Season Tapes Restaurant

Carrer d’Aribau is one of those streets that defines the Eixample—wide, rhythmic, and occasionally a bit too polished for its own good. But tucked into this grid of high-end boutiques and modernist facades is Season, a place that manages to be smart without being smug. It’s a restaurant that understands the fundamental truth of Barcelona dining: if you aren't cooking with the seasons, you’re just heating up calories. This isn't your dusty, cobweb-filled bodega where the ham has been hanging since the transition to democracy. This is the new Barcelona—clean lines, focused energy, and a kitchen that treats vegetables with the same bloody respect as a prime cut of beef.

When you walk in, you get that immediate hit of Eixample energy. It’s sophisticated but lacks the suffocating pretension of the white-tablecloth joints nearby. The room hums with the sound of people who actually enjoy eating, not just being seen. It’s the kind of place where a solo diner at the bar is treated with the same quiet reverence as a table of six. You’re here for the food, and the kitchen knows it. They call it 'seasonal tapas,' which in lesser hands is a marketing gimmick, but here, it’s a manifesto.

Let’s talk about the duck cannelloni. In Catalonia, cannelloni is sacred—traditionally a way to use up the leftovers from a feast. At Season, it’s elevated to an art form. It’s rich, decadent, and unapologetic, swimming in a truffle-scented béchamel that will make you want to lick the plate. It’s a protein-heavy embrace that reminds you why French-influenced Catalan cooking is some of the best on the planet. Then there’s the salmon tartare, clean and sharp, a necessary counterpoint to the heavier hitters on the menu. It’s one of the best tapas Barcelona has to offer when you want something that doesn't sit like a brick in your stomach.

But the real curveball? The vegan options. Usually, when a traditional Spanish spot says they have 'vegan options,' they mean a sad salad or some unseasoned asparagus. Not here. The beetroot tartare is a revelation—earthy, complex, and textured enough to make a carnivore reconsider their life choices. They’ve managed to make plant-based dining feel like an indulgence rather than a penance. It’s why this is a top-tier tapas bar in Eixample for groups with conflicting diets; nobody feels like they’re getting the short end of the stick.

You cannot leave without the torrija. This isn't the dry, bready afterthought found in tourist traps near La Rambla. This is Spanish French toast turned into a caramelized, custardy fever dream, often served with smoked milk ice cream that adds a haunting, campfire finish to the sweetness. It’s the kind of dessert that haunts your sleep.

Is it perfect? No. It can get loud when the post-work crowd descends, and if you haven't booked a table, you might find yourself staring longingly through the glass at someone else’s cannelloni. It’s a popular spot for a reason. But in a city that is increasingly being sold off piece by piece to the highest bidder, Season feels like a win for the locals. It’s honest, it’s sharp, and it tastes like the city actually feels right now. If you're looking for restaurants near Passeig de Gràcia that offer more than just a view and a bill, this is your spot. It’s a reminder that good food doesn't need a gimmick—it just needs a season.