The 10 best restaurants to eat ‘calçots’ in 2024

👉 Undoubtedly, in recent years eating calçots has become a culinary experience that has gained prominence in Tarragona and which has spread throughout the country.

Although at first instance planning to go to eat onions does not seem like a very attractive idea, everything changes when it comes to eating calçots and, by extension, making a calçotada. The kilometer zero of the calçotadas is located in the town of Valls, also famous for its ‘Castells’ (human towers). It was in this locality where a farmer named Benaiges planted some onions that he covered with ground for a second time after they had grown. That is to say, he was burying them until they got their curious elongated shape.

If we also cook them in their own particular way, which is usually with vine shoots and with an open flame, and the traditional sauce… We won’t be able to stop eating calçots!

The calçot season starts in November and lasts until April. If you want to enjoy an authentic calçotada where you do not have to cook, or end up smelling like smoke, or even worry about the calçots sauce, we recommend the 10 best restaurants where you can eat calçots and make the best calçotada in 2024.

These are 10 establishments where eating calçots becomes a real ritual, places where you can enjoy an authentic calçotada with calçots PGI (Protected Geographical Indication), which guarantees that you will consume the best calçots. We also recommend the best wines and cavas to accompany this peculiar onion.

1. Cal Ganxo in Masmolets (Valls)

One of the pioneers in incorporating the calçotada in the regular menu. A place that transports us to the past between walls and stone arches. In this old but perfectly restored manor house we will be able to enjoy the classic calçotada prepared traditionally. In addition, we can buy the calçots sauce packaged and ready for consumption.

There’s a particular activity we recommend to make room for the calçotada. The proposal is to visit the winery Mas Bella, also located in the small town of Masmolets and discover its DO Tarragona wines. > Book at the winery

 Calçotada menu
– Calçots with traditional sauce.
– Barbecue: lamb, sausage and black butifarra.
– Side dish of ‘ganxet’ beans and artichokes.
– Catalan cream with carquinyoli and orange.
– Bread, wine, Brut Nature cava and coffee.
Price: 48 € (VAT incl.)
*There’s a vegatarian menu option

2. Masia Cervelló restaurant (Fontscaldes)

The Masia Cervelló Restaurant is located in the small town of Fontscaldes, near Valls. The venue features three dining rooms perfect for hosting all kinds of events, and one of its specialties is the calçotada. At Masia Cervelló, they focus on local, seasonal products, which may be the secret behind its popularity among its customers.

To complement the calçotada experience, we recommend visiting the Celler Vermut Medusa, where you can try an excellent artisan vermouth from the area. You’ll be able to taste various unique creations that have been passed down through generations. > Book at the winery

Calçotada Menu
– Special appetizer Cal Cervelló: olives, fuet (cured sausage), tomato, and garlic.
– Calçots with salvitxada sauce.
– Grilled meat: lamb from Cal Torres of Sarral, sausage, and black butifarra.
– Served with grilled artichoke and beans.
– Dessert: crema catalana with carquinyoli (almond biscuits) and orange.
– Wine, water, bread, and coffee.
Price: 47€ (VAT included)

3. Cal Mosso restaurant (Aiguamúrcia – Santes Creus)

Calçotadas in a family atmosphere next to the Monastery of Santes Creus in an old manor house. The restaurant has a well-deserved reputation for its calçot sauce, which they have prepared traditionally for the last 20 years. They have several dining rooms with a rustic atmosphere.

It is a must to visit the Royal Monastery of Santa Maria de Santes Creus, a monastery of the Cistercian order in which some kings of the Crown of Aragon are buried. And, if you want to discover the wines of the area, you can visit the Visendra winery, in the nearby village of Les Pobles.
> Book at the winery

Calçotada menu
– Homemade vermouth appetizer and dried sausage.
– Calçots with traditional sauce.
– Grilled barbecue: sausage, black butifarra.
– Side dish: artichokes and ‘ganxet’ beans.
– Desserts: Catalan cream and orange with sugar.
– Coffee, cortado and infusions.
Price: 48 € (VAT incl.) 

4. Masia Embolic (L’Albiol)

If what you prefer is a space in the middle of nature, our next recommendation is in a privileged location: Masia Embolic. The Masía is a unique space with spectacular views over the Camp de Tarragona, located very close to the cities of Reus and Tarragona.

In this charming farmhouse you can taste one of the best calçotada in the area made with local products following a traditional style. At Masia Embolic you will enjoy this culinary treasure that they make with great passion and dedication.

And to complete the day… before the calçotada you can visit the Yzaguirre vermouth winery. You will discover how they make their vermouths while you walk through their facilities > Book at the winery

5. Casa Fèlix restaurant (Valls)

One of the classics in the world of calçots, having contributed significantly to making calçotadas in restaurants what they are today. It is worth remembering that originally the calçotadas were only carried out in the masias of friends or relatives and that the shift to restaurants occurred during the 70s.

It has up to 500 seats and is a benchmark and emblem of the world of calçots. It has private dining rooms located in large wine barrels.

Before lunch, it is worth discovering the old town of Valls, kilometer zero of the ‘Castells’ and origin of the calçotada. We recommend that you visit the facilities of the cooperative and discover the Xat de Benaiges wine, made in honor of the farmer who created the cultivation of calçots.
> Book at the winery

Calçotada menu
– Calçots with traditional sauce.
– Grilled sausage with beans.
– Grilled lamb meat with aioli and side dish.
– Catalan cream.
– Alt Camp wine, cava and coffee.
Price: 46 € (VAT incl.)

6. Les Espelmes restaurant (Valls)

Eating calçots with excellent views of the entire Alt Camp region is the main attraction of this restaurant located at the top of Coll de Lilla, between Valls and Montblanc. Thus, eating calçots in the traditional way becomes a delight for the palate… as well as for the eyes.

Before arriving at the restaurant we can visit the ducal town of Montblanc and its walls. Additionally, we can get to know the Tower of Tastings and discover the wines of the winery Vins de Pedra. > Book at the winery

Calçotada menu
– Calçots with traditional sauce
– Barbecue: lamb, sausage, black butifarra
– Side dish of beans and artichokes
– Desserts: Catalan cream and orange
– Bread, mineral waters, red wine, cava and coffee
Price: 50 € (VAT incl.)

7. Casa Gurí restaurant (La Masó)

Another small rural area near Valls with a family restaurant located in an old but completely restored house where one can enjoy a good calçotada. It also has a bakery service. During the calçot season, this restaurant offers the traditional calçotada, which you can enjoy inside or outdoors, without rushing nor taking turns.

The village of La Masó, as you will see, is tiny. Before going to do the calçotada, we suggest that you discover the wines of the area or, if you prefer, try an escape room; maybe even both at the sime time. In the Cellers Blanch of Puigpelat, you will be able to test your wits to solve the mysteries of the escape room. Do you dare? > Book at the winery

Calçotada menu
– Calçots with traditional sauce.
– Grilled barbecue: Lamb, sausage and black butifarra.
– Side dish of ‘ganxet del Milà’ beans, artichokes and baked potato.
– Desserts: Catalan cream with hazelnut carquinyolis, orange with sugar and cinnamon.
– Mineral water, red wine, Brut Nature Cava, coffee and snaps.
Price: 47 € (VAT incl.)

8. Masia del Pla (El Pla de Santa Maria)

A classic of the area in the making of the calçotada. Located on the outskirts of the village, it is an old roadside restaruant converted into an emblematic establishment in which to enjoy the calçot festival. They have different lounges and can host large events such as weddings or banquets. And they have the vegetarian calçotada menu, in which they replace the barbecue for other dishes suitable for vegetarians.

And in this case, before you enjoy your meal, we suggest that you discover the Casa del Vermut Padró from Bráfim, at a distance of just 15 minutes from the restaurant. There you will enjoy a unique sensory experience while getting to know how quality vermouth is made. > Book at the winery

Calçotada menu
– Calçots with traditional sauce.
– Barbecue: lamb, sausage and black butifarra.
– Side dish of artichoke, baked potato and beans.
– Desserts: caramelised Catalan cream and orange.
– Bread, water, wine and Brut Nature cava.
– Coffee or infusion.
Price: 47,50 € (VAT incl.)

9. Can Cortada restaurant (Barcelona)

Although we have practiced the calçotada for several decades in certain areas of the province of Tarragona, this culinary festival has spread to many places, being able to eat calçots in places like Barcelona. > Book at the restaurant

Of the many places in which to raise your arm to bring sweet onions to your moth, we recommend the Can Cortada restaurant, an old Catalan masia declared Artistic Heritage of Barcelona and located in the heart of the natural park of Collserola.

 Calçotada menu
– Calçots with traditional sauce
– Barbecue: lamb, chistorra, black butifarra and butifarra from la Garriga
– Side dish of beans and baked potato
– Desserts: Catalan cream
– Bread, water and wine
– Coffee, decaf or infusion
Price: 48,90 € (VAT incl.)
*There’s a vegatarian and vegan menu option

10. Calsot restaurant (Hoyo de Manzanares – Madrid)

Another location of interest, far away from the kilometer zero of the calçots, is the Calsot restaurant in Madrid, written just as it sounds, where they specialize in this delicacy.

The calçots arrive every 15 days directly from Valls and they are cooked traditionally, that is to say, on an open fire, although not wine vine shoots, but with pine branches. The success is such that it is advisable to book a table well in advance.

Calçotada menu
– Salad
– Toast with tomato and with white butifarra, black butifarra and fuet
– Calçots with traditional sauce
– Barbecue: rabbit, lamb, white butifarra, black butifarra and chicken
Price: 28 € (VAT incl.) (Wines and drinks not included)