Photo: Xerta
I always thought tasting menus were a treat you saved for a big celebration — or something reserved for people with deep pockets.
But my curiosity in the kitchen sent me all over Barcelona, hunting for those spots where fine dining meets a price you can actually afford.
I’ve made it my mission to track down and taste the best places where, for under €60, you can enjoy a genuinely exceptional meal. The kind of thing you could treat yourself to every month.
So if you want to surprise someone special — or simply spoil yourself without a second thought about the bill — stick around. These fantastic, wallet-friendly tasting menus are waiting for you.
Right in the heart of the Eixample, inside the Ohla hotel, Xerta has spent years bringing the cooking of les Terres de l’Ebre to Barcelona. Xerta held a Michelin star between 2016 and 2024, but no longer keeps it. Even so, it remains one of the most polished tables in the city.
There is an à la carte selection and three set menus: Temporada (seasonal, midday, Tuesday to Friday except holidays), Delta and Producto. The seasonal menu is the most affordable way to sample the kitchen without a big budget.
The whole charm of Imprevist is exactly that: you sit back, trust the kitchen and go with it. There is no à la carte — only surprise tasting menus that change with the season and the market, so every visit feels fresh and original.
You can choose between the short menu (7 courses) and the long one (10 courses), with an optional wine pairing. All I ask is that you turn up hungry and ready to be surprised.
Black Rice with Garlic Prawns: bomba rice with seafood broth and squid ink, cuttlefish, artichoke hearts and prawns sautéed in garlic.
September only.
Although it does not have a tasting menu, MANĀ 75 stands out for its Mediterranean dining experience with the Chef’s delights menu, available every day of the week for both lunch and dinner.
Set close to Sant Sebastià beach, it is the perfect spot to enjoy the city’s most famous paellas, with generous portions and an atmosphere made for celebrations or a special day out with a group.
It has become a local favourite for occasions like birthdays and family get-togethers, thanks to its excellent value for money and prime location.
MANĀ 75 was recently included in the World Locals Barcelona Food and Drink Guide. World Locals is a modern travel media brand focused on practical city guides, neighbourhood recommendations, food and drink inspiration, and destination planning for today’s traveller.
✓ Starter
✓ Main dish or Paella
✓ Dessert
✓ Coffee
Perfect to try the specialty of the house: PAELLA!
Available for groups of up to 20 people
Tucked away in the Born, on the little Carrer dels Mercaders, it occupies what were once the Cathedral’s old stables: exposed stone, arches and that warm half-light that makes you want to linger.
There is an à la carte menu and several tasting menus, so you can simply go with the flow.
What would I not miss? Their famous tuna tataki, the cod cooked two ways with creamy trinxat and, for the carnivores, the French rack of lamb from the Josper.
A perfect plan, ideal for a romantic date or a long, unhurried meal right in the historic centre.
A hidden gem where chef Vicent Guimerà — Michelin-starred since 2017 and a Green Star holder — pours his creativity into unimaginable flavour combinations and a firm commitment to sustainability.
His most affordable option is the Menú Verano (Summer Menu, 2026), a selection of his standout dishes that nod to the fine cooking of the Ebro lands. This menu changes every week and is available Wednesday to Sunday.
It is rare for traditional home cooking to go hand in hand with fine dining. The truth is that when you find a restaurant that pulls off this combination, it is an unbeatable thrill for the senses.
Its tasting menu, just €45 per person, takes simple but satisfying dishes to another level, changing with the season. This summer I tried its delicious onion tart with anchovies and figs, and an aubergine dish with black-skinned sea bass that will stay in my heart forever. Here’s hoping they are back next summer, too.
Open evenings Monday to Friday.
This restaurant serves creative cooking built on seasonal produce, and best of all, the menu changes every two weeks. Every time you come back, the experience is different, in the same romantic, private setting.
They have a midday menu and several tasting menus. Fair warning: the tasting menus nudge just past our €60 ceiling, but they are the kind of splurge that is completely worth it.
Fonda España is one of those places that blends history, art and gastronomy. Set inside the Hotel España (today Fonda España by Martín Berasategui – OD Hotels), it occupies a Modernista dining room designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner (yes, the same architect behind the Palau de la Música). Berasategui is listed as culinary advisor, and the day-to-day kitchen is run by chef Edu Rodas.
For €45 they offer a daily multi-course menu with dishes like sea bass and octopus ceviche, black cuttlefish rice, or a sweet finish with a creamy crema catalana.
Authentic paella, fresh seafood, and a sunny terrace for a true taste of Barcelona.
Just steps from the beach.
An irresistible menu to simply let yourself go with — the house’s own recommendation. Honestly, one of my favourites, and one that makes my mouth water just thinking about it.
Its tasting menu includes 7 courses across 7 stages for €60 per person, with an optional pairing of 5 glasses of wine for €40 more.
The dishes are chosen on the spot from whatever is available on the à la carte that day. It also includes a smoked-butter tasting and can be adapted to different diets and intolerances.
Sintonia is one of those restaurants where seasonal produce and technique come together in an elegant but unpretentious setting.
Its tasting menu is a great way to try the best of the house in a single sitting. It features dishes like the Poget oyster with Mexican bloody mary, croissant brioche with truffled butter and 000 anchovy, or the “Porc Negre de Can Company” suckling pig with a sweet-and-sour sauce. The sweet finish arrives as a smoked mini croissant.
A balanced, flavour-packed and beautifully executed experience, ideal for a special lunch or dinner without blowing the budget.
If you are anything like me — someone who loves sitting down at the table, trying new things and being surprised — these Barcelona tasting menus are your next perfect excuse to go out for lunch or dinner. And the best part: without breaking the bank.
What is more, if you are thinking of gifting a tasting menu in Barcelona, any of these restaurants is a safe bet. Personally, I think a gift you can eat (and savour) always makes the best memory.
And speaking of unforgettable experiences… if you are after something special, MANĀ 75 serves a menu of homemade starters and paellas cooked to order along the longest row of paella pans in Europe. A perfect Mediterranean experience to share as a couple, with friends or as a family. And it makes a wonderful gift, too!
Lover of Mediterranean gastronomy and Barcelona's culture. Full time taster of new flavors, places and experiences.
Sé el primero en conocer los mejores restaurantes y eventos de Barcelona
