Where to eat in Tarragona: our selection of essential restaurants: local cuisine, seafood & paella, tapas, international & vegan
In Tarragona, the city’s story is told at the table: fish fresh from the port, produce from the Camp de Tarragona and kitchens that respect the seasons. This guide brings together local tips and chefs’ favourites — Mapilife’s “selection of the selection” — so you can get it right first time.
You’ll find varied, high-quality options for every occasion and budget: from creative fine dining to dockside rice dishes, from characterful tapas to the city’s top sushi and a benchmark vegan spot. Use it to taste Tarragona neighbourhood by neighbourhood — Part Alta, El Serrallo, Rambla Nova and the Port Esportiu — and enjoy a reliably good meal.
Tarragona Restaurants
Local & Mediterranean Cuisine
From creative author cuisine to beloved local favourites — seasonal produce and the flavours of the territory
El Terrat
Creative author cuisine
The city’s reference point for creative, avant-garde cooking, recognised with a Repsol Sun and recommended by the Michelin Guide. Mediterranean, seasonal and locally sourced produce treated with modern technique. Chef Quach offers tasting menus that change with the seasons and thoughtful wine pairings — ideal for special evenings.
- C. Pons d'Icart, 19 - Tarragona
- 977 248 485
- 50–100 euros
- @elterrat_restaurant
Casa Balcells
Dining by the Cathedral
On the Pla de la Seu, right beside the Cathedral facade, with a privileged setting, a spacious terrace and a cosy dining room. Catalan and Mediterranean dishes — tapas, rice and product-led plates — ideal for a vermouth, a breezy lunch menu or dinner with Part Alta ambience. Fast service, sharing-friendly menu and excellent value for money.
- Pla de la Seu, 5 (Part Alta)
- 977 895 265
- 20–40 euros
- @casabalcells
Selvático
Mediterranean fusion
At the Port Esportiu, a stylish, jungle-inspired venue pairing quality produce and contemporary technique with a serious cocktail bar. Specialists in paellas and the grill: from octopus to rice with dry-aged txuletón — plates made for sharing and lingering. The setting comes alive with live music, events and themed parties, with a large terrace overlooking Platja del Miracle.
- Port Esportiu - Tarragona
- 689 038 001
- 25–50 euros
- @selvaticotarragona
Gure Toki
Basque grill in the Part Alta
A family-run Basque restaurant bringing Euskadi to the Costa Daurada for over a decade. Warm service and a homely room for pintxos and hallmark dishes such as piquillo peppers, oven-baked sea bream, Galician txuletón from the grill and house-made desserts and ice creams. Fresh product, precise cooking and generous portions. Tip: the weekday lunch menu is great value.
- Plaça del Rei, 4 (Part Alta)
- 877 237 761
- 25–40 euros
- @restaurante.guretoki
Taranta
Honest, home-style cooking
A local favourite thanks to slow-cooked stews and market-led dishes, well executed from starters to desserts. Excellent set lunch and special menus plus a broad choice of tapas and mains: from cachopo and steak tartare to seafood plates like grilled octopus or mussels. Refurbished dining rooms and terrace; strong value a few minutes from the Tarragona Central Market.
- Plaça Ponent,13 - Tarragona
- 977 226 645
- 20–30 euros
- @restaurant_taranta
Seafood & Paellas
Dockside classics, rice dishes and fish from the market in El Serrallo
Ca l'Eulàlia
Sauvour the freshest catch
Family seafood restaurant where Òscar — a lifelong fisherman — recites the day’s catch, and Eulàlia leads the kitchen with passion. Expect seasonal rice dishes and fish cooked to perfection in a friendly, intimate setting since 2008. Open Monday to Saturday at lunch; dinners by prior reservation on Monday–Wednesday. Tip: trust their guidance and enjoy Tarragona’s best fish and shellfish.
- Plaça Bisbe Bonet (El Serrallo)
- 977 215 075
- 50 euros
- @caleulaliarestaurant
Restaurant Nàutic
Signature seafood
City favourite Xavier Fernández now helms the Club Nàutic’s historic restaurant with a high-quality, Mediterranean seafood proposal. Rice dishes, fish and the finest produce — Balfegó tuna is a house hallmark — alongside delicate plates like Tarragona red prawn carpaccio. Year-round terrace, elegant dining room and a strong cellar for pairings. Don’t miss the lunch menu featuring rice, or the terrace for a vermouth with tapas at sunset.
- Club Nàutic (Port de Tarragona)
- 977 228 071
- 25-50 euros
- @restaurantnauticbyseasons
L’Àncora del Serrallo
Culinary institution at the Port
A family seafood restaurant with 50 years of craft: traditional cooking, fresh product and a vast menu (100+ dishes) including seafaring rice, fish casserole, oven-baked beach fish and calamari. Nautical-style dining room and a large terrace on the Serrallo promenade. Fast, attentive service; ideal for seafood platters, oysters, mussels, whelks and Tarragona red prawns — and proper house desserts. A timeless port classic.
- C. de Trafalgar, 21 (El Serrallo)
- 617 494 654
- 20-40 euros
- @lancoradelserrallo
A la Vora de l’Ebre
Southern Catalonia flavours
A Repsol “Solete” recommendation for quality and authenticity. Specialists in traditional rice dishes, molluscs and eel, with daily fish from the Delta de l’Ebre and home-made desserts, in a cosy, family space close to the station. Fresh product and simple maritime ambience that wins over locals and visitors — a well-kept secret for Ebre flavours without leaving Tarragona.
- C. Barcelona, 7 - Tarragona
- 977 251 645
- 30-50 euros
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The Best Tapas
Well-made tapas, creative twists and good vibes across the city
Cal Blay
Grill & tapas in an iconic venue
Inside the historic Tarraco Arena, a modern, casual restaurant combining market-led tapas, grilled meats and Mediterranean sharing plates made with local, seasonal produce. Tradition, innovation and territory on a single menu, plus off-menu suggestions according to the market.
- C. de Mallorca, 18 - Tarragona
- 610 917 134
- 25-35 euros
- calblay.com
Lola Bistro
Wines & plates to share
In the Part Alta, a gourmet, slow-food tapas spot focused on seasonal, local produce and unhurried sharing. The menu features small plates, meat and fish, “llauna” baked rice and frequent seasonal changes, backed by a thoughtful wine list. Warm, relaxed ambience for couples or friends. Also they have a restaurant in Altafulla.
- C. d'en Ventallols, 13 (Part Alta)
- 696 327 140
- 20-40 euros
- @lolabistrorestaurant
Merceria 34
Author tapas in the Part Alta
Behind Merceria 34 are two chefs trained in some of Tarragona’s most respected kitchens. They’ve channelled that fine-dining know-how into a compact, market-led menu of author tapas in the Part Alta: polished takes on classics alongside original small plates, all changing with the seasons. Expect detail on the plate, lively bar energy and top patatas bravas that locals rave about.
- Plaça del Fòrum (Part Alta)
- 977 087 606
- 35-45 euros
- @merceria_34
4 Latas
Tapas on the Plaça de la Font
For good tapas on the city’s liveliest square, this is the spot: a broad terrace for people-watching and sharing plates. A cheeky, modern menu with reworked classics and signatures like the “La Llorona” coca. Dishes, sharing tapas and tasty desserts, with beers and cocktails to match.
- Plaça de la Font, 9 - Tarragona
- 977 421 196
- 15-30 euros
- @4latas
Cap i Cua
Popular terrace for tapas
Tapas bar and weekday set menus with a large terrace metres from the Mercat Central and Plaça Corsini. Home-style, honest cooking, strong value and sharing portions — ideal for a quick menu while exploring the centre. Lively all day with friendly service; a local favourite.
- C. Lleida, 6 - Tarragona
- 977 246 124
- 10-25 euros
Bar Paraíso
Clásico de Bonavista desde 1978
Authentic tapas with excellent value, perfect if you’re heading to the Bonavista Market on the city’s edge. House specialities include crisp fried fish, a great ensaladilla and some of the Costa Daurada’s favourite bravas, plus trusty old-school tapas. Neighbourhood feel, quick service and generous portions to share — popular with locals & families.
- Carrer Set, 40 - Bonavista
- 977 421 196
- 15-25 euros
- Bar Paraíso
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International Cuisine
Bokoto
Tarragona’s top Japanese
The city’s leading Japanese & sushi restaurant, on the Rambla Nova, a short stroll from the Balcó del Mediterrani. A premium experience from start to finish with immaculate knife work, open kitchen & hallmark Balfegó bluefin tuna. Modern, intimate dining room for special dinners & a tasting menu showcasing the house’s iconic flavours. Delivery and takeaway available.
- Rambla Nova, 22 – Tarragona
- 977 214 908
- 30-55 euros
- Bokoto
Vegan
El Vergel Veggie
Tarragona’s vegan benchmark
On the first floor of central Carrer Major, one of the Costa Daurada’s key vegan restaurants. A 100% plant-based menu with creative, seasonal dishes using modern techniques and international influences. Excellent value weekday lunch menu; don’t miss the mushroom croquettes, creamy risotto and home-made desserts.
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Want to keep descovering the city? Pick up or download the Mapilife Tarragona guide & keep exploring district by district with trusted locals’ picks
On our site you’ll also find deep-dives into paellas and rice dishes, essential tapas, vegan and international options, plus things to do, culture and museums, and nightlife — and our Mapilife Southern Catalonia guide to roam the whole Costa Daurada and Terres de l’Ebre. Reserve ahead when needed, ask for seasonal specials and enjoy every bite.
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