Best Paella in Barcelona

After five nights of eating paella in Barcelona, Spain, my husband finally put his foot down and said “No more paella.” To be honest, I was shocked that he lasted that long. I am a food writer, hence I love to eat. I adore Paella and even though it was more abundant in Southern Spain, I wanted to find the Best Paella in Barcelona.

Best Paella in Barcelona

My husband Rich is not a fan of mussels which are abundant in Spain. But he is a trouper. He always puts my needs first…especially with food. Back when I was just a child traveling through Spain with my parents, I remember my Mom’s love of paella which became a love of mine as well. After 5 paella dinners, we switched to more tapas, even pizza (for the hubby). However I was able to strike a deal with him to try two more restaurants before the end of our trip . I drove my poor husband nuts with my unstoppable quest for paella. So this is it…my list for the Best Paella in Barcelona. Enjoy!

We dined at many different places and neighborhoods in Barcelona. Keep in mind, you may want to share an appetizer at dinner as we often did, since the paella usually takes about a half hour to prepare. Also prices for paella are based on the amount of people that eat it. So yes if there is more people, it is more expensive…but hey, you are on vacation – so splurge a little. These are my top three picks. Enjoy!

#1 Best Paella

Maná 75 was recommended to us by a waiter at a local Tapas restaurant. Known for its Paella, the elegantly designed restaurant has a 19 paella pan bar and some interesting options. Mana 75 is located on the coastal area of Barcelona right next to the W Hotel. The ambience of the dining room is lovely since the interior of the restaurant is so artistically inspired.

We ordered Chicken and Shrimp Paella with Asparagus here. It was fantastic. The flavor was on point and it was perfectly cooked crunchy on the sides of the pan, and soft and supple in the middle. *See our ETG Tip below on how to order paella below. Maná 75, Pg. de Joan de Borbó, 101, Ciutat Vella, 08039 Barcelona, Spain; https://mana75.es

#2 Best Paella

The very first restaurant that we dined at was La Pedreta and makes the cut at # 2 best paella. The Mediterranean restaurant was situated between the Basilica De La Sagrada Familia and where we were staying. We sat outside the small cafe, and the weather was lovely. My husband was still busy photographing the Basilica De La Sagrada Familia, so I arrived early to order our paella.

I ordered a 2014 Clos De Nit Red Crianza, while I waited for the paella and Rich to arrive. This was a blend of grenache, Cariñena, tempranillo and merlot. An earthy full bodied red with notes of dark berry and plum. It was quite tasty. Rich got there in the nick of time, just when the Paella Mixta (meat and seafood) was placed on the table. This was fantastic – it included chicken sausage, jamón, mussels and shrimp. The jamón added a nice mouthfeel as well as flavor, and I adored the mussels too. The crispy rice bits on the edges of the pan, along with all that tasty seafood and meat tasted like a little bit of heaven. La Pedreta, Carrer de la Marina 271, 08025 Barcelona, Spain; https://www.lapedreta.es

#3 Best Paella

Near the end of our trip we stayed in the Ciutat Vella area of Barcelona. La Ciudadela is situated across the street from the Parc de la Ciutadella. There just so happened to be a fantastic restaurant in the same building. In fact, the hotel entrance actually leads into the restaurant. While we were checking in, two people walk out of the restaurant and past us in the small hotel lobby. They were speaking Spanish which is always a good way to make sure a restaurant isn’t a tourist trap.

So I asked the hotel clerk if the restaurant served paella. He assured me “Oh yes, it is the best in the city.” My husband’s mouth popped open and said…”Really, you haven’t had enough paella?” “Of course not,” I replied, “it’s my job to find the best paella.” The clerk started laughing and made sure to book me a reservation for that evening. That night the dining room was full of life. It was a packed restaurant. I immediately heard Spanish at tables on either side of me. Locals filled the restaurant…which means it is the best place to eat. Eat where the locals eat…and I was!

Eat Where the Locals Eat

I ordered a 2021 Marqués del Puerto Crianza – it was an excellent woody full bodied red, with a tinge of vanilla. The Seafood Paella for two was recommended by the clerk who checked us in and we both were extremely happy. I have never been a huge lover of squid. While I like calamari, squid is not something I would normally order. In addition to shrimp and mussels, the seafood Paella had a lot of squid. I was a bit skeptical at first, and decided to taste it. It was delicious…so flavorful, tender and tasty! My husband loved the squid as well. The shrimps were excellent. Again the rice had that crusty edge with a scrumptious seductive flavor. Mama was happy! La Ciudadela, Passeig de Lluís Companys, 2, Ciutat Vella, 08018 Barcelona; https://restaurante.ciudadelaparc.com

Top Three Restaurants for Paella in Barcelona

After trying seven restaurants all over Barcelona, these three stand head and shoulders above the rest. I personally recommend all of the above restaurants. If you have any favorites of your own let me know, I will give them a try on my next trip back to Spain. We are already planning another return adventure.

*ETG Tip: When ordering paella in Spain, ask for socarrat – the term for the rice having a bit of a crunch on the edges

CLICK HERE for more articles about Spain; ETG wants to encourage our readers to visit official tourism websites for Barcelona as well as Spain – https://www.barcelonaturisme.com; https://www.spain.info/