Alapar is one of those restaurants I had already fallen in love with a little bit before I even visited. My expectations were through the roof! And not surprisingly, my expectations were both met and exceeded. And trust me, it keeps surprising every single time you go.

Alapar Barcelona — *Alapar, Barcelona. Photo © Barcelona Food Experience.*

Jaume Marambio and Vicky Maccarone (both with solid experience in high-end restaurants such as Tickets, Pakta, Hoja Santa, and more) have created something truly unique in their restaurant in Poble Sec. Their restaurant is beautiful and charming, and if you can, snatch a seat by the bar where you can watch the chefs work away.

In terms of the menu there are two options, both omakase-style menus where the chef will prepare a number of dishes for you (14 or 16 depending of your choice + dessert). It’s all about local seasonal produce, with the menu divided into plenty of nigiris, montaditos, little bites, stews, and items from the grill. Everything is very Mediterranean, but with Japanese brushstrokes, flair, and technique. Not an easy feat to mix these two and keeping it credible, but they make it seem easy breezy.

Alapar, Barcelona. Photo © Barcelona Food Experience.

On our last visit we enjoyed the longer omakase menu. It took us on a journey through beautifully executed small bites, nigiri, seasonal dishes and ingredients and a couple of desserts that are the beautiful finish on an unforgettable meal. We started with a series of snacks, including a wonderful squid brioche with Iberian pork belly, a steamed bun filled with tuna tartare and wasabi emulsion, and one of my favorite bites of the evening: a crispy squid temaki with avocado cream, wasabi and a delicate squid tartare. The white asparagus with black miso escabeche and chanterelle cream was another standout, before moving on to an impressive succession of nigiri featuring everything from anchovy with bottarga and white shrimp with garlic and ginger to yellowtail, snapper, chu toro, toro, Hokkaido scallop and eel.

It's difficult to choose highlights because the level remained consistently high throughout the menu, but a few dishes have stayed with me long after the meal. The turbot nigiri, topped with its own pil pil and an incredibly crisp piece of turbot chicharrón, was unforgettable with a fun crispy touch, while the creamy morels with prawn sauce and confit portobello were simply insane. We also loved the smoked eel chawanmushi, the matured picanha temaki, and a delicate skate suquet finished in the wok.

*Alapar, Barcelona. Photo © Barcelona Food Experience.*

To finish, the kakigori, shaved to order in front of you, was as fun to watch as it was refreshing, while the grilled mochi filled with chocolate and served with olive oil ice cream reminded me why it has remained on the menu since day one. It really is that good and I still dream about it.

All of this was paired with a wonderful, light, flowery sake that was perfect for the meal (you can also choose wine, of course, or maybe something non-alcholic such as a delicious yuzu sour). For dessert we had a mind-blowing aged sake that was perfect with the mochi and had almost a cacao aroma to it.

Alapar is, hands-down, one of my favorite restaurants in Barcelona. It brings out the most beautiful, exciting local and very seasonal ingredients and highlights them in such a beautiful way with delicate Japanese brushstrokes in technique and additional ingredients.

It’s perfect for a treat, a special occasion, or a lovely experience with your food-loving friends. I love that it’s run by this lovely couple, and the staff is so friendly. It is unique and with its own firm identity, presenting us with something fun and different.

Alapar, C/ de Lleida, 5, 08004 Barcelona (Poble Sec).

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