A young, energetic team runs the show at Maleducat in Sant Antoni. It’s been open only for a couple of years but has quickly become a favorite among locals, and we can see why. The dishes are creative but deeply rooted in local traditions and seasonal ingredients, which makes for an exciting mix.

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

Maleducat, Barcelona. Photo © Barcelona Food Experience.

The menu is divided into two: a section with small bites and another one with larger dishes to share. You’ll also get a short list of daily specials; I highly suggest you consider it. The friendly staff will recommend the number of dishes you should order; it’s not always easy to navigate without knowing exactly how small or large the portions are.

On our latest visit, there was not only one kind of oysters available but three: we opted for the one with roasted chicken broth (!), and it was just as delicious as you would imagine. From there, we continued with small bites: a toast with white shrimp, an emulsion of shrimp head juice (the best part!), sea asparagus, and Tsazu vinagre. Every bite is packed with excitement in regard to both textures and flavors.

Maleducat, Barcelona. Photo © Barcelona Food Experience.

Next up was the toasted brioche with steak tartar, smoked egg yolk, and Iberian pork jowl. It had a delicious pop of mustard, too, giving it a nice punch. One of the most exciting small bites was the wild boar rolls (photo in the middle), dipped in chocolate, of all things. A genius dish: the bite size is perfect since wild boar can be a bit overwhelming if you get a hefty serving of it. And paired with chocolate, it was simply perfection.

Among the dishes to share, you’ll find comforting stews, rice dishes, meat in different forms, but also a refreshing tomato tartar with marinated mackerel, burrata stracciatella, and a basil and pine nut dressing.

The rice dishes at Maleducat are always very impressive. It is also an excellent opportunity to order a paella/rice dish for one: usually, they come in servings for a minimum of two people in most places. But having said that, you probably don’t have to order many more dishes than that on the side. On our last visit, we had a seasonal rice dish (arroz seco in this case) with wood pigeon and mushrooms, and it was absolutely delicious.

The wine list is just as exciting as you would expect. They have some fun gems, and I also appreciate that they have a range of fortified wines on their list. The sommelier will be happy to give you a hand with choosing the right wine for you or pairings if you like to go by the glass. And by no means should you miss the desserts: not only are they tasty but also creative and fun to look at (see photo above).

Maleducat is fun, exciting, unconventional (the name means rude or boisterous), and friendly, all of which make up for a memorable experience.

Maleducat, Carrer de Manso, 54, 08015 Barcelona (Sant Antoni).

Maleducat - Creative and Seasonal

Maleducat - Creative and Seasonal

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