La Taberna Gallega de Marcos Barcelona

For years, La Taberna Gallega de Marcos was the only reason a self-respecting human would willingly spend time in the Port Olímpic. Amidst the neon-lit tourist traps and the desperate hawkers, Marcos was a beacon of sanity, serving up the kind of Galician seafood that makes you forget you’re surrounded by people wearing socks with sandals. But things change. The port got a facelift, and Marcos packed up his knives and his lobster tanks and headed uphill to Muntaner. If you’re looking for the sea breeze, you’re in the wrong place. If you’re looking for the best seafood restaurant in Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, you’ve arrived.

Walking into the new location on Carrer de Muntaner, you realize the soul of the place didn’t stay behind in the salt air. It’s still a temple to the product. This isn't some 'concept' restaurant where the chef spends more time on his Instagram than his sauces. It’s white tablecloths, professional waiters who have seen it all, and a menu that reads like a love letter to the Atlantic coast. The vibe is classic Barcelona—bustling, slightly chaotic during the Sunday lunch rush, and filled with locals who know exactly what they want before they even sit down.

Let’s talk about the pulpo a la gallega. It is the benchmark. If a Galician place can’t get the octopus right, they should just pack up and open a juice bar. Here, it’s tender enough to cut with a dull spoon, dusted with pimentón that has just enough kick to remind you you’re alive, and served over potatoes that have soaked up all that glorious olive oil and octopus liquor. It’s simple. It’s perfect. It’s the kind of thing you eat with a hunk of crusty bread and a cold glass of Albariño while you ignore your phone.

But the real heavyweight champion here is the Arroz Caldoso con Bogavante. Do not call this paella. If you do, the ghost of a thousand Galician grandmothers will haunt your dreams. This is a soupy, rich, deeply concentrated rice dish served in a heavy pot. The lobster isn't just a garnish; it’s the star of the show, infusing the broth with a briny intensity that hits you right in the cortex. It’s messy, it’s expensive, and it’s worth every damn cent. You’ll find yourself scraping the bottom of the pot, looking for one last grain of rice that’s been stained orange by the lobster roe.

Is it cheap? No. Good seafood in Barcelona never is. You’ll see people in the reviews complaining about the VAT (IVA) not being included or the price of the percebes (goose barnacles). Ignore them. They’re the kind of people who want a bargain on a heart transplant. You’re paying for the logistics of getting a creature from the cold, violent waters of the Atlantic to a plate in the middle of a Mediterranean city within twenty-four hours. That costs money.

This is a place for people who actually like to eat. It’s for the Sunday family lunch that lasts four hours, for the business deal sealed over a plate of grilled razor clams, and for the traveler who is sick of 'fusion' and just wants a piece of fish that tastes like the ocean. It’s honest, it’s loud, and it’s one of the best Galician restaurants in Barcelona for a reason. Marcos didn't need the port; the port needed him. Now that he’s in Muntaner, the neighborhood just got a lot more interesting.