10 romantic restaurants in Barcelona for the best date night

Barcelona is a romantic place any time of year, but when you’re looking to plan a date night to celebrate a special occasion, there’s nowhere better in the world. There are so many charming and intimate restaurants and bars to enjoy delicious food and a romantic atmosphere. 

Whether it’s a tapas bar, a hole-in-the-wall serving Catalan cuisine, or a Michelin-starred bistro with flashy tasting menus, there are so many romantic restaurants in Barcelona to choose from. There’s a lot to plan for a romantic evening. One way to make things easier is to research and make a reservation. Another way is to plan out where you can store luggage in Barcelona if you’re planning your date around travel. 

Here are the best romantic restaurants in Barcelona:

Arume

El Raval has become Brcelona’s go-to neighborhood for hip 20-somethings and creatives. While trendy bars, vintage stores, and art galleries are staples of the area, there’s a solid restaurant scene growing in Barcelona’s coolest neighborhood, and Arume is the most popular spot for date night. 

The vibey dining room provides an intimate setting for a one-on-one conversation. Walk-ins are welcome if you’re popping in last minute, but making a reservation always helps. With hipsters everywhere in El Raval, you won’t want to dress like an accountant when you’re pulling up to Arume with your date.

Our recommendation:

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that paella would show up on this list. As long as all parties eat seafood and meat, it’s the perfect date food. It’s shareable, it’s fun, and it’s delicious. Sharing a serving of Catalonia’s favorite dish is a great way of testing dining compatibility with your date. Just don’t be greedy about the last few morsels of shrimp or chorizo.

Location: 

Carrer d'En Botella, 11, 13, 08001 Barcelona, Spain

Price level: 

$$$

Bar Veraz

Romantic Barcelona restaurants are able to draw from vibrant local cuisine rather than outsource to French and Italian food like so many other culinary scenes. Bar Veraz is one of the best examples of a Catalan restaurant transcending the “tapas bar” concept to becoming a fine-dining powerhouse. The vibe is casual, eschewing the stuffy, overly-intimate energy most date spots have for a social, trendy feel. 

There’s a rooftop terrace with stellar views. Depending on how committed you are to a romantic dinner, Bar Veraz serves one of Barcelona’s most popular brunches as well. 

Our recommendation:

The menu features Mediterranean food alongside traditional Catalan dishes. There are Italian options like culurgioni, which is a stuffed pasta from Sardinia, along with a Roman-style pizza. These are great to share as an app alongside Spanish tapas or other favorites. 

Location:

Av. de Francesc Cambó, 14, 08003 Barcelona, Spain

Price level:

$$

Boca Grande

This restaurant’s ascendence to the top of the Barcelona food scene has been meteoric. It’s one of the most highly-recommended spots in town for traveling foodies and one of the most sought-after reservations in the city. It also happens to be one of the most romantic restaurants in Barcelona, so making one of those pesky reservations is highly recommended for a romantic date night. 

The menu fuses Mediterranean influences with Catalan cuisine to make a stylish but fun dining experience. The drink menu features signature cocktails definitely worth trying. 

Our recommendation:

If you’re making a reservation well in advance, you’ll have a chance at securing a table on their buzzy outdoor terrace. This is one of the most elegant settings in Barcelona for a romantic rendezvous, with both amazing views and an intimate atmosphere. One thing to take into account is the timing. Boca Grande turns into more of a bar later at night, so plan for upbeat music and a bit of a crowd. 

Location:

Passatge de la Concepció, 12, 08008 Barcelona, Spain

Price level:

$$$

Botafumeiro

In a city boasting some of the best seafood in the world, it’s really saying something to call a restaurant the best in town. Botafumeiro serves up some of the freshest catches possible, with “catch-of-the-day” being used a little more literally than most restaurants. In fact, there’s a chance the fish you’re served came from the fish markets on the Catalonian or Galician coasts within a few hours from when you ordered. 

Thus iconic Gracia restaurant is not only a premier purveyor of fine seafood but one of Barcelona's best destinations for a romantic dinner. It’s well situated near many of the best landmarks in the city as well. La Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, and Casa Milà are all within walking distance from Botafumeiro, which makes for great sightseeing activities before or after your date. Reservations are highly recommended, and the sooner you make one, the better because this place is a Barcelona institution and fills up most nights and every weekend. 

Our recommendation:

While there are familiar favorites like paella on the menu, take advantage of the eclectic menu by trying lesser-known seafood classics like percebes. You can also share the seafood platter, which will let you try a number of delicacies like oysters, shrimp, crab, and lobster. Save room for dessert because their crepes Suzette (thin French pancakes flambeed in a liquor tableside) are absolutely to die for. 

Location:

Carrer Gran de Gràcia, 81, 08012 Barcelona, Spain

Price level:

$$$$

Casa Xica

One of the best romantic restaurants in Barcelona is this tiny, unassuming little seafood bar serving traditional Catalan cuisine and a stellar selection of natural wine. 

The house specialty is incredibly fresh seafood prepared in a traditional, unfussy way using entirely local ingredients. What Casa Xica puts on the plate is intrinsically authentic to Barcelona, and it comes out in the flavors and presentation. This is a simple concept when it comes to Spanish restaurants, but for cities in the US, this is exceedingly rare. 

Our recommendation:

Casa Xica has its own label of a bright, drinkable rosé that pairs well with its lighter seafood dishes. It’s the perfect thing to share on a date. You can even take a bottle (or two) to go for a post-date picnic. 

Location: 

Carrer de la França Xica, 20, 08004 Barcelona, Spain

Price level: 

$$$

El Cercle

Located just a few minutes walk from Placa de Catalunya, El Cercle has the best location of any romantic restaurant in Barcelona. This stylish restaurant features modern food with both Catalan and Japanese elements on the menu. The dining room has a sleek, high-end atmosphere ideal for a romantic evening. Ideally, the weather will cooperate, and you’ll sit on the restaurant’s outdoor terrace, which is located on the second floor. The views of the surrounding Gothic quarter streets below are beautiful. We all know that people-watching provides some of the best date night conversations.

While reservations are recommended for the dining room, the terrace is first-come, first-served. Opting for an early dinner can help get a table outside. The clientele is generally well-dressed at El Cercle, as this is an upscale (but fun) restaurant.

Our recommendation:

Once you’re done with dinner, head out to explore the iconic Gothic Quarter for a bit of late-night sightseeing (and bar-hopping). 

Location:

Carrer dels Arcs, 5, 08002 Barcelona, Spain

Price level:

$$$

Fragments Cafè

The best romantic restaurants in Barcelona tend to be located in unfathomably beautiful settings, and that’s exactly where couples will find themselves at Fragments Cafè. One of Barcelona’s greatest architectural achievements (and that’s saying something) is the modern Noucentisme building designed in the 20th century. These structures are uniquely Catalan, so having a romantic dinner in one of these buildings is the ideal way to celebrate your time in Barcelona. 

This wonderful restaurant, with its stylish dining room and quaint facade, is one of the most attractive places to eat in the city. A late lunch or early dinner at Fragments Cafè will feature tons of gorgeous natural light spilling into the dining room. It’s the perfect place to celebrate a special occasion, and the price point is very reasonable. Reservations are recommended.

Our recommendation:

The Mediterranean menu features a rotating selection of seafood and seasonal produce. The wine list is one of the best in Barcelona, so talk with your server about finding the right bottle for you. 

Location: 

Plaça de la Concòrdia, 12, 08014 Barcelona, Spain

Price level:

$$

El Salon

This stylish bistro mixes traditional Catalan ingredients with French cooking techniques and presentation. There’s a modern, chic element to El Salon’s food that translates well to a romantic dinner. The cozy but attractive decor and friendly ambiance keep this place approachable, but El Salon is still one of those restaurants that will impress. 

El Salon’s location within the Gothic Quarter is outstanding. Not only will your walk to the restaurant be surrounded by historic landmarks, but your views during dinner will be stunning. Getting a table near the window will provide a lovely view of the Roman Wall that surrounds the Quarter. Making a reservation is highly recommended because El Salon has limited seating that leaves little room for walk-ins. If you’re looking for a table on the outdoor terrace, you’ll need to make reservation weeks or even months in advance.

Our recommendation:

For hungry customers, El Salon prepares a hearty tuna steak that will satisfy carnivores. Or even better, share it with your date and split one of their delectable lighter seafood options. 

Location:

Carrer de l'Hostal d'en Sol, 6, 08002 Barcelona, Spain

Price level:

$$

The Winter Garden restaurant at El Palace Hotel 

A romantic dinner with panoramic views of Barcelona’s city center is hardly the worst idea for a date night. The best place to do it is the El Palace Hotel, where the top floor boasts one of the best views in the city and one of the city’s most romantic restaurants. Winter Garden is an upscale Mediterranean spot with a five-star wine list and delicious tapas. 

Reservations are required, and thankfully the restaurant isn’t exclusively for hotel guests. Dressing for the upscale setting is highly recommended. 

Our recommendation:

Spring through fall, the top floor of the hotel is turned into the restaurant’s outdoor terrace. Hardin Diana Garden is the ideal place to enjoy panoramic views, Mediterranean food, and buzzy energy. If you’re visiting Barcelona during the warmer months, it’s the ideal spot for a fun afternoon with friends. From November to March, the Winter Garden is the place to take your date. 

Location:

Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 668, 08010 Barcelona, Spain

Price level: 

$$$$

El Xampanyet

Romantic restaurants in Barcelona don’t all have to be dimly-lit bistros with €300 tasting menus. The typical Catalan tapas bar, if you’re looking for a more social date night, can be the perfect setting for a romantic night out. One of the best tapas bars in El Born is a great date spot. El Xampanyet is popular with locals for casual but romantic dinners. The interior is gorgeous, with traditional Spanish tiles and wine barrels acting as decor to make this a charming date night spot. 

While most date spots are centered around a high-end meal, this is a tapas bar where delicious small plates can sometimes take a back seat to healthy portions of Spanish wine. Sharing a carafe of wine and ordering small plates until you’re both full is the best way to approach a night at El Xampanyet. 

Our recommendation:

This is one of the few restaurants on this list that you can get away with not having a reservation. It’s a casual but upscale tapas bar that is perfect for fun dates. It’s not the most intimate of the spots on the list, but if you want a high-energy night out on the town with your date, this is the best place to start out. There will be crowds on weekends, but that’s part of El Xampanyet’s charm, and service is swift.  

Location:

C/. de Montcada, 22, 08003 Barcelona, Spain

Price level:

$$

Conclusion

Barcelona’s nightlife and dining scene have so much to offer for couples looking for a night out. While these are some of the most romantic restaurants in Barcelona, there are plenty of amazing options for taking your significant other on a romantic dinner. The entire city center is jam-packed with amazing street food, rooftop terraces, sidewalk cafes, and (of course) tapas bars. In Barcelona, it’s almost harder not to be romantic than it is to plan an amazing date night.