Dining out in Barcelona can range from the most formal restaurants to the finger food meal of tapas, all of which have their highlights. As part of the region of Catalonia, restaurants in Barcelona that serve local cuisine will serve Catalan dishes. This means lost of garlic, olive oil and interesting combinations of flavors. The roots of this kind of cooking are similar to those of Italian and Greek, but with more emphasis on mixing flavors such as salty and sweet. Many dishes have pairings of meat with fruit or nuts or mixings such as red meat and fish in the same dish. Catalan cuisine has become popular with gourmands as well, so you can find haute cuisine in Barcelona with the prices to match.

But if you’re looking for a good meal in a fun atmosphere, try a tapas bar. Since most locals in Barcelona won’t eat their dinner until after 9pm, they’ll often flock to the bars after work for a drink and a snack of tapas – small portions of appetizer type foods that you may well find will be enough for a meal. If you do go to a sit down restaurant, don’t be surprised to find that they may not open until later than you are used to at home. Many will serve food until 11PM or later. To drink try the house wines or ask for a local beer.