Top 10 Restaurants In Tarragona's Old Town Spain

With its secret corners and gorgeous, sunny filled plaças, this ancient coastal city offers plenty of beautiful spots to sip local vermut, share a plate of patatas bravas, and catch up with old friends. A modern world among the ruins, we explore some of Tarragona’s most visited and loved haunts in the old town.

1. Txantxangorri

Restaurant, Spanish, Seafood

This rustic, Basque-influenced restaurant is always busy and provides a wide selection of typical Spanish dishes from steaks and mussels to more unusual dishes such as ox’s tail and, of course, snails cooked in a rich tomato sauce. A definite must for meat and seafood lovers.

Opening Hours: Mon – Sun 12pm – 1am, closed on Thursdays.

2. La Fàbrica

Cafe

La Fàbrica

There is no better place in the city to sit outside and absorb the sunshine than in Plaça Forum. Why not do it whilst drinking local vermut and enjoying a juicy burger at La Fàbrica? This little cafe has a small but diverse selection of dishes which all come with a side portion of bravas. The staff are very accommodating and you might even spot the famous, chubby cat Tito who likes to lounge on the balcony above the premises.

Opening Hours: Mon – Sun 12pm – 3pm and 6pm – 11pm, closed on Wednesdays.

La Fàbrica, Plaça Forum, 6, Tarragona, Spain +34 977 08 20 38

La Fabrica | Courtesy of Lauren Gurteen

3. La Creperia Del Pallol

Restaurant, Creperie, Spanish

Wander into the old town’s small but quaint Plaça Pallol and you’ll discover this homely restaurant. Run by an enthusiastic Bolivian manager and her cheerful team of ladies, La Creperia is the perfect place from which to watch the world go by. In the winter it becomes a cheerful hub with live music events every week. If you find yourself in town on a Friday night pop along to their English Corner where you’ll meet all sorts of eclectic and friendly folk who will make you feel right at home.

Opening Hours: 12 noon – 12 midnight, closed on Tuesdays.

5. Koop

Restaurant, Spanish

Koop is a creative cave of a restaurant and a serious hot spot for the cool kids in town. Feeling nostalgic? Here you will find old TV sets, typewriters and Nintendo game consoles scattered around the place. Delicious and very cheap wraps, salads and sharing platters are Koop’s specialty. A great alternative to traditional Catalan cuisine.

Opening Hours: Mon – Fri 1pm – 3.30pm, 9pm – 11.30pm, Sat – Sun 9pm – 2am.

6. El Complet

El Complet

Sandwiched in between Plaça del Rei and Plaça Forum, hidden away in its own unassuming placa, El Complet could easily be over-looked. The menu here is superb – all the locals love it and it is reasonably priced, offering a selection of typical Catalan dishes such as bravas and calamari as well as tasty and creative pincho-bites. If you like historical artifacts, ask them about their internal Roman wall…

Opening Hours: Tues – Sat 7.30pm – 11.45, Thurs – Sat 11.50am – 4pm, Sun 11.50am – 4pm.

El Complet, Carrer de Natzaret, 7, Tarragona, Spain +34 667 77 73 92

El Complet | Courtesy of Lauren Gurteen

7. Itaca

Itaca

By far the best choice for lunch on any day of the week during the warmer months, Itaca in Plaça del Rei is a must. If you are lucky, you may even see a castell performance taking place here. There is a mouth-watering selection of dishes, featuring an array of seafood, cheese and meat platters, as well as a comprehensive wine list.

Opening Hours: Tues – Wed 12pm – 8pm, Thurs – Sat 12pm – 11pm, Sun 12pm – 8pm.

Itaca, Plaça del Rei, 4, Tarragona, Spain +34 977 22 45 79

Itaca | Courtesy of Lauren Gurteen

8. El Graner

Restaurant, Spanish

This family-run restaurant is an absolute bargain, with most dishes only costing seven euros, so if visiting, order an array of meats and salads and share larger platters among friends. They also boast a wonderful selection of local wines. It may look like a small venue when you first enter but there’s also a large upstairs area, perfect for larger groups.

Opening Hours: Tues – Sat 8.30pm – 12am, closed on Sundays.

9. Sha

Bar, Spanish, Pub Grub

With a spectacular location right next to the cathedral, Sha has a more ethnic feel compared to other places in the city. With less focus on food and more attention on drinks, this colorful bar offers some fantastic cocktails, cakes and teas. Often featuring live music and pop up art exhibitions, this is definitely the city’s hub for artists and travelers.

Opening Hours: Mon 4pm – 11pm, Tues – Thurs 9am – 11pm, Fri 9am – 2am, Sat 10am – 2am, Sun 10am – 11pm.

10. Almosta

Restaurant, Spanish

Almosta is a must try in Tarragona, but make sure you book ahead before arriving – the restaurant is small and is usually always full. Each tapas dish served is fresh, innovative and tantalizing, and all the food is organic and locally grown. With all the delicious options on offer, it’ll be be hard to resist ordering the whole menu.

Opening Hours: Mon 1.30pn – 12am, Thurs – Sun 1.30pm – 12am.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.