Menjar Millor, Eat Better
Finding good food in Girona is easy.
Finding the best food is harder.
Finding good food in Girona is easy.
Finding the best food is harder.
So, I made a list.
It’s an un-definitive, often-fluctuating ranking, based on a simple question:
Where do I want to eat today?
Girona has amazing restaurants at every level, from counter serve gems to three-Michelin-star spectacles.
Ranking them together is impossible, but I’m doing it anyway.
If you still can’t choose, send me a message and I’ll help you decide!
¡Bon profit!
Top Restaurants
Hakuk Gastrobar
WhatElevated tapas and Catalan cuisine.
Like, so elevated.
WhyEvery bite is right.
WhenWhen you want to amaze someone with quality, then astound them with reasonable prices.
HowFocus on the shareables, like zucchini carpaccio, bravas, and savory cheesecake.
Get full before dessert, then get dessert anyway because it's that good.
Bionbo
WhatSurprise tasting menus with a competitive twist. The menu changes seasonally, and they don't tell you what you're eating until the end of the dinner. And, you're competing against the other tables to taste and decipher the meal as you go.
WhyFive of the top-ten meals in my life have been at Bionbo. Chef Xavier's attention to detail and innovation is incredible. The concept might sound like a gimmick, but it makes you focus on the food in a way you likely never have before.
This usually my #1 restaurant of all-time, but the end-of-2025 menu wasn't at the same level as the others. I'm very excited to come back next season, though, and I expect Bionbo to reclaim it's rightful place atop the rankings.
WhenWhen you're feeling open-minded and ready to play silly games with seriously good food.
P.S. - Maybe wait until they stop doing the Godfather themed menu.
P.P.S. - If they're offering the Blind Menu (yes, you wear a blindfold the whole time), DO IT.
HowTrust in Xavier.
8de7
WhatLike Hakuk, this is also elevated tapas / Catalan. And it’s also excellent.
WhyThe best (and most controversial) patatas bravas in the city. Consistent excellence across years and dishes makes this a perennial favorite.
WhenWhen you don't mind finishing dinner after 11pm.
HowGet the bravas, but be warned - it's almost too much for two people to split. Almost. Get the quail toasts and the super coca and the tortilla and something with a kumquat and maybe bring an extra friend so you can share it all.
Restaurant Tarla
Full Review
WhatLively spot serving modern tapas beneath the stone ramblas.
WhyPhenomenal execution of the classics with some creative flourishes. Perhaps the best 'classic' bravas on this list - no meat, no funky presentation, just cubes of crispy-smooth potatoes and a side of perfect sauce.
WhenWith a friend, a big group, or when you want to accumulate a big group as friends stop to say hello on their evening walk through town.
HowRaw dog it: get the steak tartar and the wild boar carpaccio.
Plus bravas, obviously. How do they do that to potatoes?
La Pulperia
WhatSeafood restaurant with boho-chic-kitsche atmosphere.
WhyA passionate husband and wife duo with real seafood (and bravas!) expertise.
WhenWith a friend or three.
HowTry the galician mushrooms, trust in Fran.
Sukoon Indian Cuisine
Full Review
WhatUpscale Indian. Also, one of the tables has a river running through it, so that’s pretty cool.
WhyIncredible depth of flavor, friendly staff, plush yet welcoming interior. I’m not sure why, but all of the best cheese nanns I’ve ever had have been in Catalonia.
WhenWith a friend or a larger group.
HowAsk for recommendations, try a bunch of stuff, skip dessert.
Mola Botiga de Pastas
Full Review
Map
WhatCounter-serve shop with one guy dishing out Italian pasta, cannoli, pizza, and other goodness.
WhyThat one guy? He nails it, everytime. Every combo we've had has been fantastic.
WhenSolo or with a friend when you want something casual, but not rushed. It's counter-serve, but the man is a pasta artisan.
HowYou can't go wrong, but the Norma sauce with a chunky shape is one right answer.
El Cellar de Can Roca
Full Review
WhatMulti-time #1 Restaurant in the World serving a seemingly endless tasting menu of Catlan inspired bites.
WhyA true spectacle of restauranteering, so much so that it's more like a museum or a theater production than a restaurant.
Like an art museum, though, I'm not going there if I want a real dinner.
WhenOnce, but probably not twice.
HowIf you can't get a reservation through the online portal, see if your credit card company has a concierge - they might be able to book hidden dates/times.
Umai
Full Review
WhatFancy Japaense with an open kitchen and intimate atmosphere. You could get ramen for two and have a great meal for ~40 euro, or you could spend 40 euro on a single appetizer.
WhyThat scallop hotate? Worth it.
The ramen? Subtle, but very satisfying.
The sushi? Creative and well executed, (maybe a bit small, though)
The dessert? Adorably mirrored so that two people can share it without conflict.
WhenWith a date you want to impress with something off the beaten path.
HowYou can ball out or focus on value-for-money, and both will be great.
Restaurant A4Mans
Full Review
WhatWhite tablecloth Korean-Catalan fusion with multiple tasting menus.
WhyAnother wife and husband project with a unique offering on the Girona food scene. The menu is broad, but the Korean elements have tremendous depth - I'm still thinking about that bulgogi.
WhenWhen you've had your fill of bravas and want to travel across continents without leaving a well-lit hotel-bar-style dining room.
HowConvince your party to do a tasting menu. Alternatively, be sure to get a bulgogi all to yourself, because you won't want to share it. Try not to spill sauce on the tablecloth.
Top Desserts
Gelato, Pastries, Cheesecakes, Cheese Plates, etc…
Joncake
Full Review
WhatBasque cheesecake a variety of flavors, from smooth to intense.
AND ALSO COOKIES (emphasis my wife's).
WhyCheesecake is my achilles meal - if it's on a menu, I order it. And this is some of the best I've had. Their classic is quintessential, while their blue cheese and Idiazabal flavors are complex, fascinating, and fantastic.
And, yes, they also have the best chocolate chip cookies we've found in Spain.
WhenWhen you want to buy cheesecake by the gram (which makes sense, since it's basically a drug.)
HowRemember, if you don't fill up the entire box you're paying extra for cardboard.
Madonna Gelato
Full Review
WhatArtisanal vegan gelato.
WhyBecause it's frickin' great, regardless of your vegan status. The pistachio is superb.
WhenAs often as possible, basically.
HowFocus on the nutty, coconut-y, and fruity. Pistachio, piña colada, peanut, tropical, hazelnut, lemon pie, etc.
Skip the nata / cream flavor though - turns out you really need cream to make a good cream.
Roli Gelateria
Full Review
WhatEven-more-artisanal gelato.
WhyCommitment to high-quality, local-focused ingredients in inventive and classic flavors. Bonus points for their commitment to running a single shop instead of diluting themselves across multiple locations.
WhenKeep an eye out for seasonal flavors.
HowGo sample and learn about their flavors from the friendly, passionate staff.
Desván Bakery
Full Review
WhatElaborate cookies and other creative pastries.
WhyCookie good.
WhenPost-ride.
HowOr, if not post-ride, share it with a friend to avoid the sugar shakes.
Myka Greek Frozen Yogurt
Full Review
WhatInstagram-ready greek froyo with fancy toppings and seasonal flavors.
WhyPremium look and feel, but can be a bit small or plain.
WhenWhen you just need a lil' treat that's a lil' sweet.
HowTry not to suffer analysis-paralysis from the variety of available toppings.
La Lletera Gelato
Full Review
WhatArtisan gelato shop beneath an ancient stone basilica.
WhyA good selection of flavors, a solid pistachio, and not full of flourescent artificial flavoring.
WhenI really don't know, they have the least consistent hours I've ever seen.
HowSeriously, I think I've had a 20% success rate on trying to go here.
Recent Reviews
There’s no such thing as an unbiased review.
I’m Nick. I ride bikes and eat food.
My biggest biases are:
I’m usually hungry
Food is either good or “interesting" but rarely bad
I don’t accept free food or compensation for reviews, so, together with Bias #1, I value quality and quantity
After extensive exploration of Girona’s restaurants, I have thoughts on what’s most worth your time.
I hope my unprofessional opinions help you find a great meal!