An Unconventional Foodie’s Guide to Barcelona, Spain
My favorite non-traditional spots after living 42 days in this magical Spanish city.
Besides being an absolutely breathtaking city packed with fun activities, iconic monuments, and diverse cultural richness, Barcelona is one of the best cities for eating.
I have a sneaking suspicion it’s because Barcelona is a city where 180 nationalities coexist. Here, you’ll find not only Spaniards and Catalonians, but also a huge number of Italians, Colombians, Peruvians, and Argentines. The result? A rich combination of flavors, cultures, and ingredients.
During the time I lived in Barcelona, I enjoyed food from all over the world. Barcelona has everything from unique tapas and incredible burgers to delicious pesto pasta and authentic Italian pizza. This is a city every foodie must devour.
These Aren’t Your Typical Spanish-Food Reccomendations
Now, this isn’t a tapas guide or a list of the most authentic Spanish food in Barcelona. And that’s because—first of all—Barcelona isn’t your typical Spanish city. They really don’t even want to be a part of Spain at all (but that’s a story for another time).
And second of all, I lived in Barcelona. Which means when my Peruvian food cravings hit, I searched for Peruvian food. When I wanted a burger, we got burgers. I like a huge variety of cusines (including Spanish gastronomy), so that’s why this list has all types of foods—from tapas to pollo a la brasa to good old-fashioned ice cream.
So, here are my top six favorite restaurants in Barcelona.
#1 Best Peruvian: Riko’s
Finding this peruvian restaurant was literally a godsend—I was craving Peruvian food and stumbled upon Riko’s. We ate here five different times during the six weeks we lived in Barcelona, and I only regret not going back more.
Their pollo a la brasa is 100% authentic (and that’s a verified assessment becuase I lived in Peru and ate pollo a la brasa all the time). You can order a ¼, ½ or full chicken, and it comes with the respective salad and fries. And of course, they’ve got the sauce: huacatay, huancaina, aji pollero, rocoto, and vinagreta blanca (oh, how I love the Peruvian sauces).
Riko’s isn’t just Peruvian roasted chicken—they also have a huge menu to choose from. There’s arroz chaufa, lomo saltado, ceviche, anticuchos. And of course, the classic Inca Cola (Peru’s famous soda) and chicha morada.
They also have a fantastic lunch option that includes an appetizer, entre, desert, and drink for 14 euros. It really doesn’t get any better than that.
Riko’s has nine different locations (as of February 2026) so no matter where you are in the city, you can find some top-notch Peruvian food near you.
#2 Best Burger: Hideout
Move over Park Güell. Forget about the Sagrada Familia. Montjuïc? Who is she?
What you really can NOT miss in Barcelona is HIDEOUT, hands down the best hamburgers in the city. Perfect proportions. Mind-blowing secret sauces. Cheese, oh, the cheese. And that juicy, flavorful meat.
We especially loved the classic P.C.Q Smash Burger and the Say Cheese! Burger. But anything you try here will be absolutely fantastic. Quality ingredients, mind-boggling combinations—these guys know how to make a burger.
Hideout has locations in l’Eixample and PobleNou—both are fantastic, but make sure you grab a reservation for the l’Eixample restaurant, it’s always packed. PobleNou is great for walk-ins and is a bigger space as well.
This is one of the best eats in Barcelona. On the flight back home, your mouth will water just thinking about those hamburgers.
Foodies, this place is a must visit (we came back not once but twice during our trip to Barcelona… and when I come back to Barcelona, this will be our first stop). So, book your flight to Hideout—ehh I mean Barcelona, now. It’s worth it.
#3 Best Pizza: Luigi’s
A fantastic combination of authentic Italian cuisine and the taste of the Mediterranean, Luigi’s has something for everyone. From drool-worthy pizzas to tons of pasta options and fantastic risottos, this is the Italian-food-lover’s dream.
Our favorite? The 4 Formaggi pizza. This fantastic combination of tomato sauce, mozzarella, gorgonzola, ricotta, and parmesan cheese and basil to top it all off is absolutely delicious. I don’t know whether these pizzas are supposed to be personal or not—but it was so good I ate it all by myself.
They have a ton of pizza options to choose from:
Want mozzarella cheese, delicious Spanish tomato, bacon, egg and basil? Try the Barcellona 92.
How about one with pesto sauce, cherry tomatoes, burrata, parmesan, and basil? The Sofia pizza is your gal.
What about a pizza with pistachios galore? The Pistacchiona will surprise and delight any pistachio fan.
You can even get a unique star-shaped pizza, the Estrella, complete with cheese-filled pizza tips, italian sausage, parmesan, and arugula.
I’m drooling. And I think you get the point—there’s a TON of pizzas to choose from.
Luigi’s has three different restaurants. We dined at their restaurant on Carrer Roger de Llúria in l’Eixample and then a few weeks later got take out from their restaurant on Via Laietana. Both were stunning. The other location is right by Plaza Francesc Macià.
If you want the best pizza in Barcelona, Luigi’s is your spot. Check out the full menu here.
#4 Best Ice Cream: La Campana
This heladeria was our wild card in Barcelona this time around. We stumbled upon this gem on Carrer de la Princesa in Ciutat Vella after eating pizza by the slice next door—and we’re so glad we did. The ice cream is fantastic.
La Campana was founded in 1890, and for four generations, his family has made quality traditional Spanish treats like Jijona nougat: a Christmas delicacy that you must try if you’re in Barcelona in the wintertime around Christmas.
If you visit La Campana in the summer, you’ll find other traditional Spanish treats, ice cream, and a refreshing Spanish drink called horchata.
La Campana was our favorite ice cream in Barcelona, not just because it was delicious, but because it represents authentic Spanish tradition, taste, and quality.
📌 We also liked Lucciano’s Heladería in Barcelona. It’s extremely popular. They’ve got a huge variety of flavors, and if you’re looking for a really cool ice cream shop, this is for you. Each different location has their own unique theme—we went to the one on Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes 601 in l’Eixample that was space themed, with a full-sized astronaut hanging from the ceiling. The moon-themed shop on Carrer de Ferran 14 in the Gothic Quarter looks like it’s straight out of a movie set.
#5 For Tapas: Vinitus
We also had great tapas at Vinitus, a fun tapas bar very close to Casa Batlló. I am a huge fan of patatas bravas: chunky cubed fries with two magical Spanish sauces—creamy garlic alioli and the spicy red brava sauce.
We also shared some fresh seafood tapas and a really good eggplant and honey dish as well. This place has a lot to choose from, but it is more on the expensive side.
#6 For Pasta: Musiu
Sometimes you just need a good pasta dish. And the delicious pesto pasta from Musiu hit the spot. While you might assume this place is Italian, it’s actually operated by Venezuelans. They do a fantastic job of combining Italian gastronomy with local ingredients—all while adding a bit of latino flare.
This place is also very close to Casa Batlló and just a few blocks from Plaza Cataluyna. Musiu is very affordable and they also have really great combo meals (available if you come for lunch, between 1pm and 4:30pm).
Take a Bite of Barcelona
There you have it—my favorite foodie finds in Barcelona. This isn’t your traditional Spanish cuisine, but you really can’t miss these fantastic restaurants during your trip to Barcelona.
And don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of time for paella, tortilla de patata, and other typical Spanish dishes during your trip as well. Barcelona has lots to eat, lots to see, and lots to do. So take a bite of Barcelona and enjoy these fantastic restaurants.