A beach hut with sea views: first-class fish and rice dishes at this restaurant in Barcelona

When we think about eating right on the seafront, the first thing that comes to mind is beach bars; authentic beachside spots where typical seafood is prepared. But beach bars are open-air, only open in summer, and full of sand, so if you want to enjoy good seafood at any time of year without giving up the beachfront location, the Barraca restaurant in Barceloneta is your ideal choice.

Benches in a gazebo

The Barraca restaurant (Paseo Marítimo de la Barceloneta, 1) is one of Barcelona's classic seaside establishments. The restaurant has reopened with an improved menu that retains the essence of the old restaurant. It is a place that opens out onto the sea; although it is not on the beach like a beach bar, the outdoor terrace and the ground floor, which opens onto the street, invite diners to take a seat. The best part, however, is hidden away on the second floor. A spacious dining room with wooden furniture, an open kitchen at the back, and windows overlooking the sea are the ideal setting for a nice family meal. It is a renovated and bright dining room that includes a small terrace area in a corner of the second floor.

The restaurant's ideal location is accompanied by the high quality of the food served.

Chef Marcos Bautista and his team are responsible for working their magic in the kitchen. One of Barraca's most interesting features is its fish service on demand. With 24 hours' notice, diners can call the restaurant to request a fish from the market and have the chef cook it however they like: baked, fried, grilled, boiled... This service was very common in our grandparents' day, but is now almost impossible to find in Barcelona.

Sightseeing, fantastic food

Don't be fooled by the restaurant's privileged location. We tend to think that places located on the seafront are tourist spots that serve frozen paella. But nothing could be further from the truth. The restaurant's ideal location is accompanied by the high quality of the food served. At Barraca, they have all kinds of classic starters, such as croquettes, oysters, and the traditional Barceloneta bomba, but the highlight of the menu is the rice dishes and fish dishes.

Special mention for the creamy chocolate with hazelnut filling, a dense, intense, and very tasty dish.

The average price per person is around €40, including drinks. The most important thing when paying for a meal is to be satisfied. And at Barraca, you eat very well. Both the duck rice and the seafood paella are cooked to perfection and have balanced flavors. The fish—in this case, bass—is not only tender and flavorful, but also accompanied by baked potatoes that round out a delicious dish. The icing on the cake, however, is the desserts. They are a little pricey, but they are also exquisite. Special mention goes to the creamy chocolate with a hazelnut center, a dense, intense, and very flavorful dish.