Is Barcelona famous for paella?
Absolutely, which is an accomplishment considering that Valencia—which is around 3 hours south by train—is where paella was first produced.
So what makes an authentic paella in Barcelona worth writing home about? We’d love to show you. Here’s where you can find the best paella in Barcelona.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Bobakphoto
Your menu to the best paella in Barcelona
And just in case you’ve heard about paella but can’t exactly define it, paella is a classic Spanish dish made with rice, spices, veggies, and meat. Find the best paella in Barcelona conveniently near the metro stations.
Tuscania | Best paella restaurant in Barcelona near La Sagrada Familia
Closest station: Sagrada Familia
Speaking of familia, after you’ve taken the kids to the iconic basilica, the last thing you want is to be haunted by hangry kids. When they want pizza and you want paella, Tuscania satisfies all ages. Let the kids get spaghetti and meatballs or pizza while you enjoy a meat and seafood paella in (relative) peace.
Güell Tapas | Best paella in Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter
Closest station: Drassanes
It’s never a bad time for tapas so put Güell Tapas as a place to snag an authentic paella in Barcelona while resting your feet. A fideuà, which is a noodle seafood paella, will give you the energy you need to continue exploring the Gothic Quarter.
Paella Restaurante Bar | Best paella near Barcelona Sants
Closest station: Hostafrancs
So you’ve just taken a high-speed train from Madrid to Barcelona Sants and want the best paella in Barcelona the moment you step off of the train. You’ve already gotten a great ride for a great price, might as well do the same with paella at Paella Restaurant Bar. Paella marisco, a vegetable paella, you name it, you got high-quality paella for a low price.
La Gambeta | Best paella near Picasso Museum
Closest station: Barceloneta | Estación de Francia
Work up an appetite wandering the Picasso Museum then walk a few more blocks up to La Gambeta for a well-earned paella. The black rice with cuttlefish at La Gambeta is a solid way to try a seafood paella in Barcelona that doesn’t have the typical shrimp or fish mixed in.
Image Credit and Location: La Gambeta, Barcelona
Paella Bar Boqueria | Best paella near Mercado de La Boqueria
Closest station: Liceu
Your mouth is already watering from all of the fresh produce at Mercado de La Boqueria; you might as well pop in next door to Paella Bar Boqueria and taste the day’s bounty in a paella. A Catalan-style and a Valencia-style paella are both on the menu, though our vegetarian friends should note that the veggie-style paellas have the season’s harvest mixed in.
Arume | Best meat paella in Barcelona
Closest station: Sant Antoni
We’ll get to the best chicken paella in Barcelona in a moment, but we need to give some love to the other meats that make Spain’s cuisine go round. In Arume, their famous duck paella comes with roasted garlic foam and Padrón peppers.
Elche | Best chicken paella in Barcelona
Closest station: Paral·lel
The best chicken paella in Barcelona is one that comes from the heart, namely, Elche. A half-century old and run by the same family ever since its foundation, this restaurant was one of the first in the city to specialize in paella, so expect a fantastic chicken paella that tastes like abuela made it.
Image Credit: Getty Images, frantic00
Barraca | Best seafood paella in Barcelona
Closest station: Barceloneta
The warm sun, the soft sand, and the refreshing seawater still linger on your skin. Can you feel it? The only thing that could make it better is eating one of the best seafood paellas in Barcelona. Thankfully, you can make wet tracks to Barraca without crossing more than a street from Playa Barceloneta.
Alive | Best vegan paella in Barcelona
Closest station: Les Corts
No way are you coming to Barcelona and not having every tapas imaginable. For vegan eats, Alive is ready to serve. A great gluten-free and vegan paella with mushrooms, artichoke, and heüra (a Mediterranean plant-based meat alternative) is perfect fuel before a Barcelona FC game.
Feeling hungry?
You know where the best paella in Barcelona is, now you just need to get there. Download the Trainline app and we’ll hook you up with cheap tickets to Barcelona. Also check out our guides to Barcelona Sants station, where to find the best hotels with pools and how to book train tickets in Spain online.
Header Image Credit: Alexander Spatari