9th Ruta Gastronòmica in Cabrils

Who would have known that so close to Barcelona you could find a lovely gastronomic gem that is Cabrils? I visited the town recently again, and was left awestruck with all the options that are available and with the cosiness of the place. And the quality of the food; mind-blowing!

Currently 8 different restaurants in Cabrils have joined forces through The Associació d’Hostalers de Cabrils for the 9th Ruta Gastronòmica de Cabrils, sponsored by Font Vella. Every year the ruta has a theme, and this year, each establishment has created a signature pasta dish. It is not your typical tapas-crawl, but a way to get to know the specialties of each restaurant and enjoy what they have to offer. The event will continue until mid May 2023, and just like every year a part of the proceeds of each dish goes to a good cause: this time to The Associació Mariona (Associació Familiar de Nens del Maresme amb càncer).

Cabrils is wonderful in summer, but each season has its own special charm with its village feeling and pretty, old buildings. There are things here you can’t find in the city, and an atmosphere that is very unique. It also has a specific microclimate that allows you to enjoy the terraces here for much longer than in Barcelona, and begin the terrace season earlier!

Anyway, let’s deep dive into the places we visited, let yourself be inspired for a getaway from the city!

First out was La Concòrdia. It is an iconic restaurant in Cabrils, a meeting place of sorts where for many years locals have gathered for a beer, a vermouth, and a chat with friends.

The place has undergone many changes, the menu has been updated, but it still has the charm from before. The dish here is a creative ravioli cruixent farcit de gambes i pera amb salsa de miso i teriyaki; crispy ravioli with shrimp and pear with a miso and teriyaki sauce.

Hidden away on a little side street, Sal i Pebre offers Catalan market cuisine; a lovely mix of tradition and a modern take on local dishes.

They offer tapas, dishes, and they are famous for their snails. They put a lot of focus into locally sourced seasonal produce, and this reflects in their menu.

The restaurant gets packed at lunch time, their “menu del día” is excellent value for money. When weather permits make sure you get a table on the terrace, with privacy provided by surrounding trees. The dish here is pasta fresca farcida de formatges amb pesto: a lovely cheese and pesto pasta.

Next up on our tour was Ca L’Estrany. Here the new owners took over last year, giving their own touch to the place and creating a very unique and welcoming concept. The restaurant is beautiful, and it is perfect for both lunch and dinner, and excellent for groups and celebrations. It has a very large terrace outside.

The place has quite a history, and you can feel it, in the best of ways. Here the dish is rigatoni italià amb crema de mascarpone, marisc, gules a l’allet i aroma d’alfàbrega: rigatoni with a mascarpone cream, seafood, baby eels and basil.

The next stop on our route was Nou Gras. Also this place has undergone major changes, with new owners and other updates. The restaurant is very big, perfect for large events, but also for a lovely lunch or dinner with your partner or with friends. The views are gorgeous, over both the sea and the surrounding forests.

The chef here is very creative and has done big changes to the menu, creating wonderful dishes with seasonal, local ingredients. The delicious dish here is the caneló de rostit amb beixamel de bolets tofonada i suc de rostit: a delicious roast canelón with truffle mushroom bechamel.

Next up on the route was lovely L’Hort. This place makes you weak in the knees, it is so pretty! It has a privileged location in the town, with lots of orange trees in the garden. L’Hort consists of a few historical buildings that together form a complex of restaurants and event spaces. Make sure you check out the spiral staircase at the entrance, very instagrammable..! The atmosphere is very special, everything is so well preserved. They have also just launched a new menu with a new chef, and a new wine list.

Here you can find Tempo restaurant, and the dish participating in the event is mushroom and red shrimp ravioli rice dish with duck and mushrooms (ravioli de ceps i gamba vermella amb el suc del seu cap). I really like the decoration here and, again, the feeling the old structures add. They have a gorgeous dining room upstairs (perfect for an event or a wedding) and another private room downstairs for gatherings. Next door they run a very popular pizza restaurant.

The next stop on our route was Can Rin, also a beautiful historical building delicately restored to a bar and restaurant. Downstairs the air is modern and with views over the inviting terrace, and upstairs there is a vintage flair to the stunning dining rooms, all of them with a different theme. In the summer there are regularly live music concerts that bring visitors from near and far and create a very unique atmosphere.

At Can Rin the participating dish is a raviolis de galta de vedella amb la seva salsa, poma i parmesà: a beautifully presented pasta made with ravioli, beef cheek, apple and parmesan. The menu here has an attractive Asian touch to its local dishes and ingredients, I find the concept very unique and interesting. The vegetables come from their own garden, it doesn’t get more local than that!

We continued to Il Forno di Papá; a restaurant that is actually located in the local tennis club, which is perfect if you feel like a game of tennis or pádel, and a nice meal afterwards. They have a large wood-fire oven right by the entrance, and I loved the cute detail or vintage tennis rackets on the restaurant wall.

Outside they have a large terrace facing a big swimming pool, I can see myself here on a warm summer day!

Il Forno di Papá, Cabrils. Photo © Barcelona Food Experience.

The pizzas are very popular at Il Forno di Papá, but the talented Italian chef here has a wide range of skills, such as the dish he has created for the Ruta Gastronòmica. Here they serve a beautiful tallarines amb gambes, carabassó i botarga: tagliatelle with shrimp, pumpkin, and bottarga.

Last stop on our route was Hostal de la Plaça: a very charming restaurant with a beautiful family history. The current owners are the 4th generation running the restaurant, and this spring they will also re-open the cute and cozy rooms where you can stay the night if you wish.

Here the dish for the Ruta is a delicious vegetable canelón. Here we also enjoyed other dishes from their menu such as a tasty ensaladilla rusa, bunyols de bacallà, and one of their stellar rice dishes.

Many dishes here focus on seasonal and local ingredients. We visited during artichoke season, and got to try the melt-in-your mouth grilled artichoke with jamón.

Hostal de la Plaça, Cabrils. Photo © Barcelona Food Experience.

In addition to the main room and the covered terrace upstairs, both with beautiful views, Hostal de la Plaça also has several different-sized gorgeous spaces that are perfect for anniversaries and celebrations. You can also request a special menu for groups.

All of the restaurants we visited and that participate in 9th Ruta Gastronòmica de Cabrils are part of The Associació d’Hostalers de Cabrils.

Cabrils is located in Maresme, and you can reach it by car in about 30 minutes, and by train it’s almost equally as painless: take the train from Plaça Catalunya to Vilassar de Mar (37 minutes) and the bus from Vilassar de Mar (13 minutes). The 9th Ruta Gastronòmica de Cabrils takes place until May 2023.

This post has been made in collaboration with The Associacio d’Hostalers de Cabrils, however the review fully represents the views of Barcelona Food Experience.