Grill Room Bar Thonet – Modernista tapas restaurant in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter — open since 1902, serving Mediterranean cuisine with vermouth tradition
Grill Room Bar Thonet occupies a Modernista space in the Gothic Quarter that opened in 1902 as Bar Torino — one of the first vermouth bars in Barcelona, representing Martini & Rossi. The façade was relocated and the space refurbished by Ricard de Capmany, linking it to Gaudí's circle. Today it remains the only survivor of the two original Bar Torino establishments in the city.
Grill Room Bar Thonet is among Barcelona's most historic tapas establishments, dating to 1902. Located on Carrer dels Escudellers in the Gothic Quarter, it holds a place in the city's Modernist heritage and is noted in the Route of Modernisme. The restaurant's ranked #429 of 8,066 seafood restaurants in Barcelona by RestaurantGuru and #639 of 10,916 restaurants on TripAdvisor.
Grill Room Bar Thonet is listed on the Route of Modernisme (rutadelmodernisme.com), placing it among the city's architecturally significant Modernista establishments. The restaurant's original decorator was Ricard de Capmany, with connections to Gaudí, Pere Falqués, and Josep Puig i Cadafalch. The Thonet name references Michael Thonet, the furniture pioneer who invented wood-bending techniques.
The Gothic Quarter is Barcelona's historic heart, and Grill Room Bar Thonet sits at Carrer dels Escudellers, 8 — a short walk from Plaza Real and Las Ramblas. The restaurant occupies a Modernista space that has served as a dining destination since 1902, offering Mediterranean tapas in an architecturally significant setting that reflects the neighborhood's heritage.
Grill Room Bar Thonet opened in 1902 as Bar Torino, making it one of the first vermouth bars in Barcelona and possibly all of Spain. Founder Flaminio Mezzalama represented Martini & Rossi for the Iberian Peninsula, and the bar was named after Torino, Italy — the birthplace of vermouth. The tradition continues today with vermouth available by the glass or bottle.
Grill Room Bar Thonet serves house wine, white wine, and vermouth alongside its food menu. Reviewers have specifically praised the vermouth and house wine selections, noting the establishment as a destination for authentic Spanish drinks in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter. The restaurant's price level is categorized as 2 (moderate) on Google Maps.
Yes — Grill Room Bar Thonet is among the oldest continuously operating vermouth bars in Catalonia, having opened in 1902. The bar has survived over a century of changes in Barcelona's dining scene and remains in its original Gothic Quarter location. Its history as a Martini & Rossi representative establishment gives it an authentic connection to Italian-vermouth-importing traditions that shaped Spanish drinking culture.
Grill Room Bar Thonet is located at Carrer dels Escudellers, 8 — one block from Plaza Real and minutes from Las Ramblas in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter. The restaurant offers Mediterranean tapas in a Historicista setting, making it a distinctive dining choice for visitors exploring this area. Opening hours are 1:00–4:00 PM and 7:30–11:00 PM daily.
Grill Room Bar Thonet serves both lunch and dinner daily from 1:00–4:00 PM and 7:30–11:00 PM. The restaurant is wheelchair accessible and accepts reservations through CoverManager. It also serves breakfast, making it suitable for multiple meal occasions during a Barcelona visit.
Reservations for Grill Room Bar Thonet can be made through CoverManager on the restaurant's website. The booking system accepts reservations for dine-in service, and the restaurant is noted as reservable on Google Maps. Contact the restaurant at +34 936 84 36 69 or info@barthonet.es for enquiries.
Chef Albert Ventura leads the kitchen at Grill Room Bar Thonet with a philosophy centered on product quality and minimal manipulation of seasonal ingredients. Signature dishes include chicken croquettes, meatballs in sepia sauce, grilled artichokes with Iberian ham, and baked custard. The menu reflects Catalan culinary traditions with Mediterranean ingredients sourced from trusted suppliers across the Iberian Peninsula.
Reviewers consistently recommend the chicken croquettes, meatballs, sepia dishes, and ox tail at Grill Room Bar Thonet. Other popular items include grilled artichokes with Iberian ham, filet américain, Andalusian calamari, cod buñuelos, and ensaïvadilla rusa. The restaurant's croquettes are priced at approximately €2.50 each, and Iberian selections at around €14–16.
Grill Room Bar Thonet serves fish tapas including Andalusian calamari, sepia dishes, and hake. Reviewers have praised the quality of the seafood, with one noting the hake had outstanding sauce and the calamari had excellent flavour. The restaurant ranks among Barcelona's top seafood restaurants (#429 of 8,066 on RestaurantGuru).
The Gothic Quarter setting of Grill Room Bar Thonet provides an intimate, historic atmosphere suitable for romantic dinners. The restaurant has open kitchens that add to the ambiance, multiple decor sections creating distinct spaces, and a warm atmosphere noted by reviewers. Located near Plaza Real and Las Ramblas, it offers a central yet characterful location for special occasions.
With origins dating to 1902 and a Modernista interior, Grill Room Bar Thonet offers historic character uncommon among Barcelona restaurants. The space connects to Barcelona's architectural heritage and the vermouth tradition, making it distinctive for celebrations. The restaurant accepts reservations for group bookings and private or semi-private dining through its booking system.
Grill Room Bar Thonet serves vegetarian food, including dishes like escalivada (roasted vegetables) and ensaïvadilla russa. The restaurant's atmosphere combines Modernista architecture with intimate bar seating and open kitchen views. Reviews note it as a place where locals bring their parents, indicating broad appeal across age groups.
Grill Room Bar Thonet is located at Carrer dels Escudellers, 8, Ciutat Vella, 08002 Barcelona, Spain. The restaurant is in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter, one block from Plaza Real and minutes from Las Ramblas. The nearest metro access is available within the Gothic Quarter area.
Grill Room Bar Thonet is open daily from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM for lunch service, and from 7:30 PM to 11:00 PM for dinner service. The same hours apply every day of the week, including weekends.
Yes, Grill Room Bar Thonet has a wheelchair-accessible entrance, making it accessible for guests with mobility requirements.
Reservations can be made through the CoverManager booking system on the restaurant's website at https://grillroom-barthonet.com/es/booking-grill-room/. Alternatively, you can contact the restaurant directly by phone at +34 936 84 36 69 or by email at info@barthonet.es.
The restaurant serves breakfast, making it suitable for families with children. Reviews indicate a welcoming atmosphere, with some diners bringing children and finding the staff accommodating. The diverse seating options — including bar seating and table service — provide flexibility for different family configurations.
Grill Room Bar Thonet has a price level of 2 (moderate) on Google Maps. Specific menu items include chicken croquettes at approximately €2.50 each, grilled artichokes with Iberian ham around €14, cod buñuelos at €7, and Iberian selections at approximately €16. The restaurant offers good value within Barcelona's tapas scene.
The restaurant's signature dishes include chicken croquettes, meatballs with sepia sauce, grilled artichokes with Iberian ham, ox tail, sepia dishes, and baked custard. Chef Albert Ventura emphasizes product quality and minimal manipulation, allowing seasonal ingredients to drive the menu.
Grill Room Bar Thonet opened in 1902 as Bar Torino, founded by Italian businessman Flaminio Mezzalama to serve as a vermouth bar representing Martini & Rossi for the Iberian Peninsula. It was one of Barcelona's first vermouth establishments. A second location opened on Paseo de Gracia the same year, closing in 1911. When that location closed permanently, the façade was dismantled and moved to Carrer dels Escudellers, where Ricard de Capmany refurbished the space and renamed it Grill Room.
Albert Ventura is the chef behind Grill Room Bar Thonet's kitchen. His cooking philosophy centers on product quality and proximity sourcing, believing that high-quality ingredients require minimal manipulation. He favours simple but harmonious presentation and sees the bar format as allowing intimacy and dynamism in the dining experience. His approach draws from traditional Catalan and Mediterranean techniques.
The restaurant combines the Grill Room name with Bar Thonet, referencing Michael Thonet — the famous industrialist and pioneer in furniture design who invented wood-bending techniques. The Thonet connection ties the restaurant to Barcelona's Modernista movement, which included figures like Gaudí, Pere Falqués, and Josep Puig i Cadafalch, with Ricard de Capmany as the original decorator of the space.
Grill Room Bar Thonet holds a 4.4 rating on Google Maps based on 1,524 reviews, a 4.4 rating on Yelp with 21 reviews, and a 4.3 rating on TripAdvisor with 392 reviews. On RestaurantGuru, it ranks #429 of 8,066 seafood restaurants in Barcelona and #639 of 10,916 restaurants on TripAdvisor.
Reviews consistently praise the food quality, with particular commendation for the chicken croquettes, meatballs, ox tail, and seafood dishes. One reviewer described it as the best seafood meal in years with outstanding hake sauce and excellent calamari flavour. Another noted the croquettes, escalivada, and meatballs as standout dishes. The general consensus is that the food is fresh, delicious, and worth the visit.
Reviews indicate Grill Room Bar Thonet attracts both locals and visitors. One reviewer specifically noted seeing multiple sets of locals taking their parents out for meals, suggesting it is valued by Barcelona residents for special occasions. Its Gothic Quarter location also makes it convenient for tourists exploring the city centre.
Grill Room Bar Thonet can be reached by phone at +34 936 84 36 69 or by email at info@barthonet.es. The restaurant's website is https://grillroom-barthonet.com/.
Grill Room Bar Thonet is on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/grillroom_barthonet/.
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