November 2021 | Editors Note: I am sad to report that Tickets Restaurant closed earlier in the year. RIP, Tickets!
TICKETS RESTAURANT IN BARCELONA, SPAIN
Find out what it’s like to eat tapas at Tickets Restaurant Barcelona plus my best tips for getting a reservation, what to order, and how much it costs!
What is Tickets Restaurant?
Tickets is a Michelin star tapas restaurant in Barcelona’s edgy El Raval barrio. It’s run by Albert Adrià and his brother Ferran, the geniuses behind what was once considered the best restaurant on the planet – El Bulli.
Ranked #20 on the list of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2019, a lot has been said about the dining experience at Tickets Barcelona. Critics applaud its playful attitude, mastery of molecular gastronomy, and memorable small plates that surprise and delight discerning diners from near and far.
According to the Tickets BCN website,
Tickets presents a different and informal way of living a haute cuisine experience through its tapas. A playful and fun space where the room and the food create “La vida tapa”.
When it comes to tapas, this is the hottest Ticket town.
But what’s it really like? This theatrical tapas bar where you can experience la vida tapa?
Let me tell you about my experience eating there…
How to Get a Reservation at Tickets Restaurant
First things first. If you want to experience Tickets for yourself, you need to get a reservation. And getting one is no easy task.
Reservations can only be made via the Tickets Restaurant website. The website accepts reservations for all six restaurants offered by Albert and Ferran Adrià, and to be honest, it’s a bit of a nightmare.
To get started, select your language, then click on the red icon that says Tickets.
Now click on the red ‘Reservations’ button. Here are a few tips to improve your odds of success:
- Tickets restaurant reservations run on a two-month booking window. For example, tables for May 18 become available for booking March 18 at midnight local time. They usually sell out in under 10 minutes.
- Not only does it have to be midnight in Barcelona, but it also has to be midnight on your computer. Set the time zone on your system clock to CET (Central European Time) before attempting to book your table.
- Singles cannot reserve a table but they can reserve a seat at the bar counter. (From the bar, you can watch up close and personal as talented young chefs wield their blowtorches, smoking guns, and tweezers.)
- You need to have a credit card to make a reservation. If you’re a no-show, your card will also be charged 50€ per person.
- If there’s nothing available, you can add your name to their waiting list and then pray there’s a cancellation.
NOTE: The restaurant closes twice a year for vacation, from April 14 – 22 and from August 11 – 25.
Insider’s Tip: If you’re planning a trip to Barcelona, I highly recommend adding a food tour to your itinerary! I ate my way through El Born, Raval, and Gotico on a Savor Spain tour and loved every minute of it.
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Here’s a Hot Tip for Scoring a Reservation at the Last Minute
In an interview with Food & Wine magazine, head chef Fran Agudo offered this advice:
“We had no-shows when Barcelona was playing [soccer] matches because a lot of locals on that day would not show up,” he says. “So it was a good tip to give to guests that you can try your luck on that day and check if someone canceled.”
It’s worth a try!
The Menu at Tickets Barcelona
The Tickets Restaurant menu focuses on regional ingredients that showcase the classic flavors of Catalonia. The menus change with the season and consist mostly of tapas and small plates. You can view the menu in English HERE.
You have two menu options at Tickets BCN. You can order from the menu or you can go with a custom tasting menu where your server chooses an assortment of tapas for you, based on your likes and dislikes.
I was feeling adventurous the night I ate there so I decided to let the server do the choosing. If you do the same, you’ll be asked if there are any foods you don’t like or are allergic to. Don’t hold back. When my server asked me, I didn’t list every single food I don’t like. Just the main ones. Oysters and offal. Then, part way through the meal, I was presented with a heaping dish of green peas. My server wasn’t impressed when I said, “Oh, I forgot to tell you. I don’t like peas!”.
You’ll be brought dish after dish until you say STOP. There is no talk of prices so if you’re concerned about budget, keep a running tally in your head. You can estimate about 6€ per person per dish.
For more great places to eat, check out these top 10 Barcelona restaurants for first-time visitors.
Tickets Barcelona Tapas (photos)
Here’s a look at the tapas I ate (minus the peas).
It looks like a lot. I know. But keep in mind these are very small portions. When a plate is set down in front of you, more often than not your server will tell you, “two fingers, one bite”.
Olive-s: Olive juice is transformed into a solid olive through a spherification process with calcium chloride, alginate, and xanthan gum.
Jamón: Jamón Ibérico de Bellota, a free-range, acorn-fed version of the ham recognized as the finest ham in the world.
Nuestro Pan Tomato: Tickets interpretation of one of Catalonia’s defining dishes, Pa amb tomàquet (bread with tomato).
Mini Airbag de Formatge Manxec: Mini airbag with manchego cheese foam, hazelnut oil, and caviar.
Nigen Berenjena: Crunchy Nigiri with flamed eggplant and soy pearls.
Atún Picante: Spicy tuna belly tartar with nori seaweed, avocado cream, and wasabi.
Paisaje Nórdico: Nordic Landscape with marinated aged beef, smoked cheese, and vinegar powder
Naranja Helada: Frozen orange with chili, Gordal olive jus, and pumpkin seed oil.
Esparrrago Tronco: White asparagus with white asparagus cream.
Pulpo Crujiente : Crispy Octopus
Spaghetti Setas: Noodles with mushrooms and parmesan.
Cerdo Sacudido Crujiente Taco: Crunchy Sucking Pig Taco with hoisin mayonnaise and pickled cucumber.
Tickets Barcelona Desserts (photos)
Once you let your server know you’ve had enough, you’ll be escorted to the dessert room. It’s a crazy colorful place filled with whimsy and giant fruit. Like Alice’s Wonderland.
The same rules apply here. Tiny desserts will continue to delight you until you say STOP.
Rosa, esfera de litchi y frambuesa: Rose with lychee and raspberry sphere, with rose water gelatin.
Taco de Pera: Pear sorbet with coriander and mint.
Baklava
El Cheesecake de Tickets: Tickets cheesecake with hazelnuts and white chocolate.
Tapones de corcho: Chocolate cork
In a hurry? We’ve got plenty of tips for finding delicious fast food in Barcelona.
How Much Does it Cost to Eat at Tickets Restaurant?
My bill came to 105,63€ (about $130 USD). That’s pretty much what I expected it to be and not unreasonable for a restaurant with a Michelin star.
Here’s the breakdown…
Tapas
Olive-s: 2,50€
Jamon: 6,70€
Nuestro Pan Tomato: 0,80€
Mini airbag de formatge manxec: 3,00€
Nigen berenjena: 3,90€
Atún Picante: 5,20€
Paisaje Nórdico: 5,60€
Naranja Helada: 3,80€
Esparrrago Tronco: 5,80€
Pulpo Crujiente: 8,90€
Spaghetti Setas: 8,60€
Cerdo Sacudido Crujiente Taco: 5,40€
Desserts
Rosa, esfera de litchi y frambuesa: 3,20€
Taco de pera: 4,15€
Baklava: 6,60€
El Cheesecake de Tickets: 6,68€
Tapones de corcho: 4,10€
Drinks
Sangria: 6,00€
Water: 5,00€
Taxes: 9,60€
TOTAL: 105,63€ (about $130 USD)
Did I Love It?
This post wouldn’t be a review if I didn’t include a few words on whether or not I enjoyed my dining experience at Tickets Restaurant. The answer is not really. And there are two reasons why.
First, I felt very rushed. No sooner would I pop a bit of something into my mouth, then my server would whisk away the empty plate and put something else down in front of me. She was overly attentive, hovering a foot or two away throughout the meal, watching me. I got the impression I was being hurried along so they could give my stool to the next person.
Second, the tapas weren’t all that delicious. Yes, they were playful and creative. Delightful to look at. But not as yummy as some of the food I ate at Barcelona restaurants without a Michelin star (like these fantastic places).
Eating at Tickets Barcelona is a unique experience. Not life changing by any means, but something to be experienced and enjoyed for what it is.
One of the best things I did in Barcelona was take a cooking class. Learning to make paella is an unforgettable hands-on culinary experience! Pre-book your paella cooking class in Barcelona now.
For more fun things to do in Barcelona, check out this insider’s guide to the most epic and fabulous things to do in her home town.
Essential Info
Location
Tickets Restaurant is located in El Ravel. It’s an easy 25-minute walk from the World Trade Center.
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Hours
Tuesday thru Friday, 7:00 pm – 10:30 pm
Saturday, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, 7:00 pm – 10:30 pm
Sunday, Monday – Closed
Contact
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Pinspiration
SO glad you wrote about this! I love food and always wondered what its like eating at places like this. For my job I’ve booked fancy restaurants for my boss such as this and I wondered why it was so popular. I’m so glad you explained what the food tasted like and took photos of them. And yes sometimes these gastronomy restaurants are experimental but it doesn’t mean it will always be a hit.
Hi Trang, Happy to hear you enjoyed the post! Most people agree that a meal at Tickets is a unique dining experience. Taste, on the other hand, is relative. Reviewers on Yelp and TripAdvisor absolutely rave about the food here. 🙂
Fascinating review! Great info and insight.
Thank you! I’m so glad you enjoyed it.
Great review, thanks! And loved the breakdown so we know what to expect on our visit there in June.
Managed to get a booking thanks to the tips as well. I’m looking forward to the playfulness and the experience of eating there as well as it being a top restaurant. It will be something different for us coming from Australia.
I’m so glad it was helpful! Tickets is a unique dining experience that I’m sure you’ll enjoy! Have fun in beautiful Barcelona in June and, if you think of it, pop back here and let me know how it goes. 🙂
Thanks for the insights.. Now I wonder if I can just go to experience the atmosphere with just a few dishes and then head out to keep my cost down?
Hi Carolyn, There was no mention of a minimum when I went so you should be able to. Go and enjoy. 🙂
Thank you for your in-depth review!Before I got to the end, I was thinking, I’m not sure if this would float my boat. For sure it looks like a once in a life time experience. But for what you have to go through to get tickets, I’m not sure if I’d pass up a nice paella at a mom and pop shop!
Thanks, Cynthia. I was in Barcelona for 10 days so I had plenty of time for both types of dining experiences – Michelin star restaurants and mom and pop shops. But if you’re pressed for time or your trip is last minute, a reservation at Tickets probably isn’t in the stars.