Guanabara — Restaurant in Barcelona

As a Brazilian living in Barcelona, I was thrilled to discover Guanabara by El Rodizio, a Brazilian restaurant that brings the flavors of my homeland to the vibrant city of Barcelona. Located in the heart of the city, Guanabara offers a truly authentic Brazilian dining experience that is sure to satisfy both locals and visitors alike.

Upon entering the restaurant, I was immediately transported back to Brazil, as the vibrant and colorful decor exudes a warm and inviting atmosphere. The staff greeted me with genuine smiles and made me feel right at home, which added to the overall positive experience.

Now let's talk about the star of the show—the food! Guanabara offers a traditional Brazilian rodizio experience, where various cuts of meat are served tableside by friendly and attentive servers. The selection of meats was impressive, ranging from succulent beef and juicy pork to mouthwatering chicken and tender lamb. Each cut was perfectly cooked and seasoned to perfection, allowing the flavors to shine through.

In addition to the fantastic meat options, Guanabara also offers a diverse salad bar that features a wide array of fresh vegetables, traditional Brazilian side dishes, and tasty appetizers. I particularly enjoyed the feijoada, a rich and hearty black bean stew, which is a staple in Brazilian cuisine. The variety of options available ensures that there is something to suit every palate.

To complement the meal, Guanabara offers a selection of refreshing caipirinhas, Brazil's national cocktail. The drinks were expertly prepared, and sipping on a caipirinha while enjoying the flavorsome food enhanced the overall dining experience.

The service at Guanabara deserves special mention. The staff members were friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive throughout my visit. They were more than happy to answer any questions I had about the dishes and provide recommendations, ensuring that I had a memorable dining experience.

The only minor drawback was that the restaurant can get quite busy, especially during peak hours, which occasionally resulted in a longer wait time. However, the staff did their best to accommodate everyone, and the delicious food was well worth the wait.

Overall, Guanabara by El Rodizio exceeded my expectations and transported me back to Brazil with its authentic flavors and warm ambiance. Whether you're a Brazilian craving a taste of home or someone curious to explore the rich culinary heritage of Brazil, this restaurant is a must-visit in Barcelona. I highly recommend Guanabara for an unforgettable Brazilian dining experience that will leave you wanting to come...

Fantastic Brazilian dining – just keep an eye on the price

Review: We visited Guanabara during the week and opted for the rodizio – a traditional Brazilian dining experience where waiters make multiple rounds to your table with skewers of various meats, slicing them directly onto your plate until you say “stop.” When the bill arrived, we were a bit surprised to see €37 per person, as we thought the weekday price was €30. We paid, but later, after checking the restaurant’s website, we realised the €30 price applies to the weekday lunch service, while €37 is charged in the evenings and on weekends. It’s worth knowing this in advance to avoid surprises. Drinks (including water and wine) and desserts are not included in the rodizio price and are charged separately.

The feast begins with a very rich buffet: a wide selection of salads, seafood, cheeses, cured meats, hot dishes, sides, and sauces – all fresh and beautifully presented. After about fifteen minutes, the waiters start serving meats straight from the grill: picanha, entraña, alcatra, fraldinha, baby beef, premium ribs, longaniza, chicken hearts… Every cut was juicy, perfectly grilled, and carved right at the table. The waiters move quickly from the grill to the tables to ensure the meat is served hot and fresh. Portions are small, but this is perfectly intentional – throughout the evening, the waiters will return dozens of times, offering an impressive variety: beef, veal, lamb, chicken, black pudding, sausages, ribs, and more. Everything was absolutely delicious, and the waiters keep asking “more?” until you finally admit defeat. We hadn’t expected that outcome, but we were so full we had to wave the white flag!

The service was top-notch – from the smartly dressed managers (or perhaps owners) to the waiters and the chefs manning the grill. The interior is beautiful, spacious, and atmospheric.

In summary: if we could give more than five stars, we would. This is a place where you can eat your fill of top-quality dishes in a great atmosphere with impeccable service. The only small caution: check the details of the pricing...

We were denied entry into the restaurant and our reservation was cancelled because the front of house staff didn't like the way we were dressed, but still charged us €60 no-show fee.

For context, we are a Queer group, mostly Brazilians, this was a birthday lunch and we were all looking particularly smart. The offending garments were Zara-style sleeveless tricot shirts, particularly popular with Gay men, which cut the shoulder in half, but covers the chest and collarbone.

When we pointed out that these were not "camisetas deportivas sin mangas" as per their own guidelines, but formal wear the same way women's clothing will reveal shoulders, they said that they couldn't distinguish between what we wore and workout gear. Please refer to the picture attached for the workout look in question - leather sandals and pearl necklace included.

While we were having that conversation, a group of women wearing flip flops and string tops entered without any issue. Flip flops are banned as per their own rules.

If the management at Guanabara had the self awareness to Google "Selective Enforcement", the internet would tell them that it's "the practice of applying laws or rules unequally, targeting certain individuals or groups while overlooking similar actions by others".

Rejection notwithstanding, the €60 no show fee was charged days later in spite of the front of house staff explicitly telling us they wouldn't - for the lost business.

If you like your rodízio without being told what to wear, consider others, we found one a 15 minute bus trip away, serve delicious food and will give you everything you'd expect from Brazilian hospitality, including what they told us on the phone when we were looking for an alternative: "come as you are, there's a table...