When in or around the Born neighborhood, look no further than Narciso for a great low cost lunch or dinner. Casual, friendly and oh so good, their Spanish style sandwiches on fresh baked bread or their charcuterie board can not be beat! All handmade right in front of you as you sip your favorite wine or cocktail at this chic and cozy spot while people watching all who pass by.

A great place to stop on your way to the marina or the beaches or during a day of shopping at all the shops in the winding streets that surround this eatery. They do not accept reservations and since it is in a foot traffic busy area, if you are eating outside keep your hands on your purses, backpacks and any other extras. Walk by pickpockets are notorious in Barcelona!

Inside a bustling bar with various bottles of wine and spirits on shelves, glasses hanging upside down, and people working behind the counter, illuminated by warm lighting and rustic decor.
Narciso Restaurant Barcelona
A plate with roasted chicken, a bowl of roasted potatoes, and a plate of croquettes on a wooden table with wine and water glasses, a brick wall in the background.
Rooster & Bubbles Chicken restaurant Barcelona

Although the name is bizarre at best, Rooster & Bubbles, within walking distance of Narciso and the marina in the edge of the Born neighborhood, is an amazing place for the best chicken assado (roast chicken) that we’ve ever had! With low prices & eating inside or out, you can’t beat the flavor and great service. THey serve roasted chicken anyway you want it!

My favorite is their scrumptious chicken sandwich with patatas bravas and two glasses of wine. Situated off a main boulevard, it is great people watching so try to sit outside if the weather permits.

A bit off the beaten path of the bustling La Rambla primary walking boulevard, in the El Raval neighborhood close to the marina, is a popular Tapas Bar known for it’s delicious Spanish food and always lively atmosphere. Bar Canete. The restaurant may look like it’s been there forever, and without a reservation you may have to wait in line just as long! But don’t… make a reservation and if you’re like us, sit at the counter bar. Just be careful not to fall over when you eat and drink to much, just like us…

What are you waiting for??? Make a reservation at https://barcanete.com/en/ ,sit at the bar and enjoy some of the best tapas in the world!

Bar Canete Tapas Restaurant Barcelona
Seared foie gras with sliced steak on a bed of mashed potatoes, topped with gravy and chopped green onions.
A cozy restaurant interior with wooden tables set with black plates, wine glasses, and black cutlery, exposed brick walls, hanging lamps, and lush greenery.
Person piping yellow sauce onto fried croquettes on a decorative tray

Petit Tapas is another wonderful taps event that is also a fav if you are or even are not into vegetarian food! Situated in a cozy area in the Gothic Quarter, this Tapas restaurant serves up amazing food in a friendly hip atmosphere. Their tapas menu ranges from the classics to fish, meat, veggie and even pasta tapas! Each one is made to perfection.

With innovative creations that we just couldn’t get enough of, make sure to reserve a table here. Located in the hip old town Gothic Quarter, it makes a night out on the town one you will not soon forget.

Try Arcano Restaurant for a romantic epicurean delight night, Located at the top of the Born neighborhood, this hidden gem always delights and satisfies. It is an upper scale place, both in the offerings on the menu and the prices too. But you can get reasonable dishes as well, perfectly prepared. So don’t worry, but bring your GPS because you’ll never find it without it. Hint, it’s close to the Born el Mercado.

Be sure to make a reservation as it is always busy with lovers of others and food! Afterwards, take a stroll down some of the many streets that make up the Born. The people, places and things will be worthwhile. Head in the direction of the Arc de Triomf, you won’t be disappointed.

Entrance of a restaurant called Arcano with a black glass door, outdoor signage, and a menu display, located on a city street with stone pavement.
Interior of a rustic restaurant with exposed stone arches, wooden tables with white napkins, and a bar area with hanging glasses and bottles.
Elegant bar with vintage decor, wooden furniture, bar stools, shelves with bottles, ornate tiles on floor, and warm lighting.
Exterior view of a bar called 'Bar Muy Buenas' with a wooden entrance and red signage, located at 63.

In a building that was once a fish and seafood shop in the late 1800’s, is a restaurant nestled into the local neighborhood, away from the tourist hustle and bustle. Bar Muy Buenas, going strong since 1920, stands as a testament to good food and good times! From the moment you spot the front entrance till you leave this refuge of classic Spain, you’ll be transported to a time of flavor and grace.

The great drinks served up by the expert mixologist at the bar are just the icing on a epicurean cake. But do make reservations, and if you’re like us, get seats at the bar. But if you want to impress, ask for a table in the upstairs area, for sure.

In the Born neighborhood, as you head toward the marina or the Gothic area, is a beautiful church with a lively square where locals congregate at the nearby restaurants and shops. One of those is La Vinya del Senyor. With inside and outside tables that view the Basilica da Santa Maria church and an extensive wine list, this quaint tapas bar is a sure bet. The views from the upstairs table on the picture windows are awesome.

Make sure to ask their advice on which one of their wines from their extensive lists would go best with your tapas or mood, whichever is most important to you at the time! We loved their cannelloni with truffled bechamel and grilled catalan chicken.

The image shows a cozy wine bar with shelves of wine bottles on the wall, a large yellow hanging lamp, a marble countertop with bottles of wine, glasses hanging underneath, a clear decorative bowl with bottles of wine inside, flowers, and a window in the background.
People sitting and standing outside a gothic-style cathedral, with outdoor tables and chairs, in an urban setting.
A modern lounge with black marble walls and gold accents, featuring mustard-colored velvet seating and geometric LED ceiling lighting.
Night view of the entrance to The Secret Garden, a restaurant and lounge club, with glass doors, a black marble wall inside, a black chair with a gold birdcage decor, and neon signs.

For those who are really hip, and those like us who just think they are, there’s The Secret Garden restaurant and nightclub. On the Barcelona beach strand, this very modern and happening place is a sure hit, especially when the weather is warmer. With live music and an twenty/thirty something crowd, this is a very fun place with surprisingly great food and drinks!

A reservation is a must, unless your a celeb or supermodel, neither of which we regretfully are! Here’s the insider tip. If you’re older, like you can remember real rock-n-roll, then show up for an early dinner to avoid the craziness. The food is really good and well priced, but the drinks are not! So either drink soda and/or water, or just pay the price, or drink before or after your go!

If you have a lot of money, or just think you do, then the Noxe restaurant, bar and nightclub is the place to see, and be seen. On the 26th floor of the iconic if not weird looking W hotel at the end of the beach, the views and even the food and drinks are amazing, as are the prices. Don’t even ask me how much a room for the night costs, I don’t know you that well!

The cuisine is sushi asian inspired, and it is quite good and actually not that expensive for really good sushi and sashimi. Once again, it’s the cost of drinks that gets you. So keep that in mind and plan accordingly when you make a reservation. Or, dine late and then party the night away spending all your kids inheritance on fun and booze!

Empty modern lounge area with colorful chairs, round tables, large floor-to-ceiling windows with a cityscape view, and decorative ceiling panels.
Interior of a modern lounge or restaurant with round tables and assorted chairs, large vertical orange light fixtures, a black curved sofa, and decorative orange fabric hanging from the ceiling, with floor-to-ceiling windows showing a blue sky.
A multi-story building in an urban setting with a rooftop terrace featuring seating and lighting, surrounded by other buildings with distant cityscape and hills.
Cityscape view from a terrace with chairs, railing, and rocks, overlooking buildings with cloudy sky.
Rooftop terrace with blue sky, white clouds, standing umbrellas, potted plants, and city buildings in the background.

Off of the bustling Passeig de Gràcia, on the 8th floor of the quaint Hotel Condes de Barcelona is the Alaire rooftop bar and restaurant. The views of the La Pedrera & the Sagrada Familia are stunning, day or night. And the food and drinks aren’t bad either! For lunch you probably don’t need a reservation but for dinner I would for sure make one.

The menu is decidedly casual, nothing to fancy or high brow, but worthwhile all the same. With this view, you could probably eat shoe leather and be okay… :-) Do use GPS as finding this discreet gem on the street can be a challenge even with directions. With over 31 rooftop bars in Barcelona, it’s no surprise to see why everyone is so high on this city.

When shopping for cool and cheap clothes at the Zara main store stop at El Nacional for something completely different! A cross between fancy chic and food court, everyone can find something they love to eat. So cool and hip…

Interior of a stylish restaurant with a large oval bar at the center, adorned with a circular chandelier and surrounding seating, plants, and warm lighting.