We have been to Barcelona twice and both times we ate at La Gavina, located in the renovated Palau de Mar, about a half of a mile from the Picasso Museum, by the Mediterranean. 
It is a perfect restaurant for fresh seafood prepared in a variety of ways, none better than in their seafood paellas. The restaurant is positioned by the beautiful Port Vell Marina, where you can view super-yachts. The port was originally built for the 1992 Olympics. The ambiance of the restaurant is intimate and the decor boasts of the sea by which it’s located.
They have an extensive menu with several courses and a very nice wine list, so go as hungry and as thirsty as we were! There were four of us so for the first course, we ordered and shared the Pernil de gla (acorn ham) reserve “Don Alfonso” (Spain is famous for their hams, so this was a must), lobster and prawn salad with orange vinaigrette, the cod (bacalao) fritters which my grandmother use to make and the Galician octopus. Since my grandfather was from Galicia, that dish spoke to me. I can’t decide to tell you which one I loved most, but the most unusual was the octopus. I wasn’t disappointed with any of those starters.
As one would expect, for our main course we had to have paella and we chose the chicken paella since we had our fill of seafood with our first course. Another dish that didn’t disappoint. It was cooked to perfection and had the oh-so-sought-after crusty bottom that Spaniards love and see as the true mark of an authentic paella. 
I will soon post a recipe for the paella I make. It is not made in the traditional way as you would find in Spain, but it is the way I learned growing up. Even though all four of my grandparents came from Spain, none of them made paella in a traditional paella pan. I can’t even remember any of the many Spanish restaurants in Tampa that made and served their paella in an authentic paella pan. But I can tell you that many who have eaten my paella and have also eaten it in Spain have said that mine is one of the best they have ever eaten. I’m not meaning to brag, but just wanted to point out that sometimes the non-traditional way of making a dish is just as delicious.
While the dessert menu was extensive and tempting, we opted out as we were too full. There are so so many wonderful restaurants from which to choose in Barcelona, but if you are ever fortunate enough to go there, try La Gavina. I don’t think you will be disappointed.