Eating in El Raval – Barcelona

Eating in El Raval

The small streets of El Raval where the stage of the people and ambiances with the worst reputation in town, something that inspired many local writers. In this quarter we will taste a delicious gastronomy, giving special attention to the tapas – something that you must order if you are in El Raval.

Since the end of the 20th Century, the neighborhood of Raval presents a completely different image from the one that, because of being the most sordid part of the town, made people start calling it “The Chinese Quarter”. Nowadays, this quarter is one of the regions with more personality in Barcelona, and has some of the most important cultural places of the city, If there is anything about the old neighborhood, that was immortalized by writers such as Vázquez Moltalbán, that is still alive those are the small streets and the numerous bars and restaurants of the quarter.

When eating in El Raval, the variety of cultures that can be seen in its streets is also present in the gastronomy offer that people can find in some of the best restaurants and bars of Barcelona. From classic tapas bars where you can spend the “vermouth hour” at, to restaurants that serve international, Catalan and market food, many places serve native products such as the Pa de Pagès Català, the Salchichón de Vic (sausage) – both with I.G.P. – and the Mongeta del Ganxet with D.O.P.. The Ramblas are located in one of the extremities of the neighborhood,  a place where we can find the famous market de la Boquería, one of the most popular in Barcelona and the place where many restaurants buy their products at.

Lastly, and to complete the gastronomic experience of El Raval, you should try some of the wine products of the region, such as the wines D.O. Alella, Cataluna and Pla de Bages, or the famous Cava with D.O.. The popular celebration of Sant Jordi can be a great option to get to know everything there is to eat in El Raval.

pescado san fernando
judias almejas raval barcelona
cava sitges

Tapas are a popular option of things to eat in El Raval thanks to the big quantity of specialized bars that are in the neighborhood. Some of the most famous are Mendizábal, a classic, Tabarlot, with a good gastronomic offer, Carmelitas, a traditional tapas, wine and portions bar, Kasparo, with a great menu and located in a nice place, and La Barra de Cañete, a bar-restaurant with an attractive cuisine.

comer raval barcelona kasparo
Kasparo
comer raval barcelona tabarlot
Tabarlot
comer raval barcelona mendizabal
Mendizábal

There are many quality places to eat in El Raval. Cera 23 is a popular restaurant in the neighborhood, a place where you will find an attractive gastronomic offer that includes modern cuisine dishes, made with great ingredients.

Another interesting place in El Raval is Arume, a place that serves food from Galice, even though it is also specialized in all types of fish. The octopus is one of their best dishes.

The restaurant Pòrtic Boqueria is located close to the market de la Boquería. This is a place where homemade, traditional and Mediterranean cuisine is cooked. Most of their products are bought at the popular market of Las Ramblas. It has three different rooms: a dining room, a terrace and a tapas and portions counter.

Suculent is a restaurant that serves traditional food. It has an attractive look and quality food, as the dishes are made in a classic way, but always paying attention to more modern techniques. Fresh products are always used. Apart from the restaurant, there is also a tapas bar that belongs to the same owners that is very popular when eating in El Raval.

In the outsides of the quarter, close to the Avenida Paralell, the restaurant Ca l’Isidre offers great food. This is a place with a long professional career, that has always used market products to cook a traditional and homemade food that never leaves behing the most modern techniques, even if it never forgets about the Catalan and Mediterranean traditions.

comer raval barcelona restaurante portic boqueria
Restaurante Portic Boquería
comer raval barcelona restaurante cera 23
Restaurante Cera 23
comer raval barcelona restaurante arume
Restaurante Arùme

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