The best restaurants in Raval, Barcelona

Raval is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Barcelona and there are several great restaurants and bars that can be found there. You can find Raval West of the famous La Rambla. Raval has a bit of an image issue as many people think it’s a bad or dangerous neighborhood. I’d like to advocate the opposite. I’ve been to Raval many times and never felt unsafe. That being said, there are pickpockets active all over the touristic part of Barcelona, so caution is advised anyway. But it’d be a shame if you’d skip Raval during your stay in Barcelona as it has so much to offer. On this page I’m sharing the best restaurants in Raval, Barcelona.

Tropico

Let’s start with a restaurant that serves great brunch dishes: Tropico. A perfect spot to start your day at with a good breakfast. They have many juices and smoothies on their menu and several egg dishes like Arepas con perico and Huevos Rancheros. They also have a tropical fruit bowl, yogurt with home-made granola, an acai bowl and the pancakes with berries and cream cheese frosting pictured above. They’ve got many vegetarian and gluten free options that are clearly marked on the menu.

Fat Cat

You can find restaurant Fat Cat close to el Gato Gordo (the fat cat) statue on Rambla de Raval. They serve a brunch menu until 1pm with tasty dishes like this brioche with burrata and tomatoes, but also a satisfying avocado toast with goat cheese, a decadent Shakshuka and Eggs Benedict. After 1pm they serve tapas and street food, with many vegetarian and vegan options. Their mushroom croquettes are my favorite from their tapas menu, and for dinner I love their vegan jackfruit burger.

Click here for the best vegan restaurants in Barcelona.

Savta

Looking for a satisfying lunch? If you have a sandwich at Savta, I’m sure you won’t be hungry for a while! They’ve got mega sandwiches with lots of toppings. And they’ve got many vegetarian and vegan options, all clearly marked on the menu. Pictured you see their Super Veggie sandwich with vegetables, goat cheese, avocado, tahine and much more.

Froots & Roots

Froots & Roots is my favorite place to go for a healthy lunch on warm days in Barcelona. Their smoothie bowls are perfect to cool down and still feel satisfied. You can choose between all kinds of smoothies for your bowl and you can choose your favorite toppings. Besides smoothie bowls, they’ve also got smoothies and cold pressed juices. They’ve got a few spots inside, but it’s also perfect to take-away and enjoy at the nearby square.

Caravelle

My favorite restaurant for classic brunch dishes in Raval is Caravelle. And lucky me: they’re open 7 days a week. On the menu you’ll find something for everyone. From Bircher Muesli for healthy foodies to French Toast with Cheesecake cream to satisfy your sweet tooth. They’ve also got all the classic brunch dishes like Avocado Toast and Eggs Benedict. And one of my favorites: Shakshuka. The Shakshuka at Caravelle comes with tahini yoghurt, peppers, tomato, cumin & chilli, dukkah and flatbread.

Click here for all my favorite brunch restaurants in Barcelona.

Morning Glory

Morning Glory is a great spot for coffee and brunch in El Raval. It’s one of those places of which you’ll need to know that it’s there, otherwise you’d never accidentaly walk by it. But I think it’s one of the best restaurants in Raval to go for breakfast or brunch. They’ve got many tasty dishes on the menu, almost everything is vegetarian. The staff is superfriendly and animals are welcome too. I especially like their vegetable sandwich with truffle cheese and Pancakes with seasonal fruit and yogurt.

The Bagelhood

The Bagelhood in Raval is thé place for all bagel lovers! They make their bagels at the site every morning and they make all the American bagel types like poppy, onion and everything. You can choose classic toppings for your bagel like cream cheese with salmon or pastrami. Or go for one of their veggie options like the homemade falafel with tzatziki or the Spinach Wonder with a choice of toasted brie or tofu. I like the Eggy Pop Bagel in the morning with fried egg, melted Gouda cheese and tomato. You can order a side of fries or salad if you’re hungry and I recommend ordering one of the smoothies to go with your bagel.

Chelo Cafe

A great breakfast or lunch spot in El Raval that is not yet discovered by tourists, is Chelo Cafe. Here you can still enjoy a nice homemade sandwich for a reasonable price. I love this pita sandwich with pesto, goat cheese and avocado. Next to Chelo Cafe is a small playground, so it’s perfect if you’re visiting Barcelona with kids.

Pasteleria Tartisse

Looking for a place to satisfy your sweet tooth in Raval? Check out Pasteleria Tartisse. This popular bakery sells all kinds of colorful sweets like donuts and cakes. They’re open from 9am to 8pm so you can get your sugar-intake any time of the day. You can buy the sweets to take with you, or enjoy them there with a cup of coffee.

Flax & Kale

Flax and Kale is one of the most popular restaurants amongst foodies visiting Barcelona. It’s easy to understand why as they cater to many needs. Pretty much all of their dishes are healthy and the majority is vegetarian. Vegan, gluten free and even paleo approved options are clearly marked on the menu. Chef in charge is Teresa Carles, she is passionate about feeding you better so therefore you can be happier and live longer with an optimal health. 80% Of the dishes on the menu of Flax and Kale are vegan and they don’t serve any meat. Pictured is ‘Teresa’s favorite kale salad’, a vegan and gluten free salad from organic kale with cherry tomatoes, avocado, mixed sprouts, nori seaweed and mango.

El Jardi

El Jardi is a bit tucked away, so it feels like a secret garden. It’s really a spot that only the locals know! You can find this small garden at the Biblioteca de Catalunya, a medieval building that used to be a hospital (hence the street name Carrer de l’hospital). El Jardi opens at 5pm and serves all kinds of drinks and has a tapas menu. Perfect for a glass of wine with some patatas bravas or manchego cheese.

Bar Central Raval

There’s another great outdoor spot in Raval: Bar Central. This bar is connected to a library and has a nice terrace. There are trees for shade, so it’s nice on warm and sunny days.
On the menu you’ll find traditional dishes, often with experimental new recipes or additions. Bar Central is open for breakfast, lunch and cakes until 7pm.

My F*cking Restaurant

The name isn’t the only interesting thing about My Fucking Restaurant; it’s a real culinary gem in the otherwise rough Raval neighborhood. You can go for the chefs menu called ‘Fuck your Diet’ or pick your own dishes from the menu. The bread with smoked butter, the ‘Bravas Surprise’ and the smoked stracciatella cheese with green beans are a few of my favorite dishes.
Fun fact: everything on the menu of My Fucking Restaurant in Raval is gluten-free!

A tu Bola

Looking for good falafel in Barcelona? I’ve had the best falafel in Barcelona so far at A tu Bola in Raval. You can choose between a dish (on a plate) with 3 or 4 balls, or in a pita. They’ve also got a mini pita version with 1 ball and toppings for only 4€. They’ve got all kinds of other balls to choose from too, with no less than 4 vegetarian options. The one with corn and sun-dried tomatoes is one of my favorites.

Gats

Just off the touristic Ramblas you’ll find restaurant Gats in Raval. Gats is Catalan for ‘Cats’ and on the side of the building you’ll see several painted cats. But the real draw is the beautiful industrial interior with warm wooden aspects and cloud like lamps. On the menu you can find all kinds of tasty dishes. You can order a few tapas to share to start, like this hummus with tomato and black olive oil and eggplant croquettes. And then go for a main dish each. And don’t forget to leave some room for dessert.

Dona Rosa

Dona Rosa is a nice little restaurant in Raval that serves comfort food with a Middle Eastern touch. They’ve got delicious hummus dishes that you can share as a starter and for mains they’ve got all kinds of pita sandwiches. They’ve got two vegan pitas on the menu; one with vegan shawarma and one with vegetables that you see pictured here. Dona Rosa is a great stop after a visit to the MACBA museum of contemporary art.

KINO

You can find restaurant Kino right next to Dona Rosa in Raval. Kino is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They have an extensive menu with everything from tapas to wraps, salads and burgers. They’ve got many vegetarian and some vegan options. They’ve got 3 beef burgers, 2 chicken burgers, a vegetarian and a vegan burger for example. If you’re going for their tapas; I recommend the provolone and the fried avocado.

Distrito V

Distrito Quinte is the perfect restaurant for a simple but tasty burger. You can find it at Ramblas del Raval. They have several nice burgers, including a vegetarian one. If you’re hungry you can order their empanadas as a starter.

Bar Mendizabal

At Bar Mendizabal in Raval you order your tapas straight from the sidewalk. Their bar is facing the street so you can stay outside while you order your drinks and food. You can stand at one of the high tables in front of the bar, or have a seat at the tables on the square on the other side the street.

Resolis

Bar Resolis is located in Carrer Riera Baixa, the street in Raval that hosts a vintage market every Saturday afternoon. It’s one of the oldest bars in Barcelona, it’s been around since 1893! They’ve been closed for a while but opened up again in the spring of 2023. The small bar has a lovely, warm interior that will make you feel right at home. On the menu are all kinds of tapas like burrata with shrimps and Iberian ham and truffle croquettes. And the patatas Bravas at Resolis Bar are one of the best I’ve ever had.

Barcelo Raval

Barcelo Raval is a 360 degrees rooftop bar, you can find it at the hotel on Rambla de Raval. The hotel is a round, black building and the entire rooftop is used as a bar. They serve refreshing drinks, beers, wine and coktails. And there’s also a swimming pool at the top of the roof!

Trigo Coffee

Trigo Coffee is a nice place to grab a cup of coffee and breakfast or lunch, either to-go or to-stay. They’ve got different sandwiches, waffles, pancakes, empanadas and acai bowls. You can find them at the South side of Rambla de Raval.

Komo en Kasa

Komo en Kasa makes food like your mom would make it. Each day they make a big variety of new dishes, pastries and salads. It’s perfect to pick up and eat at home. They always have a good (vegetarian) lasagna or cannelloni for dinner that I absolutely recommend. Just warm it up at home and you’ve got a meal like you’ve been in the kitchen for hours. They’ve also got good savory pastries like empanadas that are great for lunch or a snack. The staff at Komo en Kasa can also warm up your dish for you.

Two Schmucks

Two Schmucks is a great bar in Raval. It’s actually listed as on of the 50 best bars in the world! You might expect a fancy and expensive place for a cocktailbar that’s listed number 26 in the world, but the atmosphere is super casual and relaxed. The cocktails are superb, but the interior is creative, unorganised and fun.
You can also visit their sister-restaurants Fat Schmuck and their sister-bar Lucky Schmuck.

Click here for all the best bars in Raval.

Tap here for the best restaurants in El Born in Barcelona.