A bustling destination in the historic residential neighborhood of L'Antiga Esquerra de l'Eixample, the Mediterranean restaurant La Flauta is a favorite of the locals.
The restaurant seats many family reunions, friends sharing casual drinks and hungry tourists. The cozy atmosphere and hospitable staff make diners feel at home, and many would be surprised to find out that the restaurant was a part of a chain of restaurants until very recently.
History of La Flauta
La Flauta first opened at their original location on Carrer de Balmes almost 40 years ago. Over the years, the restaurant expanded to another location on Carrer d’Aribau, where it has been for over 30 years.
In 2017, the Spanish management group GPF Capital bought La Flauta in hopes of expanding the Barcelona staple to outside of the Catalan region.
However, due to the complications of owning a restaurant through the COVID-19 pandemic, the group was unable to expand the restaurant.
This past March, La Flauta's Carrer de Balmes location permanently closed, leaving only the Carrer d'Aribau location open.
But this hasn't deterred the loyal customers and staff of La Flauta. The restaurant is still as busy as ever.
Alfonso Solemurciano is a manager at La Flauta, and he has been working at the restaurant for 33 years.
"It is my love," Solemurciano said. "Working is a fundamental part of my life, and I love what I do."
Javier Salas, a waiter at La Flauta, also enjoys working at the restaurant. He has been there for over 20 years.
"I like the people," Salas said. "I know that people who come to eat at our restaurant like the food, and when they like the food it makes me happy."
The food
The name of the restaurant refers to the Spanish tapas where the bread is in the shape of a flute, or flauta in Spanish. The restaurant specializes in their various types of flautas and seafood.
Salas said that tapas are an essential part of Spanish cuisine, and the restaurant wants to introduce flautas to people who have not tried it before.
"Spanish tapas are the best, and our flautas are very good," he confirmed.
As seen on the menu above, La Flauta has an assortment of both cold and hot flautas.
One cold flauta that is definitely worth a try is the one with tuna, anchovies, olives and red pepper. The combination of ingredients (shown below) creates a dish that you will want to order again and again.
While the cold flautas are just as good, the hot flautas are more popular.
The hot chorizo and red pepper flauta is a customer favorite.
Another flauta worth trying is the four-cheese pizza flauta. A twist on the popular dish, this is a flauta that everyone will like.
The photo below on the left is the Spanish omelet, commonly known as tortilla de patatas, is made up of egg, potatoes and onions. While it is super easy to make with simple tastes and textures, it is a local favorite and a necessary order when eating Spanish tapas.
The photo below in the middle is La Flauta's steamed mussels. Served with lemon, La Flauta excels at preparing seafood like this dish.
The photo below on the right is a common Spanish tapa called pan con tomate, which means bread with tomato. It is often served before a main course, and it is usually one of the first tapas ordered for the table.
La Flauta's dessert options are a mix of Catalan and Spanish delicacies.
The photo below on the left is La Flauta's three texture chocolate dessert that gives you a taste of hard, liquid and creme chocolate.
The photo below in the middle is La Flauta's coconut pudding, served with whipped cream.
The photo below on the right is a Catalan cream, which is very similar to a creme brulee.
Atmosphere
The ambience of the lowlights and the couch seating make the atmosphere of the restaurant cozy and intimate.
The walls of the restaurant reflect its marine influences.
The restaurant continues this theme on their Instagram page @restaurantelaflauta, where they mainly post high quality photos of their food.
La Flauta also has an outdoor seating option for those who are enjoying the weather here in Spain.
If you like Spanish tapas, La Flauta is a restaurant you must visit in Barcelona.
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