Casa Rafols - Charm and Secrets
For almost 100 years, Casa Rafols used to be a well-known hardware store. Few people know that during the Civil War, the basement hosted a secret restaurant..! In 2013 the hardware store closed, and not long ago, a restaurant opened in its place, with the same name.
Casa Rafols, Barcelona. Photo © Barcelona Food Experience.
The restaurant is absolutely gorgeous, and it still has that somewhat mysterious vibe to it. Upstairs you’ll find a bar and a dining space, and downstairs the office of the previous owner has been turned into a private dining room with bits and pieces showing the history of the space. The dining room can be booked for groups, as well as the larger cocktail bar, Club 61, on the same level that is perfect for parties and events.
Casa Rafols, Barcelona. Photo © Barcelona Food Experience.
The kitchen is open all day (yay!) every day, and the menu offers a range of dishes that are perfect for sharing. My favorite kind of dishes! They work with trusted producers, and everything is made in house, including the smoked dishes. The bar at the front offers drinks and small bites, and the beautiful dining space with large windows in the back is perfect for a lunch menu or dinner.
Casa Rafols, Barcelona. Photo © Barcelona Food Experience.
The lunch menu is offered Mondays through Fridays and has a specific theme for each day. Tuesdays are dedicated to seasonal vegetables, Wednesdays for paella, Thursdays for home-made pasta, and so forth. But you can also choose from the menu.
Eggs with truffle and foie gras at Casa Rafols, Barcelona. Photo © Barcelona Food Experience.
From the so-called Barra Fria, you have options from high-quality preserves, ceviches, tartars, home-made marinated items, and cured hams and cheeses. The kitchen prepares different egg dishes (we loved the truffled eggs with foie gras), croquettes, salads and seasonal vegetables, rice and pasta, fish and shellfish, and finally meat.
Grilled prawns with brandy and lime zest at Casa Rafols, Barcelona. Photo © Barcelona Food Experience.
Red sweet pepper filled with oxtail at Casa Rafols, Barcelona. Photo © Barcelona Food Experience.
Grilled low loin at Casa Rafols, Barcelona. Photo © Barcelona Food Experience.
On our visit, we devoured sautéed king prawns with brandy and lime zest (divine!), the truffled fried eggs with foie, red sweet pepper stuffed with oxtail (melt-in your mouth texture), and low loin grilled to perfection.
Dessert at Casa Rafols, Barcelona. Photo © Barcelona Food Experience.
The dessert menu is not only attractive thanks to its 50s style design, but also because of the mouthwatering options. Their stellar dessert is the roasted apple pie with crème brûlée and ice cream, but ignoring the other options would be a shame. The 80% chocolate lava cake with orange ice cream (I love a chocolate-orange combo), tiramisu with walnut brittle, tangerine sorbet with aged tequila, fried creme brûlée with Lillet, or our choice, the Casa Rafols truffles that come in different flavors. We chose the cinnamon-pistachio truffles an they were magnificent.
Speakeasy Club 61 at Casa Rafols, Barcelona. Photo © Barcelona Food Experience.
Downstairs holds another surprise: a speakeasy. Hidden in the old warehouses, this space has been turned into a cozy bar with an intimate feel to it. The speakeasy, Club 61, is open for members only: you can check their IG page to find out how to get a key..!
Casa Rafols, Barcelona. Photo © Barcelona Food Experience.
Private dining room at Casa Rafols, Barcelona. Photo © Barcelona Food Experience.
Casa Rafols is perfect for many an occasion: for romantic dinners, for events with friends or colleagues, for family lunches, and a cocktail or several. The restaurant and the bars are very cool and elegant, and invite to linger for a while. Don’t miss this one!
Casa Rafols, C/ de Trafalgar, 61, 08010 Barcelona (Eixample).
Updated 19th November 2022.
