Eleven great restaurants near La Pedrera (Casa Milà)

With a kitchen that stays open until late, Boca Grande won't leave you outside a closed door after your visit to La Pedrera. Feast on some of the city's freshest fish, and stellar paellas and rice dish – their standouts among other specialities. When you really want to splash out, head to the stunning cocktail lounge. You’ll have to strangle your credit card, sure, but with top-shelf labels, luxurious decor, and select and polished clientele, it’s worth it. 

Wine bottles line the walls while barrels stand above the bar. Although it can get pretty busy, the food and friendly staff are well worth the cramped, narrow space inside, and there's a great terrace space outside to enjoy an array of tapas. With its old-style charm, La Bodegueta is packed with locals chowing down on traditional Spanish and Catalan eats.

Bar Mut has an ineffably Gallic feel, with its etched glass, bronze fittings, chanteuses on the sound system, and (whisper it) Paris prices. The tapas are undeniably superior, ranging from a carpaccio of sea urchin to fried eggs with foie. Other menu items to look out for are haricot beans with wild mushrooms and morcilla, or poached egg with chips and chorizo sauce.

Here's yet another traditional Catalan restaurant that really should be protected under by UNESCO as a local heritage site. Every once in a while a crafty tourist or two sneaks in to Can Boneta when wandering too far off the Rambla route, thinking this can't be for real. But rest assured, you're not dreaming when you find this cuisine treated by the loving care of family and assisted into existence by modern technology. For around €12, you can start off with sort of sampler plate with three gorgeous items. For example: a glass of thick 'salmorejo' (similar to gazpacho), with just the right touch of vinegar, a tomato salad (made with garden-fresh tomatoes!) with olive paste and olive oil that's like liquid gold, and toast with brie and 'sobrasada' spread. For your main dish you can choose pasta with bacon and mushrooms or cod with ratatouille – always an excellent Catalan dish. The house that Joan Boneta built – himself an architect-turned-cook – surprises with its highly imaginative treatment of Catalan tapas and small dishes, where you won't find typical croquettes or clichés. At lunchtime you'll find a stunning set menu.

As a master of the balancing act between elegance and cosiness, La Terraza del Claris is a safe bet for a great time. The true strengths of this terrace are its unbeatable atmosphere of well-being and its stylish design. Unlike other rooftop bars, La Terraza del Claris also boasts a top restaurant in the space. Well-prepared Mediterranean specialities and the friendly wait staff make sure you get what you pay for.

Designed with the feeling of home in mind, Cafe Emma provides a cosy environment where you can savour simple French dishes. A true bistrot, Cafe Emma offers a daily set lunch menu featuring traditional French meals. Among their top dishes are the 'blanquette de veau' (veal stew), the punchy onion soup, the macaroni with lobster and the steak tartare. 

This charming restaurant located on Passeig de Gràcia offers a Catalan cuisine as beautiful as Gaudí's creations. The team at El Principal creates culinary delights based on traditional dishes from around Catalonia. Be sure to order items made with seasonal food from each region. The inner courtyard is the ideal place for a meal with family and friends.

This is the only restaurant in Barcelona devoted exclusively to mussels, so if you're a fan, you won't want to miss out. La Muscleria serves their mussels au gratin, in breadcrumbs, with cod, with spinach, steamed, in cider... and of course, Belgian-style: a good mussel casserole with chips. Pair your order with a fresh salad or tapas and enjoy the relaxing atmosphere.

In Mumbai, the word 'bembì' is used to talk about the navel, the nexus of union between mother and child. The restaurant Bembì is a nexus of union between Indian cooking and Barcelona. Relaxed and cosy, this is the perfect spot for surprising your date with a tasting menu – a senses-stimulating parade of 100 percent Indian recipes with touches of creativity and maximum-quality products.

Breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner – whenever you're hungry, stop by La Pepita. The 'pepitas', inspired by the famous pepito pork cuts, from the classic loin, are not to be missed. There's also a bar with a predilection for gin and tonics (they’ll make you a half-measure if you so desire) and their house vermouth, made up of gin, orange and soda.

Located on Casa Milà's own mezzanine, Café La Pedrera offers culinary delights that incorporate the best local products from both sea and land to keep authentic traditions alive. Whether you're after brunch, a quick meal or a lingering dinner, you'll get your fill in the surrounds of La Pedrera itself, seeing that bit more of the spectacular sight you've set out to see.