Terraces and patios to enjoy al fresco dinners in Barcelona

A la fresca. A great expression that graphically represents that moment when evening falls, a refreshing breeze picks up, and the sun doesn't bother. It gives way to dusk, to slowing down and enjoying gastronomic leisure with friends, partner, or family.

This "tardeo" (afternoon gathering) that turns into a good dinner is possible in Barcelona, specifically on numerous terraces and restaurant patios throughout the city's neighborhoods. There are many and varied, and we gather some of them in this chronicle.

Bodega La Puntual

That at Bodega La Puntual you eat luxuriously when looking for a restaurant in El Born, is an open secret: good market cuisine with off-menu specials that offer tasty surprises and wines at store prices with corkage service.

To this promise of good gastronomy is added a charming, well-lit interior patio that creates intimate atmospheres in an architectural space with character. An ideal setting to taste premium Iberian products, oysters, and very well-executed stews served by staff who pay great attention to customer service.

Asador de Aranda

At the highest point of Barcelona's upper zone, and more specifically on the iconic Avenida Tibidabo, a garden full of fragrant essences, breeze, and delicious "tardeo" is hidden: that of the restaurant Asador de Aranda. The best-known establishment of Asador de Aranda, in its spectacular modernist house, has a garden where, as evening falls, DJ sets are offered to liven up drinks and snacks in the purest style of renewed Castilian gastronomy. If the gastronomic experience that has made Asador de Aranda so well-known in the city is desired, the spacious and comfortable first-floor terrace will welcome these enthusiasts. A must-visit to discover a privileged and historic location.

Superclàssic

The name of this place was chosen by its chef and owner Stefano Mazza (Last Monkey) in a premonitory way: although his intention is to pay tribute to classic vermouth and tapas, its spacious terrace located in the Jardines del Dr. Fleming (in the Raval) is so coveted when the sun sets that it is already a classic for "tardear" (afternoon gatherings). At Superclàssic you will find good vermouths (some of them macerated by themselves), a well-poured beer in the Madrid style, and interesting wines that are the perfect complement to their elevated tapas made with products from the nearby Mercat de la Boqueria.

Terraza Martínez

Terraza Martínez is a Barcelona classic, with over a decade offering rice dishes and good seafood cuisine in its lookout-establishment with one of the best views of the city: of the sea and Montjuïc. Here you will find market fish cooked over quebracho charcoal, high-quality meats, and succulent rice dishes that compete with the excellence of the views. On Sundays, their stoves are lit, and their doors open, from midday to midnight, uninterrupted. This "son" of restaurateur José Maria Parrado, far from getting old, always seems to be in top form.

Denassus

It is important to say that the owners of Denassus are two sommeliers, as this indicates that the liquid part is cared for as much as the solid. It is located on Calle Blai, the best-known pedestrian area in Poble-Sec, and boasts a terrace that opens the small establishment to the outside. Its terrace is frequented by chefs, sommeliers, and front-of-house staff who come looking for a good place to enjoy a Monday, the classic closing day for many restaurants. A short and well-thought-out menu, with select products, includes both tapas and seasonal dishes with just the right preparation. And of course, an extensive wine list: Alejo Mailan and Sergio Ruiz select references from small producers who make unique wines from curious vintages and small productions.

Madre Taberna Moderna

And dinner with views of the monumental Sagrada Familia? On Avinguda Gaudí, for just over a year, Madre Taberna Moderna brings flavor to this pedestrian avenue with succulent traditional dishes where the product shines, as well as tapas to share with a pairing of classic and signature cocktails, if desired. Its terrace is spacious, comfortable, and lively and offers another unexpected pairing: alternating tasty bites with the sight of the basilica illuminated at night.

Bistró Mató

The charm of Bistró Mató when good weather arrives is, without a doubt, its terrace. Under the plane trees, with the breeze descending from Collserola, this meeting place in Pedralbes is a paradise to let the afternoon run into the night, enlivened by Mediterranean-essence dishes with seasonal and local products, as well as an interesting selection of wines, including natural ones. A location that, if you wish to extend the experience there, can continue with a visit to its adjoining pizzeria Mattone.

Les Filles

The conscious, seasonal, and absolutely local cuisine practiced at Les Filles is best enjoyed in its beautiful patio. Here time stops to embrace dishes that combine the best of the product's flavor when it is most delicious. This patio is also the protagonist of the weekday afterwork, with a special menu from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM that can complement the beginning of the evening with cocktails, with a predominance of refreshing Spritz. Where the Gràcia neighborhood converges with the Eixample, there is a garden where one can stop to enjoy.

Casa Luz

Casa Luz allows you to enjoy another type of freshness: that of the heights. From the top floor of the hotel with the same name, located on Ronda Universitat (above the mythical Bar Estudiantil), Tomás Abellán offers a gastronomy based on product without many complications, letting it show its brilliance and flavor in a short and simple, well-focused menu. Toasts will also be high-class; the selection of its wine list is signed by the brilliant sommelier Ximena Arce.

Món Viêt

They may not have the most chic terrace, but Món Viêt offers authentic Vietnamese food that, in the middle of summer, is most refreshing. With strong roots in a cuisine with little frying, lots of fresh vegetables, meats, and fish, it is an excellent option for a dinner with fun and surprising sharing plates. It also boasts excellent value for money, informal and friendly service, and homemade lemonades so delicious and iced that they will be the first thing you crave, as soon as you sit down. For coffee lovers, it is advisable to end the evening with a traditional Vietnamese coffee, sweet and indulgent.

Rooster & Bubbles

In Pla de Palau, in El Born, the terrace of Rooster & Bubbles offers shelter, a breeze, an environment without too much traffic, and something even more interesting: a solid offering of meats cooked a l'ast with cava, selected wines, and cocktails. This gastronomic proposal is not only reflected in the name, in fact, it's in its DNA: the owner is the third generation of the mythical rotisserie Kikiriki, which in 1962 dazzled Barcelona from Hostafrancs with the novelty of a l'ast chickens combined with cava served in Pompadour glasses. Taking up that heritage in an updated way, this cooking system is used to offer tasty dishes with lamb and chicken, either on a plate or in elaborate sandwiches.

Varela

A newcomer to Sant Gervasi with a comfortable, beautiful, and inviting terrace at any time of day. At Varela, classic tapas such as ham croquettes or patatas bravas are as or more appealing than a good sausage rice or a sliced premium beef entrecôte. Good location, excellent tapas proposal to share, and an unbeatable selection of wines at shop prices that include the corkage fee. Evenings here promise to be very enjoyable… and for all budgets.

Dr. Zhang

In this house, dumplings are a delight. Those who enjoy this traditional Chinese recipe, which consists of bundles of rice or wheat dough with savory fillings, will find their new favorite restaurant here. Dr. Zhang has a wide selection, with boiled, fried, or grilled versions, even as a dessert! Its charming terrace is small, and includes a bar that allows you to see how the tiny kitchen bustles with these delicacies. Its owner Èlia Caralt spent two years in Shanghai daily trying different dumplings and upon returning to Barcelona, she brought those recipes with her to offer these tasty bites that, in addition, turn out to be beneficial for health.

Benzina

A good pasta dish is always appealing. An English saying, translated, means that a plate of pasta a day keeps the doctor away. At Benzina, rather than keeping away, it attracts: their Italian-style dishes offer a broader view of the vast and rich world of cuisine with artisan pasta. This proposal is complemented by meat and fish dishes that are worth trying, either with cocktails or with their imported Italian wines. Its terrace is located in a pedestrian passage with easy access and is elegantly lit: the only drawback is that it does not allow enjoying the fantastic selection of rock classics that sets the mood inside the venue.