The Best Affordable Italian Restaurants in Barcelona

This is everything you could want from a neighbourhood Italian restaurant: classic Italian dishes, lively service and a crisp white table cloth. Located in the Poble Sec neighbourhood, their reputation for serving honest Italian dishes attracts locals from across the city. In addition to pizza and pasta dishes – some of which are home-made – they also serve a selection of meat dishes too.

This is a top contender for the best pizza in Barcelona, and you can tell by the size of the queue outside the door pretty much any day of the week. Fortunately service is fast, friendly and you’ll usually be sat down in no time. The pizzas are all cooked over a wood-fired oven in the back of the room and have a thin, crisp base topped with just the right amount of fresh ingredients. If you still have room after the meal, the tiramisu is definitely worth a try.

As its name suggests, the aim at La Cuina del la Mama – ‘The Mother’s Kitchen’ – is to make guests feel like they’ve stepped inside a traditional Italian home and are being cared for by the loving matriarch. The menu of course includes pizza and pasta but also home-made stews, stuffed aubergines as well as Argentine empanadas. The place is cozy and warm and tables are few in number so it easily gains a friendly buzz.

Serious about your Italian food? Know your focaccia from your pizza? Then this little family-run focacceria located in the heart of the Gothic Quarter is worth checking out. At Focacceria Toscana you’ll find crisp, thin-based pizzas and fresh, fluffy focaccia topped with a variety of different combinations – some classic, some more adventurous. Pizza is sold by the slice and so perfect when you need a light-bite and although most people take their food to go there are seats at the counter, if you’d rather sit down and enjoy your meal.

This cheap-and-cheerful Italian restaurant is off the beaten track, located in the often overlooked neighbourhood of Les Corts. But among locals it’s something of a cherished favourite, most appreciated for its affordable lunch-time menus starting from just €7. While for just €10.50 you can get a starter, a bowl of home-made pasta, a dessert and a drink. The staff are incredibly friendly and the atmosphere is always relaxed and welcoming.

This is something of an institution in El Born as locals know that they can always rely on Gusto del Born to have a fresh slice of pizza or wedge of lasagna ready when they need it. Located on the main avenue, Passeig del Born, this casual Italian eatery serves a selection of pizzas, focaccia, as well as a different pasta dish everyday. The selection of different pizza toppings is varied and there are salads available too for those who prefer something lighter.