Ocaña — Restaurant in Barcelona

Our recent evening at Ocaña was an absolute delight! With a specific desire for a dining experience coupled with live jazz music, we found Ocaña to be the perfect choice. Nestled in the picturesque Plaça Reial (royal plaza), the restaurant offers a charming ambiance with the option of outdoor seating under neoclassical arches surrounded by lush greenery or cozy indoor tables close to the stage. Opting for the indoor setting to fully immerse ourselves in the music, we were captivated by the eclectic decor of Ocaña. From the exquisite old-world candle chandeliers to the gilded pillars and hardwood floors, the restaurant exuded an opulent yet vibrant atmosphere.

Named as a tribute to José Pérez Ocaña, the influential Spanish artist and LGBT rights activist, Ocaña also houses a remarkable papier-mâché statue created by Pérez Ocaña himself.

Arriving at 8:45 PM, we allowed ourselves ample time to savor our meal before the music commenced at 9:15 PM. Beginning with our drinks, I opted for my favorite, the refreshing Porn Star cocktail with a passion fruit base, while my companion enjoyed the creatively named and flavorful Thai Massage cocktail. Our attentive and amiable server Dana, who seemed to be the house manager, ensured our dining experience was seamless and enjoyable.

For starters, I relished the flavorful pumpkin soup, while my companion enjoyed the artichoke hearts with cheese. The main courses of Cod with ratatouille and black rice paella with squid ink, calamari, and clams were both outstanding choices, leaving us thoroughly satisfied. Our culinary journey culminated with delectable desserts - the crème Catalan and mascarpone cheesecake were truly divine. Accompanied by a crisp bottle of white wine, our dining experience was elevated to a new level of culinary enjoyment.

As the brilliant brass band, comprised of four talented musicians, began their performance midway through our meal, the air filled with the timeless tunes of classic Dixieland jazz. Their expertise and captivating renditions transported us to the vibrant spirit of jazz scenes in New Orleans and Disneyland. The evening was enriched by their exceptional talents, creating a memorable and thoroughly enjoyable dining experience. We wholeheartedly recommend Ocaña to our friends for a remarkable evening of delicious cuisine and fantastic live...

Over 200 members of the Barcelona English Choir had our post-concert lunch at Ocaña yesterday. I'm no kind of official spokesperson for the group, but my sense was that we all found the staff, service, food, and atmosphere to be STELLAR. How the kitchen managed to turn out that much good food is beyond me, but we were grateful and pleased! Thanks to our many patient, professional, responsive, warm, and good-tempered waiters, especially, for those of us sitting at the one outside table, the truly magical Marcela (or was it "Mandela"?), who never lost her cool even with dozens of thirsty singers constantly calling for wine. (My apologies if I spelled her name wrong!) I have waited on large parties before, and they are a LOT of work, but our waiters and the folks running the food out were all smiles and good cheer over the course of many hours and many dishes. Also, thanks to the wonderful woman who was managing the restaurant during our time there for her expertise, kindness, and calm (and good English.) When she learned I had an allergy to milk, she personally stepped in to make sure that my salmon had no trace of dairy; later, she ensured that I had a delicious vegan dessert. It's those kinds of things that make a place really stand out. Plus extra points for being so LGBTQ+ friendly: it means a LOT. Wishing you all a very merry, happy, and peaceful holiday season: you certainly gave it your all to make sure that we had a wonderful time at Ocaña. (Sorry there are no pictures of the food. We were HUNGRY and ate everything...

We came here on a week day after 9pm. We got our table and ordered beers. We were disappointed to notice the beer was not cold at all. We brought up the issue to the waiter who was incredibly helpful and understanding and also mentioned that we were the second table complaining about the beer temperature today (very honest!). He offered us a second beer (this time bottled) which wasn’t much colder. We ended up grabbing some ice and different drinks. The sangria cava was delicious! We got a couple of shots on the house, which was very thoughtful of the waiter. We were planning to leave but ended up staying because of the amazing attitude he was having towards us (we should have asked his name). We ordered the potato tortilla with black sausage, a side of chips and a veggie sandwich which they customised as vegan (when normally they wouldn’t have that option). The tortilla and sandwich were delicious, however, the serve of chips was the tiniest ever! We were surprised that the sandwich came with a larger amount of chips on the side than the portion we ordered for 3 euros. All in all, food was good and service was amazing but we probably won’t be coming back and we’ll give the chance to another place that might end up doing all...