Girona Restaurants

One of the most interesting characteristics of the cuisine in Girona is the way in which unrelated ingredients are mixed together to provide exotic-tasting dishes. Catalan raw ingredients vary from wild vegetables and mushrooms, to game and livestock raised in the Pyrenees, to olives and grains, to all types of fresh fruit and other vegetables from the irrigated lowlands to an amazing variety of seafood from the Costa Brava coast. The resultant cuisine comes from centuries of trade and commerce with neighbouring European nations, particularly the Greeks, Italians, Arabs and French.

For a quiet drink on a balmy evening the pavement terraces along the Rambla de la Llibertat or the Plaça del Vi in the old city are the places to go. For decent tapas El Museu de Vi (C/Cort Reial 4, 972 213 485, closed Mondays) offers some varied dishes www.elmuseu.com

El Celler de Can Roca
Carrer Taiala 40
Tel: +34 972 222 157
www.cellercanroca.com
Open Tuesday-Saturday 1.00:4.00 pm and 9.00:11.00 pm. Closed December 24th-January 7th and July 1st-15th
Reservations recommended

Just 2km north from the centre of Girona, El Celler de Can Roca is the best of the new restaurants in town. It is run by three young brothers and is an intimate restaurant with only 12 tables. The cuisine is creative Catalán dishes transformed into contemporary Mediterranean fare. Start with avocado purée, and for dessert try the mandarin orange sorbet with pumpkin compote.

Bronsoms
Sant Francesc 7
Tel: +34 972 212 493
Open daily 1.00:4.00 pm and Tuesday-Saturday 8.00:11.30 pm
Reservations recommended

Located in the heart of the Old Town in a 1890s building that was once a private home, this restaurant is one of the most consistent in Girona. It is famous for its cocina del mercado (dishes cooked with whatever market fresh ingredients are available). The house specialties include fish paella, arroz negro (rice with black squid ink and shellfish), white beans and several preparations of Iberian ham.

Cal Ros
Calle Cort Reial 9
Tel: +34 972 217 379
Open: November-March Tues-Sun 1-4pm, Tues-Sat 8-11pm; April-October Sun-Mon 1-4pm and 8-11pm
Reservations recommended

This restaurant is situated In the oldest part of Girona near the Plaza de Cataluña. It has been operating since the 1920s and has four rustic dining rooms with heavy ceiling beams and exposed stone and plaster. Menu items include savoury escudilla made with veal, pork and local herbs and vegetables; at least four kinds of local fish, usually braised with potatoes and tomatoes; tender fillets of veal with mushrooms; and flaky homemade pastries - some of them with anise-flavoured cream.

El Bulli
Cala Montjoi, Roses
Tel: +34 972 150 457
www.elbulli.com
Open: July-Sept daily 8-10:30pm; Oct-June Wed-Sun 8-10:30pm
Reservations recommended

This restaurant is worth the 56km trip from Girona. You should take N-I north to Figueres, then route 260 east to Roses.

The Chef Fernando Adrià is one of the most exciting in Spain dubbed the "Salvador Dalí of the kitchen" because of his creative approach to cookery. El Bulli (the name means innovative) has three Michelin stars with most diners sampling a 12 course tasting menu based on the season's finest produce. Dishes might include polenta chips and caramelized sunflower seeds, a "cappuccino" of guacamole or calamari lasagne.

Sant Pau
Carrer Nou 10, St Pol de Mar (N-1 motorway 55km of Girona)
Tel: +34 937 600 662
Open: Tues-Sun 1:30-3:30pm; Tues-Sat 9-11pm
Reservations recommended

Another restaurant well worth the drive to sample the cuisine of Carmel Ruscalleda, Spain's leading female chef. Michelin has granted her two stars for her virtuoso techniques and ability to take the freshest of produce and add just the right spice or seasoning to maximize its flavour.

Mimolet Restaurant

Pou Rodo, 12
Tel: +34 972 202 124
www.mimolet.net

This is a relatively new restaurant in the old own which is close to where the railway bridge crosses the Onar River. It opened in February 2006 and has minimalist style design, excellent service and typical Catalan food including grilled asparagus with Catalan sauce washed down with local Empordà red wine.

Casa Marieta

Plaça de la Independència 5-6
Tel: +34 972 201 016
www.casamarieta.com

Is in the 19th-century district over the river from the old town in a cluster of Catalan restaurants. The Casa Marieta is Girona’s oldest restaurants, and offers surprisingly good value.

If you are planning to explore the area outside of the city centre and play some golf or go to some of the more out of the way beaches then you might consider hiring a car. There are a number of car hire firms based at Girona Airport who will be pleased to have a vehicle awaiting your arrival. This also cuts down on transfer costs for you and your family.

We also provide information on sporting and leisure amenities in Girona which includes a Girona Area Guide, the best Girona Shops, Girona Markets, Girona Golf Courses, where to find Girona Beaches, recommended Girona Restaurants and Girona Local Attractions