Phil And Fiona’s guidebook for Sants
Food scene
The outline of this jewel of functional modernista architecture protrudes above the rows of shops that line Barcelona's Carrer de Sants. It is well worth going inside to do some food shopping or just to let your senses carry you away.
49 locals recommend
Sants Market
6 Carrer de Sant JordiThe outline of this jewel of functional modernista architecture protrudes above the rows of shops that line Barcelona's Carrer de Sants. It is well worth going inside to do some food shopping or just to let your senses carry you away.
For anyone who’s a fan of fresh fish and seafood, La Paradeta is sure to be a treat. The restaurant is fashioned around a fish stall in a food market, with customer’s ordering their fish and seafood by weight at the counter before deciding how it will be cooked. When the dishes are ready, the kitchen calls out your number and you collect from a side-door. Simple, tasty and entertaining all at the same time.
65 locals recommend
La Paradeta Sants
27 Carrer de RiegoFor anyone who’s a fan of fresh fish and seafood, La Paradeta is sure to be a treat. The restaurant is fashioned around a fish stall in a food market, with customer’s ordering their fish and seafood by weight at the counter before deciding how it will be cooked. When the dishes are ready, the kitchen calls out your number and you collect from a side-door. Simple, tasty and entertaining all at the same time.
Part of a new wave of restaurant openings in the neighbourhood, La Molla is a contemporary Spanish eatery which offers a blend of traditional and modern dishes. On the one hand the menu includes a choice of ‘Nostalgics’ such as the Catalan cap-i-pota – a meaty stew – or macaroni, while on the other there’s a quinoa salad with tzatziki or rabbit cooked in chocolate and red fruits. Simple, fresh décor with friendly, efficient service.
La Molla
237 Calle de CalabriaPart of a new wave of restaurant openings in the neighbourhood, La Molla is a contemporary Spanish eatery which offers a blend of traditional and modern dishes. On the one hand the menu includes a choice of ‘Nostalgics’ such as the Catalan cap-i-pota – a meaty stew – or macaroni, while on the other there’s a quinoa salad with tzatziki or rabbit cooked in chocolate and red fruits. Simple, fresh décor with friendly, efficient service.
A family run business open since the year 2000, Zarautz is a Basque restaurant with the difference that it also serves Catalan-inspired dishes. The bar counter is laden with a selection of freshly made pintxos – the Basque culinary speciality of small tapas on a stick – while the menu includes heartier meat and fish dishes, such as cod cheek pil-pil or pig’s trotters stuffed with botifarra sausage meat.
8 locals recommend
Zarautz
13 Carrer de l'ElisiA family run business open since the year 2000, Zarautz is a Basque restaurant with the difference that it also serves Catalan-inspired dishes. The bar counter is laden with a selection of freshly made pintxos – the Basque culinary speciality of small tapas on a stick – while the menu includes heartier meat and fish dishes, such as cod cheek pil-pil or pig’s trotters stuffed with botifarra sausage meat.
La Mundana opened in 2016 and helped firmly establish this as an up-and-coming foodie destination. A trendy tapas bar inspired by flavours and dishes from around the world, La Mundana also takes seriously the concept of vermuteo – a snack meal around a glass of traditional vermouth. In the kitchen ingredients are roast, pickled, smoked or simply grilled to offer creative dishes that look as nice as they taste.
15 locals recommend
La Mundana
93 Carrer del VallespirLa Mundana opened in 2016 and helped firmly establish this as an up-and-coming foodie destination. A trendy tapas bar inspired by flavours and dishes from around the world, La Mundana also takes seriously the concept of vermuteo – a snack meal around a glass of traditional vermouth. In the kitchen ingredients are roast, pickled, smoked or simply grilled to offer creative dishes that look as nice as they taste.
Although Sants is generally considered one of the more traditional neighbourhoods of Barcelona, it is home to one of the city’s finest foreign-cuisine restaurants. Addis Abeba specialise in authentic Ethiopian cuisine served in large earthen-ware dishes or atop a flat bread. In Ethiopia, food is traditionally eaten with the hands and at Addis Abeba guests are encouraged to follow this custom for a more genuine experience.
11 locals recommend
Addis Ababa
Although Sants is generally considered one of the more traditional neighbourhoods of Barcelona, it is home to one of the city’s finest foreign-cuisine restaurants. Addis Abeba specialise in authentic Ethiopian cuisine served in large earthen-ware dishes or atop a flat bread. In Ethiopia, food is traditionally eaten with the hands and at Addis Abeba guests are encouraged to follow this custom for a more genuine experience.
This is an unpretentious modern restaurant serving a selection of crowd-pleasing dishes which don’t belong to any one particular style of cuisine, but rather together form an altogether comforting offering. There’s a juicy home-made burger made with Black Angus beef and topped with Cheddar cheese, there are Venezuelan style arepas but also BBQ ribs, fresh salads and a fragrant fish ceviche.
La Caleta Burguer
49 Carrer de BlaiThis is an unpretentious modern restaurant serving a selection of crowd-pleasing dishes which don’t belong to any one particular style of cuisine, but rather together form an altogether comforting offering. There’s a juicy home-made burger made with Black Angus beef and topped with Cheddar cheese, there are Venezuelan style arepas but also BBQ ribs, fresh salads and a fragrant fish ceviche.
The Petit Pau is everything you could want from a neighbourhood restaurant: friendly service, welcoming surroundings and a choice of honest, flavoursome home-cooked dishes. The restaurant opened back in 2015 and fast became a local’s favourite thanks to its warm hospitality and the enthusiasm of the young head chef who’s a fan of the French bistro culture. Interestingly the Petit Pau only serves two wines at any given time: one red and one white.
11 locals recommend
Petit Pau Restaurant
22 Carrer de l'Espanya IndustrialThe Petit Pau is everything you could want from a neighbourhood restaurant: friendly service, welcoming surroundings and a choice of honest, flavoursome home-cooked dishes. The restaurant opened back in 2015 and fast became a local’s favourite thanks to its warm hospitality and the enthusiasm of the young head chef who’s a fan of the French bistro culture. Interestingly the Petit Pau only serves two wines at any given time: one red and one white.
Located just opposite Sants fresh food market, Lute Bar & Bowls is a casual tapas bar run by three friends who fell in love with Barcelona. The food is all home-made using seasonal ingredients from across the road and while the menu isn’t particularly extensive, the emphasis is on quality rather than quantity. At lunch times during the week be sure to check out the daily set menu.
13 locals recommend
LUTE Bar & Bowls
9 Carrer de Sant MedirLocated just opposite Sants fresh food market, Lute Bar & Bowls is a casual tapas bar run by three friends who fell in love with Barcelona. The food is all home-made using seasonal ingredients from across the road and while the menu isn’t particularly extensive, the emphasis is on quality rather than quantity. At lunch times during the week be sure to check out the daily set menu.
The Bodega Montferry is a fine example of the type of authentic, characterful eatery which gives Sants much of its charm – and is increasingly something of a rarity in modern, cosmopolitan Barcelona. Not so much a restaurant as a snack bar, the bodega is best loved by locals for its generously filled warm sandwiches which are prepared to order and include fillings such as omelet and sausage, meatballs, chorizo or sardines. The tortilla is always fresh from that day and the Russian salad goes down a treat with a glass of the house vermouth.
8 locals recommend
Bodega Montferry
13 C. de Violant d'Hongria Reina d'AragóThe Bodega Montferry is a fine example of the type of authentic, characterful eatery which gives Sants much of its charm – and is increasingly something of a rarity in modern, cosmopolitan Barcelona. Not so much a restaurant as a snack bar, the bodega is best loved by locals for its generously filled warm sandwiches which are prepared to order and include fillings such as omelet and sausage, meatballs, chorizo or sardines. The tortilla is always fresh from that day and the Russian salad goes down a treat with a glass of the house vermouth.
A classic Basque style tavern, Txalaparta serves hearty, traditional fare at affordable prices. They’re especially popular at lunch times when they serve a menu del día at just €12 for three courses and a drink. The large dinning room is filled with sturdy wooden tables and chairs which complete the rather rustic appeal of the place.
10 locals recommend
Restaurant Txalaparta
146 Carrer de SantsA classic Basque style tavern, Txalaparta serves hearty, traditional fare at affordable prices. They’re especially popular at lunch times when they serve a menu del día at just €12 for three courses and a drink. The large dinning room is filled with sturdy wooden tables and chairs which complete the rather rustic appeal of the place.