The online restaurant reservation portal, The Fork, has announced its selection of the best restaurant in Barcelona And it is for an establishment that combines gastronomy with history: 7 Portes.
Located in the historic district of Ciutat Vella, this restaurant has conquered the first place in the ranking of The Fork, highlighting its culinary excellence and rich cultural heritage.
Located in a building with seven arches between the neighborhoods of El Born and La Barceloneta, it is a restaurant that fuses culinary tradition with historical legacy. In addition to offering one of the best rice dishes in the city, this restaurant has been an eyewitness to the cultural and literary evolution of Barcelona.
Its walls are adorned with paintings of great value, some of them signed by legendary figures such as Pablo Picasso and Joan Miró.
A walk through the history of 7 Portes
The history of 7 Portes dates back to 1836, when Josep Cuyàs founded this café. Since its inauguration, the place has been characterized by its elegant decoration, with five rooms decorated with large mirrors and crystal chandeliers on the ceiling.
In 1929, the Morera family acquired the establishment, turning it into a meeting point for politicians and intellectuals of Barcelona.
In 1980, the restaurant passed into the hands of its current owner, Francesc Solé Parellada, who has maintained the essence and authenticity of this gastronomic temple.
Over the years, 7 Portes has hosted an impressive list of celebrities, including Alexander Fleming, Ava Gardner, Placido Domingo, Salvador Dali, Woody Allen, Garcia Lorca, Orson Welles and Che Guevara.
Catalan cuisine of tradition and quality
This iconic restaurant offers a wide range of traditional Catalan and Mediterranean cuisine. Throughout almost two centuries of service, 7 Portes has maintained a firm commitment to the products of Catalonia, while incorporating international culinary influences.
The success of 7 Portes has been so resounding that in 2022 it opened a second location in Sarrià, continuing its culinary legacy in Barcelona.
The establishment, known as La Barra del 7 Portes Galvany, offers a more informal atmosphere, but maintains the style and philosophy of its big brother, La Barra del 7 Portes Pla de Palau.
A culinary legacy that endures
For the president of 7 Portes, Paco Solé Parellada, “185 years later, the oldest restaurant of the oldest dynasty of restaurateurs in the country is more alive than ever and continues to be a benchmark of Barcelona cuisine”.
The Parellada family has been dedicated to the culinary arts since 1771 and their legacy lives on in 7 Portes. In addition to its acclaimed rice dishes, the restaurant offers traditional tapas with a touch of exceptional quality, such as Iberian ham croquettes, oysters and cod fritters, among other delicious options.
