Indian Restaurant Shanti

Barcelona is a city that loves its seafood and its pork, but sometimes you need a break from the tapas treadmill. You need something that hits the back of your throat with the authority of a thousand years of spice trade. Most people head to the Raval for Indian food—and look, there’s a time and a place for a greasy, three-euro curry eaten on a plastic stool while a scooter backfires outside. But when you want to actually sit down and respect the craft, you head to Les Corts. You head to Shanti.

Located on Carrer d'Agustina Saragossa, Shanti doesn't scream for your attention with flashing lights or guys handing out flyers. It’s tucked away in a residential pocket of Les Corts, a neighborhood that feels like real Barcelona—quiet, dignified, and largely ignored by the cruise ship crowds. Walking in, the first thing that hits you isn't just the smell of cumin and cardamom; it’s the temperature of the room. It’s warm, wood-heavy, and dimly lit in a way that makes you want to order a second bottle of wine before the first one even arrives. This is one of the best Indian restaurants in Barcelona for people who actually like to hear their dining companions speak.

The menu is a love letter to the North. We’re talking about the kind of heavy-hitting, sauce-driven cuisine that requires a sturdy piece of naan to navigate. The 'Menu Degustación' is the move here if you’re indecisive or just plain hungry. It’s a parade of small wins: samosas that actually crunch, pakoras that aren't just balls of fried dough, and the kind of tandoori chicken that hasn't been dyed a radioactive shade of red.

But let’s talk about the sauces. In the reviews, people obsess over the 'salsa,' and for good reason. The Tikka Masala here isn't a sugary afterthought for tourists; it’s a complex, creamy, slightly smoky masterpiece. The Lamb Rogan Josh has that deep, brick-red hue that tells you the spices weren't just tossed in at the end—they were toasted, ground, and simmered until they became part of the meat’s DNA. It’s the kind of food that makes you realize how much mediocre Indian food you’ve tolerated in your life.

Is it perfect? Nothing is. If you’re looking for the blistering, face-melting heat of a Phall, you might find Shanti a bit restrained. They cook for a local palate that appreciates flavor over pain. The service can be 'stately'—which is a polite way of saying they aren't in a hurry. But why should you be? You’re in Les Corts, away from the madness of La Rambla. If you’re looking for cheap eats in Barcelona, this might push your budget slightly higher than the Raval dives, but the quality-to-price ratio is undeniable.

This is a place for a date night in Barcelona where you actually want to impress someone, or a long Sunday lunch when the thought of another plate of patatas bravas makes you want to weep. It’s honest, it’s consistent, and it’s been a neighborhood staple for years because they don't cut corners. In a city that is rapidly becoming a theme park of itself, Shanti remains a bastion of actual cooking. It’s not a 'gastronomic adventure'—it’s just a damn good meal in a room that feels like home. If you find yourself near the Maria Cristina metro station with a craving for something that tastes like it was made by someone who actually gives a damn, this is your spot.