Tercero Primera - The Magic of Feeling at Home
It takes someone truly special to turn imperfection into something extraordinary, and simplicity into something unforgettable. There are places — and people — that make dining out feel like so much more than a meal. Tercero Primera is exactly that kind of place.
Tercero Primera, Barcelona. Photo © Barcelona Food Experience.
You won’t find it on a map. You find it through word of mouth, and by dropping a message to chef and owner Arianna to book. You ring a bell without a name or sign on a nondescript Eixample building, and step through an equally anonymous door. But what’s inside is something truly special.
Tercero Primera, Barcelona. Photo © Barcelona Food Experience.
Tercero Primera is, quite literally, an apartment on the third floor. But it’s been transformed by the warmth and care of chef Arianna, who fills the space with soul and beautiful food. It’s like a dream: light floods through the windows, vintage furniture is mismatched in the most charming way, and thoughtful little details are scattered throughout. The kitchen is open, and it feels like you’ve stepped into a friend’s home. Arianna makes sure you feel that way too.
Tercero Primera, Barcelona. Photo © Barcelona Food Experience.
She cooks straight from the heart. Her food is generous, personal, and rooted in the seasons. Every dish and every bottle of wine comes with a story. With Catalan and Italian roots, her food carries that unique dual heritage: comforting, thoughtful, and so full of joy.
Tercero Primera, Barcelona. Photo © Barcelona Food Experience.
Even the tableware adds to the magic: vintage, mismatched plates that feel like they belong to a family heirloom collection. The experience reminds you of being cooked for by a grandmother who lives for feeding the people she loves. Arianna radiates that same kind of warmth.
Tercero Primera offers a lunch menu, merienda in the afternoon, and intimate dinners in the evening. You can also book the entire space for yourself; for a gathering with friends, colleagues, or family.
Tercero Primera, Barcelona. Photo © Barcelona Food Experience.
On our lunch visit, we started with a thick, velvety vegetable soup with dill. It was followed by a gorgeous, colorful salad with crispy greens, apples, pears, and a beautifully balanced vinaigrette. A bikini appeared next, a small but powerful hit of comfort, filled with sobrasada and cheese. The handmade gnocchi, made from sweet potato and chickpea flour, came in a rich spinach pesto. And then came dessert: her own take on tiramisu: delicate, soft, and one of the best I’ve ever had.
Even the wine had a story: a pet-nat made by a friend of Arianna’s, just a few bottles available, and we fell in love.
Tercero Primera, Barcelona. Photo © Barcelona Food Experience.
We were the first to arrive, and slowly other guests trickled in, each group seated at different tables around the apartment. If the weather’s good, you can even choose the balcony. It’s all part of the charm.
Tercero Primera, Barcelona. Photo © Barcelona Food Experience.
Tercero Primera is a sanctuary: a quiet, soulful space that makes you slow down and feel cared for. It’s the kind of place you want to return to with everyone who means something to you.
For more information or to book, reach out to Arianna on Instagram: @tercero_primera_a.
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