7 Portes was my favorite paella stop on our Spain trip. We booked through Google and arrived expecting good rice, but the surprise highlight was an oyster topped with a citrusy-tasting foam. Not everything worked for me: the croquettes were too soft inside for my taste, and the bread was too hard.
This 7 Portes Barcelona review covers our September 2026 visit, the dishes we actually ordered, and our €93.30 bill including drinks.
7 Portes Barcelona: location, hours and reservations
Address: Passeig d’Isabel II, 14, 08003 Barcelona.
Hours: Monday–Sunday, 1 p.m.–midnight, according to the official 7 Portes website.
Reservations: We booked through Google before visiting. The restaurant also has a booking option on its official website.
Parking: I could not confirm a dedicated restaurant car park. Ask the restaurant if you plan to drive.
The restaurant traces its history to 1836 and serves traditional Catalan and Mediterranean cooking, including its well-known rice dishes. Check the official website before visiting, as hours and menus can change.
Arriving before opening
We arrived slightly before opening time and found people waiting outside the doors. Seeing everyone gathered there made me even more curious about the food. We had already reserved, but the scene certainly added to my expectations.
A classic dining room with a formal feel
The dining room felt more formal than I had expected. White tablecloths, neatly arranged glasses, dark wood and warm orange lamps gave it a classic restaurant atmosphere. Waiters came to the individual tables to take orders, which added to that impression.
We did not dress up especially for the meal; we went in our regular travel clothes. That describes our visit rather than a confirmed dress-code policy.
What we ordered and how much it cost
Our receipt listed the following dishes and drinks. These are the prices we paid on September 17, 2026, rather than a promise of current pricing.
| Dish or drink | Price paid |
|---|---|
| Traditional Parellada paella with lobster | €29.80 |
| Ajoblanco | €17.00 |
| Spiny lobster croquettes | €16.00 |
| Oyster with gin, one oyster | €10.50 |
| Mojito | €14.00 |
| 7 Portes white wine, one glass | €6.00 |
| Total, including VAT | €93.30 |
Bread: too hard for me
The bread was too hard for my taste, so I left it uneaten. It was one of the less enjoyable parts of the meal. Our final receipt did not include a separate bread charge.
Ajoblanco: an unfamiliar cold soup with grapes
The pale cold soup was ajoblanco. The seasonal menu described it as “White garlic soup with grapes,” and the receipt confirmed the name. It was a new flavor combination for me: cold soup with pieces of green grape.
My first reaction was that I had never tasted anything quite like it. It was unusual, but not unpleasant. I enjoyed trying something unfamiliar, even though it was not the dish that stood out most.
Spiny lobster croquettes: not my preferred texture
The croquettes looked golden outside, but the filling was much softer and creamier than I expected. To me, the texture almost felt like an uncooked center. That is a description of how it felt in my mouth, not a claim that the food was undercooked.
I found that texture difficult to enjoy. Other diners may like such a soft filling, but this particular dish was not for me.
Oyster with gin: the unexpected highlight
I thought our order would include two oysters, but it was a single oyster. The menu and receipt identify it as an oyster with gin, so keep the unit in mind when ordering.
A white foam covered the top. It tasted fresh and tangy to me, with a lemon-like impression, although I cannot confirm the foam’s exact ingredients. I love oysters, but I had never eaten one presented quite like this before.
It was genuinely memorable. If I had been hungrier, I would have wanted several more. This was the biggest pleasant surprise of the meal.
Parellada paella: my favorite of the trip
The traditional Parellada paella with lobster was the reason we came, and it delivered. The pan arrived with lobster in the center and ingredients mixed through the rice. Our menu distinguished this traditional version from the fish version; the traditional dish also included meat.
Of the paellas I ate during this Spain trip, this was my personal number one. I would not describe every dish at 7 Portes as a hit, but the paella made the visit worthwhile for me.
Would I return to 7 Portes?
Yes—for the paella and the oyster. The ajoblanco was an interesting first experience, while I would skip the croquettes and bread based on my own preferences. The classic dining room also made this feel like a different kind of meal from a casual tapas stop.
If I returned, I would build the order around the paella and leave more appetite for oysters.
Questions before you book
Do you need to reserve?
We reserved through Google, and people were waiting before opening. I was glad we had booked, although I cannot say how easy a walk-in table would be on another day.
Does the oyster order include two pieces?
Our €10.50 order was for one oyster, not two.
How much was the meal?
Our food, one mojito and one glass of white wine came to €93.30 including VAT. Prices and choices may change.
Where can you check the latest menu?
Use the official 7 Portes menu for current dishes and prices. Seasonal items may differ from the ones photographed here.
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