Ocaña

I couldn’t wait to visit this place, but unfortunately it ended up being quite disappointing. The atmosphere is definitely there it’s a really charming spot and that has to be acknowledged. However, the service leaves a lot to be desired. When ordering our food, we also ordered drinks, which took almost 30 minutes to arrive. During that time, we asked one member of the staff about them, but there was no reaction. Only another waitress eventually brought our drinks. We ordered a burger and a steak with pepper sauce. The food was simply okay. My steak arrived cold, and considering the price of €26, the portion was very small only 4–5 pieces of meat. Overall, I’m disappointed and I truly expected much more, especially given the reputation of the place. Although the venue itself is visually very nice.

We really loved this place! We were in the bar downstairs and the atmosphere was top - great vibes and a super cool interior. It was such a nice surprise after the elegant restaurant upstairs, totally different mood but equally amazing. We’ll definitely be back to try the restaurant menu as well, and the bar has already become one of our favorite spots in the city. Highly recommended!

Wonderful brunch! Lovely place inside and outside. We had the avocado toast with Iberian shoulder — absolutely delicious. Very kind staff and super fast service. Located in Plaça Reial, a beautiful historic square. Highly recommended! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

We shared our first Barcelona tapas experience here. We got the Potato Bravas, artichokes, pepitas, garlic shrimp. Shrimp and Pepitas were outstanding. We didn't fancy the other dishes. For Dessert was strawberries with cream which was very so good. For drinks we got Sparkling Sangria which was awesome. The service was great. The host, though super busy, was still on top of everything and took good care of us. There was a live band playing wonderful jazz music and kept the crowd entertained.

We decided to check out the plaças in the area. Stumbled on to the Gaudi’s lampposts and this lovely restaurant. The artwork around was pretty impressive. The building inside even more so. The staff were incredibly helpful. It took a while for us to cool down inside. Food was delicious. It wasn’t too big or too small. There was a gaggle of teens coming through. Didn’t realize til I went to the bathroom that there is a photo booth in the back that attracted them here.

Come for the drinks, shows, ambience...but not the tapas. Historically linked to one of Barcelona's favorite queer performance artists (Ocaña) who used to live above this Plaça, the nightly concerts/performances and artisan markets are great for a relaxed evening out. Prices are average for the location, can get quite crowded at dinner on weekends, but the staff keeps up. However the food lacks most flavors and the portions are incredibly small, tapas are sized for 2 people maximum.

We had paella, and it was very tasty with generous portions. Prices were in line with other places in the area. There was live jazz music, and it was a pleasure to witness the performance. The staff were attentive, polite, and spoke English. There is also a DJ performance downstairs. On a cold day, this place was a perfect escape for us.

Delicious food, but small portions. I liked that restaurant. Me and my sister both ordered rigatoni with asparagus sauce, and my sister’s portion was much bigger than mine.

Had a lovely dinner at Ocana, which is located in Plaza Real right off La Rambla. My friend and and I came by around 6:30 and most people were still having drinks. They have a ton of outdoor seating, which is where we sat as well. I assume there's a good amount of indoor seating, but we didn't get to check it out. This is one of the few places in Spain where we've seen actual cocktails. We started out with a cocktail each. I had the La Vanda del Pisco and my friend had the Thai Massage. Both were 11€. Both were lovely. For food, we shared 3 vegetarian dishes; Spanish tortilla with onion (7.90€) Eggs with pisto i.e. Spanish ratatouille (9€) Vegetarian paella (17.50€) Everything was super tasty. The tortilla was probably the most normal dish, but it was still really good. Surprisingly the eggs with pisto were my favorite. It was really flavorful. My friend's favorite was the paella. I'm not sure why this place only has 3.5 stars, but my friend and I really enjoyed our meal here.

My friend highly recommended this restaurant so I had to give it a try. It was very lively and entertaining! The hosts were all dressed in drag. I was hoping to see a show, but they only had street performers that evening. I sat outside facing the courtyard so I had a perfect view of the street performers! It was entertaining indeed! I ordered the squid ink paella and and a salad and they were absolutely delicious! My drink was incredibly good too! Service was a bit slow, but I later found that that's the norm in Europe. It's definitely more relaxed than in the US!

The food was really tasty Highly recommend the garlic shrimps, the patatas bravas were amazing too. A bit too much mayo on top though Their fried chicken was really good too And service was friendly and quick

Amazing location in the heart of Barcelona with plenty of seating in the square, and the bathrooms are clean and plentiful. The service is friendly and the food came out pretty quickly. I ordered the chicken sandwich which came with French fries. Wow, delicious! The chicken was moist and served with homemade mayo that had a very unique and rich flavor. This is definitely a great place to stop by for lunch or dinner

Incredibly bad service. Everything that could have been messed up was. The waitstaff was very confused and unable to get any of the basics done correctly. Really disappointed. We ordered two dinners and only received one so I had nothing to eat. This is a place to avoid, there are plenty of options available nearby.

We knew it was going to be average and over priced but made the decision to still stop by because I wanted to enjoy the hustle bustle of the plaza and the sunshine and this looked like a good spot to do it from . We opted to sit outside but the indoor space is huge and has a very grandiose vibe. Ordered the Spanish omelet , Croquettes and Sangrias . The Sangria was the worst that we had during the whole trip but the food was alright . Service is average .Definitely a tourist trap kinda place .

Where can I add another star because this gems deserve 6 stars. The server helped us, by describing the menu, because it was our first time in Barcelona. The food was tasty , flavored and a lot of choices in the menu. We had the best paella, the paella negro and the paella with shrimps . We paired the food with a nice red bottle of wine. We were outside at the plaza, good music, good view. I will come back for sure

I was looking for a paella on a patio and happily found this spot at the Royal Plaza. Great pre-fixe lunch for 15 euros. Still cannot believe the quantity of food. The burrata salad was exactly what I've been waiting for. Creamy silky texture drizzled with basil infused olive oil. The paella had good flavor but could use more seafood but at this price who can complain. Came with a beverage and dessert. I rolled myself out and enjoyed my parting meal.

We picked this restaurant after seeing a fair number of positive reviews. The service and ambience were fine, but the food was no Bueno. Our calamari was cold, and our mussels marinara, were pretty much the same except they showed up with no marinara, just some withered overcooked onion on the top. It's nice being on the Plaça Reial, lots of energy, pretty touristy, and if you choose to eat in that area, there may be other restaurants that do a better job than this one.

Excellent place to drink and eat after walking the Gothic Quarter. Their paella arroz de la Senyoreta was fantastic! We shared with 3 people. We almost ordered a second serving . Our waitress Katelina was so lovely and helpful. She was patient and answered all our questions with a smile.

Great food and friendly service with charming outdoor seating overlooking Plaça Reia square. I loved their tapas and paella. Our server, Donna, was wonderful. I will definitely be back the next time I'm in Barcelona.

Located in Plaça Reial which is a stone paved plaza with a fountain, palm trees, benches, numerous cafes and restaurants. This was rated #1 and our family agrees! Great food!!!

Great, friendly service and delicious cuisine. We had the classic Spanish omelette and croquets and were delighted.

Ocaña is a hip tapas styled restaurant in the heart of Las Ramblas. The restaurant is beautifully decorated, but can be a tad bit dark if you're eating there late. We arrived at 11:30 to be seated for dinner (pretty late), and were surprised that the kitchen was still open. We ordered a variety of tapas that included the pan con tomate, shishito peppers, patatas bravas, risotto with filet, bbq pork ribs, and another potato and egg dish that I don't remember the name of. They also have some great drink options, which are on the strong side! One of my favorites of the night was the patatas bravas. It had a yummy sauce (not sure what kind) that led me going back for more. The pork ribs were also dynamite! The meat was so tender and fell right off the bone. Probably one of the best I've had. The risotto and filet was disappointing. The fillet was crying out for salt, while the risotto was very underdone and hard to eat. They have a downstairs section with live music and a lounge. Overall I would recommend this place. They seem to stick with more of a traditional Spanish style cuisine, and it doesn't seem to be too much of a tourist trap like other restaurants in Las Ramblas.

Definitely a little tourist trappy. Thought what else can you say when it's in the heart of Las Ramblas. The food was good, but nothing outstanding. The service was as expected for a touristy place.

Luis Manuel was a fantastic server, couldn't ask for more. Every time we needed something he was there instantly! Outstanding service in every way amazing waiter. great food. great place! Try the bull tail.

Love this place and the ambiance! They have a great band that plays during dinner. I went on a Saturday​ where they have weekly artists this week they had a DJ that played great mixes and original​ beats; this is held downstairs in the lounge. Food was amazing, ordered the patatas bravas, a delicious salad, ​and their hummus​ is incredible. Great people and great experience!

The food and wine were delicious! My server was Facu provided Great service! I definitely recommend and I will go back.

We came to Ocaña for a private event - rehearsal dinner. We had a great private room and the decor was gorgeous. Loved the ambiance and it felt very romantic. The service was friendly and the drinks strong. I would recommend this for a special event. I really love their strawberry dessert and the fried prawns.

Although I would typically suggest venturing a little further off of Las Ramblas for a nice experience, I will make an exception for Ocaña. To find the restaurant, you have to enter the square called Plaça Reial. You can dine al fresco or in one of their old yet sleek dinning rooms. The matre d was a very statuesque and flirty transvestite. She was quite the charmer. After he had a wonderful tapas dinner complete with Spanish white wine, we went downstairs to their little lounge. The bar had a Morrocan feel to it with a small stage where a band played and later a dj. The lounge was neat for many reasons but also, it had no ceiling. It opened up to one of the first floor dinning rooms. Check their website for their entertainment calendar. Vamos!

This was our last top on the Tapas tour we booked through Trip Advisor. For this stop we were just offered Cava. What was nice though was sitting outside overlooking the plaza. Would definitely like to come back and experience of Ocana.

Happened upon Ocaña on my last day here, and ducked in as it had started to rain. Found a seat by the wall and charged up my cell phone as I contemplated the lovely view of Plaça Reial while enjoying a caña or two and patatas bravas. Later in the day I stopped in again although it had stopped raining, to rest a bit from my brutal 11 mile a day walks around Barcelona and yes, re-charge my phone again. Service is "relaxed" here, which was fine by me. They were preparing for the night shift and getting the room ready for dinner. It's an attractive room, with exterior patio under the covered walkway that surrounds the square. It's a huge place, with an upstairs area, a club area and vast amounts of still seemingly unused space. Would have been nice to check out the night scene here but I was on the bus to the airport by then. Prices are higher here than average (although not exorbitant at all) but then you are on prime real estate in the super trendy square.

Can't recommend this place. Surly host gave us a totally crappy table when other tables were available. We had to ask to change. Dark inside. food ok. Waiter was a little nicer. Crappy area at night. Go hit up more than once when leaving to buy drugs. Only time in Barcelona when we didn't feel comfortable at night.

My wife and I decided to have a drink before going into a flamingo show next door and we ended up having a full meal. Place was great! They had outdoor seating which is huge in Spain. The wine we had set in just right and out food was great.

Great place to get a bottle of wine and some olives, sit and people watch! The history behind this platca in very interesting and it adds to the magic of the whole place!

I WILL FOREVER DREAM ABOUT THIS SANGRIA!!! It was the best sangria I've ever had, not just in the States but throughout our Barcelona trip. The taste and texture was unlike any Sangria I've had. Rich and velvety - so delicious! Yes, it is on the pricier side (8.5 Euro for a glass) but it's a large glass and WAY boozier than most Sangrias you have in the states. And, as others noted, it's prime real estate on the plaza. To me, this is a must try, and a great place to enjoy an afternoon cocktail on the square!

In early August, myself, and some friends jet-setted off to Barcelona for a long weekend of food, excessive quantities of vodka, more food and lots of giggling in the sunshine. We happened to find La Plaça Reial square and restaurant Ocaña by complete chance. This square is simply beautiful. The buildings that line it are beginning to show their age and you can almost see the paint peeling from the art work but somehow, their impressiveness gives you the feeling they are steeped in history - war, love, secrecy, deceit - i'd bet they'd seen em all. In the middle of the square are a 50 or so enormous hanging palm trees offering snippets of shade as you meander through. Peering round the cafes and restaurants hidden in the arches of the square walls we resolved to find the most 'chic' place. 'Chic' had become our catchphrase of the holiday and although i couldn't have felt less chic at that very moment, we were ravenous and desperate - but determined to do it in style. What attracted us was pretty simple - Ocaña was lit up by dressing room style light bulbs; we were immediately sold by the bright shiny lights so we trundled over. Ocaña's menu was creative, inventive, fresh and exciting. It's not often that I can say that honestly but as soon as we started perusing the menu (printed on old catalunyan newspapers) I knew we would not be disappointed. After quickly ordering a bottle of the house dry white (hair of the dog right?!) we set about the food. We were all drawn to the 'Urban Plates'. Tabitha and I went for 'Fried Egg with Iberian Han and Potatoes' whilst Holly and Hannah both chose the 'Ravioli with Smoked Salmon and Orange Butter'. What can I say - the Jamon Ibirico was exceptional - it melted just perfectly on your tongue as it's supposed to when you get the real deal. The potatoes - phoar! Perfect amount of oil muddled with garlic, hints of parsley and oregano and then softly confited so they absorbed every morsel of flavour on the plate. And the eggs? For those that know me, know i'm somewhat of an egg fanatic - these did not disappoint. I know it seems a bit basic to have ham egg and potato - but the guys at Ocaña have got it spot on; they created something that wasn't there - in my eyes, that's a true skill. The ravioli masterpieces were lapped up with great enthusiasm. They were bowled over by the intelligent use of orange which transformed the dish into something both indulgent and fresh. Delicious! Ocaña let us eat, sip and laugh away our hangovers - both vital and thoroughly enjoyable.

Came in just for drinks. Fun decor (a boob soccer ball AND chandeliers?). Cava was solid, nonalcoholic San Francisco was sweet & satisfying. Was hoping to get some kind of dessert, but we arrived after 2AM & the kitchen was closed.

Nice restaurant with several good dining options. Carrot cake was excellent, and surprisingly tart: be aware if you are not fond of tart desserts. I thought it was delicious. Would definitely go back.

Ocaña boasts amazing views with delicious tapas selections. The Sangria is fruity and scrumptious and the Harley Quinn cocktail brings a spicy flare. Ask for a seat inside by the windows facing out. The best of both atmospheres! Highly recommend!

Went here last July - I know SUPER old review but I thought about it and it would be fun to review some place foreign! This was our second stop in Barcelona for the day. We had some ice cold beers and bravas and it was so good. Loved being able to sit out on the patio and just watch everyone coming and going in the center. I would totally go back for dinner too!

Over priced drinks and horrible service. Enjoy the beautiful square but go elsewhere for a drink.

Worst olives I've ever tasted in my life. They only taste like olive oil. Terrible. The rest of the food was really good though. Maybe they got them for free. Would recommend in general, but skip on the olives. The waiter asked, and told them about the quality, instead of accepting our assessment he ate one and said it was good. Yes, not unsafe to eat but will ruin your tastebuds and appetite.

Cute place with nice outdoor seating and fountain views. I enjoyed the vegetarian tacos, though my friends thought their pineapple pork tacos were to small (but tasty). I was disappointed when the patatas bravas came out with meat on top. Otherwise the food was pretty good and we really enjoyed the cocktails.

We've had cocktails there three nights this week, coming back for the Mescalita and friendly staff. Expensive but delicious. Yesterday we ordered it again and were very disappointed. Our drinks tasted like soap--not sure what happened this time but they were undrinkable. We won't be back.

Beautiful Square to sit and have a drink or lunch. We had several beers and shared a burger. I thought the burger was really good. The menu said the burger had coleslaw on it but in the United States, coleslaw is different. In Spain coleslaw is a mayonnaise-based dressing. Waiter was very good

Worst restaurant experience I have ever had in my entire life. Please do not waste your money or time on the service or food here. To begin with, we sat for 20+ minutes before even getting attended to by the manager, not even the waiter. We ordered sangrias that tastes like piss water mixed w juice water. We then ordered burgers that came out over cooked, and with a nasty ass sauce on it that you cannot trust. Mind you, the waiter hasn't even attended to us, throughout our time there. We then asked for the check that has an extra charge for ketchup, that we did not order or receive. We left cash, with leaving the ketchup out (42-1=41 euro) so we left out one euro. The waiter literally CHASED behind us to ask for that euro. We explained that we never got or asked for it and he didn't believe us. We then followed him back to restaurant, to show him that the other guy (who was ACTUALLY catered to us) mistakenly charged us. We weren't going to pay so we walked out again and he chased us, but this time with the police. For one euro. That he did not earn. DO NOT COME TO THIS NASTY ASS PLACE TO BE SERVED BY SOME PUSSY ASS BROKE ASS STANK ASS RUDE ASS WAITERS. They also charge a 10% "convenience" fee if you are a tourist. Which he refused to explain to us. Though it was our money. Again, please trust me an not support this tourist trap whose waiters have no respect.

I was in Barcelona for 5 days, and came here twice. The paella is different from most other places I've tried, it's cooked in a seafood broth, not as much butter, and served on a plate. It's lighter and not as traditional, but the flavor was wonderful. Tapas we tried the octopus, mussels, cheese plate, and croquettes. Everything was wonderful, the mustard sauce that came with bread (I think it's part of the cheese plate) was amazing!

**** This review is only based on the downstairs club **** Only in old European cities like Barcelona can you go into the basement of a building and discover that you're in some Medieval ancient space - that has since been turned into a nightclub... This is where I found myself Saturday night (sunday morning?) during the weekend of the Merce festival 2012. Just as most bars/clubs in Barcelona, the action doesn't really start until after 11:30 pm. When we first arrived, we were able to have a bit of a conversation with one of the bartenders... that didn't last long as the place quickly filled up and the tunes got cranked up. By the time we left, we could barely wind our way back to the stairs, as the place was packed. odd thing about the bar - each bartender has his own station. I'd suggest going to Anton's station - he's a *real* bartender, and will make you something excellent, and with great presentation... he's got moves to match it, too. There was no cover when we arrived (don't know if there is one at all or not). I don't know about the drink prices as i wasn't the one who paid either. Setting was great - music was great - drinks were great... if I have as much fun the next time i return, i'll upgrade.

Wife and I stopped here for an early dinner and had sangria and some standard Spanish tapas. The food was good -- we got pan con tomate, patatas bravas, croquetas, and calimari. The service was a little slow or maybe just lacking a little attentiveness -- but I found that wasn't unique to Ocaña and that is more common in general during my trip to Spain and Portugal, especially in larger restaurants like Ocaña which are frequented by tourists as well. The patatas bravas with the slightly spicy, creamy sauce was delicious and the croquetas had a lovely texture of creamy/cheesy interior with its crispy exterior. The sangria was fantastic -- and strong! Wish we would have stayed a little longer to explore the cocktails a little bit more but overall we enjoyed it. If you're looking for a respite from a lot of walking around the city you are near by, don't be intimidated by their drag queen hostess... Just ask for a table and give this place a shot if you want a drink and some snacks!

Great location in the Barri Gotic close to Las Ramblas on the Plaza Reial, a quaint square that hosts a rare coin and stamp market during the day and several nearby clubs that go late into the night and early the next morning. Ocana has one of them downstairs. The restaurant is beautifully designed in vivid colors with grand floral arrangements. I especially like the peach gazpacho.

Spent end of afternoon there drinking and eating some tapas, enjoying nice environment. Good place!

Decent place to eat in the gothic quarter. Slow service, food is just okay but located in a good square. I wouldn't come back as we have had much better meals throughout our trip. The grilled shrimp lacked taste, paella was really saucy and the salad was just a bunch of tomatoes.

Came here on sunday at lunch. Menu is basic. We ordered 2 burgers, 2 paellas and 2 starters. Food arrived late and in wrong order. Second burger arrived after more than 1hour.Paella was burnt and with some sand. Burger was smaller than claimed in the menu (180 g). Drinks were supersmall. The largest size bottles of coke and water were 250 ml which force u either not to drink or order more. Overall it's a rip off.

ENGLISH: Ive been here twice. Once on a Friday and another time on a Saturday. I like this place because its free entrance (seems like theres always a 15 - 20 minute wait in line to get in after midnight) and really spacious. I believe that you can also get something to eat on the first / main floor. (I tried the carrot and it was good. Not the best, but decent for a club / restaurant). Downstairs is the club and the lounge. Upstairs are where the bathrooms are. They played different kinds of music the both times I was here so Im not sure what is "normal". The first time was techno / house and the second time was 80s / old school. Note that they usually close around 3AM. Drinks a little expensive. 4€ beers and 8€ mixed drinks. ESPAÑOL: He estado aquí dos veces. Una vez el viernes y otra vez el sábado. Me gusta este lugar porque la entrada es gratis (pero siempre hay una cola de 15 - 20 minutos espera) y dentro tiene mucha despacio. Creo que podeis cenar aquí en la planta principal. (He probado el torte zanahorria y no es lo mejor pero es bueno.) Abajo es el club y lounge. Arriba son los aseos. Las dos veces que estaba allí, tocaron distintos tipos de música, entonces no sé que es "normal". La primera vez, hay música de techno / house y la segunda vez fue 80s / ...old school. Se cierra a las 3. Las bebidas son un poco caro. 4€ para cervezas y 8€ para cocktails.

Amazing drinks and food ! The atmosphere is very chill. Had the octopus and cheese plate which were great. Tried the mojito and Rose gin tonic which were fantastic! Love love this spot.

This place is TRULY unique! Me and hubby came in from our flight looking for a cool place to eat and have a drink. Turns out that this was the place for both and not only that, it became a clubby loungey place downstairs in the basement! This is called urban tapas, so i would say the food is more unique and not as traditional. The upstairs decor is really cool and had a swank cool feel. We had the lamb pita, which was quite tasty. It wasnt gamey at all, and a nice small size as well. We also had the patatas bravas, which I have to say was a little disapointing. The service was a bit lacking as well, but it was midnight--might be why. We met up with a friend here later and were asked to join the party downstairs, which was an 80s meets funky ambient music place. The bar is cool and the waiters/waitresses downstairs were excellent and had a whole mixology thing going on there. We really enjoyed our time; the decor was really cool and funky as well and had table service for the youngens who were out to dance. We had a great first night with this place all in all!

This looked like the least touristy restaurant in the very touristy Las Ramblas strip. Inside a square toward the south end, Ocana sealed the deal for my patronage with its 6-foot-tall man in drag working the hostess stand. I asked for a table for one; she sized me up and down and decided I was to be sat inside (instead in the prime terrace area). The server shuffled a table and chair around and voila - table for one tucked up against the back wall so I still had a great view of the entire restaurant and the outdoor area too. Solo dining done right. The décor is modern, luxurious and plush. Low lit with a conspiratorial vibe and very open seating plan. Crowd ranged from couples to small groups of birthday celebrators, all roughly in their late 20s to mid 40s. The service wasn't great. My waiter seemed put out by my every request (a wine menu, then one plate and a glass of wine, then another glass of wine, then the bill). He even huffed when I said "No, that's for you" when he tried to give me the change from my €20. I have no idea what was going on there. I only had one plate (the Spanish tortilla at €5-6) off the tapas menu but it was plenty and delicious (if a tad on the salty side). The restaurant itself if huge, spanning two large rooms and an upstairs area as well. The kitchen is sealed off but a trip to the bathroom gives you a near floor-to-sealing window view of its goings on. Nice touch.

We came here on a recommendation. The food was pretty good, but the service was terrible. I got a burger and my boyfriend ordered the paella. We waited almost an hour for our food to come from when we ordered; they told us twice that the paella took longer to cook (20-25 min), which we understand if we hadn't been waiting significantly longer than they said it would take. The paella came out hot and steaming and my burger came out, bun soggy and fries cold. I would've sent the fries back if I hadn't been afraid it wouldn't have come back to me... Aside from the service, the flavors of the food were actually very good.