Barcelona Insider’s Guide for Trade Show Visitors - 2025 Edition - The Restaurant List & Getting Around

Barcelona is once again in the spotlight as Mobile World Congress 2025 approaches.

Whether you're in town for this #MWC25 or any of the many other trade shows that take place here during the year, we've refreshed our Barcelona guide with the latest tips for getting around, having fun and most importantly: where to find great food, recommended by local insiders working in our industry.

From dining recommendations to updated travel advice, here’s everything you need to make the most of your stay.

Top Tips for Travel To & From the Airport

There’s the Aerobús of course…

The Aerobús is the 24-hour airport shuttle bus that will pick you up from El Prat Barcelona Airport (Terminals 1 and 2) and take you to the city center. It makes five stops: Plaça Espanya, Gran Via-Urgell, Plaça Universidad, and finally Plaça Catalunya (it leaves you off in front of the department store, El Corte Inglés). As of February 2025, a  one-way ticket is €7.25, while a return ticket is €12.50 (and valid for 90 days). Children under 4 travel free. The trip from the Airport to Plaça Catalunya takes 35 minutes. It is very convenient and tickets can be bought online, at the bus stops or directly with the driver. 

Mobile World Congress, 2018

But what if you are trying to get to the Fira?

A little further down from the Aerobús at the airport, is another set of bus stops, the last one of which is for Bus 46. It also connects the airport to the city center, leaves every 15-20 minutes, and goes as far as Plaça España. This route has many more stops which just may be an advantage if your hotel or Airbnb is not in the middle of the main tourist areas. This option is very convenient since it will leave you off directly in front of the Fira! As of February 2025 the price of a one-way ticket is €2.55 (and you can pay directly on the bus using a contactless bank card, smart phone or smartwatch). Alternatively, if you plan to use public transportation frequently during your stay, consider purchasing a T-Casual card, which offers 10 rides across various transport modes, including buses and the metro, for €12.15. All ticket options for the TMB.cat system can be found here. 

But I prefer to take an Uber!

Uber operates in Barcelona, but its services differ from those in other cities. In Barcelona, Uber primarily connects users with licensed taxi drivers through its app, allowing you to request a taxi and pay digitally. Due to challenges from local taxi drivers, availability may be restricted. Uber tends to have longer wait times and potential higher fares than standard taxis. Other services may be more reliable, such as Free Now, Cabify, and Bolt, which are widely used and may offer more reliable service. 

  • Tip 1: Use the buses! 

  • Tip 2: Always check the TMB official website for the latest fare options and updates before your trip.

  • Tip 3: Always check with the trade show organizer, very often they offer free travel passes

Barcelona’s Ultimate Foodie Experience – Broadcast Projects’ Big List of Restaurants

La Boqueria

If you are a foodie, you will almost certainly want to hit the food market, Mercat de la Boquería, located about half-way down La Rambla. It is a must-see spot for tourists (cue: pickpockets). Bring your camera, watch your wallet, and soak it all in. Eating there is not for the faint of heart especially if you are not Spanish-speaking. It will be very crowded and it won’t be cheap, but if you can manage to squeeze in, and overcome the language challenges, you will eat really, really, well here.

La Boqueria

Tip, for La Boquería, if you fancy one of those colorful fruit drinks you´ll see on ice as you enter, inside the market. Go a little bit further into the market, and you will find that they are actually cheaper there. They jack up the prices at the entrance!

Top Tip: Eat your big meal of the day at lunchtime (like the locals)

Everyone in ​Catalonia eats lunch at 2pm. If you are looking for the best value ​keep a look out for restaurants that offer a menú del día (menu of the day). The menú del día is usually a three-course meal, and usually wine or beer will be included.

A typical menu at a normal restaurant is about 15-20 Euros per person, and you will eat very well. Bear in mind that the menú del día prices are much higher at the weekend and on holidays (that's just what they do here).

Thank you to our friends and local industry insiders who have offered their suggestions on their favorite restaurants.

Restaurant Suggestions from Pau Capella, Chief Technology Officer, BMAT

Paellas

  • Can Ros:  Can Ros is a renowned seafood tavern located in the Barceloneta neighborhood of Barcelona. Established in 1908, it specializes in traditional paella and seafood dishes. The restaurant is situated in the Barceloneta neighborhood, near the seafront. Map Link. 

  • Minyam: Minyam is a gastronomic restaurant located at Carrer de Pujades 187, 08005 Barcelona, in the Poblenou neighborhood. Map Link. 

Vegetarian

  • Teresa Carles: A popular vegetarian restaurant, only a 5-minute walk from Plaça Catalunya in the Raval neighborhood, near Carrer del Carme. Map Link. 

  • Flax and Kale: Health-conscious vegetarian and flexitarian options, just a 5-minute walk from Plaça Catalunya. Map Link. 

  • Sésamo: Vegetarian cuisine with a creative twist, located near the Sant Antoni market. Map Link. 

Tapas

  • Velodromo:  Traditional tapas in the Eixample district. Map Link. 

  • LLuritu: A casual seafood restaurant in Barcelona, renowned for its fresh, high-quality seafood prepared over a wood-fired grill. There are several locations. Map Link. 

Pizza

Fusion

Restaurant Suggestions from Bea Alonso – Independent Advisor & Strategic Consultant

Family-Friendly Dining

  • Le Petit Chef: A delightful and interactive dining experience that’s perfect for families, located in the Hyatt Regency Barcelona Tower. Map Link

Top Family-Friendly Activities

  • CosmoCaixa: Explore interactive exhibits, an indoor rainforest, and dinosaur displays at this science museum. Map Link

  • Idea Barcelona: Experience an immersive, Jules Verne–inspired adventure suitable for all ages. Map Link

  • Tibidabo: Scenic views of Barcelona are provided from this mountaintop with a grand cathedral & ferris wheel.Map Link

Restaurant Suggestions from Anna Montull Vilaseca, Marketing Manager, Synamedia

Let’s start with my all-time favorite: La Flauta – Super central, with a great mix of locals and foreigners. They also have sister restaurants like Cervecería Catalana and Vinitus. No bookings in advance, so be prepared to wait a bit!

Addresses:

Colmado Murria or Colmado Wilmot – Located in different parts of the city but with a similar vibe. These spots were originally neighborhood shops (colmados) that have been turned into amazing tapas restaurants. Book in advance.

Addresses:

  • Queviures Murria, Carrer de Roger de Llúria, 85, L'Eixample, 08009 Barcelona

  •  Colmado Wilmot, Carrer de Calvet, 28, Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, 08021 Barcelona

If you’re up for a tasting menu, Imprevisto is fantastic – A bit on the pricier side, but the fun part is that you never know what you're going to get. Book ahead.

Gresca – Another high-end favorite (and Dua Lipa’s, too!). A fantastic choice for a more elevated dining experience. Book in advance.

Bar Cañete – A classic for tapas! I used to take all my visitors there. Definitely book ahead.

Fat Veggies – If you are vegetarian, this is hands down the best in the city, in my opinion. Book in advance.

Sartoria Panatieri – Two locations, both awarded Best Pizza in Europe! Barcelona has plenty of great pizzerias thanks to the large Italian community, especially from the south, but this one stands out. Book in advance.

Addresses:

Lluritu – If you are after fish and seafood, this is the best. There are three locations in the city, all super casual, and it feels like eating right in the market. Book in advance.

Terraza Martínez, located on one of Barcelona’s two mountains. It’s famous for its rice dishes (not paellas—there’s a difference!), and the views are quite stunning. Book in advance.

Basically, book in advance for all of them, no matter where they go—except for the La Flauta spots, where reservations aren’t possible!

Restaurant Suggestions from Manuel Bergerot – Product Growth Officer, Broadpeak

For those who like to explore on the go, Manuel has shared a few curated spots via Google Maps. Check out his recommendations for hidden gems and popular local hangouts:

  • RiasKRU - A hidden gem in Sants-Montjuïc, RiasKRU serves up delicious fusion flavors, perfect for anyone craving a unique dining experience in Barcelona. Map Link. 

  • Restaurant Guri – is a distinctive restaurant in Barcelona that seamlessly blends the culinary traditions of the Río de la Plata region with Mediterranean flavors. Located at Carrer del Rector Triadó, 72, in the Sants neighborhood (08014), Gurí emphasizes the use of organic and locally sourced seasonal products. The ambiance is casual yet inviting, complemented by a curated selection of natural and organic wines. Map Link

  • Glug –A trendy spot in the heart of Barcelona, Glug combines casual dining with vibrant energy, perfect for grabbing a bite and enjoying an exciting urban vibe. Map Link. 

  • BENZiNA – Hip, industrial-style Italian eatery for pasta, seafood & meat plates, plus cocktails & wine.. Map Link. 

  • CruiX – Casual, brick-lined eatery plating imaginative tapas & Spanish classics, plus a robust wine list.Map Link.

Restaurant Suggestions from Janet Greco, Broadcast Projects

​Close to the Fira:

  • Salad Market - Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, at Plaça Cerdá, a 12 minute walk from the Fira in the direction of the city center, located at a large roundabout Plaça d’Ildefons Cerdà.

  • Goiko - located next to Salad Market (see directions above). Hamburger restaurant.

  • Aloha Poké - also in the same location, about 12 minutes from the Fira.

  • By Metro: Barcelona City Center​

  • Mercat de La Boquería - Bustling Food Market. La Rambla (Metro Liceu)

  • Restaurante O'Tubo, Venerable haunt with a terrace, serving tapas, paella & traditional Galician meat & seafood dishes.

  • Restaurante El Cargolet, Traditional Mediterranean and Spanish cuisines, with specialties including escargots, cod, and a variety of tapas

  • Amaltea, Vegetarian.

  • La Bella Napoli, Authentic Italian wood-fired pizzas.

  • Pastisseria Cusachs, Pastry and light lunches.

  • La Macchina, Fresh pasta. Quick and casual dining.

  • Can Kenji, Japanese Restaurant.

Restaurante Sehari

Sarría Sant Gervasi

Filipe on the move at Restaurant Sehari

  • Restaurant Sehari - Traditional Catalan. Filipe will hand you the menu, ask if you’re hungry, propose today’s best dishes (which you should agree to at once!), at which point he’ll swipe the menu back and you’ll eat very well!

  • Alternative Food Markets
    Mercat del Ninot - where the locals shop
    Mercat Sant Antoni - fabulous renovated market building.

Costa Brava (by car) 

Additional Tips For Your Visit!

Barcelona is almost always crowded, especially in the city center around Plaça Catalunya and La Rambla​, Barcelona's most famous promenade. Tourism more than quadrupled between 2010 and 2018, when there were 30 million visitors to the city. Post pandemic, the number stands at 35 million visitors annually.

Plan your movements around the city

Located in the dead center of town, La Rambla is adjacent to the main central metro stop, Plaça Catalunya (Catalonia Square). You'll recognize Plaça Catalunya immediately because it's filled with pigeons and rip-off artists. Watch your pockets.

You can’t walk 2 meters down La Rambla without 10 people crossing your path. Note that August is high season and unfortunately La Rambla is not what it once was some years ago.

Of course, if you leave yourself some free time, you're going to want to visit all the famous sights, such as the Gaudí buildings, the Gothic Quarter, El Borne. Enjoy, just be aware that there are going to be plenty of people milling around, just like you. ​

Choose carefully where you stay

You might want to think twice about staying directly in the old city center. You might also think twice about choosing an older, cheaper hotel or unrenovated AirBNB. You might find yourself in the company of cockroaches the size of Canada. Hopefully that won´t happen to you.

The weather does vary - especially in winter

It is true that we enjoy, for the most part, the weather is really great in Barcelona. Our summers can be diabolically hot, though, and usually winter is fairly mild, too. But the winter weather  ​can be quite variable.

During the 2018 Mobile World Congress it actually snowed. I talked to visitors who had brought shorts and had plans to go to the beach. It was grim!

Bring a mid-weight jacket from November to March. And for the reverse, be aware how absolutely brutal the heat can be in the midday during summer, from 12 to 5pm. (Note that most businesses close between 2 and 5pm partly for this reason, and partly so they can go have lunch themselves!)

​Plan ahead for visiting touristic spots!

Sagrada Familia, Janet Greco 2015

Planning to visit La Sagrada Familia?  Book it online first, else you'll be in line for three hours - especially in summer. Book ahead and pick the date and time you want to go. Simple! ​Also for Park Güell, Gaudi´s famous park, note that 2d maps don´t fully convey the 3d reality of the city. Park Güell sits upon a small mountain. Accessing it from the nearest metro (Vallcarca), you will find a hillside of escalators leading you up. But you still have to go walk even further. The park is huge. (Also, you have to pay to see the best bits.) So, go, it's great. Just don't go at 12 noon in the hot July sun or you will certainly fry and die if you’re not aware it is situated on top of a hill.

Get out of the city

If you are traveling from afar, try to leave yourself some time to properly visit the region. The comments here mostly relate to those coming for a vacation.

For a short excursion, and for only few bucks, in a conveniently comfortable air-conditioned bus, and for just 5€, you can get to seaside towns like Sitges in about an hour. It’s home to the annual Sitges Film Festival, held every October in this lovely seaside town.

It’s got a very Mediterranean feel, a bit like the south of France. You can stroll around, have lunch, go to the beach, and then hop back on the bus to Barcelona. It makes a great day trip! The fare is around 5 Euros, and there are several bus stops within the city center. There are several other excursions you can do from that bus service, too.

Alternatively, Sant Cugat, is a nearby, classy suburb of Barcelona accessible by train from Plaça Catalunya in just 30 minutes.  

Look for the "FGC" line (the Ferrocarrils de Catalunya - one of several distinct rail lines) and take any "S" train. In Sant Cugat you'll find a great ​Thursday morning market, tons of shopping and restaurants, and an amazing cathedral / monastery. Definitely less hustle and bustle there, and it is more green for sure than the center of the city.

You also have a number of other excursions as options. If you have a car one nice day trip is Vic (the Saturday market is amazing, it dates back to Medieval times, and so does the one in Sant Cugat). ​

​For more extended excursions by car, I recommend anywhere in the La Garrotxa region, near Girona (and don´t misss Besalú). La Garrotxa is a 90 minute drive north of Barcelona. If you must, go visit the Salvador Dalí museum in Figueres which is nearby. But I'd recommend a better use of your time is a visit to the Costa Brava, for example, the seaside town of Tossa de Mar, known for its homage to actress Ava Gardner (see restaurant suggestion above).

You can find a list of easy day-trips by car here. Other suggestions include the mystical mountain that is Montserrat or the funfair at Tibidabo which offers spectacular views taking in all of the city.

Enjoy your Visit to Barcelona

​You may have noticed that our guide is not 100% strictly business. Welcome to the Mediterranean! We hope you get something useful from these tips,

Whether you're in Barcelona for MWC 2025 or any of the many exciting trade shows the city hosts throughout the year, planning ahead is your best strategy. With our insider tips on seamless transport, exceptional dining, and must-see family attractions, you’re all set to experience the best the city has to offer.

Remember to book your reservations early and stay updated on any travel or event changes. For the latest news on upcoming trade shows and industry events, be sure to visit the TV Events Hub, and if you need help preparing for your event, don’t hesitate to reach out.

Enjoy your time in Barcelona and make the most of every moment!

















First published, 3rd February 2020

Updated: February 2023

Current update: 25 February 2025 

Trade Shows and ConferencesJanet Greco