Girona Restaurants and Dining

(Girona, Catalonia, Spain)

Eating out on a budget is easy in Spain, and whilst the city of Girona does tend to be slightly more expensive, it is still no exception. On the whole, creative cuisine and fine dining abounds, both of the traditional variety and when it comes to more contemporary dishes.

All restaurants and eateries offer a special 'fixed' lunch dining menu during the week, which provides better value for money. It often allows diners to sample a more upmarket restaurant than they would normally be able to afford. Likewise, Girona has a wide range of more informal tapas bars where you can eat standing up or seated.

Meal times in Spain are generally seen to be a time to relax. Lunches are long and leisurely, served between 14:00 and 16:00. Indeed, lunch is usually considered to be the main meal of the day. Dinner is served quite late in the evening, from 22:00, and tends to be an altogether lighter affair.

What to Eat

Many Catalan dishes are quite simple, featuring tomatoes, bread, garlic and oil. One of the most popular Catalan dishes is 'pà amb tomaquet', a combination of bread and tomatoes. Likewise, 'pan con tomate' is a good example of regional fare. Other dishes served up at restaurants in Girona feature a traditional sauce, ranging from 'samfaina' - made from tomatoes, peppers and aubergines, to 'picada' - a combination of garlic, parsley, and roasted almonds and pine nuts.

The city's cuisine also features plenty of seafood dining, thanks to the influence of its coastal location. Indeed, many dishes are a mixture of mountain and coastal cuisine. Game is also popular and, at Christmas, Girona's tasty Christmas turkey, prepared using pine nuts, sausage meat and raisins, is well known.

The city boasts several local sweet delicacies, including 'panellets' - almond-flavoured sweets that are coated with pine nuts. Also topped with pine nuts are pastries known as 'Bisbalenc', which are stuffed with pumpkin jam. Other tempting delights include 'xuixo' - a light choux bun that is filled with custard, deep fried and covered in sugar.

Where to Eat

Reputed to be the best restaurant in Girona is the El Celler de Can Roca, in the west of the city. This Michelin-starred suburban dining establishment was set up by the three Roca brothers and prides itself on staying close to its Catalan culinary roots.

For historic atmosphere and style, Cal Ros is just the ticket. Tucked away on the Placa de la Llibertat, this popular eatery surprises with its contemporary interior. Likewise, Le Bistrot is one of the oldest restaurants in the city and has a great location, close to the Sant Domenec Stairs. If it looks familiar, it may be because you've seen it on the big screen - this restaurant has featured in several films.

When it comes to dining out, the Placa Independencia lies at the heart of the city. One of its culinary highlights is the Boira, a restaurant that embraces contemporary Catalan dining as well as cooking up a modern take on the Spanish staple snack, tapas. Also of note is the Casa Marieta, a long-standing establishment that has been serving traditional Catalan cuisine to Girona's diners since 1892.

For lighter meals or snacks, one of the most popular tapas establishments in Girona is the Zampanzar, located on the Placa del Vi. Likewise, the Can Castello patisserie was founded over a hundred years ago and serves a tempting array of traditional cakes and pastries.