doors of this old, family-owned tavern hide a tapas bar to be treasured. Loyal customers and hordes of tourists queue for the market-fresh seafood, served from the furiously busy kitchen.
This Poblenou bakery’s ever-changing selection of delectable homemade cakes, tarts, and cookies—including many vegan and gluten-free options—hits the sweet spot. The Saturday-only brunch features savory egg sandwiches served on house-baked brioche buns.
Enjoy fabulous views of yachts sailing out into the glittering Mediterranean while dining on fresh seafood—caught by local fisherman or sourced at the Barceloneta market—and expertly prepared on the wood-fired grill. This stylish restaurant is perched atop a renovated warehouse that now houses the Museum of the History of Catalonia.
Hit Agua's beachfront terrace on warm summer nights and sunny winter days, or just catch rays inside through immense windows; either way you'll have a prime spot for people-watching and fresh seafood-eating. Expect good-if-not-spectacular fare and hit-or-miss service at this popular tourist favorite. Reserve in advance for a coveted seat on the terrace.
This restaurant in an enormous riverboat-like building at the end of the yacht marina in Barceloneta is geared for high-volume business, but the paellas and grilled fish dishes are reliably excellent. The hundreds of fellow diners make the place feel like a cheerful celebration.
Slightly hidden in the exclusive yachting marina behind the W Barcelona hotel, this is a restaurant that only attracts those in the know, which might explain why it is largely devoid of tourists. The menu includes healthy starters like red tuna and eggplant tartare and grilled avocado salad, and there's a nice selection of both seafood- and meat-based paellas.
Can Majó doesn't consistently reach the standards that once made it famous but the food is still a notch above most of the touristy haunts nearby. Specialties include caldero de bogavante (a cross between paella and lobster bouillabaisse) and suquet (fish stewed in its own juices), and the terrace overlooking Barceloneta Beach is a pleasantly upscale alternative to the surrounding beach bars.
With no sea views or terrace to attract diners, Can Solé has to rely on its reputation as one of Barceloneta’s best options for seafood. Faded photos of half-forgotten local celebrities line the walls of this 120-year-old establishment, but there's nothing out-of-date about the exquisitely fresh seafood.
Cool down with handmade ice cream or horchata (a creamy, sweet, tiger milk concoction) at this 110-year-old family-owned ice-cream parlor on the Rambla del Poblenou. The lines can be long, especially on hot days, but it’s worth the wait.
The vegan and vegetarian options in Barcelona have improved remarkably in recent years, led by the likes of Green Spot, with its extensive menu of flavor-packed plant-based dishes designed to please non-meat-eaters and carnivores alike. The dining room's pale oak paneling elegantly frames an open kitchen and airy dining room.
Of the many restaurants that dot the Barcelona seafront, this is one of the better mid-range options. Seafood is the focus here—raw, grilled, or fried—and there’s also an extensive menu of paellas and fideuàs, any of which are best enjoyed on the breezy terrace, overlooking Bogatell Beach and the Mediterranean.
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