This article was published on March 16th, 2017
Tucked away in the most opulent opera house in Barcelona, is the crazy-coolest culinary experience your senses could ever imagine. Located in the heart of Barcelona on La Rambla, the Opera Samfaina is an interactive, art instillation restaurant experience featuring local Catalan ingredients. Held in the Grand Theatre Liceau, this multi-sensory dining experience is the neatest meal on the Mediterranean and is an experience you won’t want to miss. A theatre, marketplace, museum and restaurant all in one, Opera Samfaina is the most interesting dining extravaganza you’ll ever witness.
The Catalan word “samfaina” is a traditional Catalan mix used in food, as a sauce or side dish, consisting of pepper, onions, garlic, eggplant, zucchini, and tomatoes. Opera Samfaina is a delicious mix of revelry and was conceptualized by the Roca Brothers of world’s best restaurant El Celler de Can Roca and Spanish Ice Cream shop concept Rocambolesc, in partnership with world-renowned visual artist Frank Aleu.
With over 100 digital projectors and over 20 interactive stations to create an art-meets-cuisine experience, Opera Samfaina is setting the bar for revolutionizing fine dining. In love with their own city, the executive chefs use only local flavours of wine, olives, cheese, pork, milk, and seafood: All are grown, harvested, and produced within the Catalonia region.
Occupying a 950-square meter space, Opera Samfaina is a living museum featuring twisted art and outrageous hands-on architectural features. Opera Samfaina is holding within its walls a museum, a market, a theatre, a lounge, a bar, and a restaurant space, The Vermuteria hosts snacks and Catalan vermouth. The Diva room serves tapas and wine, Marketplace to buy coffee, cheese and other goods, and lastly, the Odyssey theater and space ties everything together. Gastronomy meets art, and everything in between, can be found beneath the Opera roof.
Prices are very reasonable, with main courses between $15 and $20 and wine typically $20-$40 a bottle. Everything is charged to a digital wristband provided at the beginning of the dining experience, making it convenient to just dive in without having to keep tabs of what you consumed. A novel concept in the restaurant world, Opera Samfaina is a modern take on the dining experience suitable for anyone.
Open 365 days a year, Opera Samfaina is a fantasyland for foodies and is a must when visiting Barcelona, Spain. Make your reservations today.
There are many other incredible adventures that await in Barcelona. Visit Gay Barcelona has plenty of ideas for LGBT visitors. Start planning your trip now!