What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
RAÓ Restaurant
Review
About
Travelers' Choice
2024
Raó Restaurant "where fine meets casual". Modern Barcelona cuisine with locally-sourced products. Our dishes respect the traditional local cuisine with our own modern and creative twist. The restaurant is situated on one of the most emblematic streets of Barcelona, very close to Plaza Catalunya. The beautiful ambience, flawless service and creative cuisine makes for the perfect evening out in Barcelona.
Features
CUISINES
Mediterranean, European, Spanish, Fusion, Catalan
Meal types
Dinner, Drinks
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Gluten free options
FEATURES
Accepts Credit Cards
Free Wifi
Full Bar
Highchairs Available
Reservations
Seating
Serves Alcohol
Table Service
Wheelchair Accessible
Wine and Beer
Location
Reserve a table
Save this restaurant
Hours
Closed today
Sunday
Closed
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
7:00 PM - 12:00 AM
Wednesday
7:00 PM - 12:00 AM
Thursday
7:00 PM - 12:00 AM
Friday
7:00 PM - 12:00 AM
Saturday
7:00 PM - 12:00 AM
Contribute
4.8
2,202 reviews
Excellent
1,900
Very good
175
Average
88
Poor
22
Terrible
17
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Ritowsky
850 contributions
Feb 2024 • couples
Despite having chosen one of the worst weeks to go out to dinner in Barcelona, since we were in the middle of Mobile Congres, we were lucky enough to find a table at Raó, a restaurant I had wanted to come to for a long time.
They gave us a table for 2 in the area in front of the bathrooms, for me, the quietest in the place, since the main room was so full that the bustle between tables and diners became somewhat uncomfortable.
Despite the number of customers, it took them a reasonable amount of time to serve us and this time was even shorter when it came to serving us, which pleasantly surprised us, serving the large audience, we expected that everything would take much longer.
We decided to try 5 dishes, because certainly, the portions are a little small, in my opinion, and since the concept is to share, they are somewhat scarce.
We started with the Bulgur Salad with mustard-roasted and pickled eggplant, well seasoned and with a balanced flavor, for my taste, the bulgur is better than the quinoa. Good for the bet. We continued with the Ceviche of sea bass marinated in tiger's milk, sweet potato chips and celery-lime sorbet, a perfect combination and a tight pre-portion of all the ingredients, although the pieces of fish were not what was most abundant. Next we ordered the Prawn Tacos with fresh asparagus and orange with sriracha mayonnaise, probably the weakest dish of all, an excess of mayonnaise clouded the flavor of the prawns, which were not very noticeable nor the asparagus. In short, a dish to improve if the ingredients are balanced.
We continue with an original and excellent celeriac tartare, a tuber that I normally use to make cream, but I didn't know that it could be roasted like potatoes or sweet potatoes. We loved the combination! And finally, after verifying that 4 dishes were not enough, we decided to conclude with a grilled octopus leg, creamy corn cob and chimichurri sauce. The octopus was cooked very well, a tapa that we really liked, although I have to say that the creamy corn on the cob was not well achieved. It is a very popular type of cream in France to accompany meats, and it tends to have an intense and delicious taste, in this case, I lacked the flavor. I think it is something that can easily be improved.
And to finish the dinner, whose attention from the waiters and manager was extraordinary and very friendly at all times, we decided to try the panacotta and the torrija. Both desserts are brutal. We can say that it is one of the best torrijas we have tried in Barcelona, and since it is a dessert that we love, we have eaten a few.
In short, a great option for dinner, I would only need to make it excellent if the portions were a little more abundant, taking into account the "sharing" concept from which the service is based.
Thank you for the bona feina. Tornarem.
Written March 5, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Raó Bcn
En primer lugar, muchas gracias por tomarte el tiempo de escribir una reseña tan bien redactada como esta. Con este tipo de detalles podemos identificar en qué cosas debemos mejorar o poner nuestro foco de atención. Nos alegra mucho saber que, aunque no todo fuera perfecto o al gusto, disfrutastéis de la cena y estuvimos a la altura como servicio.
Moltes gràcies per les paraules. Us esperem de nou :)
Written March 12, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Family B
Rueil-Malmaison169 contributions
Aug 2023 • family
We found the original dishes, still in the Catalan tradition (ceviche, grilled octopus, bravas potatoes, etc.), but with tasty mixtures (yuzu ice cream with pumpkin crumble, ceviche with lime ice cream, etc.). The desserts in particular are excellent at a reasonable price of €6.5.
The dishes remain expensive for the quantity served (you need 2 dishes per person to satisfy a small appetite).
Written August 18, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rao Bcn
Merci beaucoup pour vos mots! :)
Written September 6, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
salcarle
91 contributions
Oct 2024 • couples
Being in Barcelona I booked this restaurant (after reading the reviews) to celebrate my wife's birthday. I must say that the choice was nothing short of divine. The place is very well furnished and might seem a formal environment but already at the reception you are greeted by very kind staff and that immediately puts you at ease. The menu features typical Spanish dishes and each dish is "para compartir" that is, the quantities are enough to make two people eat. All the dishes we ordered were excellently prepared and the flavors were outstanding. Each course was illustrated to us by the waiter Juan who in addition to knowing how to speak Italian is of a unique sympathy and professionalism. The icing on the cake was the final dessert, a Catalan cream garnished with a mandarin sorbet that was nothing short of exquisite. Price/quality ratio more than satisfactory.
Automatically translated
Written October 24, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Raó Bcn
Grazie di cuore per questa recensione così entusiasta! Siamo davvero felici che abbia scelto il nostro ristorante per festeggiare il compleanno di sua moglie e che la sua esperienza sia stata così speciale. 😊 Speriamo di rivedervi presto!!
Written November 5, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
mar_mac65
Rome66 contributions
Sep 2024 • couples
We were there to experience the atmosphere of a typical evening in a Spanish club. Excellent service, which characterizes us for the valuable advice with which Guides the customer in choosing not only the type of dishes, but also the number of the pprtate themselves. Pleasant staff from the exquisite Spanish courtesy without exceeding intrusiveness. Excellent price/quality ratio: 90€ for a dinner of 2px including 3 courses (shrimp, scallops, palella) + 2 desserts with 4 glasses of wine. The dishes are all medium-sized ideal to share. 2 steps from the Rambla, Highly Recommendation to breathe a true Spanish atmosphere.
Automatically translated
Written September 30, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Raó Bcn
Grazie mille per la sua splendida recensione Mar! Siamo lieti di sapere che avete trascorso una serata autentica e che il nostro team è stato in grado di guidarvi nella scelta dei piatti.
Siamo inoltre lieti che vi siano piaciuti i nostri piatti da condividere e l'atmosfera che desideriamo trasmettere, e speriamo di rivedervi presto per un'altra cena speciale vicino a La Rambla! 😊
Written October 7, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
jnash84
Bournemouth483 contributions
Jul 2023 • friends
A great find on trip advisor Rao came recommended and so glad we booked for a Saturday eve. The menu has great choices but not so many the kitchen if overwhelmed or you can’t pick. we liked the look of everything but ordered the octopus that was a bit spicy, lamb terrine, duck with Pak Choi, scallops, potato bravas and the burrata with aubergine. The tapas portion sizes were good and we felt value too for quality. Service was attentive, atmosphere nice. Highly recommend and would happily go again.
Written July 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rao Bcn
Thank you so much for your lovely words. We are happy to read these words. We hope to see you again in Raó enjoying our tapas.
Raó team
Written July 31, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Mitochondrium95
Berndorf36 contributions
Mar 2024 • family
Absolutely inconspicuous little restaurant with sensational tapas.
You get everything served as a group (order not as a person but as a table), which creates a super relaxed atmosphere. The dishes are served as soon as they are ready, so you have a steady stream of smaller dishes over a longer period of time. A totally simple but incredibly likeable concept.
The quality and taste are also excellent.
Written March 29, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Raó Bcn
Herzlichen Dank für Ihre Worte! Wir sind froh, dass Sie das Abendessen genossen :)
Written April 11, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
JimmyV_Traveler
Glastonbury143 contributions
Sep 2024 • family
We received a very warm welcome, and communication with the restaurant was excellent. Service was wonderful and the menu had so many great choices we had difficulty deciding what to have. All of the food was great and the wine list was well thought-out and reasonably priced. Everyone in our party loved the experience. And the local side street on which the restaurant is located is full of charm and atmosphere.
Written September 26, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Raó Bcn
Thank you so much for you words! Hope to see you again Jimmy :)
Written February 13, 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
lavahuax
Gif-sur-Yvette59 contributions
Oct 2024 • couples
One without fault! The warm setting, all the waiters smiling, friendly and caring for the guests, and on the plate it is a festival of flavors and colors! Thank you for this fabulous time and hello to Lille and Argentina:-)
Automatically translated
Written October 24, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Raó Bcn
Merci beaucoup pour vos mots ! A bientôt :)
Written November 5, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Joe
27 contributions
Dec 2024 • couples
The staff, service and fare were all on point for our NYE dinner. A fixed menu, catering to our dietary needs with 8 courses, cocktail, and bottle of wine per person were all nice touches. Add the multilingual staff who were all very friendly and professional and we enjoyed and amazing experience. We will be back.
Written December 31, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Raó Bcn
Thank you so much for you words Joe ! Hope to see you again :)
Written February 13, 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Pierrenodoyunabcn
Barcelona1031 contributions
Feb 2025 • friends
In the heart of Barcelona restaurant with good service and quality food.
Local:
Broad. Tables with enough space. My group of 9 were in a kind of reserved, outside the noise of the room.
Service:
They're very kind. Nice guys. Very correct service.
Cuisines:
We weren't very hungry so we decided to share a couple of servings of bravas and 3 ceviches.
Of main 4 of scallops and 5 of baked corvina.
Short but sufficient dishes. Good preparation, all very well.
Four desserts to share.
Two bottles of wine and two bottles of water.
Two coffees and two cut.
32€ per person.
Value for money right.
Automatically translated
Written February 16, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Raó Bcn
¡Muchas gracias por tus palabras Pierre! Nos alegramos de qué hayas disfrutado de nuestras tapas :) Esperamos verte pronto.
Written February 18, 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
abizz66
Greater Adelaide30 contributions
Aug 2023 • couples
Excellent atmosphere, very attentive and friendly staff. The food could be categorised as very modern (expensive) tapas that was well presented;and tasty. Wine serves on the stingy side so better off getting a bottle to share. Overall, an excellent experience.
Written August 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rao Bcn
Thank you so much. Hope to see you soon!
Written September 6, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
David P
Woodbridge111 contributions
Oct 2024 • couples
We arrived a few minutes early for our Friday 7:15 pm dinner and were given two options for seating. Thirty minutes later the restaurant was tuning away walk-in patrons. Service was friendly and quick. The menu features a variety of tapa style dishes to be shared. We shared 4 plates plus a dessert which was plenty for the two of us, and enjoyed them all. Our bill was a little over €60.
Written October 5, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Raó Bcn
Thank you very much for your review David! We are glad to hear that you enjoyed your dinner with us and that our service was friendly and prompt. 😊 We hope to see you again soon so you can try more of our tapas - thank you for recommending us!
Written October 7, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jeni P
6 contributions
May 2024 • solo
I travelled to Barcelona on my own in May and booked to come to RAÔ a few months prior. It did not disappoint.
As a solo traveller I sat at the bar which was perfect. As soon as I walked in I was made to feel so welcome. I was seated next to a lady who had been the night before (and loved it so much she came back) and a couple who had done the exact same. It’s clear to see why people keep coming back to this wonderful restaurant.
Massive shout out to Luis behind the bar. He made the night perfect and was able to get everyone sat at the bar talking and having so much fun. He recommended the lazy omelette, Iberian pork cheek, and the scallops for me. Every single plate was beautiful. Luis kept checking in to ensure everything was good and honestly he made the entire night. As a solo traveller you can sometimes feel daunted, especially going for dinner alone. But I would 100% recommend RAÓ to anyone, and cannot wait to return upon my next trip to Barcelona.
PS. I also thought the price was really reasonable. For those 3 exceptional dishes and 3 glasses of Rioja it was €60 which, for the standard of everything, I was really happy with.
Thanks to the whole team and especially Luis and the brilliant chefs.
Written May 12, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tester1964
Rome288 contributions
Apr 2023 • friends
This small restaurant offers A great selection of small dishes that are conceived in a traditional Catalan cuisine but also have some combinations and ingredients that make them unique , I should say exquisite . We went with almost all the fish proposals and one was better than the other . Good selection of wines , very gentle personnel and regardless is slightly pricy for the area where is located ( the most touristic boring part of the city) it’s truly worth it to dine here . If you are not lucky like us you even with a reservation you could be seated in tall stools and a high table next to the wall . Honestly speaking I would love to return and enjoy a comfortable chair and a conventional table .
Written April 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rao Bcn
Thank you so much! We are glad to know that you had a good experience in Raó!
Written April 13, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
tmoore6382
Boulder117 contributions
Nov 2024 • couples
This is a return visit because our original experience was outstanding. The food continues to be outstanding. Our server was very helpful explaining the menu and wine options. The noise level is moderate as is the price. Will definitely return on our next visit.
Written December 7, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Raó Bcn
Thank you so much for you words Tom! Hope to see you again :)
Written February 13, 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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