En Ville | Gluten Free Restaurant | Barcelona — Restaurant in Barcelona

En Ville — A Missed Opportunity in a City That Deserves Better

We visited En Ville on the kind recommendation of the impeccable concierge team at Le Méridien Barcelona — professionals whose warmth, care, and thoughtful guidance have consistently elevated our stay. Their suggestion came with good intentions, pointing us toward a gluten-free option nestled in the heart of the city. Sadly, this was one case where the destination did not live up to the spirit of those who guided us there.

En Ville offers a charming setting and a promising concept. But from the moment we arrived, it became clear: this was not going to be a memorable experience.

The food was simply cooked — and unfortunately, simply forgettable. While gluten-free offerings are appreciated, flavor must never be sacrificed. There was no spark, no seasoning that lingered, no sense of culinary soul. Dishes arrived, were consumed, and disappeared from thought just as quickly. It wasn’t terrible. It just wasn’t worth remembering. And in a city as rich in taste and tradition as Barcelona, average is a quiet disappointment.

The service mirrored the food: brisk and impersonal. Our young waitress, while no doubt well-intentioned, seemed overwhelmed and rushed from the start. There was no moment of welcome, no connection, no warmth. What could have been relaxed and enjoyable became something transactional and tense. She doesn’t need reprimanding — just slowing down, and perhaps a little re-centering in the spirit of true hospitality.

In contrast, the concierge staff at Le Méridien reminds us daily what great service looks like: intuitive, calm, genuinely kind. Their recommendation came from a good place — and we thank them sincerely. But En Ville did not reflect their standard. It could do better. It should do better. Because when you stand in a city as expressive and soulful as Barcelona, to serve food and experience without flavor or feeling is to miss the point entirely.

We left without impressions, and we will leave it behind in memory. Not a highlight. Not a story we’ll retell. Just a meal — and a moment —...

Food was ok but the overall experience wasn't great due to the quality of service. We left the restaurant feeling like we were misled / treated poorly by the servers for a couple of reasons:

We initially ordered 2 glasses of sangria, and the waitress pushed us hard to order a pitcher as she said it would be the equivalent of 1.5 - 2 glasses. When we agreed, we were served a giant pitcher (eventually came to 4 glasses) and charged 18 euros on the bill. This felt like a rip-off.

We ordered 2 starters/tapas and 1 main dish, and explained that we would order more after seeing the size of the dishes. Within 5-10 minutes of ordering, all 3 dishes were served at the same time and there was barely enough space on our small table to fit them all (in addition to the pitcher of sangria). We basically had to play tetris to get them placed and since the main dish came with the starters, the warm dishes could not actually be eaten warm and had to quickly finish the meat before it got cold. The waitress apologized but explained that she "assumed" we would want everything at once since we only ordered 1 main dish.

What a shame as the food was decent (although not sure if worth the price). We won't be returning...

We've spent a week in Barcelona and eaten out every day, on our last night we went to En Ville at just after 20:00. We were in a rush because we wanted to go to the magic fountain. We told the waiter about this and he asked us how long we had so we told him that we had about an hour. He went and checked with the kitchen and came back and told us we would be alright. If you have eaten in Barcelona you'll know - this isn't normal service - this is way better! If you're American, you'll love this place, the service is just like back at home. The waiter then came back with the menus and was attentive because he knew we were in a rush. He was so friendly and helpful, even advising us not to get an extra dish because it would have been too much food! At this point I let him know that eating at En Ville was the best dining experience we'd had so far and we hadn't eaten yet ha ha! The food was brought out promptly, which, if you've eaten in Barcelona, you'll know isn't normally a priority. The food was delicious and the restaurant had a lovely decor and relaxing ambience. I would ready here again and everything is gluten free and of the highest quality. Thanks En Ville for a...