Bodega Biarritz 1881 — Restaurant in Barcelona

There was a review on here saying that if you're ever in Barcelona you should visit here - I wholeheartedly agree.

We found this place by happenstance because it was very close by and had great reviews. We had to wait about 15-ish minutes, but the gentleman at the front was at all times attentive and ensured we didn't feel left out in the open without information on when we could expect to go in. He was an absolute delight and made us feel extremely welcome! But that was just the start of the experience! The rest of the staff were just as warm and welcoming, not to mention multilingual and accommodating, cracking jokes with us and everything!

We ordered the large mystery menu, and I'll spoil it for you - it's amazing! We also had a drink each and they were not only wonderful, but very sufficient in quantity - the Mango Mojito stole my heart for sure! The food itself was an absolute delight at every stage. It came in very quickly, but never too quick for the different stages, like a wizard or a 5 star restaurant - exactly when they need to! I won't spoil what we got, but it seems every order is unique in what is brought to you, but always abiding by dietary requirements. Everything came at a perfect temperature, sure some things went a bit cold by the time we got to them, but it's absolutely our very slow enjoyment of the dishes prior that caused it!

Althewhile, the atmosphere was as cozy as it gets! It might be a bit tight with other tables, but it almost felt like the other guests were more friends we shared the experience with rather than strangers! The lighting was pleasantly subdued and added an almost mystical element to everything, without obscuring or being insufficient in any way. The decoration was rich and varied, our eyes shifting around to drink it all in and never getting enough! The music felt like it was picked specifically for the occasion - tasteful, varied, perfect background music to sway to while bathing in the flavours! An absolute treat through and through!

Lastly, the digestif of homemade Bailey's was simply to die for! Without a shadow of a doubt better than regular Bailey's in my opinion.

Do yourselves a favor and try this place out! For the price asked, you unquestionably receive well enough for 2 people in quantity and far above...

ALERT: This place does NOT take bookings, it is simply an arrive and wait kind of affair.

WARNING: This place has candles in the bathroom, so excessive flatulence is discouraged in the toilet area.

We knew about the booking situation, but given the reviews, we thought absolutely worth giving a go. I have to say that we waited less than 5 minutes before a table became available (this was around 20:00, on a Thursday), although there were clearly queues outside for the rest of the evening after we were seated. When waiting you are seated in some kind of makeshift lobby, and drinks are on offer whilst you wait.

I think this place is heavily reviewed, so will perhaps just touch on the key things of our visit (of course the food was immense, and the customer service exemplary).

This is a high turnover restaurant, so there is a philosophy of feed and move on. They do stipulate that once the table is cleared and complementary shots provided, no further drinks will be offered. Again, we knew this, so took it into account. Do not expect to spend the evening here.

The staff are very up front of what the deal is (i.e. this is a 8 plate tapas mystery menu etc.), and the owner was clear that if you are seated on a table for 4 (as a 2) you may be relocated onto another table mid meal. This is done in a very delicate way, and did happen to us, but had limited impact to our meal experience. Please also note, that it is not a replica 8-plates, but in fact they rotate the options as the table next to us had completely different plates. They will however happily swap any dishes you do not like.

The whole place has an incredible atmosphere and vibe, and always full. It really added to the entire experience. I think perhaps when the bill came, we were the most atonished, as we has a charcuterie board as well as 8 plates to share (as well as several drinks), it came to a merely 85€. We originally assumed that it was 50€ each for the tapas meal, but apparently not!

We've been to a few places already in Barcelona which we've rated 5, but this would really be 6 if it could. Very special place with some wonderful people and somewhere I wouldn't hesitate to...

It is not a basque place, in fact, it is quite crazy cause the name is basque but the decoration in the restaurant is full of 'toros' (and the basque people do not precisely love them 😞! ) The toros are icons of Spanish culture.. So, Yes, it is a turistic place, and not a local place at all!

We spent 1 hour in the line waiting to enter at the restaurant . It is not possible to make a booking.

The food is well cooked but what they serve are not 'pinchos' as they say in the menu. The pinchos are typical basque food and it is different. Besides, you can not choose what you order, because it is a sorprise! what is quite annoying for what you pay, at least if you want to eat not to joke. There are 2 menus: 40 euros for 2 people or 50 euros for 2 people (WITHOUT a glass of wine or any drink included). If you choose the one of 40 euros and you are 3 people you have to pay 60 euros.

They do not give you the option of eating less if you want, in fact, if you are a small group and one of you is not in the restaurant when is your turn to enter (because he or she is late) they do not led you to enter at the restaurant until all the people is together! :(( The waiters say that is to avoid problems with the food, but what it seems obvious that the owners, at least, want to be sure that if you are 4 and you are occupaying a table of 4 places you will pay for each person. They are not going to trust, they want to make sure that if you occupy more space you pay for this space. You are not a citizen with rights, you are a just a piece of 'money' .

For this reason I say is not a local restaurant at all, cause the feeling is that making money seems to be the only objective (the same happens in most of the restaurants that you can find at the center of Barcelona nowadays). It is sad. They do not talk catalan neither basque, and some of the waiters talk low spanish.. The restaurant should change the basque name cause is annoying to go to a place expecting one thing and find another totally different after 1 hour of waiting.

At least the workers were kind and the eat was well cooked as I sad, but it is not typical basque restaurant and basque...