Few experiences capture the Mediterranean spirit quite like a succulent paella by the sea. On Costa Brava, the rice tradition blends with postcard-perfect landscapes, flesh local ingredients, and decades of culinary know-how. From traditional seafood paellas steeped in history to more contemporary reinterpretations, each dish reflects the maritime essence of this rugged and luminous coastline.
Among the destinations that stand out on this gastronomic route are Tossa de Mar, with its terraces next to the medieval walls; Lloret de Mar, where the offer is as wide as it is varied; Platja d’Aro, which combines modernity and flavour in a vibrant setting; and Blanes, the southern gateway to Costa Brava, with offerings linked to the fishing tradition. In each of these towns, paella is much more than just a dish—it’s a shared ritual.
This article offers a tour of some must-visit places to enjoy a memorable paella, whether overlooking the sea, on a hidden terrace or in a historic family restaurant. Travel to your favourite destination with Shuttle2Sun‘s shared transfer services and private transfer services, available from Barcelona Airport, Barcelona Port, Girona Airport, Reus Airport and Camp de Tarragona AVE train station.
Paella: A Mediterranean Tradition in Every Grain of Rice
Paella is not only one of the most renowned dishes in Spanish cuisine, but also a living expression of Mediterranean culture. Born in the Valencian countryside, but adopted and reinterpreted throughout the Catalan coast, paella has adapted to the maritime environment of Costa Brava, featuring ingredients from the sea, local produce, and time-honoured techniques that have been passed down from generation to generation.
On this coastline, tradition blends with culinary creativity to give rise to dishes that combine respect for the original recipe with the richness of local produce. Thus, we find everything from succulent seafood paellas, full of flavour and freshness, to mixed or mountain versions that incorporate mushrooms, Iberian pork, ribs or rabbit, reflecting the diversity of the region.
Beyond the dish itself, paella represents a table full of conversation, aromas that awaken memories and flavours that invite you to stop time. On Costa Brava, enjoying a good paella means immersing yourself in an experience where landscape, tradition and gastronomy intertwine naturally.
The Best Paellas on Costa Brava
Below, we will take a tour of a selection of restaurants that stand out for their wide variety of paellas and rice dishes, visiting Tossa de Mar, Lloret de Mar, Platja d’Aro, Sant Feliu de Guíxols and Blanes.
Remember that Shuttle2Sun‘s shared transfer services and private transfer services are available from Barcelona Airport, Barcelona Port, Girona Airport, Reus Airport and Camp de Tarragona AVE train station.
Tossa de Mar, between walls and coves
Nestled between cliffs and crowned by its iconic walled enclosure, Tossa de Mar is much more than a picture-postcard destination: it is also one of the most authentic gastronomic enclaves on Costa Brava. One of the classic must-visits is Restaurant La Roca de Tossa, which has been offering a menu of paellas made to order with fresh ingredients for decades, with especially its seafood paella, which stands out for the intense flavour of the homemade broth and the freshness of the seafood conquer every palate.
For its part, the Popa restaurant, located on the seafront, combines signature cuisine with maritime roots, offering options such as lobster rice stew or black rice paella. And, in the heart of the historic centre, Pou de la Vila is committed to honest, traditional cuisine, with special attention to the quality of the rice and the cooking time, in recipes that respect the local gastronomic heritage.
Lloret de Mar: rice tradition
Lloret de Mar, one of the most vibrant destinations on Costa Brava, also offers a gastronomic tour that deserves to be explored at leisure. Among the municipality’s highlights are La Lonja, with its fish and seafood and meat paellas. Another highly rated spot is Al Freskito Restaurant, which surprises us with its dry rice dish with pork cheeks and piparra peppers. Finally, the Can Sabata Lloret Restaurant offers a menu with different types of paella, from the classics to more innovative options, such as its rice dish with asparagus, mushrooms and truffles.
The local flavour of Platja d’Aro
Platja d’Aro perfectly combines dynamic tourism with quality cuisine, especially when it comes to rice and seafood dishes. The historic Restaurant Feliu, a classic in Platja d’Aro with more than half a century of history, stands out. Its cuisine keeps alive the essence of traditional rice dishes, prepared using family recipes.
Sant Feliu de Guíxols, excellence by the sea
Located in an elegant modernist villa next to Sant Pol beach, Villa Mar is a restaurant recognised with a Sun in the Repsol Guide 2025, combining exceptional views with high-quality Mediterranean cuisine. Among its rice dishes, the paella with cuttlefish and Palamós prawns, served with tender green beans, stands out for its intense seafood flavour and perfect cooking.
Blanes and its seafood rice dishes
Finally, located on a terrace overlooking the sea, Racó Sa Palomera is a real benchmark for rice lovers in Blanes. It offers a menu based on local products, with a seafood paella generous in fresh seafood and a baked black rice with Parmesan cheese that leaves a lasting impression.
Costa Brava is a gastronomic paradise where paella becomes an art form, combining seafood flavours and unforgettable landscapes. Enjoy all these restaurants by travelling to your favourite location with Shuttle2Sun‘s shared transfer services and private transfer services from Barcelona Airport, Barcelona Port, Girona Airport, Reus Airport and Camp de Tarragona AVE train station.
