Bocconi

Sarrià is not the Barcelona you see on the postcards. It doesn’t care about your selfie stick or your desire for a cheap sangria pitcher. This was an independent village until 1921, and it still carries itself with that 'pueblo' swagger—quiet, affluent, and fiercely local. In the dead center of this neighborhood, standing guard over the Plaça del Consell de la Vila, is Bocconi. It’s a restaurant that understands exactly what it needs to be: a neighborhood anchor serving Italian food that doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel, because the wheel was already perfect.

When you walk into the Plaça del Consell de la Vila, you’re stepping into the living room of Sarrià. The town hall clock tower looms overhead, and the sound of children playing on the cobblestones competes with the clink of wine glasses. Bocconi occupies a prime piece of real estate here. Inside, it’s all rustic charm—exposed stone walls, warm wood, and the kind of unpretentious atmosphere that invites you to stay for three hours and order that second bottle of Chianti. But the real magic happens on the terrace. If you can snag a table outside on a warm evening, you’ve won the Barcelona lottery. You’re sitting in the heart of a village-within-a-city, watching the world go by while the smell of garlic and olive oil wafts from the kitchen.

Let’s talk about the food, because that’s why we’re here. This is one of the best Italian restaurants in Sarrià-Sant Gervasi for a reason. They aren’t doing molecular gastronomy or fusion experiments that nobody asked for. They’re doing the hits, and they’re doing them with respect. The risotto is the heavy hitter here. Whether it’s the mushroom-heavy version or the one laced with truffle, it arrives with that perfect, slightly resistant bite—the 'all’onda' texture that separates the pros from the amateurs. It’s rich, it’s unapologetic, and it’s exactly what you want after a long walk through the winding streets of the upper district.

The menu leans heavily into the classics. You’ll find burrata that actually tastes like cream and sunshine, not the rubbery supermarket stuff. The pastas, like the tagliatelle with truffle or the spicy penne arrabbiata, are served in portions that assume you’ve worked a full day in the fields. And then there’s the tiramisu. People in the reviews talk about it like it’s a religious experience, and they aren’t far off. It’s a messy, glorious heap of mascarpone, espresso-soaked ladyfingers, and cocoa that hits your system like a caffeine-fueled hug. It’s the kind of dessert that makes you forget your diet and your dignity in equal measure.

Is it perfect? No. When the square is packed on a Saturday afternoon, the service can move at a pace best described as 'leisurely.' The waiters are busy, the kitchen is slammed, and you might have to wave a hand to get that check. But that’s part of the deal. You don’t come to Bocconi for a fast-food experience. You come here to slow down. You come here because you want to eat food that feels like it was made by someone who actually likes their job. It’s honest, it’s carb-heavy, and it’s deeply satisfying.

If you’re staying in the center of town, near the chaos of La Rambla, making the trek up to Sarrià might seem like a chore. Do it anyway. Take the FGC train to the Sarrià stop, walk five minutes through the narrow, flower-lined streets, and find this square. Bocconi is the reward for getting off the beaten path. It’s a reminder that even in a city as touristed as Barcelona, there are still corners where the locals are the majority, the food is the priority, and the clock tower still dictates the rhythm of the day.