Where to eat near Plaza España in Barcelona? A different take on the usual options
If you’ve landed here, you’re probably looking for a simple answer: where can I eat near Plaza España?
Maybe you’ve just come out of a meeting at Fira de Barcelona, you’re visiting Montjuïc, you’ve spent the morning strolling past the Font Màgica, or you simply work in the area and want somewhere to eat well without losing too much time.
The good news is you have options.
The bad news is they often end up being the same old ones.
Plaza España: one of Barcelona’s busiest crossroads
Plaza España connects some of the city’s most visited places:
- Fira Barcelona
- Montjuïc
- Arenas de Barcelona
- Font Màgica
- Poble Espanyol
- Sants
Thousands of people pass through here every day: tourists, workers, students and conference-goers.
Yet when lunchtime comes around, the offer tends to repeat itself. It’s easy to find kebabs, frankfurts, international chains or places built for a quick bite with little personality.
And that’s fine. Everything has its moment.
But plenty of people are after something different: a quick meal, yes — but made with quality ingredients, prepared fresh every day, in a pleasant place to enjoy it.
Eating fast doesn’t mean eating just anything
Not everyone has an hour and a half for lunch.
Some have a thirty-minute break. Others want to take their food away. Some are looking for a comfortable spot before heading back to a meeting. And many just want a tasty dinner after a day exploring Barcelona.
That’s why the Fast Casual concept makes more sense every day: restaurants where the food comes out fast, but the product remains the star.
What does Fast Casual mean?
Fast Casual combines the best of two worlds.
On one side, the speed we all appreciate when time is short. On the other, the care for the product, the preparation and the experience we usually associate with a traditional restaurant.
It’s not just about eating fast. It’s about eating well.
A different proposition near Plaza España
A few steps from Plaza España there’s something different.
At Balordi we’ve decided to do one thing. And do it really well.
Our speciality is Italian polpette — authentic traditional Italian meatballs, made every day following a family recipe from Southern Italy.
We cook them daily in our own kitchen and serve them in different formats:
- Gourmet sandwiches
- Full menus
- Meatball boxes
- Vegetarian options
- Takeaway
- Delivery
Everything is set up so you can eat without long waits. In most cases, your order is ready in under ten minutes.
An experience built for everyday life
We want walking into Balordi to be easy. To be welcomed with a smile. To understand the product from the first moment. To eat at our counters if you have a few minutes, or take your food with you if you’re in a hurry.
We don’t believe a quick meal has to feel impersonal. Quite the opposite.
We think hospitality is part of the experience too.
Work in the area? Even better
A huge number of people work around Plaza España and Sants.
If that’s you, you probably know how hard it is to find a place you genuinely want to come back to several times a week.
That’s why we’ve created our loyalty programme for regulars. The idea is simple: if you’re part of the neighbourhood, we want to keep seeing you.
What’s near Balordi?
If you’re visiting the area, after lunch you can keep discovering some of Barcelona’s most iconic spots:
- Montjuïc
- The Font Màgica
- Poble Espanyol
- Arenas de Barcelona
- Fira Barcelona
- Parc de Joan Miró
All within a few minutes’ walk.
So… where to eat near Plaza España?
If you just want to fill your stomach, you’ll find plenty of options.
But if you’re after something different — authentic Italian food, made fresh every day, served quickly and with a warm welcome — Balordi might be worth discovering.
Because sometimes you don’t have to choose between eating fast and eating well.
You can have both.